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February 3rd
0474 - Died this day, Leo I, Byzantine Emperor (457-74). 1014 - Died this day, King Sweyn of Denmark I died and was succeeded by his son, Canute II the Great; after King Ethelred II of England ordered a massacre of Danes in 1002, Sweyn invaded Britain and conquered much of the country. 1194 - Henry VI of Germany released King Richard I (the Lion-Heart) of England, captured during the Third Crusade. 1368 - Born this day, Charles VI, King of France (1380-1422). 1377 - Cardinal Robert of Geneve (anti-pope Clemens VII) began his term of office. 1377 - There was a mass execution of the population of Cesena, Italy. 1399 - Died this day, English Prince John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, son of King Edward III and father of King Henry IV, died. 1451 - Died this day, Murad II, sultan of Turkey (1421-51). 1468 - Died this day, Johann Gensfleisch Gutenberg, printer. 1488 - Portuguese explorer Bartholomew Diaz became the first European to land on African soil, putting ashore at Mossel Bay, Cape of Good Hope. 1525 - Born this day, Giovanni Perluigi da Palestrina, composer. 1536 - Died this day, Garcia de Resende, Port writer, publisher (Cancioneiro Geral). 1558 - Died this day, Alfonsus de Castro, Spanish theologist (council of Trente). 1576 - Henry of Navarre (the future Henry IV) escaped from Paris. 1602 - Died this day, Paul Melissus [Paul Schede], German poet, composer, aged 62. 1648 - Born this day, Louis Bouteiller, composer. 1655 - Born this day, Francois Fagel, field marshal, baptized. 1679 - Died this day, John Havicksz Stone, painter (St Nicolas Feast), aged about 52. 1690 - The first paper money in America was issued, in the colony of Massachusetts. 1715 - Died this day, Gottfried Vopelius, composer, aged 70. 1736 - Born this day, Johann G. Albrechtsberger, Austria organist, composer. 1740 - Born this day, Guillaume Lasceux, composer. 1743 - Philadelphia established a 'pesthouse' to quarantine immigrants. 1748 - Died this day, Henri Madin, composer, aged 49. 1752 - The States-General forbade the export of windmills. (Where? Holland?) 1755 - Born this day, Florido Tomeoni, composer. 1763 - Born this day, Caroline von Wolzogen [von Lengefeld], German author. 1781 - The Dutch West Indies island of St Eustatia was taken by the British. 1783 - Spain recognised US independence. 1805 - Born this day, Otto T. Freiherr von Manteuffel, premier Prussia. 1807 - Born this day, Joseph Eggleston Johnston, General (Confederate Army). Died in 1891. 1807 - Montevideo was taken by British forces led by Sir Samuel Auchmuty. 1809 - Illinois Territory, including present-day Wisconsin, was established. 1809 - Born this day, Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, in Hamburg, Germany, German composer (Great Scherzos). 1811 - Born this day, Horace Greeley, American journalist, editor (told young men to go west). 1814 - Died this day, Johann Antonin Kozeluch, composer, aged 75. 1815 - The world's first commercial cheese factory was established in Switzerland. 1817 - Born this day, Emile Racine Gauthier Prudent, composer. 1817 - Born this day, Samuel Ryan Curtis, Major General (Union volunteers). Died in 1866. 1820 - Born this day, Elisha Kent Kane, US Arctic explorer (Kane Basin off NW Greenland). 1821 - Born this day, Elizabeth Blackwell, in Bristol, England, the first woman doctor of medicine. 1824 - Born this day, George Thomas 'Tige' Anderson, Brigadier General (Confederate Army). 1824 - Born this day, Nathan George 'Shanks' Evans, Brigadier Gen (Confederate Army). Died in 1868. 1825 - The Dutch North Sea flooded. 1826 - Born this day, Walter Bagehot, in England, economist, sociologist. 1830 - Born this day, Robert Cecil, Marquess of Salisbury (C), British Prime Minister (1885-1902). 1831 - Born this day, Cyrus Ballou Comstock, Bvt Major Gen (Union volunteers). Died in 1910. 1833 - Born this day, Thomas T.H. Jorissen, historian. 1836 - The Whig Party held its first national convention, in Albany, New York. 1842 - Born this day, Sidney Clopton Lanier, US composer, poet (Hall of Fame). 1846 - Died this day, Joseph Weigl, Austria composer, conductor (Tie Waisenhaus), aged 79. 1851 - Born this day, Johannes B. van Heutsz, Lieutenant-general, governor-general Dutch East Indies. 1853 - Died this day, August Kopisch, German poet, writer, aged 53. (Born at Breslau - 26 May 1799). 1855 - The Wisconsin Supreme Court declared the US Fugitive Slave Law unconstitutional. 1860 - Thomas Clemson took office as the first US superintendent of agriculture. 1861 - Born this day, Leopold Courouble, Belgian writer (Family Kaekebroeck). 1862 - Thomas A. Edison printed the Weekly Herald and distributed it to train passengers travelling between Port Huron and Detroit, Michigan. It was the first time a newspaper had been printed on a train. 1862 - Died this day, Jean-Baptiste Biot, French physicist, astronomer, aged 87. 1864 - Sherman marched through Mississippi. 1865 - At the Hampton Roads Peace Conference, Lincoln and Stephens reached an impasse. 1867 - Prince Mutsuhito became Emperor Meiji of Japan at the age of 14 and reigned until 1912. 1868 - Born this day, Damaso Ledesma, composer. 1869 - Actor, Edwin Booth, opened his new theatre at 23rd & 6th in New York City. The first production was Romeo and Juliet. Even at that time, tickets didn’t come cheap. Some sold as high as $125 for this presentation. 1870 - The 15th Amendment, which granted that the right to vote shall not be denied on account of race, color or previous condition of servitude, was ratified. 1874 - Born this day, Gertrude Stein, in Pennsylvania, poet, novelist, author (Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas). 1874 - Born this day, Franklyn Dyall, actor (Easy Virtue). 1875 - Died this day, Everhardus J. Potgieter, writer (Liedekens van Bontekoe). 1877 - Chopsticks, the novelty piano piece, was registered at the British Museum. 1878 - Born this day, Joseph Gordon Coates, Prime Minister of New Zealand (1925-28). 1879 - Born this day, Charles Follis, first black US football player (Shelby, Ohio). 1880 - Born this day, Arnoldus J.H. Aerts, bishop of New-Guinea (1920-42). 1882 - Born this day, Trijntje Jansma-Boskma, oldest person in Netherland. Died 5 March 1991 aged 109. 1882 - Died this day, Guglielmo Quarenghi, composer, aged 55. 1883 - Born this day, Camille Bombois, French circus wrestler, painter. 1883 - Born this day, Clarence Mulford, in Illinois, western writer (Hopalong Cassidy). 1886 - Born this day, Erwin Kroll, composer. 1887 - Born this day, Carlo Jachino, composer. 1887 - Born this day, Georg Trakl, Austrian poet (Herbst of Einsamen). 1887 - Born this day, Silvio d'Amico, Italian theatre critic (Tramonto del grande attore). 1889 - Born this day, Carl Theodor Dreyer, Danish director (Passion of Jeanne d'arc). 1889 - Born this day, Risto Ryti, Finnish premier, president. 1889 - Died this day, Belle Starr, US female gangster, murdered aged 40. 1890 - Died this day, Christophorus H.D. Buys Ballot, meteorologist, aged 72. 1890 - Born this day, [Andy] Charles Correll, in Peoria, Illinois, actor (Calvin & Colonel). 1890 - Born this day, Heinrich Barth, Swiss philosopher. 1891 - Born this day, John Donner, minister of Justice (1926-33). 1891 - Born this day, Peter H. 'Paul' Huf, actor, director (Great Neth Stage). 1894 - Born this day, Juan Negrin, Prime Minister of Spanish Republic (1936-39). 1894 - Born this day, Norman Rockwell, US artist, illustrator (Saturday Evening Post covers). 1894 - The first US steel sailing vessel, Dirigo, was launched at Bath, Maine. 1895 - Wilhelm Mauseth skated a world record 500 metres in 46.8 seconds. 1895 - Born this day, Nick Kenny, in Astoria, New York City, columnist, songwriter (Nick Kenny Show). 1895 - Born this day, Victor Raul Haya de la Torre, politician (founded APRA party in Peru). 1898 - Born this day, Alvar Aalto, in Finland, architect (Finlandia House). 1898 - Born this day, Paul Urysohn, Russian mathematician. 1899 - A temperature of -16 degres F (-27 degrees C) was recorded in Minden, Louisiana (A state record). 1899 - Born this day, Forrest 'Red' DeBernardi, basketball hall of famer (elected 1961). 1900 - Born this day, Mabel Mercer, English cabaret singer (Fly Me to the Moon). 1900 - Died this day, Ottokar Eugen Novacek, composer, aged 33. 1901 - Dutch troops under General Van Heutsz conquered Batu Ilia. 1902 - Born this day, Ramon (J) Sender (Garcis), Spanish writer (El Lugar del Hombre). 1902 - Died this day, Isaac Frenchn van der Putten, premier 1866, minister of Cologne. 1903 - Died this day, Frederick E. Kitziger, composer, aged 59. 1903 - Born this day, Priaulx Rainier, composer. 1904 - Born this day, Charlie 'Pretty Boy' Floyd, FBI Most Wanted criminal. 1904 - Born this day, Luigi Dallapiccola, in Pisino Istria, Italian composer. 1906 - Born this day, Ludvig Nielsen, composer. 1907 - Born this day, James A. Mitchner, in New York City, writer (South Pacific, Hawaii, Space). 1908 - The US Supreme Court ruled that a union boycott violated the Sherman Antitrust Act. 1908 - Born this day, Oddbjorn Hagen, in Norway, cross country jumper (Olympic-gold-1936). 1909 - Born this day, Simone Weil, in Paris, mystic, social philosopher, Resistance fighter. 1909 - Died this day, Johann Georg Herzog, composer, aged 86. 1910 - Born this day, Blas Galindo Dimas, in San Gabriel, Mexico, composer (A la Patria). 1910 - Born this day, Nelson Case, in Long Beach, California, TV host (Trash or Treasure). 1911 - Born this day, Jehan [Ariste] Alain, French organist, composer. 1911 - J. Helffrich discovered asteroids #708 Raphaela and #709 Fringilla. 1912 - Born this day, Jacques Soustelle, French minister of information. 1913 - The 16th Amendment to the US Constitution was ratified by Wyoming, giving the US government the power to impose and collect taxes on income. 1914 - Born this day, Cornelis 'Kees' Andrea, painter, graphic artist, carpet designer. 1915 - Born this day, Richard Bales, composer. 1915 - A Turkish attack on the Suez Canal, failed. 1916 - Canada's original Parliament buildings, in Ottawa, burned down. 1916 - Tristan Tzar published the Dada-manifest in Zurich, Switzerland. 1917 - The United States broke off diplomatic relations with Germany after Berlin announced a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare. 1918 - Born this day, Joey Bishop [Gottlieb], in the Bronx, New York, comedian, talk show host (Joey Bishop Show). 1918 - The Twin Peaks Tunnel streetcar tunnel, the longest at 11,920 feet, began service. (Where is it?) 1919 - A Socialist conference was held in Berne, Switzerland. 1919 - Kiev was captured by the Bolsheviks. 1919 - The first meeting of the League of Nations took place in Paris. 1920 - Born this day, Bibi Osterwald, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, actress (Bridget Loves Bernie). 1920 - Born this day, Henry Heimlich, doctor, inventor (Heimlich manoeuver). 1920 - Born this day, Stan Ockers, Belgian bicyclist. 1921 - Died this day, Max Wilhelm Zach, composer, aged 56. 1921 - J. Comas Sola discovered asteroid #945 Barcelona. 1922 - Born this day, Bill Chappell Jr, (Representative-D-Florida, 1969-). 1922 - Born this day, Jean-Pierre Rampal, flutist (Italian Flute Concertos). 1924 - Died this day, Christian R. de Law, South African Boer general, aged 67. 1924 - Died this day, Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president of the United States, in Washington, DC, at the age of 67. 1924 - Alexei Ryko was elected as President of People's commission (succeeding Lenin). 1925 - Died this day, Jap Eden, World champion bicyclist and skater. 1925 - Born this day, John Fiedler, in Platville, Wisconsin, actor (Mr Peterson-Newhart). 1925 - Born this day, Joop C. Swart, publisher, founder (World Press Photo). 1926 - Born this day, Arthur Arfons, auto racer, designer (Green Monster 1964 - 536.71mph). 1926 - Born this day, Hans-Jochen Vogel, leader of West Germany's Social Democrats (SPD). 1926 - Born this day, J. Roy Rowland, (Representative-D-Georgia, 1983-). 1926 - Born this day, Shelley Berman, in Chicago, Illinois, comedian, actor (Son of Blob, Love American Style). 1927 - US President Calvin Coolidge signed a bill into law that created the Federal Radio Commission. This was done 'to bring order out of this terrible chaos'. The president was speaking of America's then unregulated radio stations. 1927 - There was an uprising against the regime of General Carmona in Portugal. 1928 - Born this day, Frankie Vaughan, UK singer. During the 50's he scored twenty UK Top 30 singles including, UK No.2 Green Door. Made an OBE in 1965. Died 17 September 1999 aged 71. 1928 - Born this day, Mr 'Fred' Rogers, in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, kid host (Mr Roger's Neighorhood). 1929 - Born this day, Russell Arms, in Berkeley, California, singer (Your Hit Parade). 1929 - Born this day, Val Doonican, Irish singer and entertainer. 1929 - E. Delporte discovered asteroid #1145 Robelmonte. 1929 - The Revolutionary Socialist Party was formed in Amsterdam. 1930 - US President Herbert Hoover appointed Charles Evans Hughes as Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court. William Howard Taft, resigned as chief justice for health reasons. 1931 - Arkansas legislature passed a motion to pray for the soul of H.L. Mencken after he called the state an 'apex of moronia'. 1931 - A huge earthquake struck New Zealand, almost destroying the towns of Napier and Hastings. 1931 - Died this day, Hans Schardt, Swiss geologist, aged 72. 1931 - Born this day, Giran J.S. Palm, Swedish poet, writer (Hudens Besik). 1932 - Born this day, Maria Itkina, in USSR, sprinter (9 world records). 1932 - Born this day, Peggy Ann Garner, in Canton, Ohio, actress (Little Women, Daisy Kenyon). 1933 - Born this day, Paul S. Sarbanes, (Senator-D-Maryland, 1977-). 1933 - The first interstate legislative conference in the US opened, in Washington DC. 1935 - The jingle We are the Ovaltineys was first sung on radio. 1935 - Born this day, Johnny 'Guitar' Watson, 1976 UK No.35 single I Need It. Died 17 May 1996. 1935 - Born this day, Jeremy Kemp, in Chesterfield, England, actor (Winds of War). 1935 - S. Arend discovered asteroids #1352 Wawel, #1969 Alain and #2689 Bruxelles. 1938 - Died this day, Armando Palacio Valdes, Spanish writer (El Cuarto Poder), aged 84. 1938 - Born this day, Victor C. Buono, US actor (Untouchables). 1939 - Born this day, Deszo Nowak, in Hungary, soccer play (Olympic-gold-1964, 1968). 1940 - Born this day, Angelo D'Aleo, tenor vocals, Dion And The Belmonts, 1959 UK No.1 single A Teenager In Love. 1940 - Born this day, Fran Tarkenton, in Richmond, Virginia, NFL quarterback (New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings), Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback. 1940 - Born this day, Jim Hartz, newscaster (NBC-TV, Innovations). 1941 - Jimmy Dorsey and his orchestra recorded the classic standard, Amapola, on Decca Records. Helen O’Connell and Bob Eberly joined in a vocal duet on this very famous and popular song of the Big Band era. 1941 - Born this day, Bridget Hanley, actress, in Seattle, Washington. Played Candy Pruitt alongside Bobby Sherman in the 1968 TV series Here Come the Brides. (Another source says born in Minneapolis, Minnesota). 1941 - Born this day, Carol Mann, in Buffalo, New York, golfer, LPGA Hall of Fame 1977, won the 1965 US Open. 1943 - Born this day, Dennis Edwards, The Temptations, 1971 US No.1 and UK No.8 single Just My Imagination and re-issued My Girl, a UK No.2 in 1992. 1943 - Born this day, Blythe Danner, in Philadelphia, actress (Butterflies are Free). 1943 - Born this day, Eric Haydock, bass, The Hollies, over 25 top 40 singles since 1963. 1988 UK No.1 single He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother, first released in 1969 and features Elton John on piano. 1943 - Four chaplains drowned after giving up their life jackets to others. 1944 - Born this day, Blythe Danner, actress. 1945 - The Yalta Conference agreed that Russia would enter World War II (WWII) against Japan. 1945 - US aircraft dropped 3,000 tons of explosives on Berlin. 1945 - Died this day, Jose Rolon, composer, aged 62. 1945 - Born this day, Bob Griese, NFL quarterback (Miami Dolphins, 1971 Player of Year). 1945 - Born this day, Willeke Alberti [Verbruggen], singer, actress (Small Truth). 1945 - Born this day, Johnny Cymbal (Mr. Bass Man), AKA Derek (Cinnamon). 1945 - Walt Disney's 3 Caballeros was released. 1945 - Died this day, Roland Freisler, German judge (July 20th plotter). 1946 - The first issue of Holiday magazine appeared. 1946 - Born this day, Stan Webb, Chicken Shack, 1969 UK No.14 single I'd Rather Go Blind. 1947 - Born this day, Melanie Safka, in Astoria, singer, songwriter, 1971 US No.1 and 1972 UK No.4 single Brand New Key. 1947 - Born this day, Dave Davies, rock singer, guitarist, The Kinks, 1964 UK No.1 and US No.7 You Really Got Me, 1967 UK No.2 single Waterloo Sunset, plus 19 other UK top 40 singles. 1947 - Percival Prattis, of Our World in New York City, became the first black news correspondent admitted to the House and Senate press gallery in Washington, DC. 1947 - Died this day, Marc A. 'Pete' Mitscher, US Lieutenant-Admiral (World War II (WWII)-Task Force 58), aged 60. 1947 - A temperature of -81 degrees F (-63 degrees C) was recorded in Snag, Yukon (A North American record). 1947 - Born this day, Chose Alberts, [Krommenhoek], singer (Yet Many Years). 1947 - Born this day, Joe Coleman, baseball pitcher (Washington, Detroit). 1947 - Born this day, Koos Alberts, [Krommenhoek], singer (Nog vele jaren). 1948 - Dick Button became the first world figure skating champion from the US. 1949 - Born this day, Oscar Benton [Ferdinand van Eis], blues singer, guitarist. 1950 - Born this day, Morgan Fairchild [Patsy McClenny], in Dallas, Texas, actress (Falcon Crest). 1950 - Died this day, Karl Seitz, president of Austria. 1950 - Ed, Gene, Joe and Vic - the Ames Brothers - reached the number one spot on the American pop music charts for the first time, as Rag Mop became the most favourite song in the US. The brothers enjoyed many successes with their recording efforts: You You You [1953], The Man with the Banjo and The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane [1954], Tammy and Melody d’Amour [1957]. Ed Ames had been with the Russ Morgan band and, after the brothers split in the late 1950s, went on to enjoy a lucrative television and recording career. He recorded My Cup Runneth Over and Who Will Answer, both hits in the 1960s. He also played Mingo on the Daniel Boone TV series. Ed is fondly remembered for one of the funniest moments of The Tonight Show on NBC when he competed with host, Johnny Carson, in a hand axe-tossing contest. Mingo won - with hilarious results that are still shown in every celebration of The Tonight Show. 1950 - Nuclear physicist Klaus Fuchs was arrested on spy charges. 1951 - Dick Button won the US figure skating title for the sixth time. 1951 - The Tennessee Williams play, The Rose Tattoo, opened on Broadway in New York. 1951 - Born this day, Felipe Munoz, in Mexico, 200 metres backstroke swimmer (Olympic-gold-1968). 1952 - Born this day, Fred Lynn, in Chicago, Illinois, baseball outfielder (Boston, California, Baltimore). 1952 - Born this day, Jack Fields, (Representative-R-Texas, 1981-). 1953 - Marine archeologist Jacques Cousteau became renowned worldwide for documenting his deep sea explorations. His first and most-lasting work, The Silent World, was published on this date. He attracted worldwide attention when he salvaged a 1,000-pound Roman freighter near Marseilles. While in the French navy, he and engineer Emil Gargon invented the aqualung. However, Cousteau is best known for his documentaries and book. 1953 - J. Fred Muggs, a chimp, became a regular on the Today Show. 1954 - Queen Elizabeth II arrived in Australia for the first visit by a reigning monarch. 1954 - Jeen Van de Bergen won the Dutch Eleven Cities Skating race. 1955 - Born this day, Kirsty Wark, TV presenter. 1956 - Born this day, Lee Ranaldo, guitar, Sonic Youth, 1993 UK No.26 single Sugar Kane. 1956 - Born this day, Nathan Lane, actor (Frankie & Johnnie, He Said She Said). 1956 - Born this day, Pamela Cossey, England, model, sister of transsexual Tula. 1956 - Autherine J Lucy was admitted to the University of Alabama, (suspended on 7 February after a riot). 1956 - Toni Sailor became the first Olympic skier to win 3 alpine events. 1957 - Born this day, Tony Butler, bass, Big Country, 1983 UK No.10 single Fields Of Fire plus 14 other UK top 40 singles. 1958 - The Benelux Economic Union Treaty between Belgium, Luxembourg and Netherlands was signed. 1958 - Died this day, Henry Kuttner, science-fiction author (Dark World, As You Were), aged 42. 1958 - Born this day, Lee Crystal, rock musician (Joan Jett & Blackhearts-Ashes in the Wind). 1959 - Born this day, Molly Killingbeck, in Jamaica, 4X400 metres relayer (Olympic-silver-1984). 1959 - Died this day, John F. Buziau, cabaret performer, aged 81. 1959 - An American Airlines Electra crashed into New York's East River, killing 65 people. 1959 - Born this day, Lol Tolhurst, keyboards, The Cure, 1983 UK No.7 single The Love Cats. 1959 - Born this day, Thomas Calabro, actor. 1959 - Died this day, US singer, guitarist and composer Buddy Holly was killed in a plane crash. In bad weather, the plane crashed into a cornfield only minutes after take-off near Mason City, Iowa. He was 22 years old. He was born 7 September 1936 in Lubbock, Texas, USA. His first solo hit was Peggy Sue in 1957. Also killed in the same plane crash were Richie Valenz (Ricardo Valenzuela), aged 17, he was born 13 May 1941 in Los Angeles, California, USA, and the Big Bopper (JP (Jiles Perry) Richardson), aged 24. He was born 24 October 1935 in Sabine Pass, Texas, USA. The plane's pilot was not certified to fly by instruments, which was what he attempted to do. It was determined that he could not see the stars nor the lights below because of the visual obstruction of falling snow, and he misread the instrument panel. Holly had a string of record hits in his short career, including Peggy Sue, That'll Be the Day, and It's So Easy, and set the tone for music in the 1960's. He greatly influenced rock groups and singers that came later, such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan. Valenz had just recorded two back-to-back hits, Donna and La Bamba. The tragic news of the three young entertainers' deaths devastated the world. Holly was buried in his home town of Lubbock, Texas, and more than 1,000 people attended the funeral. Paul McCartney bought the publishing rights to all of Buddy's work in 1976. 1960 - British Conservative Prime Minister Harold Macmillan foreshadowed the decolonisation of Africa, telling the South African parliament: 'The wind of change is blowing through the continent'. 1960 - Died this day, John G. Golden, church reformed vicar, aged 80. 1960 - Born this day, B.J. Jefferson, in Dallas, Texas, actress (Ronnie Laurance-Another World). 1960 - Born this day, Richard Kotzen, rock musician. 1961 - Born this day, Keith Gordon, in New York City, actor (Dressed to Kill, Legend of Billie Jean). 1961 - Died this day, Anna May Wong, actress (Gallery of Mme Lui-Tsang), aged 54. 1961 - Died this day, Viscount Dunrossil, Governor-General of Australia, aged 67. 1961 - New York City recorded its sixth largest snowfall history, 17.4 inches (44.2cm). 1962 - John Uelses pole vaulted a record 489cm. 1962 - President Kennedy banned all trade with Cuba except for food and drugs. 1962 - Born this day, Michele Greene, in Las Vegas, Nevada, actress (Abby Perkins-LA Law). 1964 - Black and Puerto Rican students boycotted New York City public schools. 1964 - American spacecraft Ranger 6 crashed on the moon. 1964 - The British group, The Beatles, received its first gold record award for the single, I Want To Hold Your Hand. The group also won a gold LP award for Meet The Beatles. The album had been released in the United States only 14 days earlier. 1965 - Born this day, Nick Hawkins, guitar, Big Audio Dynamite, 1986 UK No.11 single E=MC2. 1965 - Born this day, Maura Tierney, actress, (ER). 1965 - Geraldine McCullough won the Widener Gold Medal for Sculpture. 1965 - Born this day, Dorcas Wonsavage, in Madison, Wisconsin, cross country skier (Olympics-1994). 1965 - Orbiting Solar Observatory 2 was launched into Earth orbit (552/636 km) 1966 - The first operational weather satellite, ESSA-1, was launched (US). 1966 - Beach Boy Carl Wilson married Annie Hinsche in Los Angeles. 1966 - The first controlled (soft) landing on the moon was made by the Soviet unmanned spacecraft Luna 9 (Lunik 9), at 18:44:52 UT, Latitude 7.08 N, Longitude 295.63 E. It touched down in the Oceanus Procellarum (Ocean of Storms). It was followed by Surveyor 1. 1966 - Died this day, June Walker, aged 65. 1967 - Died this day, Winifred Kingston, aged 72. 1967 - Born this day, Tim Flowers, footballer. 1967 - Producer Joe Meek shot his landlady Violet Shenton and then shot himself at his flat in London, Meek produced The Tornados Telstar, the first No.1 in the States by a British group. 1968 - Born this day, Darren Peacock, footballer. 1968 - One hit wonders The Lemon Pipers went to No.1 on the US singles chart with Green Tambourine. It made No.7 in the UK. 1969 - The Palestine National Congress appointed Yasser Arafat head of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO). 1969 - Died this day, Eduardo C. Mondlane, president Frelimo, Mozambique, murdered. 1970 - Playwright Noel Coward received his knighthood from the Queen at the age of 70. 1971 - Lynn Anderson received a gold record for the single, Rose Garden. The Grand Forks, North Dakota country singer was raised in Sacramento, California. In addition to being a singer, she was California Horse Show Queen in 1966 - an accomplished equestrian. 1971 - Died this day, Jay C. Flippen, actor (Ensign O'Toole), aged 72. 1971 - KTSC TV channel 8 in Pueblo-Colorado Springs, Colorado (PBS) made its first broadcast. 1972 - Died this day, John Litel, actor (Big Boss, Crime Doctor, My Buddy), aged 79. 1972 - The 11th Winter Olympic games and the first Winter Olympics in Asia, opened at Sapporo, Japan. 1973 - Elton John started a three-week run at No.1 on the US with the single Crocodile Rock. His first of 5 US No.1 singles. 1973 - Died this day, Edward Lockspeiser, composer, aged 67. 1973 - President Nixon signed into law the Endangered Species Act. 1975 - Died this day, John Secondari, newscaster (Open Hearing), aged 55. 1975 - Died this day, Robert Evett, composer, aged 52. 1977 - Died this day, Pauline Starke, actress (Dante's Inferno, Viking, Sun Up), aged 76. 1977 - The chairman of the Provisional Military Government in Ethiopia, Brig-Gen Teferi Benti, and his closest associates were executed by supporters of Mengistu Haile Mariam. 1978 - The European Economic Community and China initialled their first trade agreement. 1978 - The TV movie Dead Man's Curve, based on the lives of Jan & Dean, aired on ABC. 1978 - Harry Chapin met with US President Jimmy Carter, to discuss fighting hunger. 1979 - Died this day, Jody Gilbert, actress (Willard, Shaggy, Blonde Dynamite). 1979 - Blondie had their first of 5 UK No.1 singles, with Heart Of Glass. 1979 - The Blues Brothers went to No.1 on the US album chart with Briefcase Full Of Blues. 1979 - The Minnesota Twins traded Rod Carew to California for 4 players. 1980 - Muhammad Ali toured Africa as President Carter's envoy. 1981 - Gro Harlem Brundtland was elected Norway's first woman prime minister following the resignation of Odvar Nordli. 1982 - Columbia Shuttle moved to Vandenberg Air Force Base for mating for STS-3 mission. 1982 - The greatest helicopter lift, at 56,888kg, was made at Podmoscovnoe, USSR. 1982 - John Sharples of England finished disco dancing for 371 hours. 1982 - Porn star John Holmes was ordered to stand trial for murder. 1983 - UK unemployment hit a record high of 3.22 million. 1984 - A sellout crowd of 18,210 at Madison Square Garden in New York City saw Carl Lewis best his own world record in the long jump by 9-1/4 inches. 1984 - A Long Beach, California hospital, announced the birth of the world's first baby conceived by embryo transplant. 1984 - Died this day, Anne Townsend, lacrosse, tennis, field hockey player. 1984 - Died this day, Ravindara Mhatrem, Indian diplomat, killed in England. 1984 - The tenth Space Shuttle Mission - Challenger 4 was launched. 1985 - Appearing at the Studio, Bristol, were Everything But The Girl and The Woodentops. 1986 - President Reagan named a commission to probe the Challenger space shuttle explosion. 1986 - The United States Weather Bureau made it official. January had been a warm month. The average US temperature was 38 degrees - making it the warmest, first month of the year since 1953. 1989 - F.W. De Klerk succeeded PW Botha as leader of South Africa. 1989 - Died this day, John Cassavetes, actor, director (Husbands, Dirty Dozen), aged 59. 1989 - Bill White was named NL president; the first black major-league sports head. 1989 - A Military coup overthrew Alfredo Stroessner, dictator of Paraguay. 1990 - Jockey Billy Shoemaker, aged 58, retired after 40,350 horse races. 1990 - New York Met Darryl Strawberry voluntarily entered an Alcohol rehabilitation centre. 1990 - Bob Dylan started a 6-night residency at London's Hammersmith Odeon. 1990 - Born this day, Cody Newton Gifford, son of Kathie Lee & Frank Gifford. 1990 - For the first time the UK top 3 singles featured non-British and non-American acts. Ireland's Sinead O'Connor, Australia's Kylie Minogue and Belgium's Technotronic. 1991 - Died this day, Nancy Kulp, actress (Jane Hathaway-Beverly Hillbillies), aged 69. 1992 - Argentine President Carlos Menem signed a decree opening all files on Nazis who fled to South America after World War II (WWII). 1992 - In the trial of Manuel Noriega, the defense opened calling Noriega 'our ally in war on drugs'. 1992 - The maximum New York State unemployment benefit was raised to $300 per week. 1992 - The angry rhetoric escalated between the United States and Japan when Japanese Prime Minister Miyazawa accused American workers of lacking a 'work ethic'. 1992 - Pretrial hearings began in Simi Valley, California, in the criminal trial of four Los Angeles police officers accused in the videotaped beating of a black motorist. In 1993, the federal civil rights trial of four police officers charged in the Rodney King beating opened in Los Angeles. 1993 - Cincinatti Red owner Marge Schott was suspended for 1 year due to racist comments. 1993 - Died this day, Karel Goeyvaerts, Flemish composer (8 Horse Bet). 1993 - On this day you could have seen a pre-famous Radiohead appearing at The Wheatsheaf pub, Stoke On Trent, England, tickets were £3.50. 1993 - Appearing at The Wheatsheaf, Stoke On Trent, were Radiohead, tickets were £3.50. 1994 - President Bill Clinton announced the lifting of the US trade embargo against Vietnam, marking a dramatic shift in relations chilled for decades by war and postwar hostility. 1994 - President Boris Yeltsin signed a treaty with Georgia reasserting Russia's military influence in the former Soviet republic. 1994 - The International Court of Justice, in a ruling on a 20-year border dispute, rejected Libya's claim to a huge swathe of neighbouring Chad's territory. 1994 - The US space shuttle Discovery blasted off, carrying five American astronauts and the first Russian cosmonaut aboard a US spacecraft. 1996 - Rap artist Queen Latifah was stopped by a California Highway Patrol officer and arrested for reportedly possession of a concealed, loaded handgun, possession of marijuana, and speeding as she was traveling west on Interstate 10. Pending the results of a sobriety test, she could also face DUI charges. The Grammy-winning singer was known for her anti-drug and anti-violent messages in her music, and was a popular actress on the TV sitcom Living Single. She was given 2 years probation. 1996 - The Ramones claimed to have played their last gig in the UK, at The Brixton Academy, after 22 years together. 1996 - An earthquake measuring 7.0 rocked southwestern China, killing at least 302 people and injuring 15,000. 1996 - Guinean President Lansana Conte reached agreement with the military to end a revolt sparked by a pay dispute. 1996 - A US army sergeant became the first American killed on the Bosnia peacekeeping mission. 1996 - B.B. King guested on CBS-TV's Touched By An Angel. 1997 - Bohumil Hrabal, Czech author of Closely Observed Trains, fell to his death from the fifth floor of a Prague hospital where he was being treated for arthritis. 1998 - Daniel Baldwin, hospitalised after reportedly going on a drug-crazed rampage at a Manhattan hotel, was arrested on criminal drug possession charges. If convicted, Baldwin faced up to two years in prison. Police sources said Baldwin was rushed to the hospital the morning before after suffering a cocaine overdose. Brother of Alec, Stephen, and William Baldwin, Daniel's film credits included Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man, Hero, and Mullholland Falls. He was in New York filming It Had to Be You with Natasha Henstridge. 1998 - Texas executed Karla Faye Tucker, the first female inmate to be put to death by the state in 135 years. 1998 - A US Marines jetfighter, flying low over mountains in Italy, severed a ski lift cable, sending 20 people in a cable car plunging to their deaths. 1999 - Former Vice President Dan Quayle announced he was forming an exploratory committee to consider running for the Republican presidential nomination. He later decided not to run. 2001 - The commercial television regulator warned Granada TV about over-promoting it's manufactured band from the show Pop Stars. It claimed Granada TV would make money from T-shirts, videos and calendars and was 'treading a fine line'. 2002 - The Chemical Brothers went to No.1 on the UK album chart with Come With Us. 2002 - Paul McCartney and Barry Manilow sang at a pre-game concert before Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans. 2002 - The New England Patriots upset the St. Louis Rams in one of the most exciting Super Bowl games ever, 20-17, on Adam Vinatieri's 48-yard field goal as time ran out. 2002 - Home Secretary David Blunkett revealed plans for a radical shake-up to the prison system that would see fewer criminals being locked up. 2003 - Thirty-nine British holidaymakers injured when their tour bus crashed in the US were awarded more than £14m in a record compensation payout. 2003 - The exclusive documentary Living With Michael Jackson was shown on UK television. Reporter Martin Bashir had spent eight months with the star, the show's editor said, 'viewers will not believe what they're seeing'. 2003 - Producer Phil Spector was arrested for allegedly shooting a woman to death in his Alhambra, California home. |
Trivia
Trivia - petty details or considerations, matters or things that are very unimportant, inconsequential, or nonessential; trifles; trivialities.
Trivial - of very little importance or value; insignificant: "Don't bother me with trivial matters." Trivially - unimportant, nugatory, slight, immaterial, inconsequential, frivolous, trifling.