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January 15th
0069 - Died this day, Servius Sulpicius Galba, 6th emperor of Rome (68-69), in succession to Nero, was assassinated by the Praetorian guard in the Forum Rome, at the age of 70. 0708 - Sisinnius began his reign as Catholic Pope. He died 20 days later. 0946 - Caliph al-Mustaqfi was blinded and ousted. 1208 - Died this day, Peter of Castelnau, French nobleman, murdered. 1346 - Emperor Louis IV of Bavaria gave Holland/Zealand to his wife Margaretha. 1432 - Born this day, Afonso V 'the African' king of Portugal (1438-1481). 1507 - Born this day, Johann Oporinus [Herbster], Swiss book publisher (Koran). 1535 - In England, Henry VIII declared himself Supreme Head of the Church under the Act of Supremacy. 1552 - The Treaty of Chambord was signed by Henry II of France and several German princes including Maurice of Saxony who ceded Metz, Toul and Verdun to France. 1559 - Elizabeth Tudor, daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn was crowned at Westminster Abbey as Elizabeth I. 1562 - The 3rd sitting of the Council of Trente opened. 1567 - Born this day, Black Box [Catherine Quinol], in Guadeloupe, vocalist (Love Sensation). 1582 - The peace of Jam-Zapolski was signed between Russia and Poland with Russia ceding Livonia and Estonia to Poland, and in so doing losing its access to the Baltic. 1586 - At the Battle at Boxum, Spanish troops under Tassis beat the state army. 1622 - Moliere, the French dramatist, playwright and actor, was baptized as Jean-Baptiste Moliere (Poquelin), (The Affected Young Ladies, The School for Wives, La Tartuffe, Don Juan, The Misanthrope, The Miser, The Learned Ladies). Died 17 February 1673. 1624 - Riots flared in Mexico when it was announced that all churches were to be closed. 1680 - French explorer Sieur de la Salle built Fort Crevecoeur. 1684 - Died this day, Caspar Netscher, Dutch portrait painter, at the age of about 48. 1697 - The citizens of Massachusetts spent a day of fasting and repentance for their roles in the 1692 Salem Witch Trials. Judge Samuel Sewall, who had presided over many of those 20 capital judgments, published a written confession acknowledging his own 'blame and shame'. 1705 - Died this day, Walraad the Young, Earl of Nassau-Ottweiler, Governor of Nijmegen. 1715 - Born this day, Georg C. Wagenzeil, in Austria, (court) composer, pianist. 1716 - Born this day, Philip Livingston, merchant, signatory to the Declaration of Independence. 1730 - Born this day, John Malchair, composer. 1733 - Born this day, Joseph Lederer, composer. 1742 - Born this day, Eugene Godecharle, composer. 1744 - Died this day, Charles-Hubert Gervais, composer, at the age of 72. 1752 - Tobias Smollett published a pamphlet accusing Fielding of plagiarism. 1754 - There was a riot at the burial of doelist Daniel Raap in Amsterdam. 1755 - Died this day, Azzolino Bernardino Della Ciaia, composer, at the age of 83. 1759 - In London, the British Museum had its grand opening, at Montague House, Bloomsbury, London. 1762 - Fraunces Tavern opened in New York City, NY. 1765 - Died this day, Carlmann Kolb, composer, at the age of 61. 1775 - Died this day, Giovanni Battista Sammartini, composer. 1777 - Vermont declared its independence from Britain and established a republic, which lasted until the state joined the Union in 1791. 1779 - Born this day, Jean Coralli, in Paris, ballet producer, choreographer. 1780 - US Continental Congress established the court of appeals. 1785 - Mozart's string quartet opus 10 premiered. (Where?) 1788 - Died this day, Gaetano Latilla, composer, at the age of 77. 1790 - Fletcher Christian and eight fellow sailors landed on the remote Pitcairn Island in the Pacific after their famous mutiny. 1791 - Born this day, Franz Gillparzer, Austrian tragic dramatist (Golden Fleece). 1793 - Born this day, Ferdinand G. Waldmeller, Austrian painter. 1795 - Born this day, Willem de Clerq, Dutch merchant, man of letters. 1797 - The first top hat was worn by its inventor John Etherington of London. It caused a bit of a stir and he ended up in court, with a £50 fine for disturbing the peace. 1798 - Born this day, Thomas Crofton Croker, Irish story teller (Fairy legends). 1809 - Born this day, Cornelia Connelly, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, founder of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus. 1809 - Born this day, Pierre Joseph Proudhon, in France, politician (libertarian socialist). 1811 - In a secret session, US Congress planed to annex Spanish East Florida. 1812 - Born this day, Peter C. Asbjírnsen, Norwegian fairy tale writer. 1812 - Died this day, Johannes Herbst, composer, at the age of 76. 1813 - Born this day, James Marion Sims, in South Carolina, surgeon, gynaecologist (vesicovaginal operation). 1814 - Born this day, Ludwig Schlafli, Swiss vicar, mathematician. 1815 - Born this day, Henry Morris Naglee, Brigadier General (Union volunteers). Died in 1886. 1816 - Died this day, Henry Harington, composer, at the age of 88. 1817 - Born this day, Lewis Golding Arnold, Brigadier General (Union volunteers). Died in 1871. 1821 - Born this day, Lafayette McLaws, Major General (Confederate Army). Died in 1897. 1823 - Born this day, Mathew Brady, Amrican Civil War photographer. 1826 - Born this day, Mikhail Saltykov, in Spas-Ugol, Russia, radical novelist, satirist (Family of Noblemen). 1831 - The first US-built locomotive to pull a passenger train made its first run. Mr & Mrs Pierson of Charleston, South Carolina made the first US railroad honeymoon trip. 1833 - HMS Beagle anchored at Goeree, Tierra del Fuego. 1841 - Born this day, Lord Frederick Stanley, presenter of hockey's Stanley Cup. 1844 - The University of Notre Dame was chartered under Roman Catholic auspices in Indiana. 1844 - Died this day, Joseph Mazzinghi, composer, at the age of 78. 1845 - Born this day, Ella Flagg Young, first woman president of the National Educational Association. 1845 - Born this day, Heinrich Vogl, composer. 1847 - The first Swedish magazine in the US, Skandinavia, was published in New York City, NY. 1850 - Born this day, Mihail Eminesco [Eminovici], Romanian poet (Samanul Dionis). 1850 - Born this day, Sonya Kurtovsky, in Kovalevsky, Russia, mathemetician (Academy of Science). 1851 - General Arista replaced Mexican President Herrera. 1852 - Mt. Sinai Hospital was incorporated by Sampson Simson and eight associates in New York City. It was the first Jewish hospital in the US. 1858 - Born this day, Giovanni Segantini, in Italy, painter. 1861 - The steam elevator was patented by Elisha Otis. 1863 - Born this day, Adolph Goldschmidt, German historian. 1863 - Born this day, Wilhelm Marx, premier (Prussia). 1863 - The Boston Morning Journal became the first paper in America to be published on wood pulp paper. 1865 - Union troops captured Fort Fisher, North Carolina. 1866 - Died this day, M. T. d'Azeglio, writer. 1866 - Born this day, Nathan Soderblom, Lutheran archbishop, internationalist (Nobel '30). 1866 - Bedrich Smetana's opera Branibori vs Cechach premiered in Prague. 1868 - Born this day, Noach Zjordanija, Georgian veterinarian, premier (1918-21). 1870 - Born this day, Johan Peter Koch, Danish officer, explorer (Greenland). 1870 - On this date in 1870, the first recorded use of a donkey to represent the Democratic Party appeared in Harper's Weekly. Drawn by political illustrator Thomas Nast, the cartoon is entitled 'A Live Jackass Kicking a Dead Lion'. The jackass (donkey) is tagged 'Copperhead Papers', referring to the Democrat-dominated newspapers of the South, and the dead lion represents the late Edwin McMasters Stanton, President Abraham Lincoln's secretary of war during the final three years of the Civil War. In the background is an eagle perched on a rock, representing the postwar federal domination in the South, and in the far background is the US Capitol. Four years later, Nash originated the use of an elephant to symbolise the Republican Party in a Harper's Weekly cartoon entitled 'The Third-Term Panic'. The cartoon referred to the disparaging response by The New York Herald to the possibility that Republican President Ulysses S. Grant might seek a third-term. The New York Herald is depicted as a donkey wearing lion's skin labeled 'Caesarism'. This bogus lion is frightening several timid animals identified with the names of opposing newspapers, such as The New York Times and The New York Tribune, while a berserk elephant, labeled 'Republican vote', is tottering above a chasm labeled 'Chaos' as it tosses to the right and the left the few remaining platform planks holding its weight. The caption of the cartoon reads: An Ass having put on the Lion's skin, roamed about the Forest, and amused himself by frightening all the foolish Animals he met with in his wanderings. 1870 - Born this day, Pierre S. DuPont, industrialist, Chairman of the Board of the DuPont Company, board member of General Motors Corp. [at the same time]; humanitarian. Died in 1954. 1871 - Born this day, Bertram Shapleigh, composer. 1873 - Born this day, Max Adler, Austria sociologist, socialist theorist. 1873 - Lutheran founder of the Missouri Synod, C.F.W. Walther warned in a letter: 'Inactivity is the beginning of all vice.' 1877 - Born this day, Lewis M. Terman, in Indiana, psychologist (developed Stanford-Binet IQ test). 1877 - The US Assay Office in Helena, Montana opened. 1878 - Born this day, Johanna Muller-Hermann, composer. 1879 - Born this day, Ernest Thesiger, in London, England, actor (Bride of Frankenstein, Ghoul). 1880 - The first telephone directory was published by the London Telephone Company. It contained just 255 names. 1882 - Born this day, Florian Znaniecki, Polish/US sociologist (Polish Peasant in Europe). 1882 - The first US ski club was formed in Berlin, New Hampshire. 1886 - Weekly Herald, the first Vancouver, British Columbia newspaper, published its first issue. 1888 - Born this day, Joseph Henabery, in Omaha, Nebraska, director (Cobra). 1891 - Born this day, Osip E. Mandelstam, in Warsaw, Poland, Russian poet (Noise of Time). 1892 - Triangle magazine in Springfield, Massachusetts, published the rules for a brand new game: the one that began by attaching peach baskets to a suspended board. It is now better known as basketball. 1892 - Born this day, Frank Hutchens, composer. 1892 - Born this day, Rex Ingram [Reginald I. M. Hitchcock], writer, director (The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse). Died 21 July 1950. 1893 - Born this day, Dragisa Cvetkovic, Serbian premiere of Yugoslavia (1939-41). 1893 - Born this day, Ivor Novello, in Cardiff, Wales, songwriter, actor, composer, writer. (Lodger, Phantom Fiend, Truth Game). The Annual British songwriting award is named after him. Died 6 March 1951. 1894 - Born this day, Edmond Rubbens, Belgian attorney, minister of colonisation. 1895 - Tchaikovsky's ballet Swan Lake premiered in St Petersburg. 1895 - Albert Trott took 8-43 on his Test debut, then a record. 1895 - The French fleet reached Majunga, Madagascar. 1896 - Born this day, Jacobo Ficher. composer. 1896 - Henry Arthur Jones' Michael and his Lost Angel premiered in London. (Which theatre?) 1896 - Died this day, Matthew B. Brady, US photographer (American Civil War), at the age of about 72. 1899 - Born this day, Goodman Ace, radio and TV actor, writer, columnist, humourist (Better of Goodman). 1899 - Edwin Markham's poem, The Man With a Hoe, was published for the first time. The California school teacher's work was published by the still popular "San Francisco Examiner". 1900 - Born this day, Cesar Domela, Dutch painter (Ferdinand Domela Nieuwenhuis son). 1900 - Born this day, William Heinesen, Faeroes Islands, writer (Noatun). 1900 - SCNEC soccer team was formed. 1902 - Born this day, Abd al-Aziz ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Faisal al-Saud, king of Saudi Arabia. 1904 - Died this day, Eduard Lassen, composer, at the age of 73. 1905 - Coen de Koning became the world champion all-round skater. 1906 - Born this day, Rezso Kokai, composer. 1906 - A. Kopff discovered asteroid #584 Semiramis. 1906 - Willie Hoppe won the billiard championship of the world in Paris, France. He went on to become one of the greatest billiard players of all time. 1906 - Born this day, Aristotle Onassis, in Greece, Greek shipping tycoon. 1907 - The 3-element vacuum tube (vavle in the UK) was patented by Dr Lee de Forest. 1907 - Gold dental inlays were first described by William Taggart, who invented them. 1908 - Born this day, Edward Teller, in Budapest, Hungary, US physicist, father of the H-bomb (Manhattan Project). 1908 - C. Hill and R.J. Hartigan made an 8th wicket partnership of 243 for Australia. 1908 - Born this day, Roberta Bitgood, composer. 1909 - Born this day, Elie Siegmeister, in New York City, NY, composer (Plough & the Stars). 1909 - Born this day, Enrique Sasal y Chapi, composer. 1909 - Born this day, Gene Krupa, drummer, bandleader, (Sing Sing Sing; bandleader: Let Me Off Uptown, Knock Me a Kiss, Chickery Chick, Boogie Blues; films: Some Like it Hot, Ball of Fire, The Gene Krupa Story). Benny Goodman's drummer. Died 6 October 1973. 1909 - Died this day, Ernest Reyer, composer, at the age of 85. 1909 - Died this day, Ernest von Wildenbruch, German playwright, Das Edle Blut, at the age of 63. 1910 - The status and name of the French Congo was changed to French Equatorial Africa. 1911 - Died this day, Wilhelm Berger, composer, at the age of 49. 1911 - Born this day, Cy Feuer, in New York City, NY, Broadway producer (Feuer & Martin-Chorus Line). 1911 - Born this day, Wim Kan, Dutch cabaretier. 1912 - Born this day, Michel Jean-Paul Debre, premier of France (1959-62). 1912 - The first aerial propaganda leaflets to be dropped by plane were used during the Italo-Turkish war. Addressed to the Arabs of Tripolitania, they offered a gold medal and sack of wheat to every man who surrendered. 1912 - The first sickness benefit, unemployment benefit and maternity benefit were introduced in Britain. 1913 - The first telephone line between Berlin and New York was inaugurated. 1913 - Born this day, Lloyd Bridges, in San Leandro, California, US film actor, (Sea Hunt, Roots, High Noon, Airplane!, Airplane 2, The Grace Kelly Story, The Rainmaker, The Great Wallendas, Joe Versus the Volcano; Jeff & Beau’s dad). Died March 1998. 1914 - Born this day, Lord Dacre of Glanton, British historian. 1915 - Died this day, Guillaume Couture, composer, at the age of 63. 1915 - Japan claimed economic control of China. 1915 - Sydney, Kern and Smith's musical Love o' Mike premiered in New York City, NY. 1916 - Born this day, Mikki Doyle, journalist. 1917 - Born this day, Robert Carlyle Byrd, legislator. 1918 - Born this day, Gamal Abdel Nasser, President of Egypt (1954-1970). 1918 - Born this day, Andreas M. Donner, Dutch jurist (constitutional law). 1919 - A two million gallons of molasses 'tidal wave' spilled in Boston, Massachusetts. 21 people were drowned. 1919 - Pianist and statesman Ignace Paderewski became the first premier of Poland. 1919 - Frank Wedekind's Die letzten Tage der Menschheit premieres. (Where?) 1919 - Semana Tragica (Tragic Week) blood-bath hapened in Buenos Aires. 1919 - W. Collison and O. Harbach's Up in Mabel's Room premiered in New York City, NY. 1919 - Died this day, German Communist leader Rosa Luxembourg was murdered along with Karl Liebknecht (at the age of 47), after the failure of their uprising in Berlin. 1919 - Peasants in Central Russia rose up against the Bolsheviks. 1920 - Born this day, John J. "Cardinal" O'Connor Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York. 1920 - Born this day, John Junor, British editor in chief (Sunday Express). 1920 - The Dry Law came into effect in the United States, making the selling liquor and beer illegal. 1920 - The United States approved a $150 million loan to Poland, Austria and Armenia to aid in their war with the Russian communists. 1922 - Born this day, Franz Fehmann, writer. 1922 - Died this day, John Kirk Barry, doctor, explorer, David Livingstone's companion, at the age of 89. 1922 - Irish Free State was formed. Michael Collins became its first premier. 1923 - Lithuania seized and annexed the country of Memel. 1923 - Born this day, Lee Teng-hui, president of ROC (Taiwan), head of KMT (1988- ). 1924 - Died this day, Geza Zichy, composer, at the age of 74. 1924 - The 3rd Dutch government, Ruijs de Beerenbrouck, was formed. 1925 - Hans Luther formed a German government, with DNVP. 1925 - Leon Trostky wrote to the Central Committee resigning from his duties as president of the Revolutionary Military Council. 1925 - Born this day, Ruth Slenczynska, in Sacramento, California, pianist. 1925 - Born this day, Keith Bentley, international racing cyclist. 1926 - Died this day, Enrico Toselli, composer, at the age of 42. 1926 - Born this day, Maria Schell, in Vienna, Austria, actress (Space 1999). 1926 - Born this day, Chuck Berry, Rock N Roll and R&B singer. 1926 - Born this day, Rod MacLeish, broadcast journalist. 1927 - On this day, Dumbarton Bridge, San Francisco was the first bridge to carry cars over the San Francisco Bay. 1927 - Captain Teddy Wakelam gave the first live rugby commentary on BBC radio, of the match between Wales and England at Twickenham. 1927 - Born this day, Francis Routh, composer. 1927 - Born this day, Norm Crosby, in Boston, Massachusetts, comedian (Young at Heart Comedians). 1929 - Born this day, Eva Badura-Skoda, composer. 1929 - Born this day, Martin Luther King Jr. in Altanta, Georgia, USA, civil rights activist and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964: “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal.’”; author: Stride Toward Freedom, Strength to Love, Why We Can't Wait, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?, The Trumpet of Conscience). Assassinated 4 April 1968. 1929 - The US Senate ratified the Kellogg-Briand anti-war pact. 1930 - Amelia Earhart set an aviation record for women, with a speed of 171 mph in a Lockheed Vega. 1930 - George Headley made 176 in the 2nd innings for West Indies v England at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados, (Test no 187). He was out b. Rhodes c. O'Connor. 1930 - Born this day, Earl Hooker (Earl Zebedee Hooker), blues, in Clarksdale, Mississippi. He did, Two Bugs And A Roach and Bertha. Worked with Muddy Waters, Ricky Allen, and Lillian Offitt. Died 21 April 1970 of pulmonary tuberculosis. 1931 - Born this day, Thomas Hoving, in New York City, NY, news correspondent (20/20). 1931 - Born this day, Derek Meddings, special effects technician. 1931 - Born this day, Murad Kazhlayev, composer. 1932 - Born this day, Dean Smith, actor, US relay runner (Olympics gold 1952). 1932 - Born this day, Enrique Raxach, composer. 1932 - Died this day, Georg Kerschensteiner, German educationalist, at the age of 77. 1932 - Born this day, Louis Woodard Jones, in New Rochelle, New York, 4X400m relayer (Olympics gold 1956). 1933 - Born this day, Frank Bough, broadcaster. 1934 - An 8.4 magnitude earthquake in India/Nepal killed 10,700. 1934 - Died this day, Hermann Bahr, Austrian writer, Concert, at the age of 70. 1934 - Died this day, Patrick O'Malley, US policeman, killed by John Dillinger. 1934 - Babe Ruth signed a 1934 contract for $35,000 ($17,000 cut). 1935 - 300 Dutch ice cream salesmen protested against Italian competition. 1935 - Clifford Odets' Waiting for Lefty premiered in New York City, NY. 1935 - Grigori Zinoviev and 18 other members of the "Moscow Centre" were tried in Leningrad for their part in the assassination of Sergei Kirov, secretary of the party committee. 1935 - Born this day, Malcolm Frager, in St. Louis, Missouri, pianist. 1935 - Born this day, Robert Silverberg, US sci-fi author (Hugo, Regan's Planet). 1936 - The non-profit Ford Foundation was incorporated. 1936 - Horace Stoneham was elected president of the New York Giants. 1936 - Died this day, Henry Forster, cricket (Hants & Oxford University, Governor-General of Australia). 1936 - In London, Japan quit all naval disarmament talks after being denied equality. 1936 - The first, all glass, windowless building was completed in Toledo, Ohio as the home of the Owens-Illinois Glass Company Laboratory. 1937 - Born this day, Margaret O’Brien (Angela Maxine O'Brien), in San Diego, California, actress, (Meet Me in St. Louis, Little Women [1949], The Secret Garden [1949], Amy, Jane Eyre). 1939 - Born this day, Charles Christopher Steel, composer. 1939 - In the first NFL pro bowl, the New York Giants beat the All Stars 13-10 in Wrigley Field. 1939 - The Municipal Railway and Market St. Railroad began service to Transbay Terminal. 1940 - A German U-Boot torpedoed a Dutch trade ship Arendskerk (Eagle's Church). 1941 - Born this day, Captain Beefheart (Don Van Vliet), artist, singer, (group: Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band: Diddy Wah Diddy, Hair Pie, Old Fart at Play. Albums, Safe As Milk, Trout Mask Replica, Strictly Personal, Bongo Fury, Shiny Beast). 1942 - Born this day, Edward 'Sonny' Bivens, vocals, The Manhattans, 1976 US No.1 and a UK No.4 single Kiss And Say Goodbye. 1942 - Franklin D. Roosevelt asked the commissioner to continue baseball during World War II (WWII). 1942 - Died this day, Melvin Winfield Sheppard, runner (Olympics gold 1908, 1912), at the age of 58. 1942 - The Cubs dropped plans to install lights at Wrigley due to World War II (WWII). 1942 - Kenny Sargent sang vocals with the Glen Gray Orchestra on Decca Records recording It's the Talk of the Town. 1943 - Born this day, Mike Marshall, Major League Baseball pitcher (1974 Cy Young Award). 1943 - The world's largest office building was completed, just outside of Washington, DC, in Arlington, Virginia. The massive structure covers 34 acres of land and has 17 miles of corridors, and serves as the headquarters of the United States defense effort. 1,000 workers completed the air conditioning system for the Pentagon. 1943 - The Japanese were driven off Guadalcanal. 1943 - First transportation of Jews from Amsterdam to the concentration camp Vught. 1944 - The European Advisory Commission decided to divide Germany. 1944 - General Eisenhower arrived in England. 1944 - The US Fifth Army successfully broke the German Winter Line in Italy with the capture of Mount Trocchio. 1945 - Make Mine Manhattan opened at the Broadhurst Theatre in New York City, NY for 429 performances. 1945 - Every person from Amsterdam got 3 kg sugar beets. 1945 - The Red Army freed the Crakow-Plaszow concentration camp. 1945 - Born this day, Marie-Christine von Leibnitz, German/British princess. 1945 - Born this day, Margaret Beckett, MP and Leader of the House of Commons, Labour cabinet minister. 1945 - Born this day, Princess Michael of Kent. 1945 - Born this day, David Pleat, Tottenham Hotspur director of football. 1945 - Art Linkletter starred on the CBS radio debut of House Party. The show continued on the air for 22 years, including a long stint on CBS television. Linkletter wrote books about experiences with kids on the show. Remember, Kids Say the Darndest Things? This segment of the show - and Art's resulting books - were among the most popular of early daytime television. 1947 - Born this day, Pete Waterman, producer, TV presenter and part of the Stock, Aitken and Waterman team, producing hits for Kylie Minogue, Rick Astley, Steps, plus 1987 UK No.13 hit with Roadblock. 1947 - Born this day, Andrea Martin, in Portland, Maine, actress, comedienne, Emmy Award-winning writer (Wag The Dog, Club Paradise, SCTV). 1948 - Born this day, Ronnie Van Zant, singer, songwriter, Lynyrd Skynyrd. Died in a plane crash at Gillsburg, Mississippi, 20 October 1977. Lynyrd Skynyrd had a 1982 UK No.21 single Freebird. 1948 - Born this day, Dini Petty, Canadian talk show host (CITY-TV). 1948 - Born this day, Tommy Nolan, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, actor (Jody-Buckskin). 1949 - Chinese Communists occupied Tientsin after a 27-hour battle with Nationalist forces. 1949 - Born this day, Howard Allen Twitty, in Phoenix, Arizona, PGA golfer (1979 BC Open). 1949 - Died this day, Black Dahlia, murder victim found in Los Angeles (basis of the movie). 1949 - Died this day, Pompeo Aloisi, Italian baron, diplomat and senator, at the age of 63. 1950 - Born this day, David Lynn Jones, in Bexar, Arizona, country singer (Bonnie Jean). 1950 - 4,000 people attended the National Emergency Civil Rights Conference in Washington DC. 1951 - A 'Cloud of Death' rolled down Mount Lamington, in New Guinea and killed between 3,000 and 5,000 people. 1951 - Born this day, Charo Murcia [Maria Martinez], in Spain, actress, singer (Chico & the Man, Love Boat). 1951 - Born this day, Martha Davis, in California, singer, guitarist, The Motels, Only the Lonely, Shame, 1981 UK No.41 single Days Are OK. 1952 - Born this day, Melvyn Gale, cello, Electric Light Orchestra, 1979 UK No.3 and US No.4 single Don't Bring Me Down, plus 26 other top 40 hits. 1953 - Born this day, Randy White, NFL tackle (Dallas Cowboys). 1953 - A 16 car Federal Express train lost its brakes and crashed in Washington DC station. 1953 - Died this day, Viktor Patrick Vretblad, composer, at the age of 76. 1953 - The German Democratic Republic Minister of Foreign affairs Georg Dertingen, was arrested for "espionage". 1953 - Born this day, Boris Blank, Yello, 1988 UK No.7 single The Race. 1953 - Born this day, Pamela Sue Martin, actress. (Dallas?) 1953 - Born this day, Gareth Hale, UK comedian, (Hale & Pace). 1953 - President Harry S. Truman became the first US President to use radio and television to say farewell as he left office. 1955 - The first solar-heated, radiation-cooled house was built by Raymond Bliss in Tucson, Arizona. He spent $4,000 on materials and labour to build the entire home. 1955 - Died this day, Yves Tanguy, French/American sailor, surrealistic painter. 1955 - Born this day, Enrico Mentana, in Milan, Italy, Italian newscaster (RAI). 1955 - Princess Beatrice performed her first official act, by launching the tanker Vasum. 1955 - Dmitri Shostakovich's From Jewish Folk Poetry premiered in Leningrad. 1955 - The USSR ended the state of war with the German Federal Republic. 1956 - Bauer Marlene won the LPGA Sea Island Golf Open. 1956 - Dmitri Shostakovich was appointed an honorary member of Academia Santa Cecilia. 1956 - Born this day, Vera Sosulya, in USSR, toboggan (Olympics gold 1980). 1956 - KWAB TV channel 4 in Big Spring, Texas (NBC) began broadcasting. 1956 - In the NFL Pro Bowl the East beat the West 31-30. 1956 - Born this day, Paul Parker, cricketer (one Test England vs Australia 1981). 1957 - Born this day, Mario Van Peebles, in Mexico, actor, (Sonny Spoon, Jaws: The Revenge, Hot Shot, Exterminator 2; director, writer, actor: Posse, Panther, New Jack City, South Bronx Heroes). 1957 - Born this day, Julian Sands, actor, (Leaving Las Vegas, Grand Isle, Naked Lunch, Husbands and Lovers, Room with a View, The Killing Fields). 1957 - Born this day, Mario Van Peebles, actor. 1957 - The Brooklyn Dodgers signed a new 3 year lease for Ebbets Field. 1958 - The New York Yankees signed a million dollar plus deal to show 140 games on WPIX TV. 1958 - The Everly Brothers made their debut on British TV appearing on The Perry Como Show. 1958 - Born this day, Julian Sands, actor (One Night Stand). 1959 - Born this day, Peter Trewavas, in Middlesbrough, England, bass guitarist, Marillion, 1985 UK No.2 single Kayleigh, (Lavender, Heart of Lothian, Clutching at Straws, Real to Reel). 1960 - Born this day, Tim Curtis, cricketer (England right hand batsman in 5 Tests 1988-89). 1961 - Born this day, Iris DeMent, in Paragould, Arizona, country singer (Our Town). 1961 - Born this day, Damian O'Neill, guitarist, The Undertones, 1980 UK No.9 single My Perfect Cousin. 1961 - Died this day, Francesco Maria Saraceni, composer, at the age of 49. 1961 - In the NFL Pro Bowl the West beat the East 35-31. 1961 - Suggs wins LPGA Sea Island Women's Golf Invitational Open. 1961 - The Supremes signed with Motown Records. 1962 - In the 50th Australian Mens' Tennis, Rod Laver beat R. Emerson (8-6 0-6 6-4 6-4). 1962 - The Dutch and Indonesian navies had an encounter in Etna Bay, New Guinea. 1962 - Died this day, Kenneth MacKenna, actor Men Without Women, of cancer aged 62. 1962 - Yves Saint-Laurent, protégé of Christian Dior set up his Paris fashion house. 1963 - Born this day, Erling Kagge, in Norway, explorer (South Pole). 1963 - Born this day, Lijuan Geng Hebei, in China, Canadian tennis player (Olympics 1996). 1963 - Born this day, Richard Nasheim, hockey forward (Team Austria 1998). 1963 - Born this day, Yaro Dachniwsky, in Chicago, Illinois, team handball goalie (Olympics 1996). 1964 - Born this day, Cees van der de Linden, soccer player. 1964 - Born this day, Paula Schnurr, in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, 1.5k (Olympics 1988, 1992, 1996). 1964 - The soundtrack album of the musical, The King and I, starring Yul Brynner, earned a gold record. 1964 - Died this day, Weldon John "Jack" Teagarden, US jazz trombonist, singer, at the age of 58. 1964 - Baseball agreed to hold a free-agent draft in New York City, NY. 1964 - Teamsters negotiated the first national labor contract. 1965 - Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, Michingan was formed. 1965 - Died this day, Pierre Ngendandumwe, premier of Burundi, murdered. 1965 - Sir Winston Churchill suffered a severe stroke. 1965 - The Who released their first single I Can't Explain. With Jimmy Page on guitar and The Ivy League on backing vocals, it went on to reach No.8 on the UK chart. 1965 - Born this day, Derek B, rock musician (Bullet from a Gun). 1965 - Born this day, Michael Clemons, CFL running back (Toronto Argonauts). 1965 - Born this day, James Nesbitt, actor. 1966 - Died this day, Betsy Mitchell, US 100m backstroke swimmer, at the age of 25. 1966 - In the AFL Pro Bowl the All-Stars beat Buffalo 30-19. 1966 - In the NFL Pro Bowl the East beat the West 36-7. 1966 - Petula Clark's My Love entered the Billboard charts, eventually reaching No.7. 1967 - Died this day, Albert Szirmai, composer, at the age of 86. 1967 - The Green Bay Packers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl I held in Los Angeles. The Most Valuable Player of the game was Packers' quarterback, Bart Starr. Max McGee scored the first touchdown of the game. Some 61,946 fans attended the game at ten bucks a ticket. Green Bay 35, Kansas City 10. 1967 - Some 462 Yale faculty members called for an end to the bombing in North Vietnam. 1967 - Born this day, Lisa Velez, singer, Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam. 1987 US No.1 single Head To Toe. 1967 - Ed Sullivan told the Rolling Stones to change the lyrics and the title to the song, Let's Spend the Night Together, or not appear on his show. So, the Stones gave in, changing the tune to Let's Spend Some Time Together. (Another source say the lyrics were changed to - "let's spend our lives together"). Also have the following supplied by a reader - 1967 - Although the Rolling Stones did agree to change the lyrics, if you watch video of the show in question you will hear the original lyrics of the song and also see Mick Jagger cast a nasty look at Ed Sullivan when he sings the words "lets spend the night together". 1967 - Born this day, Richard Blakey, cricketer (England wicket-keeper in India 1993). 1967 - Born this day, Ted N. Tryba, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, PGA golfer (1995 Anheuser-Busch Golf). 1967 - The Buckinghams began recording Don't You Care. 1967 - The Fastest Guitar Alive movie with Roy Orbison and Sheb Wooley premiered in New York. 1968 - Born this day, Bob Dahl, NFL guard (Washington Redskins). 1968 - Born this day, Felton Spencer, NBA center (San Francisco Warriors). 1968 - KDCD TV channel 18 in Midland, Texas (IND) began broadcasting. 1968 - Born this day, Laurie Fellner, in Appleton, Wisconsin, team handball goalie (Olympics 1992, 1996). 1968 - Born this day, Steve McConaghy, Australian soloing yachter (Olympics 1996). 1968 - Born this day, Chad Lowe, in Dayton, Ohio, actor, (Life Goes On, Siringo, Apprentice to Murder, Spencer, An Inconvenient Woman, True Blood, Silence of the Heart), brother of actor, Rob Lowe. 1968 - Died this day, Bill Masterson, first NHLer fatally injured during game (injured on 13 January). 1968 - Died this day, John Davidson, actor (Dick Tracy vs Crime Inc), at the age of 80. 1968 - Died this day, Leopold Infeld, Polish nuclear physicist (Motion & Relativity), at the age of 69. 1969 - Soyuz 5 was launched by the Soviet Union. 1969 - Died this day, Theodor Werner, German painter, at the age of 82. 1969 - Soviet three-man Soyuz 5 spacecraft was launched on a mission to dock with Soyuz 4, which was launched the previous day. 1969 - Born this day, Adam Burt, in Detroit, Michigan, NHL defenseman (Hartford Whalers). 1969 - Born this day, Delino DeShields, in Seaford, Delaware, infielder (Montreal Expos, Los Angeles Dodgers). 1969 - Born this day, Demetra Hampton, actress (Valentina). 1969 - Born this day, Leonard Wheeler, NFL safety, cornerback (Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings). 1969 - A nuclear test was performed in the Pacific Ocean. (Who by?) 1969 - Born this day, Marsha Miller, in Rochester, New York, WPVA volleyballer (National-17th-1995). 1969 - Born this day, Rob van Dijk, Dutch soccer player (Feyenoord). 1969 - Born this day, Rod de Highden, Australian 5k/10k/marathoner (Olympics 1996). 1969 - Born this day, Siupeli Malamala, NFL guard, tackle (New York Jets). 1969 - Born this day, Ice Cube, 1994 UK No.22 single Bop Gun, US No.1 US album The Predator, NWA, 1990 UK No.26 single Express Yourself. 1970 - The Milwaukee Brewers made their first trade, with the Oakland A's. 1970 - In Nigeria, Biafran forces under General Effiong formerly surrendered to General Yakabu Gowon. The Republic of Biafra disbanded and joined Nigeria. 1970 - Israeli archaeologists reported uncovering the first evidence supporting the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD by military forces of the ancient Roman Empire. 1970 - Born this day, Dan Landry, in San Diego, California, volleyball opposite hitter (Olympics 1996). 1970 - Born this day, Elroy Kromheer, soccer player (FC Volendam). 1970 - Born this day, Michele Granger, in Anaheim, California, softball pitcher (Olympics gold 1996). 1971 - Chase recorded Get It On. 1971 - Died this day, John Dall, actor, Corn is Green, Rope, of a heart attack aged 50. 1971 - George Harrison released My Sweet Lord. 1971 - Ari opened at the Mark Hellinger Theatre in New York City, NY, for 19 performances. 1971 - Born this day, LeShon Johnson, running back (Arizona Cardinals). 1971 - Born this day, Regina King, in Los Angeles, California, actress (Brenda Jenkins-227). 1971 - The Aswan Dam was officially opened by President Sadat of Egypt and President Podgorny of the Soviet Union. 1971 - Born this day, Tommy Johnson, footballer. 1972 - Elvis Presley, who was also censored from the waist down by Ed Sullivan, reportedly drew the largest audience for a single TV show to that time. Elvis presented a live, worldwide concert from Honolulu. 1972 - Margrethe II was proclaimed Queen of Denmark following the death of her father Frederick IX. 1972 - Don Mclean's American Pie, started a 4 week run at No.1 in the US singles chart, it was his only US No.1, it reached No.2 on the UK chart. 1972 - Born this day, Ernie Reyes Jr, in San Jose, California, actor (Ernie-Sidekicks). 1972 - Born this day, Kimberly Anne Massaro, in St. Louis, Missouri, Miss Missouri-America 5th (1996). 1972 - Heavyweight boxer Joe Frazier knocked out Terry Daniels. (Where, how many rounds). 1973 - Luna 21 landed on Moon at 23:35:00 UT, Latitude 25.85 N, Longitude 30.45 E, in the LeMonnier Crater. Lunar Rover - Lunokhod 2 was also landed ans tested. 1973 - Born this day, Daniel Nijhof, Dutch soccer player (FC Twente). 1973 - Born this day, Randy Srochenski, CFL linebacker (Saskatchewan Roughriders). 1973 - Four of the six remaining Watergate defendants pleaded guilty. 
1973 - Golda Meir became the first Israeli prime minister to be received by the pope. 1973 - US President Nixon ordered the termination of all military attacks against North Vietnam after progress in the Paris peace talks. 1973 - Died this day, Jef Alpaerts, Flemish pianist, conductor, at the age of 68. 1973 - Gene Shalit joined the Today Show panel. 1973 - Pope Paul VI had an audience with Golda Meir at the Vatican. 1974 - Died this day, Karel Salmon, composer, at the age of 76. 1974 - An expert panel reported that there was an 18 and a 1/2 metre gap in Watergate tape - 5 separate erasures. 1974 - The first episode of the half-hour sitcom Happy Days aired on ABC. The show, which ranked Number 1 in the 1977 Nielsen ratings, made a star of Henry Winkler, who played Arthur 'Fonzie' Fonzarelli, and he received a Golden Globe for his portrayal of the street-savvy biker. Other cast members included Ron Howard, Tom Bosely, Marion Lorne, and Erin Moran. The comedy launched two spin-offs: Laverne and Shirley and Joanie Loves Chachi. Happy Days originated as a 1972 skit on Love, American Style. It ran for 11-years on ABC TV. 1974 - Born this day, Aubrey Jo Hiller, in Missoula, Montana, Miss Montana-America (1996). 1974 - In the 24th NBA All-Star Game, the West beat the East 134-123 at Seattle. 1974 - Born this day, Mike Minter, safety (Carolina Panthers). 1975 - Born this day, Greg Loveridge, cricketer (New Zealand leg-spinner, did not bowl vs Zimbabwe 1996). 1975 - Space Mountain opened at Disneyland. 1975 - Portugal signed an accord for Angola's independence. 1975 - Born this day, Mary Pierce, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, tennis star (1995 Australian Open). 1976 - Sara Jane Moore was sentenced to life in prison for attempting to shoot President Ford. 1976 - The US-German Helios B solar probe was launched into solar orbit. 1976 - Paul Simonon auditioned for The London SS. The band went on to become The Clash. 1976 - The USSR performed a nuclear test at Eastern Kazakstan/Semipalatinsk USSR. 1977 - Abba scored their second UK No.1 album when Arrival went to the top of the charts. 1977 - The Coneheads debuted on Saturday Night Live. 1977 - Jane Blalock won the LPGA Colgate Triple Crown Golf Tournament. 1977 - Linda McCartney was voted to the top ten most-watchable women list by the Bachelors Club. 1977 - Actor and singer David Soul had his first of two No.1 UK singles with Don't Give Up On Us. 1977 - UK singer Leo Sayer went to No.1 on the US singles chart with You Make Me Feel Like Dancing, it was the first of two US No.1's for the singer, it made No.2 in the UK. 1977 - The Eagles went to No.1 on the US album chart with Hotel California. It was the groups third US No.1 album. 1978 - Died this day, Margaret Bowman and Lisa Levy, Chi Omega, Florida State University, killed by Ted Bundy. 1978 - At Super Bowl XII, the Dallas Cowboys beat the Denver Broncos, 27-10 in New Orleans. Super Bowl Most Valuable Player was Harvey Martin, Dallas, DE & Randy White, Dallas, Defensive Tackle. 1980 - Piaf! by Pam Gems premiered in London. 1980 - The Ramones appeared live on UK BBC TV's The Old Grey Whistle Test. 1981 - Bob Gibson was elected to Baseball's Hall of Fame. 1981 - Died this day, Emanuel Celler, (Representative-D-New York, 1923-73), at the age of 92. 1981 - On this date in 1981, Hill Street Blues, television's landmark cops-and-robbers drama, debuted on NBC-TV. When Hill Street Blues first appeared, the police show had pretty much been given up for dead. Critics savaged stodgy and moralistic melodramas, or scoffed at lighter fare like Starsky and Hutch. Steven Bochco's first show invigorated television, paving the way for more realistic and gritty fare. Hill Street Blues was set in an anonymous northern city (the exteriors were actually filmed in Chicago) and was the first real attempt by television to portray police officers as fallible human beings. Each episode began with the 7 a.m. roll call led by Sergeant Ezterhaus. He closed the roll call with his trademark refrain, "Let's be careful out there." Hill Street Blues not only changed the way that Americans viewed police officers, it also revolutionized the television drama itself. The show resisted formula and introduced the ensemble cast. Whereas early cop shows like Dragnet and Adam-12 were centered around a couple of officers who always got their man by the end of the hour, the full squad house of regulars on Hill Street Blues rarely resolved cases in one episode. Hill Street Blues was acclaimed through its entire run. When it ended in May 1987, it had won a record number of Emmy awards. (How many?) 1981 - Appearing at Plymouth Poly, Gary Glitter, tickets were £2.75. 1982 - Harry Casey of KC & The Sunshine Band was seriously injured in a head-on car crash. It took him over a year to recover. 1982 - A. Mrkos discovered asteroid #4277 Holubov. 1982 - Died this day, Red Smith, sportscaster (Pulitzer, Fight Talk), at the age of 76. 1982 - Forbidden Broadway by and with Gerard Alessandrini, premiered in New York City, NY. 1983 - The Hartford Whalers had their smallest crowd of 4,812 during a blizzard. They beat the Devils. 1983 - Dutch political party DS'70 disbanded. 1983 - Javed Miandad and Mudassar Nazar made a 451 stand vs India. 1983 - Died this day, Meyer Lansky, reputed mobster, died in Miami Beach, Florida at the age of 81. 1983 - Thom Syles kept a life saver intact in his mouth for over 7 hours. 1983 - Died this day, Shepperd Strudwick, actor, Psychomania, died of cancer at the age of 75. 1983 - A new pop music show was launched by Channel 4 TV called Gastank hosted by ex Yes keyboard player Rick Wakeman and Tony Ashton from Ashton, Gardner & Dyke. 1983 - Men At Work started a four week run at No.1 in the US singles chart with Down Under, the group's second US No.1, it was also a No.1 in the UK. 1983 - Phil Collins had his first UK No.1 single with You Can't Hurry Love. It was a hit for The Supremes in 1966. 1984 - Hana Mandlikova ended Martina Navratilova's 54-match winning streak. (Where, what score?) 1984 - Schonbrun skated a world record 5 km in 7 minutes 39.44 seconds. 1985 - Civil rights activist Tancredo Neves became the first elected President of Brazil in 21 years. 1985 - K. Suzuki and T. Urata discovered asteroid #3733. 1985 - The Bollingen Prize for poetry was awarded to John Ashbery and Fred Chapell. 1985 - Mike Gatting and Graeme Fowler both scored 200's vs India. 1985 - The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences honoured actress, Myrna Loy, at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The 79-year-old actress never received a nomination by the Academy, though she appeared in 120 films. 1985 - Singer Sheena Easton married record company executive Rob Light. 1986 - Died this day, James H. [Jim] Crowley, US football player (Notre Dame), at the age of 83. 1986 - Living Seas opened at the World Showcase in EPCOT, Walt Disney World. 1987 - Died this day, Dolores Hawkins, singer, Guy Mitchell Show, at the age of 58. 1987 - Died this day, Ray Bolger, actor, dancer, Wizard of Oz, at the age of 82. 1987 - Died this day, Gerrit Borgers, Dutch literary, at the age of 69. 1987 - Paramount Home Video reported that, for the first time, it would place a commercial at the front of one of its video releases: a 30-second Diet Pepsi ad at the beginning of Top Gun. The idea was that Paramount would be able to reduce the price of the video to consumers by $3. The difference would be made up with Pepsi money and more consumers would buy the Tom Cruise flick rather than more expensive videos without the commercial. 1988 - Died this day, Sean MacBride, in Ireland, commander of Irish Republican Army, at the age of 83. 1988 - An Arab uprising in Israel began. 1988 - E. Bowell discovered asteroid #4489. 1988 - Jimmy 'The Greek' Snyder made racist remarks about black athletes. 1988 - Kiran More stumped five West Indian batsman at Madras, a world Test record. 1988 - Narendra Hirwani took 16-136 (8-61 & 8-75) vs West Indies on his Test debut. 1988 - S. Ueda and H. Kaneda discover asteroid #5556. 1989 - Died this day, Wilf Slack, cricketer. 1989 - Ain't Misbehavin' closed at the Ambassador Theatre in New York City, NY after 176 performances. 1989 - At the 10th ACE Cable Awards HBO won 35 awards. 1989 - Betsy King won the LPGA Jamaica Golf Classic. 1989 - Big John Studd won World Wrestling Federation's (WWF) first Royal Rumble. 1989 - A Cerberal Palsy telethon raised $22,600,000. 1989 - Endate and Watanabe discovered asteroid #4042 Okhotsk and #5734 Noguchi. 1989 - M. Yanai and K. Watanabe discovered asteroid #5121 Numazawa. 1990 - The Bulgarian parliament formally scrapped the Communist Party's monopoly on power, clearing the way for multi-party democracy. 1990 - Died this day, Gordon Jackson, actor, Hamlet, died after a short illness aged 66. 1990 - 42 year old George Foreman knocked out George Cooney in 2 rounds. 1990 - AT&T experienced long distance problems due to a computer glitch. 1990 - New York Knicks Trent Tucker scored with 1/10 second to go. They beat the Bulls 109-106. 1990 - At the 6th Soap Opera Digest Awards, Knots Landing won. 1990 - Blue Jay Cecil Fielder signed with Detroit as a free agent. 1991 - The United Nations (UN) deadline for Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait passed - they didn't withdraw. 1991 - Australia beat New Zealand 2-0 to win the World Series Cup. 1991 - F. Borngen discovered asteroid #6320 Bremen, #6396 Schleswig and #7873. 1992 - Died this day, Dee Murray, bass player with the Elton John band. 1992 - Died this day, Judy Collins' son, Clark, was found dead of carbon monoxide poisoning in St. Paul, Minnesota. 1992 - The European Commission (EC) granted diplomatic recognition to Slovenia and Croatia, essentially recognising the dismemberment of Yugoslavia. 1992 - The US Supreme Court ruled 5-3 that Joseph Doherty wasn't entitled to asylum. 1992 - Bulgaria recognised Macedonia. 1992 - A cleaning woman found intimate photos of Sarah Ferguson with a US man. 1993 - Body of Evidence, starring Madonna, opened in US movie theatres to mixed reviews. 1993 - Soap opera Santa Barbara had its final showing on NBC TV. 1993 - Died this day, Henry Iba, basketball coach, at the age of 88. 1993 - Top mafia leader Salvatore 'Toto' Riina was arrested in Palermo. 1993 - Died this day, Huub H. Jacobse, Dutch MP (VVD), at the age of 68. 1993 - A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck northern Japan, 2 people died. 1993 - Died this day, Ken Cory, of AIDS aged 51. 1993 - Died this day, Sammy Cahn [Cohen], US songwriter, Bei Mir Bist Du Schon, at the age of 79. 1994 - Died this day, Gyorgy Cziffra, Hungarian/French pianist, (Chopin/Liszt), at the age of 72. 1994 - Queen Elizabeth II of the UK, fell off her horse and broke her left wrist. 1994 - Died this day, Harry Nilsson, singer, songwriter, musician, recorded Everybody's Talkin' from the film Midnight Cowboy and wrote hits for Three Dog Night, and the Monkees. Had a UK and US No.1 single with his version of Badfinger's Evans and Ham song Without You. Died at the age of 52 of a heart attack in his sleep. 1994 - S. Ueda and H. Kaneda discovered asteroid #7138. 1994 - Died this day, Philippe Brun, jazz trumpeter, at the age of 85. 1994 - Turkmenistan President Saparmurat Niyazov won an extra five years in power in a referendum. 1994 - In the 15th ACE Cable Awards HBO won 34 awards, and Showtime won 10. 1994 - A Hague motorist with a blood-alcohol concentration of .51%, broke the previous Dutch record of .47%. 1995 - Died this day, Sollie McElroy, singer, at the age of 61. 1995 - Dawn Coe-Jones won the LPGA Chrysler-Plymouth Tournament of Golf Champion. 1995 - The San Diego Chargers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 17-13 for the AFC championship. 1995 - The San Francisco 49ers beat the Dallas Cowboys for the NFC championship. 1995 - Southern Alabama began using new telephone area code 334. 1995 - Western Washington began using new telephone area code 360. 1996 - Died this day, Les Baxter, singer, orchestra leader, composer, Born Again, at the age of 73. 1996 - Died this day, Moshushu II, King of Lesotho (1966-90), at the age of 51. 1996 - U. Munari and M. Tombelli discovered asteroid #7794. 1996 - Died this day, Richard Charles Cobb, historian, at the age of 78. 1996 - Greek Socialist Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou resigned for health reasons. 1996 - King Moshoeshoe II of Lesotho died in a car accident. His wife, Queen Mamohato, took over as regent. 1997 - During a heated Chicago vs. Minneapolis basketball game, Chicago Bulls star Dennis Rodman brazenly kicked a courtside cameraman in the groin. Rodman later claimed it was an accident, but the incident was captured from several angles by other cameramen, and was seen by millions of people across the country. Eugene Amos, the cameraman, was treated at a hospital and then released - the extent of his injuries were not released. Prosecutors told the press later that they were considering assault charges against Rodman. If suspended, it would be the second of the season for the temperamental, flamboyant athlete. Rodman was later suspended from 23 games and heavily fined; the suspension was the second-longest in NBA history. A few days later, a financial settlement between Amos and Rodman was reached; Amos received $200,000 from Rodman. 1997 - Died this day, Jose Ignacio Domecq, wine maker, at the age of 82. 1997 - Died this day, Kenneth Thimann, botanist, at the age of 92. 1997 - Chicago Bull Dennis Rodman kicked cameraman, Eugene Amos, in the groin. 1997 - Space Shuttle Atlantis docked with the Mir Space Station. 1998 - Died this day, Amos 'Junior' Wells, blues harpist, at the age of 63. 1998 - NASA announced that John Glenn, at the age of 76, may fly in space again. 1998 - Died this day, Gulzarilal Nanda, temporary Prime Minister of India (1964, 1966). 1998 - King Hassan II made former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali a member of the Commander of the Arch, one of Morocco's top honours. 1998 - At the age of 43, Denzel Washington joined the select ranks of other great actors when, as guest of honour, he plunged his hands and feet into wet cement outside Mann's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. 1999 - Police said Russell Jones, age 29, known as ODB, a performer with the rap group Wu-Tang Clan, fired at under-cover officers after they stopped his sport utility vehicle for a routine traffic violation in Brooklyn. The officers fired four or five shots back, but no one was hurt. Jones was charged with attempted murder in the first degree, attempted murder in the second degree and criminal weapons possession. The principal charge carried a maximum penalty of 25 years to life. Jones, a founding member of Wu-Tang Clan, had already had several run-ins with the law, including four arrests in the previous year for menacing security officers, alleged shoplifting, and threatening a former girlfriend. After spending a week in jail, Jones posted $150,000 bail. 1999 - Died this day, UK singer Marion Ryan, one of the first stars to be made by television. 1958 UK No.5 single Love Me Forever. 2001 - Railtrack announced it faced a likely £600m bill for restoring the railways following the Hatfield crash. 2002 - Health Secretary Alan Milburn unveiled plans to allow the private sector, charities and universities to manage failing hospitals. 2002 - 1980's pop legend Adam Ant was admitted to a mental ward 24-hours after being charged by police with pulling a gun on staff in a London pub. 2003 - Lou Rawls is arrested for battery in Albequerque. |
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.