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January 18th
1401 - King Wladislaw II Jagiello of Poland appointed his cousin, Witold Grand Prince of Lithuania. 1485 - Henry VII of England married Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of Edward IV, uniting the houses of Lancaster and York. 1644 - A UFO was sighted in America by Pilgrims in Boston. 1701 - Frederick III of Brandenburg was crowned Frederick I, king of Prussia. 1778 - Captain James Cook discovered and named the Sandwich Islands in honour of the Earl of Sandwich, the first lord of the British Admiralty. The people who lived there called them Hawaii, now the 50th of the United States. Actually, these islands had been discovered long before this day by the Polynesians. Other explorers before Cook probably stopped at the Hawaiian Islands as early as the 1500s. However, it was Cook who spread the word of the existence of this group of tropical isles to the rest of the world. 1779 - Born this day, Peter Mark Roget, physician, scholar, lexicographer, inventor, log-log sliderule, the man behind the thesaurus. Died 12 September 1869. 1782 - Born this day, Daniel Webster, US statesman, (“Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable.”; subject of Benet’s The Devil and Daniel Webster). Died 24 October 1852. 1865 - Born this day, Konstantin Stanislavsky, Russian actor and teacher of method acting. 1871 - William I of Prussia proclaimed the first emperor of Germany in the hall of mirrors at the Palace of Versailles. 1879 - The first international football match between England and Wales took place. England won 2-1. It was held at the Oval in London. 1882 - Born this day, A. A. Milne (Alan Alexander), English author. His books for children were based on the teddy bear and other toys of his son Christopher Robin (Winnie the Pooh 1926 and The House at Pooh Corner 1928). He also wrote children's verse (When we were very young 1924 and Now we are six 1927) and plays, including an adpatation of Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows as Toad of Toad Hall 1929. Died 31 January 1956. 
1884 - Born this day, Arthur Ransome, author of the Swallows and Amazons series of childrens books. 1886 - The Hockey Association was formed in England. This date is celebrated as the birthday of modern field hockey. 1892 - Born this day, Oliver Norvell Hardy, Jr., comedian and actor, vaudeville team with Stan Laurel, (over 200 Laurel and Hardy feature films, most from the early 1930s) Died 7 August 1957. 1896 - The x-ray machine was exhibited (in New York City) for the first time. To see the machine, one had to pay a 25¢ admission charge. 1904 - Born this day, Cary Grant (Archibald Alexander Leach), actor, screen legend and Hollywood heartthrob for 30 plus years, married Dyan Cannon in 1965. Films include She Done Him Wrong, Bringing Up Baby, The Philadelphia Story, Arsenic and Old Lace, To Catch a Thief, North by Northwest. Apparently he never said, Judy, Judy, Judy. Died 29 November 1986. 1911 - US pilot Eugene Ely became the first person to land a plane on the deck of a ship. He landed a Curtiss aircraft on a platform on the cruiser Pennsylvania in San Francisco Bay. 1912 - British explorer Captain Robert Falcon Scott reached the South Pole - only to find that Norwegian Amundsen had arrived 35 days earlier. 1913 - Born this day, Danny Kaye (David Daniel Kaminski), comedian, dancer, singer, actor, (Up In Arms (1944) with Dinah Shore, Hans Christian Anderson, The Kid from Brooklyn (1946), The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947), White Christmas, The Court Jester (1955), The Danny Kaye Show; UNICEF ambassador; broadcaster: partner in Kaye/Smith Broadcasting: KJR AM/FM, Seattle, KJRB, Spokane). Died 3 March 1987. 1919 - The Versailles peace conference ending World War I (WWI) opened. It was chaired by French Premier Georges Clemenceau. 1929 - "New York Daily Mirror" columnist, Walter Winchell made his debut on radio, broadcasting a blend of political commentary and celebrity gossip to ‘Mr. and Mrs. America’. His quick-jabbing, penetrating manner became his trademark. And so did his fedora hat. 1931 - Born this day, Evelyn Lear, opera singer. 1933 - Born this day, John Boorman, filmmaker. 1933 - Born this day, Ray Dolby, inventor. (Dolby noise reduction). 1933 - The 'bodyline bowling' row flared up in an Australian v England Test match in Adelaide. 1933 - Born this day, Dr David Bellamy, botanist. 1934 - Born this day, Raymond Briggs, children’s author, illustrator. 1936 - Died this day, Rudyard Kipling's, British poet, writer, famous for The Jungle Book. 1937 - CBS radio introduced listeners to Aunt Jenny’s Real Life Stories for the first time. A complete story was told in five, 15-minute episodes which aired from Monday through to Friday each week. Aunt Jenny was played by Edith Spencer and, later, by Agnes Young. The show continued on radio until 1956 and was sponsored over the years by Spry shortening and Lux soap. Aunt Jenny's whistling canary was played by animal imitator, Henry Boyd. 1937 - Horse drawn traffic was banned from large parts of London's West End. 1937 - Born this day, John Hume, politician. 1939 - Louis Armstrong and his orchestra recorded Jeepers Creepers on Decca Records. Satchmo lent his vocal talents to this classic jump tune. 1941 - Born this day, Bobby Goldsboro, singer, 1968 US No.1 and UK No.2 single Honey, See the Funny Little Clown, Summer: The First Time, Watching Scotty Grow. 1941 - Born this day, David Ruffin [Davis Eli Ruffin], lead singer, The Temptations; solo: My Whole World Ended [The Moment You Left Me], Walk Away From Love, 1971 UK No.8 single Just My Imagination and re-issued My Girl UK No.2 in 1992, Stand By Me [with brother, Jimmy]. Died 1 June 1991. 1941 - One of the greatest race horses of his time, Epinard, was stolen during the German occupation of France. One newspaper account disclosed that the famous equine was being used as a delivery wagon horse. 1943 - US commercial bakers stopped selling sliced bread. Only whole loaves were sold until the end of World War II (WWII). 1944 - Born this day, Paul Keating, former Australian prime minister. 1944 - The first jazz music concert at the New York City Metropolitan Opera House was performed on this date. Appearing on the program were such legendary greats as Louis Armstrong, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman and Lionel Hampton. 1944 - Born this day, 'Legs' Larry Smith, musician, drums, The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, 1968 UK No.5 single I’m the Urban Spaceman, produced by Paul McCartney under the pseusonym of Appolo C. Vermouth. Also with Bob Kerr’s Whoopee Band. 1945 - Born this day, Jimmy Caruthers, auto racer. 1945 - Born this day, Sir Rocco Forte, hotelier. 1948 - Ted Mack came to television as The Original Amateur Hour debuted on the DuMont Network. The program continued on different networks for a 22-year run on the tube. We remember it being sponsored by Geritol. The original, Original Amateur Hour, on radio, was hosted by Major Bowes. In the TV version, Mack presented many up-and-coming stars who later claimed great fame in show biz. Teresa Brewer and Pat Boone are just a couple. 1950 - The federal tax on oleomargarine was repealed. 1951 - Joan Blondell made her debut on TV in the Pot of Gold episode of Airflyte Theatre on CBS-TV. Twenty-one years earlier she had made her film debut in Sinner’s Holiday with James Cagney. They were both stage performers before Al Jolson discovered them for Warner Brothers. 1952 - Died this day, Curly Howard (Jerome Lester Horwitz), following a series of strokes. He was born 22 October 1903 in Bath Beach, Brooklyn, NY, USA. He was one of The Three Stooges. They did "Swingin The Alphabet". 1953 - Born this day, Brett Hudson, singer, comedian, (Hudson Brothers). 1955 - European Kenyans reacted bitterly and furiously to an offer of amnesty made to Mau Mau terrorists by the Governor, Sir Evelyn Baring. He told members of the pro-independence organization - most of them Kikuyu tribesmen - that they would not be hanged if they surrendered at once, although they could be held in detention. 1955 - Died today, George Morrow, illustrator. 1955 - Born this today, Kevin Costner, actor, (Field of Dreams, JFK, The Bodyguard, The Untouchables, Waterworld, The Postman, Thirteen Days; Academy Award-winning director: Dances with Wolves [1990]; builder of controversial entertainment complex on sacred Lakota Indian land in Black Hills of South Dakota). 1957 - The first, non-stop, ‘round-the-world, jet flight came to an end at Riverside, California. The plane was refueled in mid-flight by huge tankers. 1959 - Born this day, Bob Rosenberg, Will To Power, 1988 US No.1 and 1989 UK No.6 single Baby I Love Your Way-Freebird. 1960 - Johnny Preston started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with Running Bear. It was also No.1 in the UK. 1961 - Born this day, Peter Beardsley, footballer. 1962 - Born this day, Jeremy Healey, Haysi Fantayzee, 1982 UK No.11 single John Wayne Is Big Leggy. 1963 - Died this day, Hugh Gaitskell, Labour politician. 1964 - Born this day, Jane Horrocks, in Rossendale Valley, Lancashire, England, English actress, (Bubbles in Absolutely Fabulous). 1964 - The Beatles made their US Billboard music charts debut when I Want To Hold Your Hand entered the chart at No.45. It went on to spend 7 weeks at the No.1 position. It was written by John and Paul on the piano at the home of Paul's girlfriend, Jane Asher. 1965 - Paul Simon dropped out of law school to become a full-time musician. 1965 - Barbra Streisand and Bobby Darin sang for Lyndon Johnson's presidential inauguration. 1966 - Robert Clifton Weaver was sworn in as US Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, becoming the first African-American Cabinet member in American history. He was nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson. 1968 - At a White House luncheon hostessed by Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson, with 50 white and black women present to discuss urban crime, entertainer Eartha Kitt set nerves on edge when she spoke out against the Vietnam War. She linked the rising crime rate with the escalation of the war. Mrs. Johnson was visibly upset by Kitt's allegations, and her entertainment career began to disintegrate after the luncheon. More than twenty years later, Kitt blamed the reaction to her statements at the luncheon on her inability to get work in the States, and worked for several decades in Europe. In a 1993 talk-show interview with Whoopi Goldberg, Kitt conveyed that she believed that she was subtly blackballed as a result of the luncheon incident. 1969 - Born this today, Jesse L. Martin, actor. 1969 - Audrey Hepburn married Dr. Andrea Dotti. 1971 - Born this day, Jonathan Davis, vocals, Korn, 1998 UK No.23 single Got The Life, 1998 US No.1 album Follow The Leader. 1972 - Former Rhodesian prime minister Garfield Todd and his daughter were arrested for campaigning against the granting of legal independence to the country. 1973 - Born this day, Crispian Mills, guitar, vocals, Kula Shaker, 1996 UK No.2 single Hey Dude. 1973 - A Rolling Stones benefit concert raised $200,000 for Nicaraguan earthquake relief. Mick Jagger donated a further $150,000. 1974 - The popular TV adventure show, The Six Million Dollar Man, starring Lee Majors as an astronaut-turned-cyborg, debuted on ABC. 1974 - Born this day, Christian Burns, BBMak, 2001 UK No.5 single Back Here made No.1 in Japan. 1974 - Ex members from Free, (Paul Rodgers & Simon Kirke), Mott The Hoople, (Mick Ralphs), and King Crimson, (Boz Burrell), formed Bad Company. 1975 - 'Bobby Vinton Day' was celebrated in Chicago as Mayor Richard Daley dubbed him the 'Polish Prince'. 1975 - Barry Manilow scored his first US No.1 single when Mandy, (originally titled Brandy) went to the top of the charts. 1975 - Status Quo were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with Down Down. 1975 - The Jeffersons was seen for the first time on CBS-TV. The show was a spin-off; based on the black family that moved next door to the bigoted Archie Bunker in All in the Family. The show lasted for several seasons and is still seen in syndicated reruns. Sherman Hemsley played the part of George Jefferson, Isabelle Sanford was in the role of Weezie (Louise) Jefferson. 1977 - At least 80 people were killed in Sydney when a locomotive rammed a bridge bringing it crashing down on to a commuter train. It was Australia's worst rail crash. 1977 - Hall and Oates were appearing live at The Sheffield City Hall, tickets were £1.30p. 1978 - Johnny Paycheck's immortal ode to workplace frustrations, Take This Job and Shove It, shot to the top spot on the Billboard charts. Paycheck, who was born Donald Eugene Lytle, enjoyed a few booze-drenched honky-tonk hits during the 1960s. A little too fond of the bottle, Paycheck squandered his initial success and wound up performing on Skid Row in Los Angeles to earn money for drinks. But, by 1978, Paycheck had mustered up a comeback and was ruling the America's airwaves with 'Take This Job'. The song took on a life of its own and in 1981 was turned into a middling movie starring Robert Hays of Airplane! fame. The years, however, were not so kind to Paycheck. He lapsed into self-parody, churning out pale imitations of "Take This Job" in hopes of climbing back to the top of the charts. In 1989, Paycheck was sentenced to a two-year prison stint for shooting someone during a barroom fight. 1978 - Neil Sedaka received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 1981 - Appearing at The Hammersmith Palais, London, The Boomtown Rats, tickets were £3.50. 1981 - Wendy O'Williams of The Plasmatics was arrested on stage at Milwaukee and was charged with the offence of simulating sex with a sledgehammer. 1983 - Born this day, Samantha Mumba, singer, actress, 2000 UK No.2 and US No.4 single Gotta Tell You, 2001 UK No.3 single Always Come Back To. 1985 - Running in competition for the first time since her famed collision with Zola Budd during the 1984 Olympics, Mary Decker broke a world, indoor record. She ran the women’s, 200-metre race in just 34.52 seconds. The indoor track meet was held in Los Angeles. 1986 - Dionne Warwick’s single for AID’s research, That’s What Friends are For, became her second No.1 song on the music charts. Although Dionne had many hits in the 1960s, singing Burt Bacharach tunes like, I Say a Little Prayer and Do You Know the Way to San Jose; she first hit the top spot when she added an ‘e’ to Warwick and joined the Spinners in the 1974 hit, Then Came You. She changed her name back to Warwick (without the ‘e’) after making a couple of hits produced by Barry Manilow in the early 1980s. Remember, I’ll Never Love This Way Again?. 1987 - For the first time in the history of Newt Gingrich’s favourite TV network, the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) was seen by over 100 million viewers. The audience was measured during the week of January 12-18. 1990 - Died this day, Roger Ruskin Spear, founder member of the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band. 1991 - Three fans were killed during a crush in a crowd during an AC/DC gig in Salt Lake City. 1991 - The first of three nights at Wembley Arena, the Brits 91, featuring the Happy Mondays, James, 808 State, The Cure, Jesus Jones, The Quire Boys, Thunder and The Little Angels, tickets were £12.50 for each day. 1991 - Iraq fired at least eight missiles at Israel in a bid to drag the Jewish state into the Gulf War the day after the allies had launched Operation Desert Storm. 1993 - Elton John resigned his directorship of Watford Football Club. 1995 - The European Parliament endorsed the new 20-strong European Commission, in a vote marking the Strasbourg-based assembly's political coming of age. 1995 - Silvio Berlusconi handed over to Italy's new prime minister, Lamberto Dini. 1996 - Lisa Marie Presley divorced Michael Jackson after less than two years of being married. 1996 - Greece's ruling Socialist Party elected Costas Simitis, an avid party reformer, to replace its ailing founder Andreas Papandreou as prime minister. 1996 - It was announced in the media that the marriage between 'The King of Pop' and the daughter of 'The King of Rock' was over. Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley-Jackson had apparently separated the previous month, and she filed for divorce on this date in Los Angeles, citing "irreconcilable differences." Their lawyers said it would be an amicable divorce with no messy financial settlement issues, and the two would still remain friends. Lisa Marie used her maiden name in the filing, and asked that her maiden name be restored. The marriage lasted 19 months. Skeptics voiced that the marriage was a fraud from the beginning, intended to repair Jackson's damaged public image owing to unproven child molestation accusations made the year before. 1997 - Tori Amos was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with Professional Window (It's Got To Be). 1997 - A young woman claiming to be his daughter attempted to extort actor/comedian Bill Cosby. Autumn Jackson, age 22, was charged on this date of trying to extort $40 million from Cosby by claiming to be his out-of-wedlock daughter. Cosby told the press that he had a brief affair with the girl's mother, but that he did not believe Jackson was his daughter. 1998 - Upon winning the Golden Globe award for Best Actor in a Mini-Series or Movie Made for TV for his performance in Don King: Only in America, Ving Rhames called fellow nominee Jack Lemmon up to the stage to take it instead. With tears streaming down his face, Rhames presented his trophy to veteran actor Lemmon, who had been nominated for his performance in the TV drama film 12 Angry Men. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced later that they would replace Rhames' Golden Globe trophy, and in all the years of the award, no winner had ever relinquished the trophy to another contender. 2001 - Noel Gallagher was granted a quickie divorce from Meg Matthews at the High Court in London. The couple split up the previous September, eight months after Meg had given birth to their daughter, Anais. 2002 - Tens of thousands of people fled Goma in eastern Congo after a volcano erupted, sending burning lava flowing through the town and into Lake Kivu. 2003 - Home Box Office (HBO) aired a live Rolling Stones concert from New York's Madison Square Garden. 2004 - Twenty people died when a suicide attacker detonated a car bomb near the US-led coalition's HQ in Baghdad. 2004 - Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay purchased Hollinger International for £260m to acquire Telegraph newspapers. 2004 - UK jails are overrun by inmates with driving and other minor convictions, said Prison Service chief Martin Narey. |
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.