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January 28th
0814 - Died this day, Emperor Charlemagne, king of the Franks 768-814. 1547 - Died this day, Henry VIII died at Richmond in a room reeking of the stench from his leg ulcers. He was succeeded by his son, Edward VI. 1596 - Died this day, Sir Francis Drake died at sea while sailing off the coast of Panama. 1788 - The first British penal settlement was founded at Botany Bay in New South Wales, Australia. 1788 - The Queen of France, marie Antoinette, successfully sued Lord George Gordon for libel on this day, when he accused her of a fiddle over a £64,000 necklace. 1807 - London's Pall Mall became the first street to be illuminated by gaslight. 1808 - Messenger, America’s first trotting horse, was buried on this day. 1829 - Irish murderer and body-snatcher William Burke was hanged. 1841 - Born this day, Sir Henry Morton Stanley, explorer, leader of African expedition to find the missing missionary, David Livingstone). Died 10 May 1904. 1855 - On this day in 1855, William Burroughs, a young inventor with little formal education, invented the first commercially successful adding machine and founded the American Arithmomter Company of St. Louis. The company later became Burroughs Adding Machine Company. His earliest version of the machine, like other adding machines of the time, was accurate but impractical. However, in 1892 he patented a practical adding machine that would become a commercial success. Burroughs, who died in 1898, did not live to see the profits of his invention or the thriving success of his company. 1871 - Paris surrendered to the Prussians in the Franco-Prussian War. 1878 - The first telephone switchboard was installed in New Haven, Connecticut. The phone company that owned the switchboard had 21 subscribers. 1878 - The Yale News was published for the very first time. It was the first daily collegiate newspaper in the United States. 1881 - Battle at Laing's Neck Natal: The Boers beat a superior powered British. 1885 - A British relief force arrived in Khartoum following its capture by the Mahdi and the killing of British General Gordon two days earlier. 1887 - Born this day, Artur Rubinstein, American pianist, (played solo for the Berlin Symphony at the age of 12). Died 20 December 1982. 1902 - The Carnegie Institution was established in Washington DC. It began with a gift of $10 million, compliments of Andrew Carnegie. 1904 - Enrico Caruso signed his first contract with Victor Records. He had debuted at the Metropolitan Opera just two months before. 1908 - London Playhouse Theatre opened. 1911 - The first Monte Carlo Rally concluded this day, with Frenchman Henri Rougier taking the laurels. He drove a Turcat-Mery car, rewarded as much for its elegance as for its speed. 1915 - US Congress passed legislation creating the US Coast Guard, combining the Life Saving Service and the Revenue Cutter Service. 1922 - The roof of the Knickerbocker Theatre in Washington, DC, collapsed under the weight of 29 inches of snow, and 98 people were killed. 1927 - Twenty years before the famous record by Art Mooney was recorded, Jean Goldkette and his dancing orchestra recorded, I’m Looking Over a Four-Leaf Clover. Though the name of the bandleader may not be so famous, two of his sidemen on this Victor recording session certainly were: Big band fans know Bix Beiderbecke and Joe Venuti. 1927 - Born this day, Ronnie Scott (Schatt), bandleader, jazz musician, tenor sax, London and Birmingham jazz club owner. Died 23 December 1996. 1927 - Born this day, Jim Bryan, auto racer, Indianapolis 500 winner [1958]. 1929 - Born this day, Claes Oldenburg, artist, sculptor. 1929 - Born this day, [Bernard Stanley] Acker Bilk, clarinetist, jazz musician, composer, 'Mr Acker Bilk', bandleader, 1962 US No.1 and UK No.2 single Stranger On The Shore. Born in Pensford, Somerset, England, he first found success as a clarinetist in Ken Colyer's band in 1954. Formed the Paramount Jazz Band in 1958. First British top ten hit Summer Set just over a year later. He followed with two more top tenners, Buona Sera and That's My Home. 1930 - The dictatorship of Miguel Primo de Rivera ended in Spain. 1932 - The Japanese army occupied Shanghai to force an end to a Chinese boycott of Japanese goods. 1933 - Born this day, Sacha Distel, singer. 1933 - Born this day, Susan Sontag, author, (Against Interpretation, The Volcano Lover: A Romance). 1934 - As a result of a compliment paid on this day, by Walter Winchell, in his newspaper column; a local disc jockey began receiving several offers from talent scouts and producers. The DJ became known as the Redhead, adored by thousands in Washington, DC and, later, by millions across the country on CBS radio and TV. His trademark (strumming a ukulele and delivering down-home patter) endeared him to fans for many years. We remember the broadcasting legend, Arthur Godfrey. 1934 - Robert Royce’s famous invention was used for the first time in Woodstock, Vermont. Previously, snow skiers had no way to get to the top of the mountain conveniently. Remember the ski rope the next time you schuss the slopes and have to make it back to the top. 1935 - Iceland became the first country to legalize abortion on medical-social grounds. 1935 - Born this day, Nicholas Pryor, actor, (Hoffa, Pacific Heights, Risky Business, The Fish that Saved Pittsburgh, The Happy Hooker, Force Five, The Bronx Zoo, Beverly Hills 90210). 1936 - Born this day, Alan Alda (Alphonso D’Abruzzo), actor, (M*A*S*H, Paper Lion, The Four Seasons, Same Time Next Year, California Suite). 1938 - Born this day, Bill Phillips, country singer, (Put It Off till Tomorrow, Georgia Town Blues [w/Mel Tillis]). 1940 - Beat the Band made its debut on NBC radio. The band was that of Ted Weems and his 14-piece orchestra, who were joined by Elmo ‘The Whistling Troubadour’ Tanner, Harry Soskind and Country Washington. One other star of the show was a barber from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, (nearby Canonsburg really), who would record many hits for RCA Victor from 1943 right through to the dawn of the 1970s. His name was Perry Como. 1943 - Born this day, John Beck (actor: Suspect Device, A Climate for Killing, Time Machine, Rollerball, Sleeper, Paperback Hero, Three in the Attic, Nichols, Flamingo Road, Dallas). 1943 - Born this day, Dick Taylor, musician, bass, guitar, vocals, The Pretty Things, 1964 UK No.10 single Don't Bring Me Down. 1943 - Adolf Hitler mobilised the entire German adult population for the country's war effort. 1944 - Charles de Gaulle made his landmark appeal for a new relationship between France and Africa. 1944 - Born this day, Bobby Ball, comedian. 1944 - Born this day, Susan Howard (Jeri Lynn Mooney), actress, (Sidewinder One, The Power Within, Dallas). 1944 - Born this day, Brian Keenan, musician, drums, (groups: Manfred Mann; The Chambers Brothers: Time Has Come Today). 1945 - Born this day, Marthe Keller, actress, (Young Catherine, The Nightmare Years, The Amateur, Black Sunday, Marathon Man, And Now My Love). 1945 - A convoy of US trucks from India crossed the Burmese-Chinese border, opening the famous Burma Road. 1945 - Born this day, Robert Wyatt, rock musician, Soft Machine and solo, 1983 UK No.35 single Shipbuilding. 1946 - Born this day, Rick Allen, bass, The Box Tops, 1967 US No.1 and UK No.5 single The Letter. 1947 - Born this day, Jeanne Shaheen, Governor of New Hampshire. 1948 - Born this day, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Bolshoi ballet dancer, defected to the US, actor, (The Turning Point, That’s Dancing, Dancers). 1950 - Born this day, Barbi Benton [Barbara Klein], in Sacramento, California, Playboy cover girl, significant other of Hugh Hefner, actress, (For the Love of It, Deathstalker). Got her two big career breaks in 1969, when she played a scene-stealing hillbilly on the new Hee-Haw show, and she started living with Playboy founder Hugh Hefner. 1950 - The French Assembly ratified the agreement under which Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos became independent states within the French union. 1953 - Derek Bentley, aged 19, was hanged at Wandsworth Prison for murdering a PC. 1955 - President Dwight D. Eisenhower received full authority from the Senate to use armed forces abroad to defend Formosa (Taiwan) against possible attacks by the Chinese Communists. 1956 - Elvis Presley made his first appearance on national television on "The Dorsey Brothers Show", starring Tommy and Jimmy. Elvis sang Blue Suede Shoes and Heartbreak Hotel. He was backed by the instruments of the Dorsey band. 1956 - Elvis Presley made the first of four weekly appearances on national US-TV, when he appeared on the programme Stage Show, performing Shake Rattle And Roll, Flip Flop and Fly and I Got a Woman. Stage Show was the Dorsey Brothers' variety series. One of the hosts from the show was quoted as saying 'he can't last'. (Another source says singing Heartbreak Hotel and Blue Suede Shoes.) 1957 - Born this day, Harley Jane Kozak, actress. 1957 - Born this day, Frank Skinner, TV comic. 1957 - Born this day, Nick Price, golfer. 1959 - Born this day, Dave Sharp, musician, guitar, The Alarm, 1983 UK No.17 single 68 Guns, Where were You Hiding When the Storm Broke?, The Bells of Rhymney. 1963 - Black student Harvey Gantt entered Clemson College in South Carolina, the last state to hold out against integration. 1965 - General Motors reported the biggest profit of any US company in history. Earnings for the number one of the Big Three automakers in 1964 totaled $1.735 billion. That’s a lot of Corvettes, Chevrolets, Cadillacs, Buicks, Pontiacs and Oldsmobiles. 1965 - The Moody Blues had their only UK No.1 single with Go Now. 1965 - The Who made their first appearance on TV's Ready Steady Go! 1966 - Film actress Hedy Lamarr was arrested for shoplifting in a May Company store. She was later found not guilty. The beautiful Lamarr was popular in movies during the '30s and '40s, appearing in Boom Town, White Cargo, and Samson and Delilah. 1966 - The split between Brian Poole and The Tremeloes was officially announced. 1967 - Appearing live at London's Royal Albert Hall, The Four Tops, The Dakotas, Madeleine Bell, The Remo Four and Johnny Watson. 1967 - Sonny and Cher's The Beat Goes On entered the Billboard charts, it eventually reached No.6. 1968 - Born this day, Lawrence Muggerud, DJ Muggs, Cypress Hill, 1993 UK No.15 single I Ain't Goin' Out Like That, 1993 US No.1 album Black Sunday. 1968 - Born this day, Rakim, US rapper, 1998 UK No.65 single with Malcolm McLaren, Buffalo Girls Stampede. 1968 - Born this day, Sarah McLachlan, singer, songwriter, concert promoter - put the 'Lilith Fair' US tour together, 1997 US No.2 album Surfacing. 1973 - CBS-TV presented the first program of Barnaby Jones (a Quinn Martin Production). Lee Meriwether (Miss America 1955) played the detective’s lovely daughter-in-law assistant. Buddy Ebsen played the detective, Jones. Ebsen, who started in show biz back in the 1920s, was also selected to play the scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz, but had bowed out. And he shot the first film used in the animation tests for a Walt Disney character named Mortimer Mouse (aka Mickey Mouse). Ebsen is best known, however, for playing Jed Clampett on another CBS-TV series, The Beverly Hillbillies. 1975 - Born this day, Lee, vocals, Steps, 1998 UK No.1 single Heartbeat / Tragedy. 1976 - Gary Glitter announced his retirement from the music biz (the first of many). 1976 - Died this day, Chris Kenner, singer (I Like It Like That), of a heart attack. 1977 - Born this day, Joseph Fatone, singer, 'N Sync, 1997 UK No.40 single Tearin' Up My Heart, 1999 UK No.5 single I Want You Back, 2000 US No.1 single It's Gonna Be Me. 1978 - Ted Nugent carved an autograph with a knife on a fan's arm - at the fan's request. 1978 - The Doobie Brothers guest-starred on an episode of ABC-TV's What's Happening. 1978 - The Fleetwood Mac album Rumours went to No.1 on the UK album chart, also a No.1 in the US. The album went on to sell over 15 million copies world-wide and spent over 440 weeks on the UK chart. 1978 - The words 'De plane, de plane!' were first broadcast on ABC with the premiere of Fantasy Island. 1978 - Appearing at the Marquee, London, were The Piranhas. Their Tom Hark made No.6 in Aug 1980. 1980 - Born this day, Nicholas Carter, Backstreet Boys, 1996 UK No.3 single We've Got It Goin' On, 1997 US No.2 single Quit playing Games With My Heart, 1999 UK No.1 single I Want It That Way. 1981 - Born this day, Elijah Wood, actor, (Flipper, North, Radio Flyer, Forever Young, Avalon, Back to the Future, Forever Your Girl video). 1982 - A chimpanzee tea party at the Waldorf Hotel celebrated 25 years of PG Tips TV adverts. 1982 - Italian anti-terrorist police rescued US Brigadier General James Dozier from Red Brigades guerrillas who had kidnapped him 42 days earlier. 1983 - The surreal Videodrome, starring James Woods and Debbie Harry of Blondie fame, opened in US theatres. 1983 - Died this day, British Rock & Roll singer Billy Fury, of heart failure. 1961 UK No.3 single Halfway To Paradise, plus 25 other top 40 UK singles. 1984 - Frankie Goes To Hollywood started a five week run at the top with their first UK No.1 single Relax!. Top Of The Pops were unable to feature the song due to a BBC ban, it made No.10 in the US. 1985 - The recording took place for We Are The World, the US equivalent of Band Aid. 1985 - Forty-five of the world’s top recording artists were invited to an all-night recording session at the A&M studios in Los Angeles. As each of the artists walked through the studio door, they were greeted by a hand-lettered sign, put there by Lionel Richie. It simply said, “Check your ego at the door.” The session started at 10 p.m. with producer Quincy Jones conducting. At 8 o’clock the following morning, the project, USA for Africa, spearheaded by promoter, Ken Kragen, was recorded and mixed. The resulting song, We Are the World, featuring Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Sting, Harry Belafonte, Diana Ross, Paul Simon and many others became the top song in the US on 13 April 1985. 1986 - Seventy-three seconds after launch from Cape Canaveral, the US space shuttle Challenger exploded, killing seven astronauts. After a flawless liftoff, the Challenger, traveling at a speed of 2900 feet per second, soared nine miles into space when suddenly the ship’s liquid hydrogen tank exploded. Millions watched the tragedy unfold on TV. This catastrophe took the lives of Commanders Francis ‘Dick’ Scobee and Michael J. Smith, Dr. Judith A. Resnik, Dr. Ronald E. McNair, Lieutenant Colonel Ellison S. Onizuka, Gregory B. Jarvis and school teacher Christa McAuliffe. 1988 - Soviet spy Klaus Fuchs died; his information enabled Moscow to detonate its first nuclear weapon in August 1949. 1988 - Appearing at The Royal Court Liverpool, were Aztec Camera supported by Goodbye Mr Mackenzie. 1988 - Eleven years after it was released, The Sex Pistols Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols, went gold in the US with sales over 500,000. 1989 - Paula Abdul started a 10 week run at No.1 on the US album chart with Forever Your Girl. 1990 - Aaron Neville sang the American national anthem at Super Bowl XXIV in New Orleans. 1993 - The IRA bombed Harrods for the third time in 20 years. 1994 - Christian Democrat Giovanni Goria became Italy's second former prime minister to be committed for trial on corruption charges. 1995 - TLC started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with Creep, the groups first US No.1, it made No.6 in the UK the following year. 1996 - Thieves knocked through a wall and plundered an exhibit of original Muppets at the Erfut Garden Show, 110 miles northeast of Frankfurt. Bert and Ernie puppets, valued at $126,000, were stolen and a glass case was smashed in an unsuccessful attempt to seize the Miss Piggy puppet. The trio were among 36 original Muppets rented by a Danish firm for the exhibit. 1997 - At South Africa's Truth Commission, police confessed to the 1977 murder of Steve Biko. 1997 - Pat Boone released an album of heavy metal tunes. It eventually cost him his Christian television program. 1998 - Noel Gallagher played a 20 minute solo gig at the King Head, an English pub in Santa Monica in front of 250 fans. 2000 - Died this day, sax player Thomas ‘Beans’ Bowles, of prostate cancer. Played on many Motown sessions including Marvin Gaye's What's Going On, and The Supremes' Baby Love. 2001 - Jennifer Lopez started a two week run at No.1 on the US album chart with J.Lo. 2001 - Limp Bizkit started a two week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with Chocolate Starfish. 2001 - Shaggy featuring Ricardo Rikrot started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with It Wasn't Me. It was also a No.1 in the UK. 2002 - The Press Complaints Commission upheld a complaint by the PM and his wife about a newspaper article on their eldest son's university plans. 2003 - A blueprint for child protection systems in England was published in the report into the torture and killing of eight-year-old Victoria Climbie. |
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.