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January 31st
1606 - Died this day, Guy Fawkes, chief conspirator in the gunpowder plot, was hung, drawn and quartered in London. 1797 - Born this day, Franz Schubert, composer, (Unfinished Symphony). Died 19 November 1828. 1835 - On this date in 1835, in the House chamber of the US Capitol, President Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States, survived the first attempt against the life of a US president. During a funeral service honouring the late Representative Warren R. Davis of South Carolina, a man identified as Richard Lawrence discharged two separate pistols in the direction of President Jackson. Both weapons misfired, and Lawrence was promptly subdued and arrested. During the subsequent criminal investigation, the suspect was found to be insane and was sent to a mental prison. Three decades later, President Abraham Lincoln would become the first president to be assassinated. 1858 - The Great Eastern steamship, built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, was launched at Millwall, London. 1865 - Robert E. Lee was appointed commander-in-chief of the Confederate forces. 1872 - Born this day, Zane Grey [Pearl Grey], dentist, author, (The Spirit of the Border, The Last of the Plainsmen, Riders of the Purple Sage). Died 23 October 1939. 1881 - Born this day, Anna Pavlova, Russian dancer, Prima ballerina of the Imperial Ballet from 1906, she left Russia in 1913, and went on to become the world's most famous Classical Ballerina. With London as her home, she toured extensively with her own company, influencing dancers worldwide with roles such as Fokine's The Dying Swan solo 1905. She died in 1931. (Note - or 12 February 1881 for the new style calendar). 1885 - C.D. Wright was appointed as the first Commissioner of Labor in the United States. A lofty job for a gentleman whose salary was $3,000. 1892 - Born this day, Eddie Cantor [Edward Israel Iskowitz], actor, singer, (If You Knew Susie like I Know Susie, Alabamy Bound, Dinah, Ida, Makin’ Whoopee, Ma He’s Makin’ Eyes at Me). Died 10 October 1964. 1902 - Born this day, Tallulah Bankhead [Brockman], actress, (Stage Door Canteen, Die! Die! My Darling!). Died 12 December 1968. 1910 - Dr Crippen poisoned his wife, then cut her up, and then buried her in the cellar of the house. 1911 - The German Reichstag exempted royal families from tax obligations. 1914 - Born this day, Jersey Joe Walcott [Arnold Raymond Cream], (‘The Barbados Demon’: International Boxing Hall of Famer, World Heavyweight Champion [1952]; lifetime record: 53-18-1, 33 KOs). Died 25 February 1994. 1915 - Born this day, Garry Moore [Thomas Garrison Morfit], Emmy Award-winning entertainer, (Outstanding Program Achievement in the Field of Variety [1961-1962]: The Garry Moore Show; I’ve Got a Secret, To Tell the Truth). Died 28 November 1993. 1916 - Born this day, Frank Parker [Paikowski], singer. 1917 - Germany announced it was instituting a policy of unrestricted submarine warfare. 1918 - In the Soviet Union, January 31 under the Julian Calendar system was the last day of its use. The next day would be February 14 under the Gregorian system, the dates in between being scrapped to correct the difference between the two. 1918 - Born this day, Jack Roosevelt Robinson, in Cairo, Georgia, baseball, the youngest of five children. He grew up in Pasadena, California, he was widely regarded as the finest all-around athlete in the United States at that time. After three years in the Army, he played with the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Negro Leagues in 1945. Later that year, in an historic move that ended decades of discrimination against blacks in baseball, he signed a contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers organisation. After a successful season in 1946 with its farm club, the Montreal Royals, he became the first black player in the Major Leagues since the nineteenth century. 1921 - Born this day, John Agar, actor, (Body Bags, Curse of the Swamp Creatures, Invisible Invaders, Revenge of the Creature, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, The Sands of Iwo Jima, Fort Apache). 1921 - Born this day, Carol Channing [Lowe], Tony Award-winning actress, (Hello, Dolly! [1964], Thoroughly Modern Millie). 1921 - Born this day, Mario Lanza [Alfred Arnold Cocozza], singer, actor, (That Midnight Kiss, The Great Caruso, Because You’re Mine, The Student Prince; singer: Be My Love, The Loveliest Night of the Year, Because You’re Mine). Died 7 October 1959. 1923 - Born this day, Joanne Dru (LaCock), actress, (All the King’s Men, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, Sincerely Yours, Super Fuzz). Died 11 September 1996. 1923 - Born this day, Norman Mailer, Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, writer (The Armies of the Night; Miami and the Siege of Chicago, The Executioner’s Song, The Naked and the Dead, An American Dream). 1928 - Born this day, Chuck Willis, singer (C.C. Rider). 1929 - Born this day, Jean Simmons, English film actress, (The Big Country, Elmer Gantry, The Robe, Spartacus, Great Expectations, The Thorn Birds, North and South). 1929 - Leon Trotsky was expelled from the Soviet Union. 1930 - Britain, America, France, Italy and Japan began the London Naval Conference, aimed at halting the arms race and preventing war. 1930 - Lt. Ralph S. Barnaby of the US Navy became the first glider pilot to have his craft released from a dirigible -- a large blimp at Lakehurst, New Jersey (where the Hindenberg exploded). Lt. Barnaby’s glider was released at an altitude of 3,000 feet. 1930 - Born this day, Jo Bonnier, Swedish auto racer, (started in 104 Grand Prix races). Died in 24 Hours of Le Mans race 11 June 1972. 1934 - Born this day, [Grover] James Franciscus, actor, (Beneath the Planet of the Apes, Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Good Guys Wear Black, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy). Died 8 July 1991. 1936 - "The Green Hornet" was introduced by its famous theme song, "The Flight of the Bumble Bee". The radio show was first heard on WXYZ radio in Detroit, MI on this day. The show stayed on the air for 16 years. "The Green Hornet" originated from the same radio station where "The Lone Ranger" was performed. You may remember that the title character in "The Green Hornet" was really named Britt Reid. He was, in fact, supposed to be the great nephew of John Reid, the Lone Ranger. Both popular series were created by George Trendle and Fran Striker. 1937 - Born this day, Suzanne Pleshette, actress, (The Bob Newhart Show, Oh God Book 2, The Birds, If It’s Tuesday This Must be Belgium). 1937 - Born this day, Philip Glass, composer. 1938 - Born this day, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. 1940 - On 31 January 1940, Ida May Fuller of Ludlow, Vermont, popped open her mailbox and found a check from the Federal government worth $22.54. Her check number was 00-000-001. Though hardly a fortune, the check was nonetheless a milestone: indeed, it was the first monthly retirement payment made under the auspices of the Social Security Act. When the act initially passed into the law books in 1935, benefits were paid out in lump sums. But, with Fuller's check, the government kicked off its program of doling out regular benefits to retired workers. For Fuller, it was simply the first in a series of payments that lasted for the next thirty-five years. Before passing away at age 100 in 1975, Fuller received regular payments totaling $22,000. (Another source says she came from Brattlesboro, Vermont.) 1940 - Born this day, Stuart Margolin, actor, director, writer. 1941 - Born this day, Jessica Walter, Emmy Award-winning actress, (Amy Prentiss/NBC Sunday Mystery Movie [1975]; Temptress, The Execution, The Flamingo Kid, She’s Dressed to Kill, Play Misty for Me, Three’s a Crowd, For the People, Dinosaurs, Bare Essence). 1942 - Born this day, Daniela Bianchi, in Rome, Italy, actress. She was be crowned Miss Italy in 1960 and then went on to co-star with Sean Connery in 1962's From Russia With Love. 1943 - After a week of heavy fighting, Field Marshal Paulus surrendered the German 6th Army to the Russians at Stalingrad. This was the worst single defeat in German military history. 1943 - RAF Mosquitos launched daring daytime raids on Berlin just as Reichmarshal Hermann Goering was about to broadcast on ten years of Nazi rule. The German defences were taken totally by surprise by the first daylight raids and there was little flak. Said one pilot: 'I think the gunners must have left their posts to tune into Goering's speech'. 1946 - Born this day, John Paul Jones [Baldwin], musician, bassist. 1946 - Born this day, Terry Kath, musician, guitar, Chicago, 1976 UK and US No.1 single If You Leave Me Now, Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?. Died 23 January 1978, after accidentally shooting himself. 1948 - Born this day, Cliff Thorburn, Snooker player. 1950 - US President Harry S. Truman announced he had ordered the development of the hydrogen bomb. 1950 - Jim Londos defeated Joe Savoldi in a one-fall match in Chicago. It was one of the largest crowds to see a wrestling match as 20,000 spectators looked on (1934). 1951 - Born this day, [Philip David Charles] Phil Collins, singer, songwriter, drummer, actor, born on 31 January 1951, in Chiswick, London. In his early years he was a child actor, performing in the London stage play The Artful Dodger and Oliver as a teenager. He was an extra in The Beatles A Hard Days Night. Phil joined Genesis in 1970, and kicked off his solo career in 1981. His biggest hit with Genesis was the 1986 US No.1 Invisible Touch, also 1992 UK No.7 single I Can't Dance plus six UK No.1 albums. Solo, 1988 UK and US N0.1 single A Groovy Kind Of Love plus six other US No.1's and four UK No.1 solo albums. Acting roles include Miami Vice, Risky Business, Buster, Hook and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. In 2000, Phil won £250,000 in a high court case over royalties with two former members of his band. The judge ruled that they had been overpaid in error but because the two musicians had no other income they would not have to pay the money back. His fifth US No.1 single Separate Lives was taken from the film White Nights and featured Marilyn Martin. Phil appeared on the Wembley and JFK leg at the 1985 Band Aid concerts on the same day after flying from the UK to America on Concorde. Other tracks include In the Air Tonight, I Missed Again, You Can’t Hurry Love, Sussudio, One More Night, Two Hearts. 1951 - Born this day, Harry Wayne Casey, musician, keyboard, singer, KC and the Sunshine Band, Do It Good, Queen of Hearts, Rock Your Baby, Get Down Tonight, 1975 US No.1 single That's The Way, I Like It), [Shake, Shake, Shake] Shake Your Booty, I’m Your Boogie Man, Keep It Comin’ Love, Please Don’t Go), 1983 UK No.1 single Give It Up. 1951 - Born this day, Phil Manzanera [Targett-Adams], musician, guitar, Roxy Music, 1972 UK No.4 single Virginia Plain, Pyjamarama, Do the Strand, Editions of You, In Every Dream a Heartache, All I Want is You, Out of the Blue. Solo, LPs: Diamond Head, Listen Now, K-Scope, Primitive Guitars. 1952 - Born this day, Curley Smith, Jo Jo Gunne, 1972 UK No.6 and US No.27 single Run Run Run. 1953 - A sudden ‘surge’, or wall of water, caused by a fierce storm and high spring tide, burst through the dikes and over the banks of low-lying coastal areas of eastern England, northern Belgium and southern Netherlands. 1,800 drowned in Belgium and the Netherlands. Thousands lost their homes, hundreds of animals died and farmland was unusable for years to come. The North Sea’s saltwater had left its mark. Only the receding waters of low tide had prevented the River Thames from flooding central London and killing thousands more. More than 300 died in widespread floods in Kent, Essex and East Anglia. 1954 - Born this day, Adrian Vandenburg, guitar, Whitesnake, 1987 US No.1 and UK No.9 single Here I Go Again. 1955 - In New York, RCA technology researchers demonstrated a music 'synthesiser'. 1956 - Born this day, John Lydon [Johnny Rotten], singer, (groups: The Sex Pistols: Anarchy in the UK, 1977 UK No.2 single God Save The Queen, Pretty Vacant, Holidays in the Sun, 1977 UK No.1 album 'Never Mind The Bollocks Here's The Sex Pistols; Public Image Ltd.: Flowers of Romance, 1983 UK No.5 single This Is Not A Love Song; actor: Cop Killer). 1956 - Elvis Presley signed a contract with the William Morris Agency to represent him in film deals. 1957 - Born this day, Shirley Babashoff, swimmer, holds the record for American woman winning the most Olympic medals [2 gold, 6 silver, 1972 & 1976]). 1957 - The Trans-Iranian pipeline from Abadan to Tehran was completed. 1957 - Decca Records announced that Bill Haley & His Comets, Rock Around The Clock, had sold over a million copies in the UK, mostly on 10inch 78's. 1957 - Tommy Sands sang Teen Age Crush in The Singing Idol, an episode of Kraft Television Theatre. It led to the song becoming a big hit. 1958 - Explorer I, the first United States Earth satellite, was launched from Cape Canaveral and put into orbit around the earth by a Jupiter-C rocket. Radio signals from the transmitter aboard the 30.8 pound satellite were picked up in California within a few minutes after the launch. Explorer I orbited the earth every 114 minutes at a maximum height of 2,000 miles and a minimum altitude of 230 miles. This event marked the beginning of discussions, debates and decisions that would lead to the formation of NASA and eventually to the creation of Saturn launch vehicles. 1959 - Born this day, Kelly Lynch, actress. 1959 - Bob Dylan was reported to be in the audience as Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper played Duluth, Minnesota three days before their fatal plane crash. 1960 - Julie Andrews, Henry Fonda, Rex Harrison and Jackie Gleason, appeared in a two-hour TV special titled, The Fabulous ’50s. 1961 - Born this day, Lloyd Cole, UK singer born in Scotland, musician, guitar, singer, Lloyd Cole and The Commotions, Perfect Skin, Forest Fire, Four Flights Up, Down on Mission Street, 1985 UK No.19 single Brand New friend, solo, 1995 UK No.24 Like Lovers Do. 1961 - Bobby Darin became the youngest performer at that time to headline a TV special as Bobby Darin & Friends aired on NBC. 1962 - The Organisation of American States, meeting in Uruguay, adopted a resolution to expel Cuba. 1963 - 17-year-old Neil Young performed his first professional date at a country club in Winnipeg. 1963 - The Beach Boys recorded Surfin' U.S.A. and Shutdown. 1963 - Jet Harris and Tony Meehan were at No.1 on the UK single charts with Diamonds. 1964 - Born this day, Jeff Hanneman, guitar, Slayer, 1995 UK No.50 single Serenity In Murder. 1966 - The US resumed its bombing attacks on North Vietnam. 1966 - Born this day, Al Jaworski, bass, Jesus Jones, 1991 UK No.7 single International Bright Young Thing. 1966 - Luna 9 was launched to the Moon by the USSR. 1967 - Born this day, Chad Channing, Nirvana’s first drummer. 1968 - Viet Cong launched Tet Offensive against cities in South Vietnam. (Tet-New Year). 1968 - Nauru, jointly administered by Britain, Australia and New Zealand since World War I (WWI), became independent. 1968 - Love Affair were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with Everlasting Love. 1969 - Bobby Darin walked off the Jackie Gleason Show set when he was not allowed to sing Long Line Rider. 1969 - Crow recorded Evil Woman Don't Play Your Games With Me. 1969 - Born this day, John Collins, footballer. 1970 - Creedence Clearwater Revival filmed a television special. 1970 - Edison Lighthouse started a five week run as the UK No.1 with the single Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes). 1970 - The Jackson Five went to No.1 on the US singles chart with I Want You Back. The song was originally written for Gladys Knight & The Pips and was the first of four No.1's for the group. It made No.2 in the UK. 1970 - The members of the rock group The Grateful Dead were arrested for narcotics. They were in possession of LSD and barbiturates in New Orleans. Their bust for LSD and barbiturates in a New Orleans hotel became the inspiration for their song Truckin'. 1970 - Died this day, Slim Harpo, blues musician, 1966 US No.16 single Baby Scrath My Back, of a heart attack aged 46, while recording in London. 1971 - Born this day, [Amelia] Minnie Driver, actress. 1971 - The Jackson 5 received the key to their home town of Gary, Indiana. 32 years later the city gave another key to Michael - guess they must have changed the locks. 1971 - The three-man US spacecraft Apollo 14 was launched to the moon. The astronauts landed on February 5 and made two moonwalks. 1972 - Aretha Franklin sang at the funeral of gospel great Mahalia Jackson. 1973 - Born this day, Portia DeRossi [Amanda Rogers], actress. 1976 - Abba's Mamma Mia knocked Queen's Bohemiam Rhapsody off the UK No.1 spot after a 9 week run at the top of the charts. 1976 - Sounds readers Poll Winners, best album A Night At The Opera Queen, single Bohemian Rhapsody Queen, best band Queen, musician Mike Oldfield, female singer Maddy Prior, Steeleye, Span, new band Rainbow, bore of the year Bay City Rollers. 1976 - The Best Of Roy Orbison went to No.1 on the UK album chart. 1976 - The Ohio Players went to No.1 on the US singles chart with Love Rollercoaster, the groups second US No.1. 1976 - On the television pop show Supersonic, were Alan Price, Sailor, Roy Wood and Chris Spedding. 1978 - Talking Heads made their UK TV debut on the The Old Grey Whistle Test. 1978 - Died this day, Greg Herbert sax player with Blood Sweat & Tears, died of a drug overdose. 1980 - Died this day, Les Prior of Alberto Lost Trios Paranoias. 1980 - In Guatemala, 35 people died when police stormed the Spanish embassy where peasants were holding the ambassador and other diplomats hostage. 1981 - 52 hostages from Iran finally made it back to US soil. (See 20 January). 1981 - Born this day, Justin Timberlake, 'N Sync, 1997 UK No.40 single Tearin Up My Heart, 2000 US No.1 single It's Gonna Be Me, 1999 UK No.5 single I Want You Back. 1981 - Blondie went to No.1 on the US singles chart with The Tide Is High, the groups third US No.1, also a No.1 in the UK. 1982 - Sandy Duncan of Tyler, Texas gave her final performance as Peter Pan in Los Angeles, California. Duncan, who was blind in one eye, completed 956 performances without missing a show and she flew a total of 261.5 miles while on stage. 1983 - The wearing of seatbelts in cars became compulsory in the United Kingdom. 1983 - The Maisonettes had the No.1 UK indie single with Heartache Avenue. 1983 - US President Ronald Reagan offered to meet Soviet President Yuri Andropov to discuss a missile pact; the offer was rejected. 1984 - Newsman Edwin Newman retired from NBC News after 35 years with the network. 1985 - John Fogerty, former leader of Creedence Clearwater Revival, returned to the A&M recording studios in Hollywood, California to give his first ‘live’ performance in 14 years. Actually, Fogerty performed in a video called Rock and Roll Girls. 1985 - The final Jeep, the workhorse vehicle that became a hero of World War II (WWII), rolled off the assembly line at the AMC plant in Toledo, OH. Army chief, George Marshall, called the Jeep, “America’s greatest contribution to warfare.” Jeep is now a trademark of Chrysler Corporation’s Jeep-Eagle Division. 1987 - Madonna’s record, Open Your Heart, moved to the number 2 spot on the US pop charts, behind At This Moment by Billy Vera and The Beaters. A week later, Open Your Heart became Madonna’s fifth number 1 hit since 1983. She had 11 consecutive singles in the Top 10; the most for any female artist of the rock era. 1987 - Paul Simon went back to No.1 on the UK album chart with Graceland, the album stayed on the chart for 101 weeks. 1988 - Appearing at The Mean Fiddler in London, were Red Hot Chili Peppers. 1988 - Herb Alpert performed the American national anthem (and Michael Jackson performed at halftime) at Super Bowl XXII. 1988 - Janet Jackson started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with Together Again. 1988 - The prime ministers of Greece and Turkey agreed on a 'no war' agreement while meeting at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. 1990 - The world's largest McDonald's restaurant opened in Moscow's Red Square. 1990 - The Stone Roses were granted conditional bail by Wolverhampton Magistrates court following a 'grudge attack' on their record company's offices. 1991 - Allied forces recaptured the Saudi border town of Khafji in the first ground battle of the Gulf war. 1992 - Trans World Airlines Inc., or TWA, filed for bankruptcy protection. 1994 - Algerian Defense Minister Liamine Zeroual was sworn in as president. 1994 - German luxury car-maker BMW announced the purchase of Rover from British Aerospace, ending nearly a century of independent mass car production in Britain. 1995 - Aisgill, Cumbria. A passenger train was derailed when it hit a landslide and was struck by another passenger train on the opposite line. Three people were killed and 25 injured. A guard was among the dead in the accident at Aisgill on the Settle to Carlisle line. 1998 - Usher went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with You Make Me Wanna. 1999 - Armand Van Helden went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with You Don't Know Me, he also had a No.1 with the remix of Tori Amos Professional Widow. 1999 - Cher sang the American national anthem at Super Bowl XXXIII. 1999 - Actor Johnny Depp, back to his bad-boy ways, chased off photographers with a piece of wood outside a trendy London restaurant, police said. Police held the actor for almost four hours after the fracas at Mirabelle, where he had dined with French actress Vanessa Paradis. Newspapers carried photos of Depp clutching the wood, being questioned by police and being taken into custody. The Sun tabloid reported that Depp "flipped out" and started screaming obscenities when photographers tried to take his picture. "Johnny Depp is a person who guards his privacy. He had asked photographers to abstain from photographing him. Unfortunately, they persisted and intentionally provoked him," Depp's publicist said in a statement. 2000 - Dr Harold Shipman was given 15 life sentences for the murder of 15 of his patients. 2000 - The Stokes played their first ever UK show when they appeared at The Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth. 2002 - Lord Wakeham stepped aside as chairman of the Press Complaints Commission over his involvement with the collapsed energy giant Enron. 2002 - Died this day, Paul Baloff, singer with US thrash metal band Exodus, of a fatal stroke. 2003 - Tony Blair and US President George Bush pledged to disarm Saddam Hussein "in a matter of weeks, not months". 2003 - Robbie Williams topped a chart based on UK album sales from the past 5 years. The ex Take That singer had sold 9.7 million albums in Britain, an average of more than 5,000 every day. The Corrs were in second place with 5.8m sales, Westlife in third with 5.1m, Madonna in fourth with 5m and The Beatles in fifth with 4.7m. |
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.