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March 5th
1512 - Born this day, Gerhardus Mercator, Flemish mapmaker. 1595 - Born this day, William Blackstone, New World settler, first settler in what is now Boston, Massachusetts, and also, Rhode Island; Blackstone River in Rhode Island bears his name. Died in 1675. 1623 - The first temperance law in the colonies was enacted, in Virginia. 1639 - Born this day, Charles Sedley, English poet, Member of Parliament. 1658 - Born this day, Antoine Cadillac, founder of Detroit. 1750 - The first Shakespearean play in America was presented at the Nassau Street Theatre in New York City. The play enjoyed by the audience was the famous King Richard III. 1770 - British troops killed five colonials in the so-called 'Boston Massacre', one of the events that led to the American Revolution. 1821 - James Monroe became the first President of the United States to be inaugurated on 5 March. The reason? The usual inauguration date of 4 March fell on a Sunday that year and a President cannot be inaugurated on the Sabbath. It’s still the law, even though the Inauguration Day was officially set back to 20 January. 1824 - Born this day, Lucy Larcom, poet. 1824 - Born this day, James Ives, lithographer, partner of Nathaniel Currier. 1835 - Born this day, Wilhelm (William) Steinway, the Marketing genius behind Steinway & Sons and its first President. 1836 - Samuel Colt manufactured the first pistol: a .34-caliber ‘Texas’ model. 1850 - The Menai tubular bridge, constructed by Robert Stephenson to join Wales and Anglesey, was opened. 1864 - For the first time, Oxford met Cambridge in track and field competition in England. 1870 - Born this day, Frank Norris, author. 1872 - George Westinghouse of 'You can be sure if it’s Westinghouse' fame patented the air brake on this day. They were, and remain, especially important to trains, big trucks, buses and amusement park rides. 1893 - Born this day, Emmett J. Culligan, inventor, water-softening device, founder of Culligan Water, world’s largest water-treatment company. Died in 1970. 1908 - Born this day, Rex (Reginald Carey) Harrison, Academy Award-winning actor, (My Fair Lady [1964]; Cleopatra, Dr. Dolittle, The Agony and the Ecstasy). Died 2 June 1990. 1917 - The first jazz recording for Victor Records was released. The Original Dixieland ‘Jass’ Band performed on the tune The Dixie Jass Band One Step. The word ‘Jass’ was later changed to ‘Jazz’ because it sounded, erm, jazzier. Yeah! 1917 - The first edition of Pravda (which in English means 'truth'), the Bolsheviks' newspaper, was printed in Moscow. 1921 - Born this day, Elmer (William) Valo, baseball, (Philadelphia Athletics, KC Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, Brooklyn Dodgers, LA Dodgers, Cleveland Indians, NY Yankees, Washington Senators, Minnesota Twins). Died 19 July 1998. 1922 - Annie Oakley broke all existing records for women’s trap shooting. She smashed 98 out of 100 clay targets thrown at 16 yards while at a match at the Pinehurst Gun Club in North Carolina. She hit the first fifty, missed the 51st, then the 67th. 1923 - Old-age pension laws were enacted in the states of Montana and Nevada. 1924 - Frank Caruana of Buffalo, New York, became the first bowler to roll two perfect games in a row and an amazing 29 strikes in succession! He rolled five strikes in a row in a third game in sanctioned play, as well. 1927 - Born this day, Jack (John Joseph Edward) Cassidy, actor, (The Eiger Sanction, The Andersonville Trial; Broadway’s She Loves Me). David and Shaun’s father, Shirley Jones’ husband. Killed in a fire 12 December 1976. 1928 - Born this day, Lou Levy, pianist, band: Supersax; recorded with Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Nancy Wilson, Anita O’Day, etc.. 1930 - Born this day, Del (Delmar Wesley) Crandall, baseball, (catcher: Boston Braves, Milwaukee Braves [all-star: 1953-1956, 1958-1960, 1962/World Series: 1957, 1958], SF Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cleveland Indians). 1931 - Without a Song was recorded by Lawrence Tibbett for Victor Records. This wonderful melody came from the film, The Southerner and has been a hit for many, including Willie Nelson, Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett. 1933 - When Franklin Roosevelt started his first term in the White House in 1933, he inherited a nation in the depths of the Depression. A record 13 million Americans were unemployed and businesses were drowning in red ink. Perhaps even more pressing was the head-spinning string of bank failures which had triggered a frantic run on the nation's savings vaults. The wave of withdrawals by panic-stricken depositors further dried up banks' already-depleted supply of liquid assets and pushed the nation's banking system to the brink of disaster. On 5 March - the day after being sworn into office - Roosevelt stepped into the breach and declared a 'bank holiday', which, for four days forced the closure of the nation's banks and halted all financial transactions. The "holiday" not only helped stem the frantic run on banks, but gave Roosevelt time to push the Emergency Banking Act through the legislative chain. Passed by Congress on 9 March, the act handed the president a far-reaching grip over bank dealings and 'foreign transactions'. The legislation also paved the path for solvent banks to resume business as early as 10 March. Three short days later nearly 1,000 banks were up and running again. 1933 - In German elections, Adolf Hitler's Nazi Party won nearly half the seats in the Reichstag, the German parliament. 1934 - Born this day, James B. Sikking, actor, (Hill Street Blues, Turnabout, Doogie Howser, M.D., Tyson, The Pelican Brief, Star Trek 3, Outland, Ordinary People, Scorpio, Von Ryan’s Express, The Strangler). 1935 - Born this day, Earl Leggett, football, (LSU, Chicago Bears, LA Rams, New Orleans Saints, Washington Redskins, NY Giants; coach: SF 49ers, Oakland Raiders, Washington Redskins, NY Giants). 1936 - R.J. Mitchell's Supermarine Spitfire made its maiden flight from Eastleigh aerodrome, Southampton. 1936 - Born this day, Dale Douglass, golfer, University of Colorado, PGA, SPGA. 1936 - Born this day, Dean Stockwell, actor, (Gentlemen’s Agreement, Dune, Beverly Hills Cop 2, Long Day’s Journey into Night, Legend of Billie Jean, Quantum Leap). 1936 - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s Mutiny On The Bounty, produced by Irving Thalberg and Albert Lewin, was voted Outstanding Production, as they used to say. The 8th Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) Academy Awards ceremony was held at the Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles. Director/producer/writer/actor Frank Capra hosted the big giveaway honouring the films of 1935, which saw Victor McLaglen take the Best Actor prize for The Informer. John Ford won for directing this one. Best Actress was Bette Davis in Dangerous. The Best Music/Song award winners were Harry Warren (music) and Al Dubin (lyrics) for the song Lullaby of Broadway from Gold Diggers of 1935. An Oscar for Short Subject/Cartoon was awarded to some guy named Walt Disney for his cartoon, Three Orphan Kittens. 1937 - The US government saw fit to apologise officially to Nazi Germany for New York mayor LaGuardia's reference to Adolf Hitler as a 'brown shirted fanatic'. 1938 - Born this day, James Wainwright, actor, (The President’s Plane is Missing, Joe Kidd). Died 20 December 1999. 1938 - Born this day, Paul Evans, singer (Happy-Go-Lucky Me). 1938 - Born this day, Fred ‘The Hammer’ Williamson, football, (Kansas City Chiefs corner back: Super Bowl I; sportscaster: ABC’s Monday Night Football; actor: Julia, Half Nelson). 1939 - Born this day, Samantha Eggar [Victoria Louise Samantha Eggar], in London, England, actress, (Exterminator, co-starred with Rex Harrison in Doctor Dolittle (1967), nominated for a Best Actress Oscar for The Collector (1965), Samantha and the King). 1939 - Born this day, Tommy Tucker, singer (Hi-Heel Sneakers). 1943 - Born this day, Hugh Scully, TV presenter, (Antiques Roadshow). 1944 - Born this day, Paul Sand [Sanchez], Tony Award-winning actor, (Story Theatre; Getting Up and Going Home, Frozen Assets, The Last Fling, Great Bank Hoax, Once Upon a Brothers Grimm, Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers, Gimme a Break, St. Elsewhere). 1945 - Born this day, Randy Matson, National Track & Field Hall of Famer, Olympic Silver Medalist: shot put [1964]; first to break the 70 ft barrier). 1945 - Born this day, Norm Thompson, football, (St. Louis Cardinals). 1946 - Winston Churchill introduced the phrase Iron Curtain into the English language during a speech at Fulton, Missouri. He was describing the Soviet threat to the West. He said, 'An Iron Curtain has descended across Europe'. (However, a year before him, on 25 February 1945, an article by Joseph Goebbels entitled "Das Jahr 2000" (The Year 2000) had been published in "Das Reich", and there, the nazi propaganda minister already used the words "iron curtain" in the same meaning as Churchill. You can find the article here.) 1946 - Born this day, (Robert) Rocky Bleier, American football, (Pittsburgh Steelers running back: Super Bowl IX, X, XIII, XIV). 1946 - Born this day, Michael Warren, actor, (Paris, Hill Street Blues, Sweet Justice, Sierra). 1947 - Born this day, Eddie Hodges, singer, actor, (The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, A Hole in the Head, Live a Little Love a Little). I'm Gonna Knock On Your Door. 1948 - Born this day, Elaine Page, singer, 1985 UK No.1 single I Know Him So Well. 1948 - Born this day, Eddy Grant, reggae singer, songwriter, (Living on the Front Line, Do You Feel My Love, 1982 UK No.1 single I Don’t Wanna Dance, Electric Avenue, Romancing the Stone; group: Equals: 1968 UK No.1 single Baby Come Back, Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys; owned studio: Coach House Studios, another in Barbados). 1948 - Born this day, Penn Jillette of Penn and Teller, magician. 1950 - Born this day, Eugene Fodor, musician, violinist, made solo debut at age 10 [w/Denver Symphony]; won first national competition at the age of 12; won first prize in International Paganini Competition [Italy: 1972]; won highest prize in International Tchaikovsky Competition [Moscow: 1974]; attended Juilliard, Vienna Academy, Indiana University, USC. 1950 - Born this day, Tom Sullivan, football, (Philadelphia Eagles). 1951 - Born this day, Bob Richer, hockey, (NHL: Buffalo Sabres). 1951 - Born this day, Elaine Page, singer, 1985 UK No.1 single I Know Him So Well with Barbara Dickson. 1952 - Born this day, Alan Clark, musician, keyboards, Dire Straits, Telegraph Road, Private Investigation, 1985 US No.1 single Money for Nothing, 1986 UK No.2 single Walk of Life, The Man’s Too Strong, Goin’ Home, Smooching. 1953 - Died this day, Sergie Prokofiev, Russian composer. 1953 - Died this day, 'Uncle Joe' Joseph Stalin, 73, four days after suffering from a brain hemorrhage (internal bleeding). Stalin had run the Soviet Union for 29 years, bringing victory in war and pride in industrialisation, but also supervising mass murder, famine, and forced collectivisation. The nation was unsure whether to grieve or to celebrate for Stalin who was a despised dictator but also a virtual god. 1954 - Born this day, Marsha Warfield, actress, comedienne, (Night Court, The Richard Pryor Show, Empty Nest, DC Cab). 1955 - Elvis Presley made his TV debut when he appeared on the weekend show Louisiana Hayride on KWKH-TV. 1956 - Born this day, Teena Marie [Mary Brockert], US singer, 1980 UK No.6 single Behind The Groove. 1957 - Born this day, Mark E. Smith, singer, The Fall, 1987 UK No.30 single There's A Ghost In My House. 1958 - Born this day, Andy Gibb, singer, in Manchester, UK, solo, 1978 UK No.10 single An Everlasting Love, Love is Thicker than Water, I Just Want to be Your Everything, 1978 US No.1 single Shadow Dancing, [Our Love] Don’t Throw It all Away, host of TV’s Solid Gold. Passed away 10 March 1988. 1959 - Bobby Darin recorded Dream Lover. 1960 - Elvis Presley was discharged from the US Army after completing his service in Germany. Having spent the previous fifteen months in Germany and risen from the rank of private to sergeant (and also having met future wife Priscilla Beaulieu near the army base), Elvis was once again a civilian in America. 1962 - Born this day, Craig and Charlie Reid, The Proclaimers, 1987 UK No.3 single Letter From America. 1963 - Died this day, Patsy Cline [Virginia Patterson Hensley], country singer, in a plane crash at Camden, Tennessee, near Nashville. She was the first country singer to cross over as a pop artist. The 1984 film Sweet Dreams was based on her life. She was born 8 September 1932 in Winchester, Virginia, US. Some of her songs are I Fall To Pieces and Crazy. Cowboy Copas and Hankshaw Hawkins also died in the same plane crash, as did Randy Hughes manager for Patsy Cline. The famous country music stars were returning from a benefit performance. Cline, the Queen of Country Music was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1973. Jessica Lange played Patsy in the 1985 biographical film, Sweet Dreams, named after one of Cline’s hugely popular songs. Willie Nelson wrote her biggest hit, Crazy, which become a number one country hit and a top 10 pop song in November 1961. Two days later country singer, Jack Anglin was killed in a car crash on his way to Cline's funeral. 1965 - The Rolling Stones kicked off their fifth UK tour at The Regal Theatre, Edmonton, London. A 14-date package tour with The Hollies, The Konrads and Dave Berry and the Crusiers. 1965 - The Mannish Boys released their debut single I Pity The Fool, featuring a young David Bowie. 1966 - Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler started a five week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with Ballad Of The Green Berets. It made No.24 in the UK. 1966 - Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass went to No.1 on the US album chart with Going Places. 1968 - Jerry Lee Lewis opened as Iago in a rock musical version of Shakespeare's Othello in Hollywood. 1969 - At the No.1 court of the Old Bailey, gangland twins Ronnie and Reggie Kray, were found guilty of murder and both given life sentences. 1969 - Dusty Springfield collapsed while taping a TV appearance. 1969 - The rock magazine, Creem, was published for the first time this day. 1970 - Born this day, John Frusciante, Red Hot Chili Peppers, 1992 UK No.26 single Under The Bridge. 1971 - Led Zeppelin started a 'thank you' tour for British fans playing the clubs from their early days and charging the admission price from 1968. The first show was at The Ulster Hall, Belfast. 1971 - UK band Badfinger kicked off their first US tour appearing in Toledo, Ohio. 1973 - The former US manager of Jimi Hendrix, Michael Jeffrey, was one of 68 people killed in a plane crash in France. Jeffery was enroute to a court appearance in London related to Hendrix. 1973 - Roberta Flack, riding at No.1 on the US pop music charts with, Killing Me Softly with His Song, could hardly wait to rip into the fancy frame containing her brand new gold record. She flew to the stereo machine and set the needle down on the shiny surface, only to hear Come Softly to Me. She was so impressed by this unexpected turn of the table that she wound up humming the old Fleetwoods song for three days. 1974 - Born this day, Nikki Taylor, model. 1974 - Smokey Robinson appeared on NBC-TV's Police Story. 1975 - Appearing live were 10CC and all girl group Fancy, at Leeds University, tickets were £1.25. 1975 - Rod Stewart met Swedish actress, Britt Ekland at a party at Joni Mitchell's house in Los Angeles, thus began a 5-year romance and a high profile love affair. 1977 - President Jimmy Carter joined CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite for the first ever Dial-a-President radio talk show. It was carried on 260 CBS stations, with the President answering a variety of questions from people across the United States. 1977 - Barbra Streisand started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with Love Theme From A Star Is Born, her second US No.1, it made No.3 in the UK. 1979 - Japan gave their first live concert in the land of the rising sun when they played the first of two nights at Tokyo's Budokan Hall. 1982 - Died this day, John Belushi, actor, of The Blues Brothers, from an overdose of heroin at the Chateau Marmont hotel, Los Angeles. 1983 - Michael Jackson started a seven week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with Billie Jean, his fourth solo US No.1, also No.1 in the UK. Also on the same day Michael Jackson's album Thriller went to No.1 for the first time on the UK album chart, it went on to become the biggest selling album of all time with sales over 40 million. 1984 - The Los Angeles Express of the United States Football League signed quarterback, Steve Young, from Brigham Young University, to a 'substantial' contract on this day. The football all-American put his name to a pact that would earn him $40 million dollars over a 43-year period, in one of the most complicated contracts ever, lasting until 2027. The USFL folded not long after he signed the lucrative deal. Young became the back-up quarterback for football legend, Joe Montana, in San Francisco. In 1994, when Montana moved to the Kansas City Chiefs, Steve Young took over the reins to lead the 49ers. 1984 - Scientists warned of a 'greenhouse effect' caused by fossil fuels. 1984 - Yorkshire NUM members walked out in protest at proposed pit closures to spark the year-long miners' strike. 1984 - The Standard Oil Company of California, also known as Chevron, bought Gulf Corporation for more than $13 billion in the largest business merger in US history. 1985 - Mike Bossy of the New York Islanders became the first National Hockey League player to score 50 goals in eight consecutive seasons. Two players have scored 50 goals in six seasons: Wayne ‘The Great One’ Gretzky of Los Angeles and Guy Lafleur of Montreal. 1986 - The US dollar made its largest one-day gain against other world currencies since 1978 as it closed up 2-1/2 points or just over 2.2 percent from the previous day’s closing mark. 1989 - Born this day, Jake Lloyd, actor. 1991 - Rebellions against Saddam Hussein were reported in southeastern Iraq. US military officials predicted the unrest probably would lead to his downfall. It hasn't, so far. 1992 - R.E.M. cleaned up in The Rolling Stone Music Awards winning, album of the year, for Out Of Time, artist of the year, best single for Losing My Religion, best video for Losing My Religion, best band, best guitarist and best songwriter. 1992 - Senator Bob Kerrey (D-Nebraska) dropped out of the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. 1993 - Canada's Ben Johnson, once called the world's fastest human, again tested positive for drugs and was banned for life from track competition. 1993 - Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson was banned for life after taking and failing a drugs test. 1995 - Died this day, Viv Stanshall of The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, in a house fire. 1996 - Republican presidential hopeful Bob Dole won the GOP primaries in Colorado, Maryland, Georgia and several New England states. 1997 - Switzerland announced plans to establish a $4.7 billion government-financed fund, using interest from its gold reserves, to compensate survivors of the Nazi Holocaust and their descendants. 1998 - NASA announced that ice had been found at the moon's north and south poles. 1999 - Sir Elton John won a court case against The Daily Star, after they published long-lens photographs of Spice Girl Victoria Adams and footballer David Beckham while they were staying at Elton's home. 2000 - Madonna went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with her version of the Don McLean hit American Pie. It was her 50th UK hit and the singers ninth UK No.1. 2000 - British Puma helicopters carried out life-saving missions to help people in flood-ravaged Mozambique. 2000 - It was reported that the former rap artist MC Hammer had become a preacher at the Jubilee Christian Centre in San Jose. Hammer had been declared bankrupt in 1996 after squandering his $50m fortune. 2000 - Oasis went to No.1 on the UK album chart with Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants. 2001 - A 15-year-old boy opened fire at a Santee, California high school, killing two students and wounding 13 other people. 2001 - Vice President Dick Cheney was hospitalised with chest pains caused by a partially blocked artery. 2002 - Prime Minister Tony Blair was urged by 39 MPs not to back military action in Iraq. 2002 - President Bush imposed tariffs of up to 30 per cent on steel imported from Europe, Asia and South America. 2002 - The first episode of The Osbournes TV show was aired on MTV in the US. Focusing on the madman and his family (his wife Sharon, and two of their three children). Oblivious to the camera, they bicker, squabble, curse and hang out backstage at Ozzy shows. 2002 - Representative Gary Condit, D-California, who admitted a 'very close' relationship with missing government intern Chandra Levy, lost his bid for renomination to another term. 2003 - Prime Minister Tony Blair warned Iraqi president Saddam Hussein he must disarm if he wanted to avoid war. |
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.