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March 8th
1638 - Died this day, Jacob C van Neck, admiral, mayor of Amsterdam, aged about 73. 1669 - On this day in 1669, Mount Etna, on the island of Sicily in modern-day Italy, began rumbling. Multiple eruptions over the next few weeks killed more than 20,000 people and left thousands more homeless. Most of the victims could have saved themselves by fleeing, but stayed, in a vain attempt to save their city. When Etna began to rumble and belch gas on 8 March, the residents nearby ignored the warning signs of a larger eruption. Three days later, the volcano began spewing out noxious fumes in large quantities. Approximately 3,000 people living on the slopes of the mountain died from asphyxiation. Even worse, Etna was soon emitting tremendous amounts of ash and molten lava. The ash was sent out with such force that significant amounts came down in the southern part of mainland Italy, in some cases nearly 100 miles away. Lava also began pouring down the south side of the mountain heading toward the city of Catania, 18 miles to the south along the sea. For several weeks, the lava pushed toward Catania and the sea. But, the residents failed to evacuate the city. Apparently, they remained hopeful that the lava would stop or the city’s ancient defensive walls would protect them. Neither was the case - the walls were quickly swallowed by the extremely hot lava and nearly 17,000 people in Catania died. Most of the city was destroyed. Catania was not the only city affected—the eruption wiped out 14 towns and villages and left about 27,000 people homeless. 1698 - The first meeting convened of the British group which later formed the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK). 1702 - Queen Anne acceded to the throne on the death of William III. 1711 - In this date's edition of The Spectator, English essayist Joseph Addison wrote: 'To be an atheist requires an infinitely greater measure of faith than to receive all the great truths which atheism would deny.' 1740 - Colonial revivalist Gilbert Tennent, 37, preached his famous sermon, "The Danger of An Unconverted Ministry." The message, assaulting opponents of the Great Awakening, contributed to the first schism within the American Presbyterian Church between the Old Side and New Side. (In 1758 the two divisions were reunited.) 1787 - Born this day, Karl von Grafe, pioneer of plastic surgery, born in Warsaw. 1790 - The French voted to keep slavery in their colonies. (Motto - Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite). 1813 - London's Royal Philharmonic Society staged its first concert, in the presence of the Prince Regent on this day. 1859 - Born this day, Kenneth Grahame, author, Wind In The Willows. 'There is nothing, absolutely nothing, half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats'. 1887 - Died this day, Henry Ward Beecher, 73, American clergyman, evangelist and social reformer. His last words were: 'Going out into life" that is dying. 1911 - March is Women's History Month. The celebration of women in society dates back to 8 March 1911, when Europe celebrated International Women's Day. Since then, the celebration has evolved over time to the month of March instead of one particular day. 1921 - The United Evangelical Lutheran Church in Australia was organized at Ebenezer, in South Australia. In 1966 the UELCA united with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Australia (ELCA) to form the Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA). 1921 - Born this day, Cyd Charisse [Tula Ellice Finklea], in Amarillo, Texas, dancer, actress. Her movie career essentially began in 1944 with her appearance in the film Ziegfeld Follies. A dozen movies later she danced with Gene Kelly in Singin' in the Rain (1951). Her career really took off with the release of the 1953 Vincente Minnelli backstage musical The Band Wagon. 1924 - Crewe Alexandra football club have twice been involved in matches in which four penalties were awarded. Against Bradford on this day and against Burnley on 3 February 2001. 1930 - Born this day, Douglas Hurd, ex-MP. (Lord Hurd of Westwell) former Conservative Foreign Secretary. 1937 - There were now 824 millionaires in Britain compared with only 775 last year according to Inland Revenue statistics. Almost 70 people were earning in excess of £100,000 a year and over 85,000 earned more than £2,000 a year. The increase in wealth meant more than 3.35 million people were now pay tax. 1939 - Born this day, Lydia Skoblikova, in Russia. This powerful speedskater would go on to win a total of six gold medals at the 1960 and 1964 Winter Olympics. No female athlete has ever won more gold medals. 1942 - Born this day, Ralph Ellis, The Swinging Blue Jeans, 1964 UK No.2 and US No.24 single Hippy Hippy Shake. 1943 - Born this day, Andrew Semple, guitar, vocals, The Fortunes, 1965 UK No.2 and US No.7 single You've Got Your Troubles. 1943 - Born this day, Lynn Redgrave, actress, younger sister of Vanessa and daughter of Sir Michael, was born in London, England. She starred in and got a Best Actress Oscar nomination for, Georgie Girl (1966). 1943 - Born this day, John Cale, rock musician, (Velvet Underground). 1943 - Born this day, Michael Grade, former chief executive Channel 4. 1944 - Born this day, Keef Hartley, Keef Hartley Band, 1970 UK No.41 album The Time Is Near. 1945 - Born this day, [George Michael] Mickey Dolenz, in Los Angeles, California, aka Mrs Burt Bachrach, vocals, drums, actor (Circus Boy), singer, The Monkees, 1967 UK and US No.1 single I'm A Believer plus 10 US and 8 UK top 40 singles. 1946 - Born this day, Carole Bayer Sager, in New York, singer, songwriter, wrote Groovy Kind Of Love hit for The Mindbenders and Phil Collins, plus Frank Sinatra, Gene Pitney and Dolly Parton all recorded her songs. UK No.6 single You're Moving Out Today. 1946 - Born this day, Randy Meisner, guitar, Poco, The Eagles, 1977 US No.1 and UK No.8 single Hotel California. 1947 - Born this day, Mike Allsup, guitar, Three Dog Night, 1970 UK No.3 and US No.1 single Mamma Told Me Not To Come. 1948 - Born this day, Mel Galley, guitar, Whitesnake, 1987 US No.1 and UK No.9 single Here I Go Again. 1948 - Born this day, 'Little' Peggy March, singer (I Will Follow Him). 1948 - Born this day, Gyles Brandreth, ex-MP, author, TV presenter. 1949 - Born this day, Dave Lambert, The Strawbs, 1973 UK No.2 single Part Of The Union. 1950 - 1st woman medical officer assigned to naval vessel (BR Walters). 1950 - Marshall Voroshilov of the USSR announced they had developed an atomic bomb. 1951 - The International Table Tennis Federation banned Egypt from competition, for refusing to play Israel. 1952 - Antoine Pinay formed a French government. 1952 - An artificial heart was used for the first time on a 41 year old man. It kept him alive for 80 minutes. 1952 - Ronald Reagan married Nancy Davis. 1953 - Two's Company closed at the Alvin Theatre in New York City after 90 performances. 1953 - A census indicated that 239,000 farmers gave up farming in the US in previous 2 years. 1953 - KSWO TV channel 7 in Lawton, Oklahoma (ABC) began broadcasting. 1953 - Patty Berg won the LPGA Jacksonville Golf Open. 1953 - WFMJ TV channel 21 in Youngstown, Ohio (NBC) began broadcasting. 1954 - Herb McKinley set a 1/4 mile record of 6.8 seconds in Melbourne, Australia. (Doing what?) 1954 - Born this day, Cheryl Baker, singer, Bucks Fizz, 1981 UK No.1 single Making Your Mind Up, 1981 UK No.1 single The Land Of Make Believe,1982 UK No.1 single My Camera Never Lies, 1982 UK No.8 single Now Those Days Are Gone. Also TV presenter (Record Breakers). 1954 - Born this day, David Wilkie, in England, British 200 metre backstroke swimmer, Olympic gold medallist in Montreal in 1976. 1955 - The steadily increasing flow of West Indian immigrants to Britain has led finally to an official colour bar by white British workers unwilling to have black colleagues and alarmed at what they view as an invasion of unwelcome additions to the workforce. 1957 - The first performance of David Diamond's 6th Symphony was held in Boston. 1957 - On this date in 1957, following Israel's withdrawal from occupied Egyptian territory, the Suez Canal was reopened to international traffic. However, the canal was so littered with wreckage from the Suez Crisis that it took weeks of cleanup by Egyptian and United Nations workers before larger ships could navigate the waterway. The Suez Canal, which connects the Mediterranean and Red Seas across Egypt, was completed by French engineers in 1869. For the next 88 years, it remained largely under British and French control, and Europe depended on it as an inexpensive shipping route for oil from the Middle East. In July 1956, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalised the canal, hoping to charge tolls that would pay for construction of a massive dam on the Nile River. In response, Israel invaded in late October, and British and French troops landed in early November, occupying the canal and other Suez territory. Under pressure from the United Nations, Britain and France withdrew in December, and Israeli forces departed in March 1957. That month, Egypt took over control of the canal and reopened it to commercial shipping. Ten years later, Egypt shut down the canal again following the Six Day War and Israel's occupation of the Sinai peninsula. It remained closed for eight years, ending when Egyptian President Anwar el-Sadat reopened it in 1975 after peace talks with Israel. 1957 - Born this day, Clive Burr, Iron Maiden, 1991 UK No.1 single Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter. 1957 - The USSR performed an atmospheric nuclear test. 1958 - Born this day, Gary Numan, singer, Tubeway Army, 1979 UK No.1 single Are Friends Electric, and solo, 1979 UK No.1 and 1980 US No.9 single Cars plus 18 other UK top 40 singles. 1958 - Born this day, Pauline Murray, vocals, punk group, Penetration. 1958 - Silky Sullivan came from 40 lengths back, to win by 3 at Santa Anita. 1958 - William Faulkner said that US schools had degenerated into being babysitters. 1959 - Groucho, Chico & Harpo made their final TV appearance together. 1959 - KUAT TV channel 6 in Tucson, Arizona (PBS) began broadcasting. 1959 - Mickey Wright won the LPGA Jacksonville Golf Open. 1959 - Born this day, Aidan Quinn, actor. 1959 - A Pro-Egyptian coup failed in Mosul, Iraq. 1960 - Psycho was released. 1960 - Born this day, Richard Darbyshire, Living In A Box, 1987 UK No.5 single Living In A Box. 1960 - Greenwillow opened at the Alvin Theatre in New York City for 95 performances. 1961 - Died this day, Sir Thomas Beecham, English conductor and founder of the London Philhamonic Orchestra, aged 81. 1961 - Jean Kerr's Mary, Mary premiered in New York, NY. 1961 - The US nuclear submarine Patrick Henry arrived at the Scottish naval base of Holy Loch from South Carolina, after a record undersea journey of 66 days 22 hours. 1962 - The Beatles, with Pete Best, had their TV debut performing Dream Baby on the BBC. (Another source says - The Beatles made their radio debut on the BBC's Teenagers Turn, (Here We Go), singing Roy Orbison's 'Dream Baby'.) 1962 - Born this day, Kathy Ireland, actress, model. 1962 - The US performed a nuclear test at its Nevada Test Site. 1962 - Born this day, Steve Grantley, Eighth Wonder, 1988 UK No.7 single I'm Not Scared. 1963 - The first Ford Anglia came off the production line at Halewood. 1963 - A military coup took place in Syria. This day is now - Syrian Arab Republic Revolution Day. 1964 - The Dave Clark Five made their first of many appearances on CBS-TV's Ed Sullivan Show. 1964 - Born this day, Peter Gill, drums, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, 1984 UK No.1 and US No.10 single Relax. 1964 - Born this day, Tatsuya Murayama, singer, composer? 1964 - Born this day, Cheryl James (Salt), Grammy Award-winning rap singer, Salt-N-Pepa, 1991 UK No.2 single Let's Talk About Sex. 1965 - President Johnson sent the first ground combat troops into Vietnam. 3,500 Marines arrived in South Vietnam. 1965 - David Bowie made his TV debut with The Manish Boys on a UK programme called Gadzooks! It's All Happening when they performed their current single I Pity The Fool. 1966 - Privilege with Jean Shrimpton began filming. 1966 - Lulu became the first British female singer to appear behind the Iron curtain, when she toured Poland with The Hollies. 1966 - An IRA bomb destroyed the Nelson Column in Dublin. 1966 - East End gangster Ronnie Kray walked into the Blind Beggar pub on Whitechapel Road at 8.30pm and shot rival gangster George Cornell. 1966 - Golden Boy closed at the Majestic Theatre in New York City after 569 performances. 1966 - Casey Stengel was elected to the Hall of Fame. 1967 - The New Orleans Saints began selling season tickets. 20,000 were sold on the first day. 1968 - Six-year-old Tommy Moore scored a hole-in-one in golf, in Hagerstown, Maryland. 1968 - The Fillmore East concert hall opened in New York City, appearing were Albert King, Janis Joplin and Tim Buckley. 1968 - Students demonstrated in Warsaw. 1968 - Born this day, Chris Burdett, drums, Anastasia Screamed, 1991 album Moontime. 1968 - Born this day, Shawn Mullins, US male singer, 1999 UK No.9 single Lullaby. 1969 - The marriage of 12 year old Marcella Rosciglione took place in Palermo, Italy. 1970 - WTCI TV channel 45 in Chattanooga, Tennessee (PBS) began broadcasting. 1970 - Diana Ross made her first performance as a solo act when she appeared in Framingham, Massachusetts. 1971 - Joe Frazier beat Muhammad Ali at Madison Square Garden, in New York, NY, in 15 rounds on points. He retained the heavyweight boxing title as a result. 1971 - The Milwaukee Bucks won their 20th straight NBA game. A team record. 1971 - Radio Hanoi broadcast Jimi Hendrix's Star Spangled Banner. 1972 - The first airship flown over Britain in 20 years, made a flight. The airship was called Europa. 1972 - The Goodyear blimp had its first flight. 1973 - Eisenhower Tunnel, the world's highest and the longest in the US, opened. (Where is it?) 1973 - Paul McCartney was fined £100 for growing cannabis at his farm in Campbeltown, Scotland. McCartney claimed some fans gave the seeds to him and that he didn't know what they would grow. 1973 - The US performed a nuclear test at its Nevada Test Site. 1973 - Died this day, Ron Mckernan, of The Grateful Dead, from a stomach haemorrhage and liver failure brought on by alcohol poisoning. 1974 - Charles de Gaulle Airport opened in Paris, France. 1974 - Bad Company kicked off their first UK tour at Newcastle City Hall. 1975 - The Royal Canadian Mint announced the branch opening in Winnipeg, Manitoba. 1975 - Olivia Newton John went to No.1 on the US singles chart with Have You Ever Been Mellow, the singer's second US No.1. 1976 - A 1,774 kg, the largest observed, stony meteorite fell in Jilin, China. 1976 - Born this day, Gareth Coombes, vocals, guitar, Supergrass, 1995 UK No.2 single Alright. 1977 - Henry L. Marsh III was elected mayor of Richmond. 1977 - Princess Anne announced that she was expecting her first child, when born he was name Peter. 1979 - The first extra-terrestrial volcano was discovered on Jupiter's satellite Io. 1979 - The 5th People's Choice Awards were presented. 1979 - China withdrew its invasion troops from Vietnam. 1979 - The Shuttle Columbia (OV-102) was transported 38 miles overland from Palmdale. (Where to? Kennedy?). 1980 - President Jimmy Carter refused to apologise for past US actions in Iran in return for the release of 53 diplomatic hostages. 1980 - Greg Chappell made 235 and Yallop 172, for a 217 stand at Faisalabad. 1980 - The US performed a nuclear test at the Nevada Test Site. 1981 - The Only Ones played their final gig when they appeared at The Lyceum, London. 1981 - Shakespeare's Cabaret closed at the Bijou Theatre in New York City after 54 performances. 1981 - Dennis Lillee was caught by Queensland 12th man Dennis Lillie in the Shield game. 1981 - Nancy Lopez won the LPGA Arizona Copper Golf Classic. 1983 - The US House Foreign Affairs Committee endorsed the nuclear weapons freeze with the USSR. 1983 - On 8 March 1983, IBM released its PC-DOS, version 2.0, updating the earlier version of PC-DOS, which was developed by Microsoft for the IBM PC that debuted in 1981. Microsoft's involvement with DOS, which skyrocketed the company to huge financial success, was the result of a series of accidents and misunderstandings. Legend has it that IBM had intended to ask Gary Kildall of Digital Research to license his operating system, CP/M, which ran most personal computers at the time. Kildall was out flying his airplane when IBM executives came to talk to him at his Pacific Grove, California, office. Later, on a separate matter, the IBM executives met with a small company specializing in computer languages. When the president of this small company, Bill Gates, heard about IBM's new computer, he suggested using a more powerful 16-bit chip instead of the standard 8-bit chip. Although no 16-bit operating system existed at the time, Gates convinced IBM he could create one. He promptly bought the rights to a program under development called QDOS - standing for "Quick and Dirty Operating System" - for $50,000 from Seattle Computer Products. The deal ensured Microsoft's long-term success as a software company, and the IBM PC quickly took over the personal computer market. The rest as they say is history. 1983 - President Reagan called the USSR an Evil Empire. 1986 - Diana Ross has her second UK No.1 single with the Gibb Brothers song Chain Reaction. 1986 - Whitney Houston went to No.1 on the US album chart with her self-titled album. It spent a total of 14 weeks at the No.1 position. 1986 - Four French TV crew members were abducted in west Beirut, Lebanon. 1986 - The Japanese probe Suisei passed Halley's Comet at 109,800 km. 1986 - Martina Navratilova became the first tennis player to earn $10 million. 1987 - The 17th Easter Seal Telethon raised $35,184,425. 1987 - David Hookes (306) and Wayne Phillips made a 462 stand for South Australia. 1987 - The FBI apprehended one of their most wanted criminals, Claude L Dallas, Jr in California. 1987 - Jane Geddes won the LPGA GNA/Glendale Federal Golf Classic. 1987 - Nelli Cooman became indoor 60 metre world champion. (How?) 1988 - Died this day, singer Andy Gibb, in hospital 5 days after his 30th birthday. 1989 - The Heidi Chronicles opened at the Plymouth Theatre in New York City for 621 performances. 1989 - Roger Kingdom ran an indoor world record 60 meter hurdles in 7.37 seconds. 1990 - More than 3,000 Britons had fully developed Aids, figures showed. 1990 - New York City's Zodiac killer shot his first victim, Mario Orosco. 1990 - Cher won the worst dressed female, and worst video for If I Could Turn Back Time, in The Rolling Stone Magazine's awards, Donny Osmond won the most unwelcome comeback award. 1991 - At the 17th People's Choice Awards, Julia Roberts, Bill Cosby, and Pretty Woman won awards. 1991 - Harry Hamlin and Nicollette Sheridan got married. 1991 - Plane-loads of US troops arrived home from the Persian Gulf. Iraq handed over 40 foreign journalists and 2 American soldiers it had captured. 1991 - The US performed a nuclear test at the Nevada Test Site. 1992 - The 22nd Easter Seal Telethon was held. 1992 - Judy Dickinson won the LPGA Inamori Golf Classic. 1993 - Beavis and Butthead debuted on MTV. 1993 - Katharine Hepburn was released from hospital after suffering from exhaustion. 1993 - Nigerian singer Fela Kuti was arrested once again on suspicion of murder. 1994 - The 20th People's Choice Awards were presented. (What for?) 1994 - A B737 collided with an Ilyushin-86 in New Dehli, at least 8 were killed. 1994 - The US Defense Department announced a smoking ban in workplaces. 1994 - A train accident at Pinetown, Natal killed 47. 1995 - A temperature of -26ºF (-32.2ºC) was recorded in Bismarck, North Dakota. 1995 - A temperature of -44ºF (-42.2ºC) was recorded in Chosedacharad, Komi-district (Russia), on 67ºN, (this is inside the Arctic Circle). 1995 - Costis Stephanopoulos became the President of Greece. 1995 - The Dutch Liberal Party won Provincial-National elections. 1996 - Stafford. A derailed freight train was struck head-on by a Royal Mail locomotive. One person was killed and 22 people were injured. 1997 - Died this day, rap artist The Notorious B.I.G. was murdered when leaving a LA party. 1999 - Died this day, Joe DiMaggio, baseball, former husband of Marilyn Monroe. 2001 - Winners in Rock Sound readers poll included, Pitchshifter, Best British Band were Slipknot, Wait & Bleed Best Single by Foo Fighters, Breakout won Best Video, Marilyn Manson Holy Wood won Best Album, and Limp Bizkit won Worst Band. 2001 - The wreck of Donald Campbell's Bluebird was lifted from the bottom of Coniston Water 34 years after he crashed attempting the water speed record. 2002 - Labour was accused of letting down patients after figures revealed it had failed to meet an election pledge to slash NHS waiting lists. 2003 - Died this day, Adam Faith, singer, actor, at the age of 62. Adam Faith enjoyed a series of different, successful careers, covering a period of six decades. He rose from messenger to film editor in the fifties, to pop star in the sixties, to tv acting star, artist manager and record producer in the seventies, to financial investments guru and journalist in the eighties, and back to a tv star in the nineties. In the 21st century he continued his business dealings and starred in a tv sitcom. During that time he also pursued successful film and stage ventures, both in musical and serious drama productions. Films include Beat Girl, Never Let Go, What A Whopper and Mix Me A Person. In 1967, he married his long-time girl friend Jackie Irving, who was a professional dancer. The wedding took place at Caxton Hall, Westminster on 19 August 1967. It was a big media event, and massive crowds thronged around the area, hoping to catch a glimpse of the couple. In 1970 he started work on the television series Budgie, written by Keith Waterhouse. Adam was in the title role, playing a chirpy cockney, just out of prison, and scraping a living on the edge of the law. His co-star was Iain Cuthbertson, as the scheming villain Charlie Endell who employed Budgie. Two series, each of 13 episodes, were made, all in black and white, despite colour tv having begun in 1969. On 19 December 1970, his daughter Katya was born. The birth was premature, and the baby had to struggle for life, but she survived. In 1972 he discovered a new young singer called Leo Sayer, became his manager and record producer, and eventually steered him to a successful international career. 1979 saw Adam begin another run in front of the film camera. He took a major role in the film Yesterday's Hero (which starred Ian McShane). He also co-starred with Roger Daltrey in McVicar, and had a part in Foxes, which had Jodie Foster in the starring role; both released in 1980. In 1986, when, complaining of chest pains, he was found to have seriously blocked arteries, and had to undergo open heart surgery. A return to the theatre saw him in the West End of London, alongside Eastenders star Anita Dobson in Budgie The Musical - a stage musical version of his 1970s tv show Budgie. Unfortunately, the venture was not well received, and it closed prematurely. In 1991, he landed a plum part as co-star to Zoe Wannamaker in the bitter-sweet tv series Love Hurts which ran to three series over three years. The storyline was almost biographic, featuring one Frank Carver, played by Adam, who started life humbly, but soon rose to the heights of financial whiz-kid, only to come crashing down again. He returned to the recording studio in 1993. Spurred on by his singing in Budgie, he recorded an album of covers and some new material, called Midnight Postcards. In 1994 he starred in a UK stage tour of the sixties play/film Alfie. When the UK tour finished, he took the play to Los Angeles, where his daughter, Katya, directed. This was followed by a UK tour of the award-winning Broadway musical A Chorus Line, during 1996, in which he took the starring role. During October and early November 2000, Adam was heard broadcasting on BBC Radio 2. He presented a programme called Rockin' In The Aisles. The six-week series of half-hour shows was aired on Thursday evenings at 10pm, and looked at the films of the 50's, 60's and 70's that had rock 'n' roll sound tracks. 2003 - Tony Blair was striving to garner international backing for a plan to set Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein a March 17 deadline to comply with United Nations (UN) demands. |
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.