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March 10th
1528 - Balthasar Hubmaier, one of the foremost leaders of the Austrian Anabaptists, was burned at the stake as a heretic in Vienna. 1628 - Born this day, Marcello Malpighi, physician. Died in 1694. 1792 - John Stone patented the pile driver. 1849 - Abraham Lincoln, of Springfield, Illinois, applied for a patent for a device to lift vessels over shoals by means of inflated cylinders. Lincoln received the patent in May, 1849. 1862 - Britain and France recognised the independence of Zanzibar. 1862 - The first paper money of the US government was issued. 1863 - Prince Albert Edward (later King Edward VII) of England married Princess Alexandra of Denmark. 1867 - Born this day, Lillian Wald, sociologist. Died in 1940. 1876 - Alexander Graham Bell's notebook entry of this date describes his successful experiment with the telephone. Speaking through the instrument to his assistant, Thomas A. Watson, in the next room, Bell uttered these famous first words, "Mr. Watson -- come here -- I want to see you." 1886 - Cruft's dog show came to London, organised by Charles Cruft, general manager of a dog biscuit firm. 1888 - Born this day, Barry Fitzgerald [William Shields], actor. Died in 1961. 1892 - Born this day, Arthur Honegger, composer. Died in 1955. 1893 - The French colonies of French Guinea and Ivory Coast were formally established. 1903 - Harry C. Gammeter, of Cleveland, Ohio, patented the multigraph duplicating machine. 1903 - Born this day, Claire Booth Luce, playwright, editor, politician. Died in 1989. 1903 - Born this day, [Leon] Bix Beiderbecke, 'young man with a horn', jazz cornetist. Died in 1931. 1905 - The majority of the 200,000-strong Russian army was killed in Manchuria by the Japanese army. 1906 - The Bakerloo Line on the London Underground network was opened. 1912 - Yuan Shi-kai was installed as the provisional president of the Republic of China. 1913 - William Knox rolled the first perfect 300 game in a tournament competition at the American Bowling Congress tournament held in Toledo, Ohio. 1914 - Suffragette Mary Richardson slashed Velazquez's Rokeby Venus at London's National Gallery as a protest against the British government's treatment of Emmeline Pankhurst. 1914 - Born this day, Chandler Harper, golf. 1915 - The Battle of Neuve-Chapelle, an unsuccessful British offensive on the Western Front, began during World War I (WWI). 1918 - Born this day, Heywood Hale Broun, sportscaster. 1919 - Born this day, Pamela Mason [Ostrer], writer, actress. Died in 1996. 1922 - Mahatma Gandhi was arrested by the British governors of India, tried for sedition, and sentenced to six years imprisonment. 1922 - Variety magazine greeted readers with the front-page headline that read, "Radio Sweeping Country - 1,000,000 sets in use." 1923 - Born this day, Jethro [Kenneth Burns], entertainer, musician, mandolin and banjo player. Died in 1989. 1923 - Born this day, Don Abney, jazz pianist, studio musician. Died in 2000. 1928 - Born this day, James Earl Ray, assassin. 1935 - Nelson Eddy recorded Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life for Victor Records. The song came from the film, Naughty Marietta. Later, Eddy recorded the classic tune with Jeanette MacDonald. 1937 - An audience of 21,000 jitterbuggers jammed the Paramount Theatre in New York City to see a young clarinetist whom they would crown, the 'King of Swing'. The popular musician was Benny Goodman. 1938 - Jezebel, directed by William Wyler, opened in US theatres. The film starred Bette Davis, Henry Fonda, George Brent, and Fay Bainter. Davis won her second Oscar as a ruthless Southern belle who goes too far to make fiancé Fonda jealous. Bainter received a Best Supporting Actress Oscar, and the film was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar. 1939 - The Little Princess, starring Shirley Temple and based on Frances Hodgson Burnett's novel, opened in US theatres. 1940 - Born this day, Leroy Ellis, basketball. 1940 - Born this day, David Rabe, playwright. 1940 - Born this day, Dean Torrence, singer, Jan & Dean, 1963 US No.1 and UK No.26 single Surf City, co-written by Beach Boy Brian Wilson. 1940 - W2XBS-TV in New York City originated the first televised opera as members of the Metropolitan Opera Company presented scenes from I Pagliacci. 1940 - Born this day, Chuck Norris [Carlos Ray], karate champion, actor. 1941 - The Brooklyn Dodgers announced that their players would wear batting helmets during the 1941 baseball season. General Manager Larry McPhail predicted that all baseball players would soon be wearing the new devices. He was right. 1941 - Born this day, Sandra Jean Palmer, golf. 1942 - Born this day, Bob Berry, football. 1944 - Born this day, Johnny Briggs, baseball. 1945 - Born this day, Katharine Houghton [Grant], actress, born in Hartford, Connecticut. In Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967) she played the daughter of Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn, bringing home to them her fiance, Sidney Poitier. In real life Houghton is Hepburn's niece. 1945 - 300 US B-29 bombers devastated Japan's capital in what became known as the Great Tokyo Air Raid in World War II (WWII). The firestorm they created killed 100,000 people. 1945 - Born this day, Pete Nelson, The Flower Pot Men, 1967 UK No.1 single Let's Go To San Francisco. 1947 - Born this day, Kim Campbell, first woman prime minister of Canada. 1947 - Born this day, Tom Scholz, musician, guitarist, singer, keyboards, Boston, 1977 UK No.23 single More Than A Feeling, 1986 US No.1 single Amanda. 1947 - Born this day, Sir Paul Condon, former Metropolitan Police Chief, Metropolitan Police commissioner. 1947 - Born this day, Bob Greene, journalist. 1948 - Born this day, Austin Carr, basketball. 1948 - Born this day, Wayne Twitchell, baseball. 1948 - Jan Masaryk, Czech statesman and foreign minister, apparently committed suicide by throwing himself from a window at his office in Prague. 1950 - Born this day, Ted McKenna, Sensational Alex Harvey Band, 1975 UK No.7 single Delilah. 1952 - The government of Cuba was overthrown by former president Fulgencio Batista, who ruled as a dictator until 1959. 1955 - The last broadcast of The Silver Eagle was heard on radio. It was said to be the last of the adventure stories on the air. 1955 - Born this day, Bunny DeBarge, US pop musician, Debarge, 1983 US No.17 single All This Love, 1985 UK No.4 single Rhythm Of The Night. 1956 - Julie Andrews was 23 years old this night when she made her TV debut. She appeared with Bing Crosby and Nancy Olson in the musical adaptation of Maxwell Anderson's play, High Tor. The first feature-length television film aired coast-to-coast. High Tor starred Bing Crosby, and featured Julie Andrews in her American television debut. It was shot in twelve days at a cost of $350,000. 1956 - RCA Records placed a half page advert in Billboard Magazine claiming that Elvis Presley was 'the new singing rage'. 1956 - Louisa May Alcott's popular novel, Little Women, was again adapted for the screen, and opened in movie theatres on this date. This version starred June Allyson, Peter Lawford, Margaret O'Brien, Elizabeth Taylor, Janet Leigh, Rossano Brazzi, and Mary Astor. The film won an Oscar for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color (1949). 1957 - Born this day, Shannon Tweed, actress. 1958 - Born this day, Sharon Stone, actress. 1958 - Born this day, Garth Crooks, broadcaster and ex-footballer. 1959 - Sweet Bird of Youth, a play by Tennessee Williams, opened at the Martin Beck Theatre in New York City. The play starred Geraldine Page, Paul Newman, Rip Torn and Diana Hyland. Critics called Page 'fabulous' and about Newman, they said, 'the perfect companion piece'. 1960 - UK trade paper 'Record Retailer-Music Week' published the first UK LP chart listing. No.1 LP was The Explosive Freddy Cannon. The first ever EP (extended player) chart was published. No.1 EP was Expresso Bongo by Cliff Richard & The Shadows. 'Record Retailer-Music Week' also published the first UK top 50 singles chart. 1962 - Born this day, Gary Clark, guitar, vocals, Danny Wilson, 1988 UK No.3 single Mary's Prayer. 1962 - Bruce Channel started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with Hey! Baby. It made No.2 on the UK chart. Latterly recorded by DJ Otzi in 2001 reaching No.1. 1963 - Born this day, Jeff Ament, bass, Pearl Jam, 1992 UK No.15 single Jeremy, 1993 US No.1 album Vs. 1964 - Born this day, Patrick Kane, Hue and Cry, 1987 UK No.6 single Labour Of Love. 1964 - Born this day, Neneh Cherry [Nenah Mariann Karlsson], songwriter, rap singer, 1988 UK and US No.3 single Buffalo Stance and 1994 UK No.3 single 7 Seconds. 1964 - Born this day, The Earl of Wessex. (Prince Edward). 1964 - Born this day, Jasmine Guy, actress. 1965 - Walter Matthau and Art Carney opened in The Odd Couple, one of Neil Simon's greatest theatrical triumphs. It would also become a hit on television, with Tony Randall playing the tidy Felix Ungar and Jack Klugman as slovenly sportswriter, Oscar Madison. The play opened at the Plymouth Theatre in New York City. 1965 - Born this day, Tina Charles, 1976 UK No.1 single I Love to Love, But My Baby Loves to Dance. 1966 - Anti-German protests marred the wedding of Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands to Claus von Amsberg, a West German diplomat, in Amsterdam. 1966 - Born this day, Edie Brickell, folksinger, Fairground Attraction, 1988 UK No.1 single Perfect, 1988 UK NO.7 single Find my love, 1989 UK No.31 single with the New Bohemians, What I Am, also a 1999 hit for Spice Girl Emma Bunton. Edie married Paul Simon in 1992. 1967 - Sonny & Cher guested on an episode of NBC-TV's Man From U.N.C.L.E.. 1967 - The Monkees held the No.1 position on the US album chart with More Of The Monkees. 1967 - Born this day, Susie Q, Cookie Crew, 1988 UK No.5 single Rok Da House. 1969 - James Earl Ray was sentenced in Memphis, Tennessee, to 99 years in prison for the murder of Martin Luther King Jr. in April 1968. 1970 - Grand Funk Railroad recorded Closer To Home. 1971 - On this day Frank Sinatra announced the first of many retirements from singing. 1972 - Marshal Lon Nol took over as Cambodian head of state. 1973 - This week’s UK Top 5 singles were at No.5 was Focus with Sylvia, No.4 was Detroit Emeralds and Feel The Need In Me, No.3, The Strawbs with Part Of The Union, No.2 was The Faces with Cindy Incidentally, and No.1 was Slade and Cum On Feel The Noize. 1973 - The Governor of Bermuda, Sir Richard Sharples, was assassinated in the grounds of Government House. 1973 - Pink Floyds Dark Side Of The Moon was released in the US, it spent over 740 weeks on the chart, over a 14 year period. 1977 - Born this day, Shannon Miller, gymnast. 1977 - On a trestle-table set up outside Buckingham Palace, London, at 7am in the morning, The Sex Pistols signed to A&M Records. The contract lasted for six days. 1979 - Gloria Gaynor started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with I Will Survive. The song which was also a No.1 in the UK was originally a B-side. 1980 - Appearing live at York University, were Dexy's Midnight Runners. 1982 - In South Africa, the trial opened of 43 mercenaries accused of hijacking an Air India plane after a foiled coup in the Seychelles in November 1981. 1984 - Van Halen held the No.1 position on the US singles chart with Jump. 1985 - Appearing at the Dundee Dance Factory, were The Associates. 1985 - Dick Motta, of the Dallas Mavericks, became the fourth coach in the National Basketball Association to win 700 games in a career as the Mavs defeated the New Jersey Nets 126-113. The three other winningest coaches in NBA history to that time were: Red Auerbach (938 games), Jack Ramsey (733 games) and Gene Shue (717). 1986 - The Wrigley Company, of Chicago, raised the price of its seven-stick pack of Wrigley's chewing gum from a quarter to 30 cents. It was the first time the price of chewing gum had risen in six years. 1988 - The Prince of Wales narrowly escaped death in an avalanche at Kloisters in the Swiss Alps. His friend Hugh Lindsay was killed. 1988 - Died this day, Andy Gibb, singer, in hospital five days after his 30th birthday. 1990 - An Iraqi court condemned British journalist Farzad Bazoft to death for espionage. He was executed on the 15th. 1990 - Haitian President Prosper Avril resigned 18 months after seizing power in a coup. 1990 - American Jennifer Capriati, at 13 years and 11 months, became the youngest player ever to reach the final of a professional tennis tournament, an event in Florida. 1992 - NATO and its former Soviet enemies pledged that a treaty slashing conventional forces in Europe would be put into effect within four months. 1993 - President Suharto of Indonesia was re-elected for a sixth five-year term of office. 1994 - Thousands of students demonstrated across France to demand the government withdraw a controversial law allowing employers to pay young people less than the minimum wage. 1994 - Fred West was charged with the murder of eight women after they were dug up in his garden in Gloucester. 1995 - The EU responded angrily to Canada's seizure of a Spanish fishing boat in international waters, demanding its release and calling for retaliatory measures. 1995 - Former Stone Roses manager Gareth Evans £10 million lawsuit with the band was settled out of court over alleged wrongful dismissal for an undisclosed sum. 1996 - Alanis Morissette won Best Album for Jagged Little Pill, Best Female singer, Best Rock Album, Best songwriter and best single at the 25th Juno Awards held in Hamilton, Canada. 1996 - Five Latin American presidents approved the creation of an Andean Community economic bloc to replace the Andean Pact trade group. 1997 - Died this day, Lavern Baker, R&B singer, at the age of 57. 1958 US No.6 single I Cried A Tear. 1997 - A jobless journalist hijacked a Taiwanese airliner to China to request asylum, the first defection from Taiwan to China since 1986. 1998 - Beloved actor Lloyd Bridges died at the age of 85. Of all the movies he made, he would probably be best remembered for his role on the 1960's TV show Sea Hunt, as well as his zany film roles, such as Airplane!, later in his career. Before his death, he was featured on NBC's Seinfeld in a recurring role as a geriatric body builder. 2000 - About 30 people were injured when a train hit stationary carriages at Waterloo station in London. 2000 - Chrissie Hynde was arrested for leading an animal rights protest against the clothing firm Gap. The protest took place in a store in Manhattan. 2000 - The Daily Mail published pictures of Paul McCartney dancing with a cowgirl on the bar of a New York club. McCartney sang along to Whole Lotta Shakin' through a megaphone and mimicked a striptease in front of 100 onlookers. 2001 - It was reported that US manufacturers Art Asylum, planned to send over 100,000 Eminem doll's to shops in the UK. The lifelike figure had the rapper's tattoos recreated in detail including the words 'Cut here' on his neck. 2002 - Alanis Morissette went to No.1 on the US album chart and No.2 on the UK chart with Under Rug Swept. 2002 - Barbra Streisand went to No.1 on the UK album chart with The Essential. 2002 - TV's Pop Idol winner Will Young revealed in an exclusive News Of The World interview that he was gay, saying 'It's no big deal, it's just part of who I am'. 2002 - Prime Minister Tony Blair prepared for talks with US Vice President Dick Cheney as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict descended to bloody new depths. 2003 - Died this day, former world motorcycle champion Barry Sheene has died after a long battle against cancer. The 52-year-old won the World Motorcycle Championships twice in the 1970s and became famous for overcoming his numerous crashes on the track. 2003 - Clare Short threatened to resign from the Cabinet if Tony Blair led the country to war in Iraq without approval from the United Nations. |
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.