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March 30th
1406 - On his way to France, James I of Scotland was captured at Flamborough Head and imprisoned by King Henry IV of England. 1746 - Born this day, Francisco Jose de Goya y Lucientes, Spanish court painter, artist, born in Fuendetodos. Died in 1828. 1806 - Joseph Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon Bonaparte, was proclaimed king of Naples. 1814 - Britain and its allies against Napoleon Bonaparte marched in triumph into Paris. 1822 - Florida became a United States territory. 1840 - Died this day, the Regency Dandy, George Bryan 'Beau' Brummel, died penniless, 'as a pauper', in a French lunatic asylum, aged 62, after fleeing his creditors. 1842 - The first surgical operation using an anaesthetic was carried out by Dr. Crawford Long of Jefferson, Georgia using ether. 1844 - Born this day, Paul Verlaine, writer. 1853 - Born this day, Vincent van Gogh, artist, was born in the Dutch village of Groot-Zundert. Died in 1890. 1855 - On this day in 1855 in territorial Kansas' first election, some 5,000 so-called "Border Ruffians" invaded the territory from western Missouri and forced the election of a pro-slavery legislature. Although the number of votes cast exceeded the number of eligible voters in the territory, Kansas Governor Andrew Reeder reluctantly approved the election to prevent further bloodshed. Trouble in territorial Kansas began with the signing of the Kansas-Nebraska Act by President Franklin Pierce in 1854. The act stipulated that settlers in the newly created territories of Nebraska and Kansas would decide by popular vote whether their territory would be free or slave. A few months after pro-slavery forces defrauded Kansas' first election, the Kansas Free State forces were formed, armed by supporters in the North and featuring the leadership of militant abolitionist John Brown. In May 1856, Border Ruffians sacked the abolitionist town of Lawrence, and in retaliation a small Free State force under John Brown massacred five pro-slavery Kansans along the Pottawatomie Creek. During the next four years, raids, skirmishes, and massacres continued in "Bleeding Kansas," as it became popularly known. In 1861, the irrepressible differences in Kansas were swallowed up by the outbreak of full-scale civil war in America. 1856 - The Treaty of Paris was signed, ending the Crimean War and guaranteeing the integrity of Ottoman Turkey. 1858 - Hyman L. Lipman, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, patented the writing device we call the pencil; it did have an attached eraser as well. 1863 - William, Prince of Denmark, was recognised as king of Greece and took the title George I. 1867 - On this day in 1867, US Secretary of State William Seward reached agreement with Russia to purchase the territory of Alaska for $7.2 million, a deal roundly ridiculed as Seward's Folly. Less than 2 cents an acre. 1870 - US Congress readmitted Texas to the Union after it had seceded in 1861 to join the Confederate States. 1870 - The Fifteenth Amendment to the US Constitution was ratified, stating that race was no bar to voting rights. 1880 - Born this day, Sean O'Casey, playwright. Died in 1964. 1900 - Born this day, Ted Heath, musician, trombonist, bandleader. Died in 1969. 1909 - Queensboro Bridge, the first double-decker bridge, opened in New York City. 1913 - Born this day, Frankie Laine [LoVecchio], singer, 1953 UK No.1 single I Believe, plus over 25 other UK top 20 singles, 1956 US No.3 single Moonlight Gambler. 1917 - The Russian provisional government accepted the idea of an independent Poland. 1919 - Born this day, McGeorge Bundy, Ford Foundation President. Died in 1996. 1923 - The Audubon Ballroom in New York City was the scene of the first dance marathon. Alma Cummings danced the fox trot, one-step and waltz with half a dozen partners. 1927 - Born this day, Peter Marshall [Pierre LaCock], TV host. 1928 - Born this day, Richard Helms, former CIA Director. 1928 - Born this day, Tom Sharpe, novelist. 1929 - Born this day, Richard Dysart, actor. 1930 - Born this day, John Astin, actor, husband to Patty Duke. Played Gomez on The Addams Family. 
1930 - Born this day, Rolf Harris, artist, entertainer, singer, TV presenter, 1963 US No.3 single Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport, 1969 UK No.1 single Two Little Boys and 1993 UK No.7 Stairway To Heaven. Host vetinary programme Animal Hospital. 1936 - The radio serial, Backstage Wife, made a move across the radio dial from the Mutual Broadcasting System to NBC radio. Once there, the program continued to air for the next 23 years. 1937 - Born this day, Warren Beatty, actor, and paramour to Julie Christie, among others. 1940 - Born this day, Jerry Lucas, Basketball Hall of Famer, Olympic Gold Medalist. 1941 - Born this day, Robert C. Smith, US Senator. 1941 - Born this day, Graeme Edge, rock musician, drummer, Moody Blues, 1965 UK No.1 single Go Now and 1968 UK No.19 and 1972 US No.2 single Nights In White Satin. 1942 - Born this day, Bobby Wright, country singer, actor. 1944 - Born this day, Ronnie Rice of the New Colony Six (I Could Never Lie To You). 1945 - Born this day, Eric Patrick Clapp [Clapton], musician, guitarist, singer, songwriter, born in Ripley, Surrey. Through the years Eric has been a member of The Roosters, Casey Jones and the Engineers, The Yardbirds, John Mayall Bluesbreakers, Cream, Delaney and Bonnie, Travelling Wilburies, Blind Faith and Derek and the Dominoes. In 1987, Eric started what became an annual event by playing 6 shows at the Royal Albert Hall, London. During 1994, he played his 100th Albert Hall performance in aid of the Children In Crisis charity. He had a big hit in 1974 at US No.1 with his version of the Bob Marley song I Shot The Sheriff. He also scored hits with Cream, 1967 UK No.11 single I Feel Free , Derek and the Dominoes 1972 UK No.7 single Layla, 1992 UK No.5 single Tears in Heaven . Eric married Patti Harrison (the ex wife of George), in 1979 at Temple Bethel, Tucson, Arizona. In 1990, Eric was fined £300 with £10 costs by Walton-on-Thames Magistrates court, after being booked for speeding at 105 mph, Clapton was also banned from driving for 3 months. He sponsored a West Bromwich Albion UEFA cup tie against Galatasarey of Turkey in 1978 and presented each player with a gold copy of his latest album, Slowhand. In 1996, a fire at the guitarists home caused over one and a half million pounds worth of damage. Firemen arrived on the scene to find Clapton braving the blaze to save his collection of guitars. 1945 - The Soviet Union invaded Austria during World War II (WWII). 1945 - The Baltic Sea port of Danzig, or Gdansk, was captured by the Russians. 1945 - The Dreft Star Playhouse was heard for the final time on radio. The show had been paying up to $3,000 per week to attract 'name' talent. Dreft, the show's sponsor, was a popular laundry soap of the time. 1946 - Academy Award was heard on radio for the first time. The first dramatized story was titled, Jezebel and starred actress Bette Davis. 1948 - Born this day, Jim Dandy, Black Oak Arkasas, 70's US No.1 radio hit single Jim Dandy To The Rescue. 1949 - Born this day, Sue Cook, broadcaster. 1949 - Born this day, Paul Henderson, hockey. 1950 - Born this day, LaRue Martin, basketball. 1950 - Born this day, Robbie Coltrane, actor. 1950 - Born this day, Dave Ball, Procol Harum, 1967 UK No.1 and US No.5 single A Whiter Shade Of Pale. 1950 - Born this day, Re Styles, guitar, vocals, The Tubes, 1977 UK No.28 single White Punks On Dope, 1983 US No.10 single She's A Beauty. 1954 - Born this day, Lena Lovich, US singer, 1979 UK No.3 single Lucky Number. 1955 - Born this day, Randy Vanwarmer, singer, 1979 US No.4 and UK No.8 single Just When I Needed You Most. 1955 - The 1954 Academy Awards were presented this day at the RKO Pantages Theatre, Hollywood, California and the NBC Century Theatre, New York, NY. Best Motion Picture On the Waterfront, producer Sam Spiegel (Columbia). Best Actor - Marlon Brando, On the Waterfront. Best Actress - Grace Kelly, The Country Girl. Actor in a Supporting Role - Edmond O'Brien, The Barefoot Contessa. Actress in a Supporting Role - Elia Kazan, On the Waterfront. 1957 - Born this day, Paul Reiser, actor. 1960 - Born this day, Steven Pinder, actor, (Brookside). 1963 - Lesley Gore first appeared on TV, on American Bandstand. 1963 - Born this day, M.C. Hammer [Stanley Kirk Burrell], rap singer, 1990 US No.1 album Please Hammer Don't Hurt Em, record breaking 21 weeks at the top of the chart. 1990 UK No.3 single U Can't Touch This. 1963 - He's So Fine, recorded by The Chiffons, jumped into the No.1 spot on Billboard's record charts on this date, and stayed in the No.1 spot for 4 weeks. It was a No.16 UK hit. In 1971 George Harrison was taken to court accused of copying the song on his 1970 My Sweet Lord and paid $587,000. 1964 - One of television's best known game shows, Jeopardy, developed by Merv Griffin, aired on NBC-TV for the first time. The host, Art Fleming never missed one show in 2,500 programs. 1964 - Born this day, Tracy Chapman, singer, songwriter, 1988 UK No.5 and US No.6 single Fast Car, 1988 US and UK No.1 self titled debut album. 1964 - Mods and rockers fought at the Essex seaside resort of Clacton-on-sea. 1964 - John Glenn withdrew from the Ohio race for US Senate because of injuries suffered in a fall. 1964 - Born this day, Ian Ziering, actor. 1965 - Born this day, Tim Dorney, Republica, 1997 UK No.7 single Drop Dead Gorgeous. 1965 - Born this day, Piers Morgan, Daily Mirror editor. 1966 - Paris police arrested 85 rioters after a Rolling Stones concert there. 1966 - Barbra Streisand's Color Me Barbra TV special aired on CBS. 1966 - Lebanese Prime Minister Rashid Karami resigned because of protests that he was the only member of the government in parliament. 1966 - The Color Me Barbra TV special starring Barbra Streisand was shown on CBS. 1967 - During an appearance by Jimi Hendrix on Top Of The Pops, a technician inadvertently put on the backing track of Alan Price's Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Bear, to which Hendrix responded, 'I don't know the words to this one man'. 1967 - The Beatles were photographed by Michael Cooper at Chelsea Manor Studios, for the cover of Sgt. Pepper (with design by Pop artist Peter Blake). 1967 - Born this day, Martin 'Ace' Kent, guitar, Skunk Anansie, 1996 UK No.20 single Weak. 1967 - The Greek government resigned after it found itself unable to pass an agreed electoral law. 1968 - Born this day, Celine Dion, French-Canadian singer, 1994 US No.1 single The Power Of Love, 1998 UK No.1 single My Heart Will Go On, plus over 10 other UK top 40 singles, won the Eurovision Song Contest for Switzerland in 1988. Grammy winner. 1970 - Lauren Bacall starred in Applause which opened on Broadway. The show became one of the hardest tickets to get on the Great White Way. Critics called Bacall 'a sensation'. The play, at the Palace Theatre, was an adaptation of the film, All About Eve. It continued for 896 performances. A London version of the show, also starring Bacall, opened in 1972. 1970 - Television dramas were added to the daytime lineups of both ABC and NBC. The Best of Everything was first seen on ABC as was A World Apart. On NBC, the dramas, Somerset and Another World debuted. 1970 - Secretariat, who went on to win the Triple Crown of horse racing in 1973, was foaled. 1971 - The Bee Gees received a gold record for the single, Lonely Days. When playing it, they heard the song at a faster speed and said, 'Hey, this sounds like disco!' and the rest was Saturday Night Fever music history. 1972 - The Northern Ireland (Temporary Provisions) Act came into force decreeing direct rule from London. Brian Faulkner, prime minister of Northern Ireland, resigned. 1973 - Ellsworth Bunker resigned as US ambassador to South Vietnam, and was succeeded by Graham Martin. 1973 - The US military role in Vietnam came to a formal end when the last US prisoner was released and the last soldier withdrew. 1974 - John Denver reached the No.1 spot on the US music charts for the first time with his hit, Sunshine on My Shoulders. The first of four US No.1's for the singer, the three other singles by Denver that reached the top of the music world were: Annie's Song, Thank God I'm a Country Boy and I'm Sorry. Take Me Home Country Roads made it to the No.2 position, while Rocky Mountain High just cracked the Top 10 at No.9. Denver wrote Leaving on a Jet Plane for Peter, Paul and Mary and won an Emmy for the TV special, An Evening With John Denver. He was killed in a plane crash on 12 October 1997. 1976 - The Sex Pistols played their first show at The 100 club, London, they began a weekly residency at the club in June. 1978 - Paul Simonon and Nicky Headon were arrested in Camden Town, London, after shooting down racing pigeons with air guns from the roof of Chalk Farm Studios, four police cars and a helicopter were required to make the arrest. Fines totaled £800. 1978 - U2 won £500 and a chance to audition for CBS Ireland in a talent contest sponsored by Guinness. 1978 - Ellen Corby returned to Walton's Mountain more than a year after she left in an ambulance, the victim of a stroke. The episode was called, Grandma Comes Home. 1978 - Tory leader Margaret Thatcher called in the advertising agency Saatchi and Saatchi, to give the party a new image, ushering in a new era of political advertising. 1979 - Airey Neave, opposition Conservative spokesman on Northern Ireland, died when a bomb exploded in his car in the House of Commons car park. 1979 - In a two-day referendum, the people of Iran voted overwhelmingly in favor of establishing an Islamic Republic. 1979 - Born this day, Norah Jones, singer, 2002 US No.5 and UK No.3 album Come Away With Me. 1979 - Born this day, Simon Webbe, Blue, 2002 UK No.1 single If You Come Back. 1981 - President Reagan was shot in the chest today while in Washington near the Hilton Hotel. The assailant, 25 year old disc jockey John Hinkley III was arrested. The bullet was just 3 inches from his heart, it was removed and he made a full recovery. Before the operation Mr Reagan joked with the surgeons: 'I hope you guys are Republicans'. Also wounded were White House press secretary James Brady, a Secret Service agent and a District of Columbia police officer. 1982 - Appearing at the Hacienda in Manchester, were The Undertones. 1983 - Basketball player Larry Bird, of the Boston Celtics, set a regular season Celtic scoring record as he pumped in 53 points. The record stayed intact until 1985 when Bird broke his own record with a 60-point performance on 12 March. 1983 - Born this day, Scott Moffatt, singer, musician, (Moffatts). 1985 - Phil Collins started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with One More Night, his second US No.1, it made No.4 in the UK. 1986 - Died this day, James Cagney, American tough-guy actor, aged 86. 1987 - Vincent van Gogh's Sunflowers brought $39.85 million (£24.75 million) when sold at auction by Christie's - more than triple the record for an auctioned painting. The sale was on the 134th anniversary of the birth of the artist. Singer Don McLean wrote and sang a musical tribute to this artistic genius, titled Vincent, in April of 1972. 1987 - For her performance in Children of a Lesser God, Marlee Matlin won the Academy's Best Actress award, becoming the first deaf performer to achieve the honour. Six-time Oscar loser Paul Newman won his first Oscar for Best Actor for recreating the role of Fast Eddie Felson of The Hustler for the sequel, The Color of Money. Newman had received his second Academy nomination for the role of the savvy pool shark in the 1961 movie, but Maximilian Schell won the award for his performance in Judgment at Nuremberg. The movie Platoon won several Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. 1989 - Appearing at The Guildhall, Preston, were The Stone Roses. 1990 - Idaho Governor Cecil Andrus vetoed a highly restrictive state abortion measure, saying the bill gave a woman and her family no flexibility in cases of rape and incest. 1991 - Chesney Hawks started a five week run at the UK No.1 position with his debut single The One And Only, as featured in the film Buddy's Song. 1991 - Gloria Estefan started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with Coming Out Of The Dark, a No.25 hit in the UK. 1991 - The Eurythmics started a nine week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with their Greatest Hits LP. 1992 - Baseball player, Sammy Sosa was traded by the Chicago White Sox with Ken Patterson to the Chicago Cubs for George Bell. 1992 - Vincent Williams, a former Navy buddy of rap superstar Hammer, filed a lawsuit with a notarized copy of an agreement in US District Court in San Francisco. The agreement stated that Hammer owed him 2.7 percent of all his past and future earnings under a deal the two made five years earlier. Williams said he gave Hammer $5,000 in exchange for the earnings percentage from his career, but Hammer never honoured the contract. Hammer's attorney denied the charges. The singer had just settled a suit by two former members of the Oakland A's who said he failed to honour similar contracts with them. 1993 - Israel ordered the closure of the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip after Arabs shot dead two policemen. 1993 - The Macedonian government rejected the name of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, proposed by mediators to help the republic gain international recognition and admittance to the United Nations (UN). 1994 - The Bosnian parliament voted unanimously to set up a Croat-Muslim federation, ending over a year of war between two of Bosnia's three ethnic factions. 1994 - French Prime Minister Edouard Balladur formally scrapped a discredited youth wage law which had sparked nationwide street protests. 1995 - Pope John Paul II issued the 11th encyclical of his papacy in which he condemned abortion and euthanasia as crimes that no human laws could legitimize. 1996 - The Beatles went to No.1 on the UK album chart with Anthology 2. 1996 - The Prodigy started a three week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with Firestarter. 1998 - Rolls-Royce was purchased by German car-maker BMW in a $570 million (£400m) deal. 1999 - In Newport Beach, California, a woman accused of stalking basketball star Dennis Rodman told a judge she was innocent and was ordered held on $50,000 bail. Marie Boguszewski, 36, of Bradley, Illinois, pleaded innocent to three counts of making terrorist threats and one count of electronic stalking. Ms. Boguszewski allegedly e-mailed and called Rodman's former agent, Dwight Manley, hundreds of times to request a date with Rodman. In November, when she learned the messages were not forwarded to Rodman, she threatened to kill three employees of Manley's agency, prosecutors alleged. Ms. Boguszewski tried to meet Rodman by attending his games and a book signing and turning up at a restaurant where he was eating, a prosecutor said. Ms. Boguszewski also faced trial in Illinois on charges of aggravated assault against her father and aunt. 1999 - A jury in Portland, Oregon, ordered Philip Morris to pay $81 million to the family of a man who died of lung cancer after smoking Marlboros for four decades. 2000 - Services on busy rail routes were disrupted as train drivers went on strike to support a colleague who was sacked. 2000 - Castle music was sold to the Sanctuary Music group for £40 million. Castle owned the rights to all The Kinks back catalogue. 2000 - Mick Jagger made a nostalgic visit to his old school. He opened the new arts centre that had been named after him at Dartford Grammar. The singer said he had spent the worst years of his life at the school. 2000 - Mungo Jerry singer Ray Dorset was ordered to pay a former employee £620 in back wages after a tribunal heard he had harassed her after she left his company. Dorset told the court he had paid her double pay by mistake for 10 months. 2001 - LeAnn Rimes reached an out of court settlement with her father and her former manager. The country star filed a lawsuit claiming the pair had stolen £7m from her. 2003 - Room 5 and Oliver Cheatham started a four week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with Make Luv. 2003 - A Territorial Army nurse ordered to serve in Iraq said she was forced to pay £85 for her own body armour. |
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.