This Date in History

[IBTshirts]

Events
December 29
1845 - The flags of Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the Confederate States of America and of the United States have flown over the area known as Texas, the state that became the 28th of the United States of America on this day. And, the state nickname, the Lone Star State, comes from the Texas state flag with its one star. Texas is an altered pronunciation of the Indian word, Tejas, meaning friends, and that’s why the Texas state motto is “Friendship.” The capital of the second largest state is Austin, its state bird, the mockingbird, the state flower, the bluebonnet, the state tree, the pecan tree.

1848 - President James Polk turned on the first gas light at the White House.

1890 - The U.S. Seventh Cavalry in efforts to suppress the Native Americans of South Dakota, massacred over 200 men, women and children. The massacre occurred at Wounded Knee Creek, South Dakota.

1913 - The Unwelcome Throne was released by Selig’s Polyscope Company. This was a moving picture and the first of thirteen installments of the serial, The Adventures of Kathlyn, starring Kathlyn Williams. It was called the first serial motion picture and was co-produced by The Chicago Tribune. The Adventures of Kathlyn also appeared in the Chicago paper in serial form.

1934 - The first college basketball intersectional doubleheader was played at Madison Square Garden in New York City. New York University beat Notre Dame, 25-18 in, as you can see by the score, anything but an offensive battle. In the second game of the night, Westminster defeated St. Johns, 37-33.

1937 - Babe Ruth returned to baseball (he had retired in 1935). He was announced as the new manager of the Class D, De Land Reds of the Florida State League; quite a long way from the big leagues.

1943 - San Fernando Valley was recorded by Bing Crosby. He chose the tune because he felt it would be a ba-ba-ba-big hit. Guess what? He was right. Within a week after its release, the song became a popular favorite everywhere, including the San Fernando Valley in California.

1945 - The mystery voice of Mr. Hush was heard for the first time on the radio show, Truth or Consequences, hosted by Ralph Edwards. The feature was intended as a spoof of giveaway shows. However, the idea was taken seriously and lasted five weeks before fighter Jack Dempsey was identified as Mr. Hush -- for a prize of $13,500.

1945 - Sheb Wooley recorded the first commercial record made in Nashville, TN. The song was recorded on the Bullet label; but it was 13 years before Wooley would finally score with a big hit (The Purple People Eater was #1 for six weeks in June and July, 1958). Wooley (whose first name is Shelby) played the part of Pete Nolan on TV’s Rawhide, recorded novelty tunes under the name, Ben Colder, and acted in High Noon, Rocky Mountain, Giant and Hoosiers. The Country Music Association honored him with the title of Comedian of the Year in 1968. If you remember the TV show Hee Haw, with Buck Owens and Roy Clark, it was Sheb Wooley who wrote the theme song.

1949 - KC2XAK of Bridgeport, Connecticut became the first ultrahigh frequency (UHF) television station to begin operating on a regular daily schedule. UHF stations broadcast from where the VHF (very high frequency) stations leave off -- channels 14 through 83.

1952 - The first transistorized hearing aid was offered for sale by Sonotone Corporation on this day. I SAID THE FIRST TRANSISTORIZED HEARING AID WAS OFFERED FOR SALE BY SONOTONE CORPORATION ON THIS DAY.

1953 - Jean Stapleton debuted in her first Broadway play. She starred with Judith Anderson in the production, In the Summer House, which opened in New York. It closed after only 55 performances.

1957 - Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme were married. They became popular singers on the The Tonight Show with Steve Allen, and as Las Vegas showroom regulars and recording artists. They are still together in one of Hollywood’s most enduring marriages.

1963 - Much to the chagrin of the disc jockeys at 50,000-watt WABC in New York, the 5,000-watt blowtorch known as WMCA and its famed ‘Good Guys’ became the first New York radio station to play the Beatles’ I Want to Hold Your Hand. It didn’t take long for WABC to get revenge. It started calling itself the ‘official’ Beatles station (W-A-Beatle-C).

1967 - Orchestra leader Paul Whiteman died on this day at the age of 76. Known as the King of Jazz, Whiteman had 28 #1 hits between 1920 and 1934 including, Three O’Clock in the Morning, My Blue Heaven, All of Me and Smoke Gets in Your Eyes.

1972 - Following 36 years of publication, the last weekly issue of LIFE magazine hit the newsstands. The newsweekly is said to have “redefined photojournalism while showing America its own face.”

1982 - Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant led the Alabama Crimson Tide football team for the final time as Alabama beat Illinois, 21-15, at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, TN. It was his 25th season at the University of Alabama. Coach Bryant, age 69, retired as the NCAA’s winningest coach. His overall record included winning 322 games as coach at Maryland, Kentucky, Texas A&M and Alabama. His teams won six national championships, played in 29 bowl games; winning 15 of them. Where’d he get the nickname of Bear? He once wrestled a bear in a traveling show. We figure he must have won. After all, that was Bear Bryant’s style.

1985 - Phil Donahue and a Soviet radio commentator hosted the ‘Citizen’s Summit’ via satellite TV. It was a way for people from the U.S. and the former Soviet Union to question each other about politics and policies.

1986 - After eighteen years and $47 million expended, the restored Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, FL, reopened for business.

1995 - Dead Man Walking was released in New York City. The Tim Robbins film about a convicted murderer on death row and the nun who befriends him, has grossed $39,387,284 in the U.S (as of Dec 2002). Susan Sarandon won Italy’s David di Donatello Award for best actress in a foreign film. At the 46th Berlin International Film Festival, the film won the Silver Bear for best actor (Sean Penn), the Ecumenical Jury prize, the German Arthouse Cinemas prize, and the Berliner Morgenpost Readers’ Jury prize.



Birthdays
December 29
1808 - Andrew Johnson
17th U.S. President [1865-1869]: succeeded to presidency upon the death of Abraham Lincoln; married to Eliza McCardle [three sons, two daughters]; died July 31, 1875
1809 - William Gladstone
British Prime Minister; author; luggage named after him: the Gladstone bag; died May 19, 1898

1876 - Pablo Casals
musician: cellist; died Oct 22, 1973

1917 - Thomas Bradley
mayor of Los Angeles [1973-1993]; died Sep 29, 1998

1920 - Viveca (Elsa Viveca Torstensdotter) Lindfors
actress: Backstreet Justice, Adventures of Don Juan, Stargate, A Question of Guilt, Natural Enemies; died Oct 25, 1995

1922 - William Gaddis
novelist: The Recognitions, JR, Carpenter’s Gothic, A Frolic of His Own; died Dec 18, 1998

1922 - Rose Lee Maphis
entertainer: half of the team: Mr. and Mrs. Country Music with husband Joe; Hee Haw regular

1932 - Inga Swenson
actress: The Miracle Worker, Advise and Consent, North and South TV miniseries

1934 - Ed Flanders
Emmy Award-winning actor: St. Elsewhere [1982-83]; A Moon for the Misgotten, True Confessions, Bye Bye Love, Eleanor and Franklin, The Pursuit of D.B. Cooper; died Feb 22, 1995

1934 - Tom Jarriel
newscaster: ABC News, 20/20

1936 - Mary Tyler Moore
Emmy Award-winning actress: The Mary Tyler Moore Show [1972-1973, 1973-1974, 1975-1976], Stolen Babies [1992-93]; The Dick Van Dyke Show, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Ordinary People; her legs starred on Richard Diamond, Private Eye; started in TV as ‘Happy Hotpoint’ [Hotpoint Appliance elf: 1955]

1936 - Ray Nitschke
Pro Football Hall of Famer: Green Bay Packers LB: All-Pro [1964-66]; MVP in 1962 NFL Championship; died Mar 8, 1998

1938 - Jon Voight
actor: Midnight Cowboy, Deliverance, The Odessa File, The Tin Soldier, Mission: Impossible, Enemy of the State, Pearl Harbor

1941 - Ray Thomas
musician: flute, saxophone, harmonica, singer: group: The Moody Blues: Nights in White Satin, LPs: In Search of the Lost Chord, On the Threshold of a Dream, To Our Children’s Children’s Children, A Question of Balance, Every Good Boy Deserves Favor, Seventh Sojourn, Moving Mountains, Other Side of Life, Sur la Mer

1946 - Marianne Faithfull
singer: As Tears Go By, Summer Nights; actress: I’ll Never Forget Whatsisname

1947 - Ted Danson
Emmy Award-winning actor: Cheers [1989-1990 and 1992-1993]; Three Men and a Baby, The Onion Field, Gulliver’s Travels, Becker, Curb Your Enthusiasm

1952 - Gelsey Kirkland
dancer: ballerina, author: The Little Ballerina and Her Dancing Horse, Dancing on My Grave: An Autobiography, Shape of Love

1953 - Yvonne Elliman
actress, singer: Jesus Christ Superstar: I Don’t Know How to Love Him, If I Can’t Have You; joined Eric Clapton in his 1974 comeback tour

1959 - Paula Poundstone
actress, comedienne: The Paula Pundstone Show, Hollywood Squares, To Tell the Truth

1961 - Mark Day
musician: guitar: group: Happy Mondays

1972 - Jude Law
actor: The Talented Mr. Ripley, Gattaca, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, Enemy at the Gates, Artificial Intelligence: AI


Chart Toppers

1974
Angie Baby - Helen Reddy
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds - Elton John
You’re the First, the Last, My Everything - Barry White

1982
Maneater - Daryl Hall & John Oates
The Girl is Mine - Michael Jackson/Paul McCartney
Dirty Laundry - Don Henley

1990
Because I Love You (The Postman Song) - Stevie B
Justify My Love - Madonna
Impulsive - Wilson Phillips

[IBTshirts]

Events
December 30
1936 - The famous feud between Jack Benny and Fred Allen was ignited. After a 10-year-old performer finished a violin solo on The Fred Allen Show, Mr. Allen said, “A certain alleged violinist should hide his head in shame for his poor fiddle playing.” It didn’t take long for Mr. Benny to respond. The humorous feud lasted for ten weeks on both comedian’s radio shows.

1940 - The Arroyo Seco Parkway, the forerunner of the Pasadena Freeway (between Los Angeles and Pasadena), was dedicated by Los Angeles, California Mayor Fletcher Bowron. It was the first freeway in the western U.S. and was designated as a historic engineering landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1999.

1942 - Frank Sinatra opened at New York’s Paramount Theatre for what was scheduled to be a 4-week engagement (his shows turned out to be so popular that he was booked for an additional 4 weeks). An estimated 400 policemen were called out to help curb the excitement. It is said that some of the teenage girls were hired to scream, but many more screamed for free. Sinatra was dubbed ‘The Sultan of Swoon’, ‘The Voice that Thrills Millions’, and just ‘The Voice’. Whatever he was, it was at this Paramount Theatre engagement that modern pop hysteria was born.

1948 - Alfred Drake and Patricia Morrison starred in Kiss Me Kate which opened at the New Century Theatre in New York City. Cole Porter composed the music for the classic play that was adapted from Shakespeare’s comedy, The Taming of the Shrew. The show ran for 1,077 performances on the Great White Way.

1954 - Pearl Bailey opened on Broadway in the play, House of Flowers, about two madams with rival bordellos. Diahann Carroll was also cast in the play, written by Truman Capote. Harold Arlen provided the musical score.

1954 - James Arness made his dramatic TV debut on the Lux Video Theatre in The Chase. (The Gunsmoke series didn’t begin for Arness until the fall of 1955.)

1961 - Jack Nicklaus lost to Gary Player in an exhibition match in Miami, FL. It was Nicklaus’ first attempt at pro golf. Lucky for Jack that he didn’t give up golf. The following year he entered the pro tour, winning $61,868.95, more than any other golf rookie in history.

1969 - Peter, Paul and Mary received a gold record for the single, Leaving On a Jet Plane. The song had hit #1 on December 20.

1970 - Paul McCartney sued the other three Beatles to dissolve the partnership and gain control of his interest. The suit touched off a bitter feud between McCartney and the others, especially his cowriter on many of the Beatles compositions, John Lennon. The partnership officially came to end in 1974.

1976 - The Smothers Brothers, Tom and Dick, played their last show at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas and retired as a team from show business. Each continued as a solo artist. They reunited years later for another stab at TV (on NBC) plus concert appearances that proved very successful.

1980 - The Selective Service System sent a warning to Mickey Mouse at Disneyland in Anaheim, California: Register for the draft or else! The Selective Service said that Mickey was in violation of registration compliance. Of course, Mickey, age 52 at the time, sent in his registration card proving that he’s a World War II veteran.

1980 - The longest-running series in prime-time television history was canceled this day by NBC. The Wonderful World of Disney was axed after more than 25 years on the tube.

1983 - ‘Dr. J’, Julius Erving, of the Philadelphia 76ers, sank a free throw in the third quarter to become the ninth professional basketball player to score 25,000 points. The 13-year veteran reached his milestone, but the Sixers still lost to the Seattle SuperSonics, 97-93.

1993 - After some 2,000 years of rocky Jewish-Christian relations, the Holy See and the State of Israel signed an agreement to recognize each other. The agreement was seen as a significant step forward in relations between the Vatican and Israel.


Birthdays
December 30
1865 - Rudyard Kipling
novelist, short story author, poet: Nobel Prize for Literature [1907]; The Jungle Book, Captains Courageous, Wee Willie Winkie and other Stories, Gunga Din; died Jan 18, 1936
1867 - Simon Guggenheim
philanthropist: established the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation providing grants to scientists, scholars, artists; died Nov 2, 1941

1869 - Stephen Leacock
humorist: Literary Lapses, Nonsense Novels, Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town; died Mar 28, 1944

1873 - Al Smith
former governor of New York, 1928 Democratic Party presidential nominee; died Oct 4, 1944

1884 - Hideki Tojo
Prime Minister of Japan; WWII war criminal, hanged Dec 22, 1948

1895 - Vincent Lopez
bandleader: played at NYC’s Astor Hotel, some of the greats started with him: Artie Shaw, Buddy Morrow, Buddy Clark; died Sep 20, 1975

1914 - Bert Parks (Jacobson)
radio/TV host: Miss America Pageant, Break the Bank, Stop the Music; died Feb 2, 1992

1914 - Jo Van Fleet
Academy Award-winning actress: East of Eden [1955]; The Rose Tattoo, Cool Hand Luke, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, Cinderella; died June 10, 1996

1920 - Jack Lord (John Joseph Patrick Ryan)
actor: Hawaii Five-O, Stoney Burke, God’s Little Acre, Dr. No, The Doomsday Flight; died January 21, 1998 [age 77]; see Book ’em Danno Day [above]

1928 - Bo Diddley (Otha Ellas Bates McDaniel)
singer: Bo Diddley, I’m a Man, Say Man, Diddey Wah Diddey; died June 2, 2008

1929 - Barbara Nichols (Nickeraeur)
actress: Beyond a Reasonable Doubt, Sweet Smell of Success, The Human Duplicators; died Oct 5, 1976

1931 - Skeeter Davis (Mary Frances Penick)
singer: I Forgot More Than You’ll Ever Know, The End of the World, I Can’t Stay Mad at You; died Sep 19, 2004

1934 - Joseph Bologna
Emmy Award-winning writer: Acts of Love -- And Other Comedies [ABC, 1972-73]; Lovers and Other Strangers; actor: Danger of Love, Revenge of the Nerds 4: Nerds in Love, Citizen Cohn, Blame It on Rio, My Favorite Year, Torn Between Two Lovers, The Big Bus, Honor Thy Father, Cops and Robbers, Top of the Heap, Rags to Riches

1934 - Fred Lorenzen
International Motorsports Hall of Famer: Daytona 500 winner [1965]

1934 - Russ Tamblyn
actor: Twin Peaks, Cabin Boy, The Last Movie, How the West was Won, West Side Story, Cimarron, Peyton Place, Don’t Go Near the Water, Hit the Deck, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Father of the Bride, tom thumb

1935 - Sandy (Sanford Braun) Koufax
Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher: Brooklyn Dodgers, LA Dodgers: [World Series: 1959, 1963 (MVP), 1965 (MVP), 1966/all-star: 1961-1966/Baseball Writers Award: 1963/Cy Young Award: 1963, 1965, 1966/record: 382 strikeouts: 1965]; broadcaster: NBC

1937 - John Hartford
Grammy Award-winning songwriter: Gentle on My Mind [1966]; musician: banjo, fiddle, guitar: Glenn Campbell’s Good Time Comedy Hour; died June 4, 2001

1937 - (Noel) Paul Stookey
singer: The Wedding Song; group: Peter, Paul and Mary: Blowin’ in the Wind, Puff the Magic Dragon, I Dig Rock ’n’ Roll Music, Leavin’ on a Jet Plane

1939 - Del Shannon (Charles Westover)
singer: Runaway, Hat’s Off to Larry, Little Town Flirt, Keep Searchin’ [We’ll Follow the Sun]; songwriter: I Go to Pieces; inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame [Mar 15, 1999]; died Feb 8, 1990

1941 - Mel Renfro
College & Pro Football Hall of Famer: Dallas Cowboys defensive back: 10 consecutive Pro Bowl games [1964-1973]; All-Pro [1965, 1967-1969, 1973]

1942 - Jim ‘Bo’ Nance
football: Boston Patriots full back: AFL Player of the Year [1966], NY Jets, World Football League: Memphis Southmen; NCAA Heavyweight Wrestling Champion [1963, 1965]; died June 16, 1992

1942 - Michael Nesmith
guitarist: group: The Monkees; wrote: Different Drum; formed: The First National Band: Joanne; movie producer: Repo Man, Elephant Parts: the first Grammy-winning video

1942 - Fred Ward
actor: Tremors series, Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult, Short Cuts, Miami Blues, Henry and June, Big Business, Swing Shift, Silkwood, The Right Stuff, Escape from Alcatraz

1945 - Davy Jones (David Thomas Jones)
singer: group: The Monkees: Last Train to Clarksville, I’m a Believer, Daydream Believer; actor: UK version: Godspell

1946 - Patti Smith
songwriter, singer: Career of Evil, Piss Factory, Because the Night; playwright: Cowboy Mouth

1947 - Jeff Lynne
singer, guitar: group: The Electric Light Orchestra: Livin’ Thing, Telephone Line, Evil Woman, Hold on Tight, Calling America; songwriter: Mr. Blue Sky, Last Train to London

1956 - Sheryl Lee Ralph
actress: White Man’s Burden, Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, The Distinguished Gentleman, The Mighty Quinn, Codename: Foxfire, It’s a Living, George, Designing Women

1957 - Matt Lauer
TV host: Today, Esquire: About Men, For Women

1961 - Ben Johnson
track: 100 meter world-record holder [9.79 - 1988]; AP Athlete of the Year [1987]; suspended from track competition for life for steroid use

1975 - (Eldrick) ‘Tiger’ Woods
golf: champ: Masters [1997, 2001], US Open [2000], British Open [2000], PGA [1999, 2000]; first player to win four consecutive majors (2000-2001: US Open, British Open, PGA, Masters]



Chart Toppers

1975
Let’s Do It Again - The Staple Singers
Love Rollercoaster - Ohio Players
Convoy - C.W. McCall

1983
Say Say Say - Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson
Say It Isn’t So - Daryl Hall-John Oates
Union of the Snake - Duran Duran

1991
Black or White - Michael Jackson
It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday - Boyz II Men
My Next Broken Heart - Brooks & Dunn

[IBTshirts]

January 5

1885 - The Long Island Railroad Company was the first to offer piggyback rail service. It transported farm wagons on trains and moved all those potatoes pretty fast! Where did all of Long Island’s (NY) potato farms go when they were replaced by houses, houses, houses?

1903 - The general public could use the Pacific cable for the very first time.

1914 - Here’s news from the labor front: Ford Motor Company proudly announced that there would be a new daily minimum wage of $5 and an eight-hour work day.

1925 - The first female governor in the U.S. took office in Wyoming this day. A tip of the ten-gallon hat, please, to Mrs. Nellie Tayloe Ross who was sworn in during special ceremonies.

1933 - What is now a symbol of the great American West, the Golden Gate Bridge, went under construction. It would be called an engineering marvel when completed. Spanning the deep channel at the entrance to San Francisco Bay, with the Bay on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other, few people-made things are as beautiful as the Golden Gate Bridge. Quite a sight!

1935 - We proudly remind you that Phil Spitalny’s All-Girl Orchestra was featured on CBS radio this day on the program, The Hour of Charm.

1941 - Decca record #23210 was recorded. The title: Chica Chica Boom Chic, by the lovely Carmen Miranda. It seems she sang the song in the film, That Night in Rio.

1944 - The London Daily Mail was the first transoceanic newspaper ever published.

1961 - “Hello. I’m Mr. Ed!” “A horse is a horse, of course, of course”... you know the lyrics. Mr. Ed, the talking horse, debuted for what would be a six-year run. The show starred Alan Young as Ed’s owner, Wilbur Post. Wilbur’s wife, Carol, was played by Connie Hines. Good old neighbor Roger Addison was Larry Keating. The voice of Mr. Ed was... no, not Alan Young... rather, Allan ‘Rocky’ Lane... of course, of course.

1972 - John Denver received a gold record for the album Aerie on this day.

1972 - President Richard M. Nixon announced that NASA would proceed with the development of a reusable ‘low cost’ space shuttle system. He signed a $5.5 billion dollar bill for its creation. Such a deal...

1979 - John Travolta probably remembers that the soundtrack LP of Saturday Night Fever reached $25 million in sales.

1984 - The group, The Police, planned a farewell concert for March 2 in Australia. After nine years together, band members decided to go their separate ways.

1993 - Mike Ditka was dismissed as Chicago Bears head coach after 32 years as a player and coach (11 seasons as head coach, 106-62). (In 1988, Ditka, who played in five Pro Bowls and two conference championships (1963 and 1971), was the first tight end to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.)

1994 - Former U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Thomas ‘Tip’ O’Neill died in Boston. He was 81 years old. O’Neill was a Democratic party stalwart whose political career spanned nine presidencies.

1998 - U.S. Congressman Sonny Bono (R-CA) was killed when he skied into a tree at Heavenly Ski Resort on the Nevada-California line, 55 miles southwest of Reno, Nevada. He was 62.

Birthdays
January 5
1779 - Stephen Decatur
U.S. naval officer: “Our country right or wrong.”; died Mar 22, 1820

1864 - Ban (Byron Bancroft) Johnson
Baseball Hall of Famer: president of Western League: changed minor league Western League to major league American League; helped eliminate an element of rowdyism, thus enhancing the game’s reputation; passed Mar 28, 1931

1890 - Benny (Benjamin Michael) Kauff
baseball: NY Highlanders, Indianapolis Hoosiers, Brooklyn Tip-Tops, NY Giants [World Series: 1917]; led Federal League in batting [1914, 1915]; later banned from pro baseball for alleged gambling involvement; died Nov 17, 1961

1895 - Jeannette (Ridlon) Piccard
balloon pilot: 1st American woman to be free balloon pilot: set record [w/husband] for balloon ascent into stratosphere [57,579 ft. - 1934]; one of first women to become Episcopalian priest; died May 17, 1981

1901 - Luke (James Luther) Sewell
baseball: catcher: Cleveland Indians, Washington Nationals [World Series: 1933], Chicago White Sox [all-star: 1937], SL Browns; manager: St. Louis Browns: American League pennant [1944]; died May 14, 1987

1904 - Erica Morini
concert violinist; died in 1995

1911 - Jean-Pierre Aumont
actor: Maria-Chapdelaine, Napoleon, The Happy Hooker, Windmills of the Gods, Becoming Colette; died Jan 30, 2001

1918 - Jeane Dixon
astrologer, newspaper columnist; died Jan 25, 1997

1919 - Al Blozis
track: Georgetown University: NCAA, IC4A, AAU: shotput championships [1940-1942], IC4A discus champion [1940-1942]; football: New York Giants tackle [1942-1944]; died Jan 31, 1945

1923 - Sam Phillips
record executive: Sun Records: The [Memphis] Million Dollar Quartet: Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Charlie Rich; died July 30, 2003

1926 - W.D. Snodgrass
poet: Heart’s Needle, The Fuhrer Bunker, The Complete Cycle, April Inventory

1926 - Buddy Young
football: University of Illinois: Rose Bowl MVP [1947]; AAFC NY Yankees aka NFL NY Yanks, Dallas Texans , Baltimore Colts: NFL record: career average 27.7 yards per kickoff return; Baltimore Colts scout, director of player relations

1928 - Fred Glover
hockey: NHL: Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks; AHL: player/coach: Cleveland Barons; died Aug 16, 2001

1928 - Walter ‘Fritz’ Mondale
U.S. Senator; Vice President [1977-1981]; Democratic presidential nominee [1984]

1931 - Alvin Ailey
choreographer: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: 79 ballets in repertoire - establishing a place for blacks in modern dance; died Dec 1, 1989

1931 - Robert Duvall
Academy Award-winning actor: Tender Mercies [1983]; A Family Thing, Stalin, A Show of Force, Days of Thunder , Colors, The Natural, True Confessions, Apocalypse Now, Network, The Godfather, M*A*S*H, True Grit, Countdown, Bullitt, To Kill a Mockingbird, Naked City

1932 - Chuck Noll
NFL football coach w/most Super Bowl wins: Pittsburgh Steelers, Super Bowls: IX, X, XIII, XIV

1935 - Earl (Jesse) Battey
baseball: catcher: Chicago White Sox, Washington Senators, Minnesota Twins [all-star: 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966/World Series: 1965]; died Nov 15, 2003

1938 - Lindsay Crosby
actor: Big Foot, Out of This World; son of crooner Bing Crosby; died Dec 11, 1989

1938 - Jim Otto
Pro Football Hall of Famer: Oakland Raiders center: 7 division championships, 1 AFL championship [Super Bowl II]; AFL’s only All League Center [1960 - 1969], All-AFC Center [1970 - 1972]

1941 - Chuck McKinley
tennis champion: Wimbledon [1963]; U.S. National Doubles [w/Dennis Ralston]; Davis Cup [1963]; died Aug 10, 1986

1942 - Wayne Rutledge
hockey: NHL: LA Kings

1945 - Sam Wyche
football: Washington Redskins quarterback [Super Bowl VII]; coach: Cincinnati Bengals [Super Bowl XXIII], Tampa Bay Buccaneers; TV sportscaster: NBC, CBS

1946 - Diane Keaton (Hall)
Academy Award-winning actress: Annie Hall [1977]; Sleeper, Hair, Love and Death

1947 - Mercury (Eugene) Morris
football [running back]: Miami Dolphins: Super Bowls VI, VII, VIII

1948 - Charlie (Charles Oliver) Hough
baseball: pitcher: LA Dodgers [World Series: 1974, 1977, 1978], Texas Rangers [all-star: 1986], Chicago White Sox, Florida Marlins

1948 - Ted Lange
actor: Perfume, Terminal Exposure, The Love Boat

1949 - George ‘Funky’ Brown
musician: drums: group: Kool and The Gang: Ladies Night, Celebration, I.B.M.C., LPs: Wild and Peaceful, Kool Jazz

1950 - Chris Stein
musician: guitar: group: Blondie: In the Flesh, Denis, [I’m Always Touched by Your] Presence Dear, Picture This, Hanging on the Telephone, Sunday Girl, Heart of Glass, Dreaming, Union City Blue, Atomic, The Tide is High, Rapture; solo: French Kissin’; scored theme: Fifteen Minutes

1953 - Pamela Sue Martin
actress: The Poseidon Adventure, Dynasty, The Nancy Drew Mysteries

1954 - Alex (Alexander) English
Basketball Hall of Fame forward: University of South Carolina; NBA: Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks

1958 - Ron (Ronald Dale) Kittle
baseball: Chicago White Sox [all-star: 1983], NY Yankees, Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles

1962 - Suzy Amis
actress: The Usual Suspects, Nadja, Blown Away

1962 - Danny (Lynn) Jackson
baseball: pitcher: KC Royals [World Series: 1985], Cincinnati Reds [all- star: 1988/World Series: 1990], Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies [World Series: 1993/all-star:1994], SL Cardinals

1963 - Jeff (Jeffrey Joseph) Fassero
baseball: pitcher: baseball: pitcher: Univ of Mississippi; Montreal Expos, Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, SL Cardinals, Colorado Rockies, Arizona Diamondbacks

1968 - Joe Juneau
hockey: Canadian National Team; NHL: Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals, Buffalo Sabres

1968 - Felton Spencer
basketball: Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors, Orlando Magic

1969 - Marilyn Manson (Brian Warner)
rock singer/performer: quote: “I picked Marilyn Manson as the fakest stage name of all to say that this is what show business is, fake. Marilyn Monroe wasn’t even her real name, Charles Manson isn’t his real name, and now, I’m taking that to be my real name. But what’s real?”

1975 - Warrick Dunn
football: Florida State, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons RB



Chart Toppers

1965I Feel Fine - The Beatles
She’s a Woman - The Beatles
Love Potion Number Nine - The Searchers

1981
(Just Like) Starting Over - John Lennon
Love on the Rocks - Neil Diamond
Hungry Heart - Bruce Springsteen

1989
Every Rose Has Its Thorn - Poison
My Prerogative - Bobby Brown
Two Hearts - Phil Collins