Today's History & Birthdays - Sat. 03/15
LandonEx
Today is Saturday, March 15, the 74th day of 2003. There are 291 days left in
the year. This is "Buzzard Day" in Hinckley, Ohio; the event, in which
buzzards (turkey vultures) come home to roost in the rock cliffs and ledges in
Hinckley, is hailed as a sign of spring in the Midwest. On this date:
In 44 B.C., Julius Caesar was assassinated by a group of nobles that included
Brutus and Cassius -- on the Ides of March.
In 1493, Christopher Columbus returned to Spain, concluding his first voyage to
the Western Hemisphere.
In 1767, the seventh president of the United States, Andrew Jackson, was born
in Waxhaw, South Carolina. Nicknamed "Old Hickory," Jackson died on June 8,
1845.
In 1820, Maine became the 23rd state. The Pine Tree State's official bird is
the chickadee and its flower is the white pine cone with its tassel.
In 1869, the Cincinnati Red Stockings (later mercifully renamed the Reds), the
first professional baseball team in America, trounced Antioch 41-7 in Yellow
Springs, Ohio.
In 1873, theatrical producer Lee Shubert was born in Syracuse, New York.
Theatres in New York City and Los Angeles are named for him. He died on
December 25, 1953.
In 1875, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York, John McCloskey, was named
the first American cardinal, by Pope Pius IX.
In 1913, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson held the first open presidential news
conference. Actor MacDonald Carey (TV's "Days of Our Lives," "Comanche
Territory," "The Rebels," "Shadow of a Doubt," etc.) was born. He died on
March 21, 1994.
In 1919, the American Legion was founded, in Paris, France.
In 1937, the first blood bank in the U.S. was established -- at the Cook County
Hospital in Chicago, Illinois.
In 1945, at the Academy Awards at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood,
"Going My Way" won best picture, best director (Leo McCarey), best actor (Bing
Crosby) and best supporting actor (Barry Fitzgerald). Ingrid Bergman won the
best actress Oscar for "Gaslight," and Ethel Barrymore was named best
supporting actress for "None But the Lonely Heart." This Academy Awards
ceremony was the first to be broadcast in its entirety, over the ABC radio
network and Armed Forces Radio around the world.
In 1948, Sir Laurence Olivier was featured on the cover of LIFE magazine for
his starring role in Shakespeare's "Hamlet."
In 1954, CBS-TV premiered its "Morning Show," hosted by Walter Cronkite; Jack
Paar later assumed the hosting spot.
In 1956, the Lerner and Loewe musical "My Fair Lady" opened on Broadway; the
hit show ran for 6-1/2 years in front of 2,717 audiences.
In 1959, the musical "No Strings" opened on Broadway at the 54th Street
Theatre, starring Richard Kiley and Diahann Carroll.
In 1964, actress Elizabeth Taylor married actor Richard Burton in Montreal,
Quebec, Canada; it was her fifth marriage, his second.
In 1968, Bob Beamon set an indoor long jump record as he leapt 27 feet, 2-3/4
inches.
In 1970, the musical "Purlie" opened a run of 680 continuous performances on
Broadway in New York City.
In 1971, CBS-TV announced it was dropping "The Ed Sullivan Show" after 23 years
on the network.
In 1975, Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis died near Paris, France, at
age 69.
In 1977, the U.S. House of Representatives began a 90-day test to determine the
feasibility of showing its sessions on television. On TV, the first episode of
"Eight is Enough" aired on ABC, with future "Star Wars" actor Mark Hamill
appearing as a Bradford Family son, David, for a few episodes.
In 1985, Larry Holmes defended his International Boxing Federation heavyweight
boxing title with the win over David Bey in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In 1992, Democratic presidential candidates debated in Chicago, Illinois,
criticizing President George H.W. Bush's handling of the Persian Gulf War and
its aftermath, and clashing over economic issues. The United Nations
officially embarked on its largest peacekeeping operation with the arrival of a
diplomat in Cambodia.
Ten years ago (1993): Searchers found the body of the sixth and last missing
victim of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing in New York. Israeli Prime
Minister Yitzhak Rabin met at the White House with U.S. President Bill Clinton,
after which Rabin offered to negotiate the return of part of the Golan Heights
to Syria.
In 1997, U.S. President Bill Clinton spent a second day at Bethesda Naval
Medical Center, recuperating from surgery for a partially torn knee tendon.
Greek frogmen and U.S. Marines evacuated hundreds of foreigners trapped in
Albania by that country's descent into anarchy.
Five years ago (1998): Dr. Benjamin Spock, whose child care guidance spanned
half a century, died in San Diego, California, at age 94.
In 2001, Chechen men wielding knives and claiming to have a bomb hijacked a
Russian plane carrying 174 people after it left Turkey and forced it to land in
the holy Saudi city of Medina; Saudi special forces stormed the plane the
following day (March 16) at which time a flight attendant, a passenger and a
hijacker were killed. Actress Ann Sothern ("A Letter to Three Wives," TV's
"The Ann Sothern Show" and "My Mother, the Car") died in Ketchum, Idaho, at age
92.
One year ago (2002): A Houston, Texas, jury spared Andrea Yates' life after
prosecutors stopped short of demanding the death penalty for the tormented
mother who'd drowned her five children in the bathtub; the 37-year-old Yates
was sentenced to life in prison, and will have to serve at least 40 years
before being eligible for parole. Jerry Tarkanian, the fourth winningest coach
in major college basketball, retired. TV pioneer Sylvester "Pat" Weaver, who
created NBC's "Today" and "Tonight" shows, died in Santa Barbara, California,
at age 93.
////////// Today in Music History:
In 1912, bluesman Sam "Lightnin'" Hopkins was born in Centerville, Texas.
Hopkins went from street performances to Carnegie Hall concerts (1960, 1979)
and along the way he recorded for 20+ labels during his nearly 60-year career.
In 1940, Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead was born in Berkeley, California.
In 1941, Mike Love of The Beach Boys was born in Baldwin Hills, California.
In 1946, War guitarist Howard Scott was born in San Pedro, California.
In 1944, funkmaster Sly Stone (Sylvester Stewart) was born in Denton, Texas.
Sly sang Gospel when he was four, about the same time he started learning to
play a variety of instruments. In San Francisco in the 1950s he worked as a
deejay, attended music school and formed his first bands. He is best known for
his group Sly & The Family Stone (1967), who were inducted into Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame in 1993; their biggest hit was "Everyday People," a
million-selling song that topped Billboard's Hot 100 chart for four weeks in
1969. Sly also produced a variety of 1960s bands, from the Beau Brummels to
The Great Society.
In 1945, Billboard magazine began publishing the record chart of top albums;
the King Cole Trio held the top spot on the debut chart.
In 1947, legendary bottleneck guitarist Ry Cooder (Ryland Peter Cooder) was
born in Los Angeles, California.
In 1955, Twisted Sister's lead vocalist, Dee Snider, was born in Massapequa,
New York.
In 1956, Colonel Tom "50 Percent" Parker became Elvis Presley's manager.
In 1959, jazz saxophone player Lester Young died in New York at age 49 from the
longtime effects of alcohol.
In 1962, musician Terence Trent D'Arby was born in New York City, the son of a
minister. Before launching his singing career he was a member of the U.S. Army
boxing team. His biggest hit was the No. 1 song "Wishing Well" in 1988.
In 1966, at the Grammy Awards, "A Taste of Honey" by Herb Albert and the
Tijuana Brass won Record of the Year; Frank Sinatra won Album of the Year with
"September of My Years"; and Tom Jones was honored as Best New Artist.
In 1968, Life magazine called Jimi Hendrix "the most spectacular guitarist in
the world." The Diocese of Rome, Italy, announced it deplored, but wouldn't
prohibit, "Rock & Roll Masses" at the Church of San Lessio Falconieri.
In 1974, the Emerson, Lake and Palmer film "Pictures at an Exhibition"
premiered in Los Angeles, California.
In 1975, the band Krafwerk's high-tech tune "Autobahn" entered the U.S. charts.
In 1976, Kiss released "Destroyer."
In 1978, "American Hot Wax," a documentary film about a week in the life of
deejay Alan Freed, premiered in New York City.
In 1987, Frankie Goes To Hollywood announced the band's breakup.
In 1995, such bands as Seal, Ned's Atomic Dustbin, the Goats, Biohazard, Face
to Face and Porno for Pyros performed at "Board Aid," Warp magazine's second
annual air-surf-skate benefit at Big Bear, California, to promote safe sex
education.
In 1996, violinist Olga Rudge died at age 101.
In 1999, the late Dusty Springfield (she had died of breast cancer on March 2),
Billy Joel, Curtis Mayfield, Paul McCartney, Del Shannon, Bruce Springsteen and
The Staple Sisters were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In other
news, relatives of Buddy Holly filed a lawsuit against MCA Records for
allegedly hoarding royalty payments, forging contracts, and illegally producing
albums without the consent of the family.
In 2001, singer Ayman took top honors at the Echo Awards in Berlin, Germany,
winning for National Rock/Pop Artist and National Newcomer; Limp Bizkit's
"Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water" and Guano Ape's "Don't Give
Me Names" won in the international and national rock/metal categories,
respectively.
////////// Today's Birthdays (born under the sign of Pisces):
-- Country singer Carl Smith ("Let's Live a Little," "Loose Talk") is 76.
-- Former American astronaut Alan L. Bean (fourth man on the moon) is 71.
-- Jazz pianist and international concert artist Cecil Taylor is 70.
-- Actor Judd Hirsch ("Ordinary People," TV's "Taxi") is 68.
-- Rock musician Phil Lesh (The Grateful Dead) is 63.
-- Singer Mike Love (The Beach Boys) is 62.
-- Rock singer-musician Sly Stone (Sly & The Family Stone) is 59.
-- Rock singer-musician Howard Scott (War) is 57.
-- Rock musician Ry Cooder ("Sister Morphine," "Ditty Wah Ditty") is 56.
-- Actor Craig Wasson ("Body Double," "Malcolm X") is 49.
-- Rock singer Dee Snider (Twisted Sister) is 48.
-- Actress Park Overall (TV's "Empty Nest") is 46.
-- Movie director Renny Harlin ("Die Hard 2," "Cliffhanger") is 44.
-- Model and romance novel coverboy Fabio (Lanzoni) is 42.
-- Singer-songwriter Terence Trent D'Arby ("Wishing Well") is 41.
-- Rock singer Bret Michaels (Poison) is 40.
-- Singer Rockwell ("Somebody's Watching Me"; son of Berry Gordy) is 39.
-- Rock singer Mark McGrath (Sugar Ray) is 35.
-- Rock musician Mark Hoppus (Blink 182) is 31.
-- Rapper-musician will.i.am (Black Eyed Peas) is 28.
-- Rock DJ Joseph Hahn (Linkin Park) is 26.
-- Actress Caitlin Wachs ("My Dog Skip," "The Next Best Thing") is 14.
////////// Thought for Today:
"The military don't start wars. Politicians start wars."
-- General William C. Westmoreland, American military commander
AP / Reuters / E! Online / Zap2it
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