On This Day

[bunkerfan]

7th February


In 1845 The Portland Vase, thought to date to the 1st century BC is shattered into more than 80 pieces by a drunken visitor to the British Museum.




In 1944 Bing Crosby records "Swinging on a Star" for Decca Records (Academy Award Best Original Song)




In 1969 Diane Crump becomes 1st woman jockey at a major US racetrack (Hialeah)




In 1987 George Michael and Aretha Franklin were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)'. Written by Simon Climie it gave Aretha her first UK No.1 almost 20 years after her first hit.

[bunkerfan]

8th February


In 1915 "The Birth of a Nation" the first 12-reel film in America, directed by D. W. Griffith, starring Lillian Gish and Mae Marsh, premieres at Clune's Auditorium in Los Angeles.




In 1933 1st flight of all-metal Boeing 247.




In 1971 Royal Albert Hall cancels scheduled concert featuring Frank Zappa, due to concerns about indecent lyrics.




In 1992 UK act Right Said Fred started a three-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'I'm Too Sexy', a No.2 hit in the UK.

[bunkerfan]

9th February


In 1895 William Morgan presents his new sport "Mintonette" to the world at Springfield College, Massachusetts, later renames it "Volleyball".




In 1942 Daylight Savings War Time goes into effect in US.




In 1973 American singer-songwriter and actor Paul Williams sings the torch song "Here's That Rainy Day" in full Planet of the Apes make-up and costume on Johnny Carson's "The Tonight Show".




In 1981 American singer and musician Bill Haley who became known as the first Rock 'n' Roll star, was found dead, fully clothed on his bed at his home in Harlingen, Texas from a heart attack, aged 55. He scored the 1955 UK & US No.1 single 'Rock Around the Clock' as well as 'See You Later, Alligator’, ‘Shake, Rattle and Roll’, ‘Rocket 88’, ‘Skinny Minnie’, and ‘Razzle Dazzle’. Haley was blinded in his left eye as a child due to a botched operation and later adopted his distinctive spit-curl hairstyle to distract attention from his blind eye.

[JTull 007]

Feb 9, 2024 7:12:57 GMT bunkerfan said:

9th February In 1973 American singer-songwriter and actor Paul Williams sings the torch song
"Here's That Rainy Day" in full Planet of the Apes make-up and costume on Johnny Carson's "The Tonight Show".
   

   

[bunkerfan]

10th February


In 1863 1st US fire extinguisher patent granted to Alanson Crane of Virginia.




In 1940 First "Tom and Jerry" cartoon "Puss Gets the Boot" created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera is released to theatres by MGM.




In 1971 A&M Records releases "Tapestry", the second album by singer-songwriter Carole King (wins 4 Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year 1972); tops charts in 4 countries, goes on to sell over 30 million copies.




In 1988 The debut studio album by Terence Trent D'Arby, Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby was at No.1 on the UK album chart. It featured the hit singles 'Wishing Well' (US No.1)

[bunkerfan]

11th February


In 1916 Emma Goldman arrested for lecturing on birth control.




In 1946 World War II: The Royal Navy's Operation Deadlight ends after scuttling 116 of 156 captured German U-boats.




In 1977 20.2-kg lobster caught off Nova Scotia (heaviest known crustacean)




In 1989 Paula Abdul started a three-week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Straight Up'. Her debut studio album Forever Your Girl (1988) became one of the most successful debut albums at that time, selling seven million copies in the United States and setting a record for the most No.1 singles from a debut album on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

[bunkerfan]

12th February


In 1914 "The Squaw Man", 1st feature-length film shot in Hollywood, directed by Cecil B. DeMille and Oscar Apfel, is released in the US.




In 1949 Panic in Quito, Ecuador, after "War of the Worlds" played on radio.




In 1961 The Miracles' 'Shop Around' became Motown Record's first million-selling single. It was also the label's first No.1 hit on Billboard's R&B singles chart. In the following ten years, The Miracles would have six more million sellers.




In 1977 The Police recorded their first single, 'Fall Out' for £150 ($255) at Pathway Studios, London, England. Written by drummer Stewart Copeland it is the only Police recording featuring original guitarist Henry Padovani. Mick Jagger's review of the single in Sounds magazine (as a guest reviewer) called the song "competently played rock, with nasal annihilated vocals." It failed to chart on its original release, but when re-released in 1979 it made No.47 on the UK Singles Chart.

[JTull 007]

Feb 12, 2024 7:13:27 GMT bunkerfan said:

  12th February In 1949    Panic in Quito, Ecuador, after "War of the Worlds" played on radio.
            

               I had not heard about this before... in Equador     LINK 
               War of the Worlds: Those Pesky Aliens By John Gosling

[bunkerfan]

13th February


In 1907 English suffragettes storm British Parliament & 60 women are arrested.




In 1948 Wright Flyer, 1st plane to fly, returns to US from England.




In 1972 Film adaptation of "Cabaret", directed by Bob Fosse, based on John Kander and Fred Ebb's musical of the same name, starring Liza Minnelli, Michael York, and Joel Grey is released.




In 1977 Julie Covington was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Don't Cry For Me Argentina', taken from the Tim Rice & Andrew Lloyd-Webber musical Evita. Covington had been in the 1977 UK TV series based on an all female group called Rock Follies. Madonna had a hit with her version of the song in 1996.

[bunkerfan]

14th February


In 1921 Little Review faces obscenity charges for publishing "Ulysses," in New York.




In 1931 The original "Dracula" film starring Bela Lugosi as the titular vampire, is released.




In 1962 US 1st lady Jacqueline Kennedy conducts White House tour on TV.




In 1999 Lenny Kravitz scored his first UK No.1 single with 'Fly Away' a No.12 hit in the US. The track which had been used in a Peugeot TV ad won a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Performance in 1999.

[JTull 007]

Feb 14, 2024 6:39:47 GMT bunkerfan said:

14th February In 1931 The original "Dracula" film starring Bela Lugosi as the titular vampire, is released.

                      Growing up with Bela Lugosi was quite amazing

[bunkerfan]

15th February


In 1927 Silent film "It" is released in the US starring Clara Bow.




In 1942 World War II: British ruled Singapore surrenders to the Japanese.




In 1963 Ken Lynch records "Misery," 1st Lennon-McCartney song by someone else.




In 1969 Sly and the Family Stone started a four week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Everyday People', their first No.1.

[bunkerfan]

16th February


In 1896 First US newspaper comic strip, Richard Felton Outcault's "The Yellow Kid".




In 1938 "Bringing Up Baby" film directed by Howard Hawks, starring Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant, is released.




In 1957 Disc jockey Pete Murray began hosting BBC television's first Rock 'n' Roll music program The Six-Five Special, named for the time the show began, five minutes after six. The show was given air-time immediately after the abolition of what was called the Toddlers' Truce, which had seen television stop between 6 and 7pm so children could be put to bed.




In 1963 Beatles top British rock charts with "Please, Please Me".

[bunkerfan]

17th February


In 1913 New York Armory Show introduces Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Marcel Duchamp to US public.




In 1943 NY Yankee Joe DiMaggio enlists into the US army.




In 1975 A&M Records releases John Lennon's sixth studio album, "Rock 'n' Roll" album, cover songs of early rock numbers.




In 2008 British soul singer Duffy started a five week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Mercy', from the Welsh singers debut album 'Rockferry'. 'Mercy' was the UK'S best selling single of 2008, and won Duffy a Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

[bunkerfan]

18th February


In 1901 H Cecil Booth patented a dust removing suction cleaner.




Born on this day in 1933 - Japanese multimedia artist, singer, songwriter, and peace activist Yoko Ono and wife of John Lennon. Ono moved to New York City from Tokyo age 14 and first met John Lennon in London in 1966, the couple married in 1969. The couple used their honeymoon as a stage for public protests against the Vietnam War.




In 1966 Beach Boy Brian Wilson recorded the future classic song 'Good Vibrations', which went on to become the band's third US number-one hit. As a child, his mother told him that dogs could pick up "vibrations" from people, so that the dog would bark at "bad vibrations" Wilson turned this into the general idea for the song.




In 1989 "A Better Man" single released by Clint Black (Billboard Song of the Year 1989)

[bunkerfan]

19th February


In 1906 Will Keith Kellogg (after falling out with brother over development credit and wanting to add sugar to cereal) joins Charles D. Bolin in founding the Battle Creek Toasted Corn Flake Company, now the multinational food manufacturer Kellogg's.




Born on this day in 1950 - Andy Powell, guitarist from British rock band Wishbone Ash who scored the 1972 UK No.3 album Argus and eight other Top 40 albums. Wishbone Ash are noted for their extensive use of the harmony twin lead guitar.




In 1968 Children's educational TV program "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" debuts on NET (now PBS)




In 1971 Progressive rock band Yes release their break-through third studio album "The Yes Album".

[bunkerfan]

20th February


In 1937 1st automobile/airplane combination tested, Santa Monica, California.




In 1947 Earl Mountbatten of Burma is appointed the last viceroy of India to oversee the move to independence.




In 1962 John Glenn becomes the first American to orbit the Earth, aboard Friendship 7.




In 2004 Brian Wilson kicked off an 11-date UK tour at London's Royal Festival Hall. The shows saw Wilson performing the full suite of songs from his unreleased masterpiece 'Smile' Wilson's 'teenage symphony to God.

[bunkerfan]

21st February


In 1902 Dr. Harvey Cushing, 1st US brain surgeon, performs his 1st brain operation.




In 1958 British artist Gerald Holtom designs Nuclear Disarmament logo, based on blended semaphore signals for the letters N and D; it later became an international peace symbol.




In 1978 Electrical workers accidentally discover the Aztec Templo Mayor, or High Temple, two blocks from Mexico City's central square, the Zócalo.




In 1987 Ben E King was at No.1 in the UK singles chart with 'Stand By Me.' The track was first released in 1961 and became a hit in 1987 after being featured in the film 'Stand By Me.'

[bunkerfan]

22nd February


In 1933 Malcolm Campbell sets a world land speed record of 272.46 mph driving his famous Blue Bird car at Daytona Beach, Florida.




In 1935 "The Little Colonel" premieres starring Shirley Temple, Lionel Barrymore and Bill Robinson, featuring famous stair dance with Hollywood's first interracial dance couple.




In 1968 Rock group Genesis release their 1st record "Silent Sun".




In 1997 No Doubt went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Don't Speak.' The third single from the band's second album Tragic Kingdom was written by Eric Stefani and his sister Gwen Stefani.

[bunkerfan]

23rd February


In 1782 Engineer James Watt's patent for a rotary motion for the steam engine (his sun-and-planet gear) is granted.




In 1945 US Marines raise the flag of the United States on top of Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima. Pulitzer Prize winning photo of which by Joe Rosenthall later became iconic, inspiring the Marine Corps War Memorial sculpture.




In 1963 Luciano Pavarotti makes his debut at the Vienna State Opera in "La traviata."




In 1974 Suzi Quatro was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Devil Gate Drive', the singers second UK No.1 and fourth No.1 for the songs writers Chinn & Chapman.

[bunkerfan]

24th February


In 1881 De Lesseps' Company begins work on Panama Canal.




In 1944 Minister of War Juan Perón leads a coup in Argentina.




In 1981 Britain's Prince Charles announces engagement to Lady Diana Spencer.




In 2000 Carlos Santana won eight awards at this years Grammy Awards for his Supernatural album. Before Supernatural, the guitarist had not had a Top 10 album since 1981.

[JTull 007]

   Don’t miss seeing the year’s smallest full moon this weekend    LINK 

     Micromoons are related to the more commonly known Supermoons,  which both
describe two extremes of the Moon's apparent size. Supermoons are more captivating
as they appear brighter and bigger in the night sky as the Earth and Moon are at their closest. 
On the other hand, Micromoons occur when the Moon is at apogee, its furthest point from Earth.

      This causes the Moon to appear dimmer and smaller even at the Full Moon phase.

[bunkerfan]

25th February


In 1862 Congress forms US Bureau of Engraving and Printing to print newly issued US paper currency, the United States Notes.




In 1950 "Your Show of Shows" with Sid Caesar & Imogene Coca premieres on NBC.




In 1968 Archbishop Makarios re-elected president of Cyprus.




In 1992 Muddy Waters wins Lifetime Achievement Award at the 34th Annual Grammy Awards.

[bunkerfan]

26th February


In 1881 P&O's SS Ceylon begins world's 1st round-the-world pleasure cruise from Liverpool.




In 1947 4th Golden Globes: "The Best Years of Our Lives." wins best picture.




In 1960 Vera Miles stars in"Mirror Image" episode of CBS anthology series "The Twilight Zone."




In 1965 Jimmy Page released a solo single called 'She Just Satisfies' in the UK. Page played all the instruments on the track except for the drums and produced the track, as well as singing lead vocals.

[bunkerfan]

27th February


In 1922 US Supreme Court unanimously upholds 19th amendment to the US Constitution - women's right to vote.




In 1946 4th "Road" film "Road to Utopia" premieres (NYC)




In 1981 Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder record the single "Ebony & Ivory."




In 1988 George Michael scored his sixth No.1 US single with 'Father Figure' a No. 11 hit in the UK - the first time Michael had failed to reach the top ten in his home country.

[bunkerfan]

28th February


In 1935 Ladby Ship is discovered within a Viking grave on the island of Funen in Denmark by amateur archaeologist Poul Helweg Mikkelsen.




In 1953 Francis Crick and James Watson discover the chemical structure of DNA-molecule (double-helix polymer) using studies of x-ray diffraction developed by Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins.




In 1966 The Cavern Club (Beatles hangout) in Liverpool, closes.




In 1976 Paul Simon's 'Still Crazy After All These Years' was named Best Pop Vocal Performance and Album Of The Year at the 18th annual Grammy Awards. In his acceptance speech, Simon told the audience "I'd like to thank Stevie Wonder for not releasing an album this year."

[bunkerfan]

29th February


In 1692 First people are accused of witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts.




In 1958 Frank Sinatra was at No.1 on the US album chart with Come Fly with Me, an album that was designed as a musical trip around the world. Tracks included 'Isle of Capri', 'Autumn in New York', 'April in Paris' and 'Blue Hawaii'. Sinatra expressed intense dislike for the album cover suggesting it looked like an advertisement for TWA.




In 1964 LBJ reveals the US has secretly developed the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, an advanced, long‐range high-speed and high-altitude reconnaissance airplane.




In 1992 Mr Big started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'To Be With You', a No.3 hit in the UK.

[bunkerfan]

1st March


In 1909 1st US university school of nursing established, University of Minnesota.




In 1941 Captain America created by cartoonists Joe Simon and Jack Kirby is first published by Timely Comics.




In 1961 US President JFK establishes the Peace Corps.




In 1986 Mr Mister started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Kyrie', the group's second US No.1, a No.11 hit in the UK. Also the group's album 'Welcome To The Real World' went to No.1 on the US album chart.

[bunkerfan]

2nd March


In 1882 Queen Victoria narrowly escapes assassination when Roderick Maclean shoots at her.




In 1949 Lucky Lady II (USAF B-50 Superfortress), completes 1st nonstop round- the-world flight at Fort Worth, Texas, covering 23,452-mis in 94 hrs.




In 1983 Compact Disc recordings developed by Phillips & Sony introduced.




In 1991 Madonna's 'Rescue Me', entered the US hot 100 at No.15, making her the highest- debuting female artist in rock history. The record had been held by Joy Llayne whose 1957 single 'Your Wild Heart', entered the chart at No. 30.

[bunkerfan]

3rd March


In 1915 US National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) created, the predecessor of NASA.




In 1955 Elvis Presley makes his 1st TV appearance on a broadcast of radio show "Louisiana Hayride."




In 1972 Sculpted figures of Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson are completed at Stone Mountain Georgia.




In 1973 Slade's 'Com On Feel The Noize', entered the UK at No.1, making Slade the first act to achieve this since The Beatles.