This Day In History

[icehog3]

February 24th

2008
Cuba's parliament named Raul Castro president, ending nearly 50 years of rule by his brother Fidel.



Birthdays

81 Honus Wagner 2/24/1874 - 12/6/1955 American professional baseball player

[MedicCook]

February 25th

1836
Samuel Colt patented the first revolving barrel multishot firearm.

1870
Hiram Revels became the first black United States senator, taking over the term of Jefferson Davis.

1901
J.P. Morgan formed U.S. Steel Corporation, the first billion-dollar corporation in the world.

1913
The 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, giving Congress the power to levy and collect income taxes, was declared in effect.

1940
A hockey game was televised for the first time, by New York City station W2XBS. (The New York Rangers beat the Montreal Canadiens 6-2 at Madison Square Garden.)

1948
Communists took control of the government in Czechoslovakia.

1964
Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) became world heavyweight boxing champion for the first time by knocking out Sonny Liston in Miami Beach.

1983
Tennessee Williams, American playwright, died.

Birthdays
90 Monte Irvin Baseball Hall of Famer
81 Larry Gelbart TV writer, producer ("M*A*S*H")
74 Sally Jessy Raphael TV talk show host
65 Karen Grassle Actress ("Little House on the Prairie")
60 Jack Handey Author, former TV writer ("Saturday Night Live")
60 Rick Flair Professional wrestler
46 Paul O'Neill Baseball player (New York Yankees)
43 Tea Leoni Actress
42 Carrot Top Comedian
38 Sean Astin Actor ("Lord of the Rings" movies)
36 Julio Iglesias Jr. Singer
33 Rashida Jones Actress ("The Office")
31 Brian Urlacher Football player
23 James Phelps Actor ("Harry Potter" movies)
23 Oliver Phelps Actor ("Harry Potter" movies)

78 Herbert Manfred 'Zeppo' Marx 2/25/1901 - 11/30/1979 Comedian, actor 'Marx Brothers'.
58 George Harrison 2/25/1943 - 11/29/2001 English rock guitarist, singer-songwriter and film producer. He achieved international fame as lead guitarist in The Beatles.

[icehog3]

February 25th

1901
J.P. Morgan formed U.S. Steel Corporation, the first billion-dollar corporation in the world.


Birthdays
58 George Harrison 2/25/1943 - 11/29/2001 English rock guitarist, singer-songwriter and film producer. He achieved international fame as lead guitarist in The Beatles.

[taltos]

Twenty years ago Jerry Jones took over the Dallas Cowboys. Finally an owner hated more than Al Davis.

[MedicCook]

February 26th

1815
Napoleon Bonaparte escaped from exile on the island of Elba.

1870
A 312-ft long pneumatic subway was opened in New York City; funding for a larger version never materialized.

1919
Grand Canyon National Park was established.

1935
RADAR (Radio Detection and Ranging) was first demonstrated by Robert Watson-Watt.

1935
The New York Yankees released Babe Ruth. Ruth signed with the Boston Braves for $20,000 and a share in the team's profits.

1993
A bomb exploded at the World Trade Center in New York. The blast killed six people and injured more than 1,000.

Birthdays
81 Fats Domino R&B singer
66 Bill Duke Actor, director
59 Jonathan Cain Rock musician (Journey)
56 Michael Bolton Singer
51 Greg Germann Actor ("Ally McBeal")
41 Tim Commerford Rock musician (Audioslave)

83 Victor Hugo 2/26/1802 - 5/22/1885 French poet, novelist and dramatist
73 Levi Strauss 2/26/1829 - 9/26/1902 German-Jewish immigrant to the United States who founded the first company to manufacture blue jeans
70 William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill) 2/26/1846 - 1/10/1917 American buffalo hunter and Indian scout
91 John Harvey Kellogg 2/26/1852 - 12/14/1943 American physician who developed dry cereal
64 Herbert H. Dow 2/26/1866 - 10/15/1930 American founder of Dow Chemical Co.
91 Rudolph Dirks 2/26/1877 - 4/20/1968 American cartoonist of "Katzenjammer Kids"
63 Grover Cleveland Alexander 2/26/1887 - 11/4/1950 Hall of Fame baseball player
71 Jackie Gleason 2/26/1916 - 6/24/1987 American comedian, actor and musician (The Honeymooners)
84 Tony Randall 2/26/1920 - 5/17/2004 American comic and actor
71 Johnny Cash 2/26/1932 - 9/12/2003 Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter.

[icehog3]

February 26th

1815
Napoleon Bonaparte escaped from exile on the island of Elba.


1935 The New York Yankees released Babe Ruth. Ruth signed with the Boston Braves for $20,000 and a share in the team's profits.



Birthdays
56 Michael Bolton Singer


71 Jackie Gleason 2/26/1916 - 6/24/1987 American comedian, actor and musician (The Honeymooners)


84 Tony Randall 2/26/1920 - 5/17/2004 American comic and actor


71 Johnny Cash 2/26/1932 - 9/12/2003 Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter.

I bet there's rich folks eatin',
In a fancy dining car,
They're probably drinkin' coffee,
And smokin' big cigars,
But I know I had it comin',
I know I can't be free,
But those people keep a-movin',
And that's what tortures me.

[MedicCook]

February 27th

1844
Dominican Republic gained independence from Haiti.

1912
The New York Yankees announced that they would be wearing pinstripes on their uniforms.

1933
Germany's parliament building in Berlin, the Reichstag, caught fire. The Nazis, blaming the Communists, used the fire as a pretext to suspend civil liberties.

1951
The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, limiting the President to two terms.

1973
Members of the American Indian Movement occupied the village of Wounded Knee, S.D.

1974
People magazine is published for the first time.

1991
Kuwait was liberated in the Gulf War.

1997
Divorce became legal in Ireland.

2003
Fred Rogers, of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, died at age 74.

2008
Author and conservative commentator William F. Buckley Jr. died at age 82.

Birthdays
77 Elizabeth Taylor Actress
75 Ralph Nader Consumer advocate
55 Neal Schon Rock musician (Journey)
52 Adrian Smith Rock musician (Iron Maiden)
48 James Worthy Basketball Hall of Famer
47 Adam Baldwin Actor
47 Grant Show Actor ("Melrose Place")
38 Chilli R&B singer (TLC)
31 Shonna Tucker Country musician (Drive-By Truckers)
29 Chelsea Clinton Daughter of Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton
28 Josh Groban Singer

75 Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 2/27/1807 - 3/24/1882 American poet
66 John Steinbeck 2/27/1902 - 12/20/1968 American Nobel Prize-winning novelist
71 Irwin Shaw 2/27/1913 - 5/16/1984 American playwright, novelist and screenwriter

[MedicCook]

February 28th

1784
John Wesley issues “Deed of Declaration” formally establishing the Methodist Church.

1827
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Co. was incorporated.

1849
The steamship California landed in San Francisco, bringing the first East Coasters to the Gold Rush.

1861
The Territory of Colorado was organized.

1916
Henry James, American novelist and critic, died.

1940
The first televised basketball game was shown. The game featured Fordham University and the University of Pittsburgh from Madison Square Gardens in New York.

1979
Mr. Ed, the talking horse, died.

1983
The final episode of M*A*S*H aired. It was the most watched television program in history.

1986
Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme was shot to death in central Stockholm.

1993
Four federal agents were killed in Waco, Texas, after they tried to serve an arrest warrant for weapons charges on Branch Davidian sect leader David Koresh, starting a 51-day standoff.

Birthdays
86 Charles Durning Actor
78 Gavin MacLeod Actor ("Love Boat," "The Mary Tyler Moore Show")
78 Dean Smith Hall of Fame basketball coach
77 Don Francks Actor
69 Mario Andretti Auto racer
56 Ricky 'The Dragon' Steamboat Professional wrestler
54 Gilbert Gottfried Comedian
52 John Turturro Actor
52 Cindy Wilson Rock singer (B-52s)
48 Rae Dawn Chong Actress
40 Robert Sean Leonard Actor ("House")
36 Eric Lindros Hockey player

41 Bugsy Siegel 2/28/1906 - 6/20/1947 American gangster who started Las Vegas gambling

[icehog3]

February 28th

1979
Mr. Ed, the talking horse, died.


1983
The final episode of M*A*S*H aired. It was the most watched television program in history.



Birthdays

69 Mario Andretti Auto racer


41 Bugsy Siegel 2/28/1906 - 6/20/1947 American gangster who started Las Vegas gambling[/quote]

[MedicCook]

March 4th

1634
Samuel Cole opens the first tavern in Boston, Massachusetts.

1789
The Constitution of the United States went into effect.

1791
Vermont became the 14th state in the United States.

1861
Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated as president.

1902
The American Automobile Association was founded in Chicago.

1994
Four Muslim fundamentalists were found guilty in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing in New York.

1994
Comedian and actor John Candy died at the age of 43.

1997
The first episode of "Just Shoot Me" was aired.

1997
The first episode of "The Practice" aired on ABC.

Birthdays
71 Paula Prentiss Actress
61 Chris Squire Rock musician (Yes)
55 Catherine O'Hara Actress
51 Patricia Heaton Actress ("Everybody Loves Raymond")
48 Steven Weber Actor ("Wings")
46 Jason Newsted Rock musician (Metallica)
36 Jason_B Cigar Asylum Inmate
29 ja3480 Cigar Asylum Inmate
19 Andrea Bowen Actress ("Desperate Housewives")
?? filly Cigar Asylum Inmate

60 Shemp Howard 3/4/1895 - 11/22/1955 American comedian best known as a part of the Three Stooges comedy team.

[icehog3]

March 4th

1861
Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated as president.


1994
Comedian and actor John Candy died at the age of 43.


1997
The first episode of "Just Shoot Me" was aired.

[MedicCook]

March 5th

363
Roman Emperor Julian moves from Antioch with an army of 90,000 to attack the Sassanid Empire, in a campaign which would bring about his own death.

1770
The Boston Massacre, a pre-Revolutionary incident that grew out of anger towards British troops, occurred. Five anti-British rioters were killed.

1836
Samuel Colt makes the first production-model revolver, the .34-caliber.

1872
George Westinghouse patents the air brake.

1946
Winston Churchill delivered his famous Iron curtain speech, "From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an Iron Curtain has descended across the continent."

1953
Soviet dictator Josef Stalin died at age 73, after 29 years in power.

1963
Patsy Cline (30), Cowboy Copas (49), and Hankshaw Hawkins (41) were killed in a plane crash.

1982
Comedian John Belushi was found dead of a drug overdose at age 33.

2004
Martha Stewart was convicted of obstructing justice and lying to the government about why she'd unloaded her Imclone Systems Inc. stock just before the price plummeted.

Birthdays
87 James Noble Actor
75 James B. Sikking Actor
73 Dean Stockwell Actor
72 Denny Crum Hall of Fame basketball coach
71 Fred Williamson Actor
63 Michael Warren Actor
62 Eddie Hodges Actor, singer
61 Eddy Grant Rock singer
57 Alan Clark Rock musician (Dire Straits)
55 Marsha Warfield Actress, comedian
54 Penn Jillette Magician, comedian (Penn and Teller)
43 Michael Irvin Football player
42 shilala Cigar Asylum Inmate
39 John Frusciante Rock musician (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
35 Kevin Connolly Actor ("Entourage")
34 Eva Mendes Actress
34 Niki Taylor Model
33 leasingthisspace Cigar Asylum Inmate
20 Jake Lloyd Actor ("Star Wars" films)
?? Da Klugs Cigar Asylum Inmate

58 Howard Pyle 3/5/1853 - 11/9/1911 American illustrator, painter, and author

[icehog3]

March 5th

1946
Winston Churchill delivered his famous Iron curtain speech, "From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an Iron Curtain has descended across the continent."


1953
Soviet dictator Josef Stalin died at age 73, after 29 years in power.


1982
Comedian John Belushi was found dead of a drug overdose at age 33.

[icehog3]

March 5th

Birthdays

73 Dean Stockwell Actor


71 Fred Williamson Actor


34 Eva Mendes Actress


?? Da Klugs Cigar Asylum Inmate

[MedicCook]

March 7th

1876
Alexander Graham Bell received a patent for the telephone.

1926
The first successful trans-Atlantic radio-telephone conversation took place, between New York City and London.

1936
Adolf Hitler broke the Treaty of Versailles and the Locarno Pact when he ordered troops to march into the Rhineland.

1945
During World War II, U.S. troops crossed the bridge at Remagen, the first incursion into Germany by Allied forces.

1965
Peaceful civil rights demonstrators marching from Selma, Ala., are brutally attacked with billy clubs and tear gas by police on the Edmund Pettus Bridge. The event is later called “Bloody Sunday.”

1975
The final episode of "The Odd Couple" aired on ABC.

1986
The final episode of "Different Strokes" was aired.

1987
Mike Tyson became the youngest heavyweight titlist when he beat James Smith in a decision during a 12-round fight in Las Vegas, NV.

1999
Movie director Stanley Kubrick died at age 70.

Birthdays
75 Willard Scott TV personality ("Today")
63 John Heard Actor
63 Peter Wolf Rock singer (J. Geils Band)
59 Franco Harris Football Hall of Famer
57 Ernie Isley R&B singer, musician (The Isley Brothers)
57 Lynn Swann Football Hall of Famer
49 Ivan Lendl Tennis Hall of Famer
45 Wandy Sykes Actress-comedian
38 Rachel Weisz Actress
35 Jenna Fischer Actress ("The Office")
29 Laura Prepon Actress ("That 70s Show")

[MedicCook]

March 8th

1782
A peaceful settlement of Delaware Indians were massacred by militia at Gnadenhutten in Ohio.

1817
The New York Stock Exchange is founded.

1874
Millard Fillmore, the 13th president of the United States, died in Buffalo, N.Y., at age 74.

1930
William Howard Taft, the 27th president and a former chief justice of the United States, died in Washington, D.C., at age 72.

1950
The Soviet Union claimed to be in possession of the atomic bomb.

1959
Groucho, Chico and Harpo made their final TV appearance together.

1965
First U.S. combat troops arrived in Vietnam.

1971
Joe Frazier retained his world heavyweight championship by defeating Muhammad Ali in a 15-round decision. It was Ali's first loss in 32 professional fights.

1974
The last episode "The Brady Bunch" aired.

1983
President Reagan called the USSR an "Evil Empire."

1993
"Beavis and Butthead" premiered on MTV.

1999
Baseball Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio died.

2004
Todd Bertuzzi (Vancouver Canucks) hit Steve Moore (Colorado Avalanche) in the side of the head from behind and drove his head into the ice. Moore landed face-first with Bertuzzi on top of him. Moore suffered a broken neck, a concussion and deep cuts on his face.

Birthdays
70 Jim Bouton Baseball player, author
64 Micky Dolenz Rock musician, actor (The Monkees)
63 Randy Meisner Rock musician (The Eagles, Poco)
61 Peggy March Singer
56 Jim Rice Baseball player
50 Aidan Quinn Actor
35 boonedoggle Cigar Asylum Inmate
33 Freddie Prinze Jr. Actor
32 James Van Der Beek Actor ("Dawson's Creek")

74 Carl P. E. Bach 3/8/1714 - 12/14/1788 German composer and son of J. S. Bach
60 Louise Beavers 3/8/1902 - 10/26/1962 American film and television actress

[MedicCook]

March 10th

1496
Christopher Columbus concluded his second visit to the Western Hemisphere as he left Hispaniola for Spain.

1785
Thomas Jefferson is appointed minister to France.

1848
Congress ratified the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, ending the Mexican War.

1864
U. S. Grant became commander of the Union armies during the Civil War.

1876
The first telephone call ("Mr. Watson, come here. I want you.") was made by Alexander Graham Bell.

1913
Harriet Tubman African-American abolitionist, humanitarian, and Union spy during the American Civil War died.

1941
The Brooklyn Dodgers announced that their players would begin wearing batting helmets during the 1941 season.

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.

1977
Astronomers discover rings around Uranus.

1978
CBS began airing the series "The Incredible Hulk."

1997
The series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" began airing.

1998
Actor Lloyd Bridges died at age 85.

2007
Comedian Richard Jeni was found dead after commiting suicide at age 49.

2008
New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer apologized after allegations surfaced that he had paid thousands of dollars for a high-end call girl, a scandal which eventually led to his resignation.

Birthdays
69 Chuck Norris Actor ("Walker, Texas Ranger")
62 Tom Scholz Rock musician (Boston)
56 Paul Haggis Director, screenwriter ("Crash")
52 Shannon Tweed Actress
52 Osama bin Laden Islamic militant (hopefully dead and rotting in a cave somewhere)
51 Sharon Stone Actress
46 Jeff Ament Rock musician (Pearl Jam)
46 Rick Rubin Music producer
45 Prince Edward Member of the British royal family
44 Rod Woodson Football Hall of Famer
43 Stephen Mailer Actor
37 Matt Kenseth Race car driver
26 Carrie Underwood Country singer ("American Idol")
25 Olivia Wilde Actress ("House")

70 James Earl Ray 3/10/1928 - 4/23/1998 American assassin of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

[MedicCook]

March 14th

1743
The first town meeting was held in Boston, Massachusetts, at Faneuil Hall.

1794
The cotton gin was patented by Eli Whitney.

1883
Political philosopher Karl Marx died at age 64.

1889
German Ferdinand von Zeppelin patents his "Navigable Balloon"

1939
The Republic of Czechoslovakia was dissolved, soon to be occupied by the Nazis.

1950
The FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list made its debut.

1958
Perry Como's single "Catch a Falling Star" became the first RIAA gold record.

1964
Jack Ruby was found guilty of the murder of Lee Harvey Oswald, alleged assassin of President John F. Kennedy.

1990
The Soviet Congress voted Mikhail Gorbachev into the newly-created and powerful position of president.

2009
The first Cigar Asylum HERF in Albany, New York was held at Habana Premium Cigar Shoppe.

Birthdays
76 Michael Caine Actor
76 Quincy Jones Record producer
70 Raymond J. Barry Actor
68 Wolfgang Petersen Director
64 Walt Parazaider Rock musician (Chicago)
63 Steve Kanaly Actor
61 Billy Crystal Actor, comedian
58 Jerry Greenfield Co-founder of Ben & Jerry's ice cream
55 Adrian Zmed Actor
50 Tamara Tunie Actress ("Law & Order: SVU")
48 Penny Johnson Jerald Actress
43 Gary Anthony Williams Actor
41 Megan Follows Actress
30 Jake Fogelnest Actor
30 Chris Klein Actor ("American Pie" movies)
27 Kate Maberly Actress
26 Taylor Hanson Rock singer, musician (Hanson)
23 Jamie Bell Actor
?? elderboy02 Cigar Asylum Inmate
?? cf2112 Cigar Asylum Inmate

76 Albert Einstein 3/14/1879 - 4/18/1955 German-American Nobel Prize-winning physicist
86 Lee Petty 3/14/1914 - 4/5/2000 American stock car driver in the 1950s and 60s.
45 Kirby Puckett 3/14/1960 - 3/6/2006 Hall of fame baseball player

[MedicCook]

Birthdays
47 Jennifer Jason Leigh Actress

[Powers]

I'm a bad man!!!