On This Day October 25 Click each item below to learn more! Celebrity Birthdays 1881 – Painter Pablo Picasso, considered one of the greatest and most influential artists of the 20th century (d. 1973) 1912 – Country Music Hall of Famer and comedian Minnie Pearl, known for her trademark straw hat with $1.98 price tag attached (d. 1996) 1928 – Actress Marion Ross, best known as TV mom Marion Cunningham (“Mrs. C”) on the popular sitcom “Happy Days” 1941 – 1970s pop sensation Helen Reddy, best known for her hit single “I Am Woman,” that became an anthem for the feminist movement (d. 2020) 1944 – Yes lead vocalist Jon Anderson 1970 – Actor Adam Goldberg (“Dazed and Confused,” “Saving Private Ryan,” “Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco,” “Zodiac”) 1984 – Pop superstar Katy Perry, born Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson (“I Kissed a Girl,” “California Gurls,” “Teenage Dream,” “Firework,” “Part of Me,” “Wide Awake,” “Roar”) History Highlights 1962 – Tensions escalate between the United States and Soviet Union over the Cuban Missile Crisis. During a U.N. Security Council meeting, U.S. Ambassador Adlai Stevenson demands that his Soviet counterpart confirm whether his country is installing missiles in Cuba, saying, “I am prepared to wait for my answer until hell freezes over.” 1971 – Sixteen years after Disneyland opens in Anaheim, California, the official dedication of Walt Disney World takes place in Orlando, Florida. Walt Disney’s brother, Roy O. Disney, and Mickey Mouse preside, followed by a grand opening parade through the Magic Kingdom. The celebration is taped for a special that airs on NBC four days later. 1982 – The sitcom “Newhart” premieres on CBS, starring Bob Newhart as an author and Vermont innkeeper. 1983 – The U.S. and its Caribbean allies invade Grenada just days after the island nation’s leader is killed in a coup. 1994 – In a case that garnered international attention, Susan Smith notifies South Carolina authorities that she was carjacked by a man who sped off with her two young boys still buckled in the back seat of her car. Nine days later, she confesses that she made up the story after driving her own car into a lake to drown the kids because she was having an affair with a man who did not want children. Smith is convicted of two counts of murder and sentenced to life in prison. 2002 – Golden Globe and Grammy-winning actor and singer Richard Harris, whose career spanned six decades and included starring roles in movies like “Camelot” and the “Harry Potter” series, dies of cancer at age 72. Harris had a 1968 hit single, “MacArthur Park,” which Donna Summer later covered. Musical Milestones 1964 – The Rolling Stones make their first appearance on CBS’ “The Ed Sullivan Show.” Excited fans damage part of the TV studio in Manhattan, prompting Sullivan’s infamous quote: “I promise you they’ll never be back on our show again.” Nevertheless, the Stones go on to make five additional appearances on the popular variety show over the next five years. 1969 – The Temptations begin their second and final week as rulers of the Billboard Hot 100 with “I Can’t Get Next to You.” The track also reaches No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B survey. 1980 – Barbra Streisand’s “Woman in Love” tops the singles chart and remains there for three weeks. Also at No. 1 is the album it’s on: “Guilty.” 1986 – “True Colors,” by Cyndi Lauper, kicks off two weeks on top of the Billboard Hot 100. The track receives a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. 2003 – “Baby Boy,” by Beyoncé featuring Sean Paul, is in the middle of a nine-week ride atop the Billboard singles chart. READ MORE