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On This Day March 5

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Celebrity Birthdays

1908 – Oscar, Tony and Golden Globe-winning actor Rex Harrison (“Cleopatra,” “My Fair Lady,” “Doctor Doolittle”) (d. 1990)

1936 – Actor Dean Stockwell, most remembered as Rear Admiral Al Calavicci in the NBC television series “Quantum Leap”

1955 – Emmy-winning magician, illusionist, comedian and author Penn Jillette, of the Penn & Teller team

1958 – Pop singer Andy Gibb (“I Just Want to Be Your Everything,” “(Love Is) Thicker Than Water,” “Shadow Dancing”) (d. 1988)

1963 – Televangelist pastor and author Joel Osteen

1974 – Actress Eva Mendes (“Training Day,” “2 Fast 2 Furious,” “Stuck on You,” “Hitch,” “Ghost Rider,” “The Other Guys,” “Fast Five,” “Girl in Progress,” “Lost River”)

History Highlights

1770 – The Boston Massacre takes begins as a skirmish between British troops and a crowd and ends with those troops killing five men and injuring six others. Crispus Attucks, one of the dead, is thought to be a runaway slave. Word of the bloody clash sparks growing resentment toward the British regime in America and eventually leads to the American Revolution.

1946 – Former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill introduces the term “iron curtain” during a speech in which he condemns the Soviet Union’s policies in Europe. His remarks are considered one of the opening volleys announcing the beginning of the Cold War. 

1963 – Wham-O Company co-founders Arthur “Spud” Melin and Richard Knerr patent the Hula Hoop, the hip-swiveling toy that goes on to become one of America’s greatest fads. An estimated 25 million Hula-Hoops sell during the first four months of production alone. 

1982 – Comedic actor and singer John Belushi dies of a drug overdose at the age of 33. Belushi was best known as one of the original “Saturday Night Live” (“SNL”) cast members and for starring roles in “National Lampoon’s Animal House” and “The Blues Brothers.”

Musical Milestones

1963 – Country music star Patsy Cline, known for hits like “Crazy” and “Walking After Midnight,” is killed in a Tennessee plane crash at the age of 30. Ten years later, she becomes the first female solo artist inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

1966 – “The Ballad of the Green Berets,” by U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler, starts a five-week run at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

1977 – Barbra Streisand claims the No. 1 spot on the singles chart for the second time in her career. This time it’s with “Evergreen (Love Theme From A Star Is Born),” which holds the top spot for three weeks. The track captures an Oscar for Best Original Song as well as Grammys for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Song of the Year (which it shares with “You Light Up My Life”), and a Golden Globe for Best Original Song.

1983 – Michael Jackson begins a seven-week hold on the top spot on the singles chart with “Billie Jean,” off his Grammy-winning “Thriller” album.

1994 – Céline Dion enjoys her fourth and final week at No. 1 on the Billboard pop chart with “The Power of Love.”

2005 – “Candy Shop,” by 50 Cent featuring Olivia, kicks off nine weeks on top of the singles chart and receives a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Song.

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