On This Day: October 25

On This Day October 25

Click each item below to learn more!

Celebrity Birthdays
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
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
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
On This Day: October 1

On This Day October 1

Click each item below to learn more!

Celebrity Birthdays
Celebrity Birthdays

1910 – Outlaw Bonnie Parker (Bonnie & Clyde) (d. 1934)

1920 – Actor Walter Matthau (“The Odd Couple,” “The Fortune Cookie,” “Grumpy Old Men,” “Dennis the Menace”) (d. 2000)

1921 – Tony and Emmy-winning actor James Whitmore (“The Asphalt Jungle,” “Them!,” “Kiss Me Kate,” “Battle Cry,” “Oklahoma!,” “Planet of the Apes,” “Tora! Tora! Tora!,” “The Serpent’s Egg,” “Nuts,” “The Shawshank Redemption,” “The Majestic.” (d. 2009)

1924 – 39th U.S. President Jimmy Carter

1927 – Actor Tom Bosley (“Happy Days,” “The Father Dowling Mysteries,” “Murder, She Wrote”) (d. 2010)

1928 – Actor George Peppard (“Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” “The Blue Max,” “The A-Team”) (d. 1994)

1930 – Actor Richard Harris, best known for his performances as King Arthur in Broadway’s “Camelot” and Albus Dumbledore in the first two “Harry Potter” films (d. 2002)

1935 – Oscar and Tony-winning actress-singer Julie Andrews, born Julia Elizabeth Wells (“Mary Poppins,” “The Sound of Music,” “Camelot,” “My Fair Lady,” “Victor, Victoria,” “The Princess Diaries”)

1950 – Actor and “Saturday Night Live” alum Randy Quaid (“National Lampoon’s Vacation” and its sequels, “Independence Day”)

1969 – Comedian-actor Zach Galifianakis (“The Hangover” movie series, “Due Date,” “The Campaign,” “Are You Here,” “Birdman,” “Keeping Up with the Joneses”)

History Highlights
History Highlights

1890 – Yosemite National Park, located in the Sierra Nevada mountains of central California and home to such natural wonders as El Capitan and Half Dome as well as the giant sequoia trees, is established by an act of Congress. The sprawling 760,000-acre park typically draws about four million visitors a year.

1961 – Americans meet a talking horse with the premiere of the TV comedy “Mister Ed.”

1961 – New York Yankee Roger Maris becomes the first Major League baseball player to hit more than 60 home runs in a single season. He hits his 61st homer on the final day of the season against the Boston Red Sox.

1962 – Johnny Carson begins hosting “The Tonight Show” on NBC. He succeeds Jack Paar, who took over from the original host, Steve Allen. Carson remains host until turning his seat and microphone over to Jay Leno in May 1992.

1971 – Ten thousand visitors converge near Orlando, Florida as Disney opens its second theme park — Walt Disney World. Admission to the Magic Kingdom costs $3.50 for adults and $1 for children.

Musical Milestones
Musical Milestones

1966 – “Cherish,” by The Association, parks itself at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

1970 – Funeral services are held for Seattle native Jimi Hendrix. The legendary rock guitarist and singer-songwriter died in London two weeks earlier at the age of 27.

1977 – Meco’s disco interpretation of composer John Williams’ theme from the motion picture “Star Wars” (later retitled “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope”) kicks off two weeks as the No. 1 single.

1982 – A revolution in the way we listen to music takes place, as the first compact disc (CD) player goes on sale in Japan for about $1,000. It’s the Sony CDP-101, and it lands in stores around the world six months later. The first CD to officially hit the market is Billy Joel’s “52nd Street.”

1988 – “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” by Bobby McFerrin, marks its second and final week as a Billboard No. 1 single. 

1994 – Boyz II Men own the top spot on the pop chart with “I’ll Make Love to You,” which remains at No. 1 for 14 weeks and captures a Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

2005 – “Gold Digger,” by Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx, is in the middle of a 10-week run atop the Billboard Hot 100. The track, which samples Ray Charles’ “I Got a Woman,” is the second chart-topper for West and Foxx. It goes on to capture a Best Rap Solo Performance Grammy.

2011 – “Moves Like Jagger,” by Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera, is the No. 1 single.

READ MORE