On This Day December 27 Click each item below to learn more! Celebrity Birthdays 1822 – French chemist-microbiologist Louis Pasteur, who pioneered the vaccination process (d. 1895) 1939 – Actor John Amos (“Good Times,” “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “Roots,” “Die Hard 2,” “Two and a Half Men”) 1943 – Journalist and ABC News and NPR commentator Cokie Roberts (d. 2019) 1948 – Actor Gérard Depardieu (“1900,” “The Last Metro,” “Cyrano de Bergerac,” “Green Card,” “Man in the Iron Mask,” “Life of Pi”) 1971 – NBC “Today” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie History Highlights 1831 – British naturalist Charles Darwin sets out from Plymouth, England, aboard the HMS Beagle on a five-year expedition to survey the geology and wildlife of coastal South America. His observations eventually lead to development of his theory of evolution through natural selection. 1932 – In the midst of the Depression, New York City’s iconic Radio City Music Hall opens and is touted as a “palace for the people.” Since then, more than 300 million people have enjoyed stage shows, movies, concerts and special events at the unmistakable Art Deco venue located in midtown Manhattan. 1947 – The first popular American children’s show on television, “The Howdy Doody Show,” premieres on NBC. 1968 – Apollo 8, the first manned mission to the moon, returns safely to Earth after an historic six-day journey. 2016 – “Star Wars” fans around the world are devastated to learn that actress Carrie Fisher, best known for playing Princess Leia in the legendary movie series, has died at the age of 60. Her death comes four days after suffering a massive heart attack on an international flight. Musical Milestones 1969 – Motown giants The Supremes hit No. 1 on the singles chart for the 12th time in their musical career — this time with “Someday We’ll Be Together.” 1969 – Led Zeppelin score their first No. 1 album with “Led Zeppelin II,” which brings us “Whole Lotta Love,” “What Is and What Should Never Be,” “Ramble On” and six other tracks. It goes on to sell more than six million copies in the U.S. alone. 1975 – The Staple Singers own the No. 1 single, “Let’s Do It Again,” from the movie of the same name. 1980 – “Double Fantasy,” by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, begins an eight-week run at No. 1 on the album chart. That same day, one of its tracks, “(Just Like) Starting Over” reaches No. 1 on the singles chart and remains there for five weeks. 1986 – The Bangles’ “Walk Like an Egyptian” is mid-way through a four-week hold on the No. 1 spot on the Billboard singles chart. 1997 – “Candle in the Wind 1997,” Elton John’s tribute to the late Princess Diana, maintains its grip on the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100. 2003 – OutKast is in the middle of a nine-week ride on top of the singles chart with “Hey Ya!” 2008 – Beyoncé delivers the last No. 1 song of 2008 and first of 2009 as she kicks off three weeks on top of the Billboard Hot 100 with “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).” READ MORE
On This Day December 19 Click each item below to learn more! Celebrity Birthdays 1915 – Internationally acclaimed French cabaret singer-songwriter and actress Edith Piaf, who became widely regarded as France’s national chanteuse (d. 1963) 1924 – Emmy and Tony-winning actress Cicely Tyson (“Sounder,” “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman,” “The Help”) 1944 – Paleoanthropologist-conservationist Richard Leakey 1957 – Basketball Hall of Famer Kevin McHale 1963 – Actress Jennifer Beals (“Flashdance,” “Devil in a Blue Dress,” “Four Rooms,” “The Chicago Code”) 1972 – Actress Alyssa Milano (“Who’s the Boss?” “Melrose Place,” “Charmed,” “Mistresses”) 1980 – Actor Jake Gyllenhaal (“October Sky,” “Donnie Darko,” “The Day After Tomorrow,” “Jarhead,” “Brokeback Mountain,” “Zodiac,” “Nightcrawler,” “Southpaw”) History Highlights 1732 – Benjamin Franklin begins publishing “Poor Richard’s Almanack.” The book, filled with proverbs preaching industry and prudence, is published continuously for 25 years and becomes one of the most popular publications in colonial America, selling an average of 10,000 copies a year. 1843 – Charles Dickens publishes his Christmas classic, “A Christmas Carol.” Originally titled “A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost Story of Christmas,” the first edition sells out by Christmas Eve. By the end of 1844, 13 editions had been released. The work continues to be printed and sold nearly 200 years later and has been adapted countless times for film, stage, opera and other media, including a video game. 1903 – New Yorkers celebrate the opening of the Williamsburg Bridge, the second and largest of three steel-frame suspension bridges crossing the East River. 1917 – The National Hockey League (NHL) opens its first season with two games. At the time, the league consists of five franchises: the Canadiens and the Wanderers (both of Montreal), the Ottawa Senators, the Quebec Bulldogs and the Toronto Arenas (known at the time as the Toronto Hockey Club). 1972 – NASA’S Apollo manned lunar-landing program ends as the last three astronauts to travel to the moon safely splash down in the Pacific Ocean. Apollo 17 had blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, 10 days earlier. 1984 – The British government signs an agreement to return Hong Kong to China in 1997. 1997 – Director James Cameron’s epic drama “Titanic” opens in U.S. theaters, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. The film becomes a box office smash and goes on to capture 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. 1998 – President Bill Clinton is impeached on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice by a divided House of Representatives, which recommends virtually along party lines that the Senate remove the nation’s 42d president from office. Clinton vows to finish his term. Musical Milestones 1964 – Diana Ross & The Supremes score their third No. 1 single of 1964 with “Come See About Me,” which holds the top spot for a week. 1970 – Elton John’s first U.S. hit, “Your Song,” from the “Elton John” album, enters the Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it eventually climbs to No. 8. 1979 – Elvis Presley’s personal physician, George Nichopoulos, is charged with ‘illegally and indiscriminately’ prescribing more than 12,000 uppers, downers and painkillers for the star during the 20 months preceding his untimely death. 1981 – Olivia Newton-John is in the middle of a 10-week ride atop the Billboard Hot 100 with “Physical.” 1987 – George Michael is in the middle of a four-week domination of the pop chart with “Faith.” 1992 – “I Will Always Love You,” by Whitney Houston, starts its fourth week as a No. 1 single. It holds the top spot for a total of 14 weeks. 2000 – Roebuck “Pops” Staples, gospel singer, songwriter, guitarist and founding member of the Staple Singers, dies at age 85. The group had hits including “I’ll Take You There,” “Respect Yourself” and “Let’s Do It Again” in the 1970s. 2009 – “Empire State of Mind,” by Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys, rules the singles chart. READ MORE