WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12 ©
ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S BIRTHDAY
FREEDOM TO MARRY DAY
OGLETHORPE DAY/ GEORGIA DAY
NATIONAL PLUM PUDDING DAY
DARWIN DAY
LOST PENNY DAY
RED HAND DAY
FILM RELEASE: "ROBOCOP" (2D, IMAX), JOEL KINNEMAN
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VASCO'S SECOND
1502, VASCO DA GAMA set sail from LISBON, PORTUGAL, on a second voyage around CAPE HORN to INDIA. The same day, the MOSLEM population of GRANADA, SPAIN, was forced to convert to ROMAN CATHOLICISM.
1541, PEDRO DE VALDIVIA founded SANTIAGO, CHILE.
LADY JANE GREY BEHEADED | 1554, after serving as ENGLISH queen for less than two weeks, LADY JANE GREY at 17 was beheaded for treason. Her husband, LORD GUILDFORD DUDLEY, also received the blade. |
| 1733 (NS), GENERAL JAMES OGLETHORPE landed at the mouth of the SAVANNAH RIVER, founding the BRITISH- colony GEORGIA.
1762, the BRITISH took control of MARTINIQUE. | |
JAMES OGLETHORPE FOUNDED GEORGIA
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1804, philosopher IMMANUEL KANT died at 79.
1809, ABRAHAM LINCOLN was born in HARDIN COUNTY, KENTUCKY.
1816, fire destroyed the SAN CARLO, EUROPE'S oldest working opera house.
1818, CHILE gained its independence from SPAIN.
1825, the CREEK INDIANS signed a treaty with the UNITED STATES, surrendering their tribal lands in GEORGIA and agreeing to migrate west of the MISSISSIPPI by SEPTEMBER 1, 1826.
1832, ECUADOR annexed the GALAPAGOS ISLANDS.
HOUSATONIC RAILROAD
BEGAN OPERATION
1840, the HOUSATONIC RAILROAD, chartered in 1836, went into operation from BRIDGEPORT to NEW MILFORD in CONNECTICUT.
1842, painter GRANT WOOD, best known for his "AMERICAN GOTHIC", died at 50 in IOWA CITY, IOWA.
1848, the ballet "FAUST" premiered in MILAN, ITALY.
WASHINGTON'S "FAREWELL ADDRESS"
MANUSCRIPT SOLD
1850, the original manuscript of "GEORGE WASHINGTON'S FAREWELL ADDRESS" sold for $2,300.
1855, MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY was founded.
1870, the UTAH TERRITORY gave women the right to vote.
1874, KING DAVID KALAKAUA of the SANDWICH ISLANDS (HAWAII) became the first monarch to visit the UNITED STATES.
1877, from SALEM to BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, a news dispatch was sent for the first time by telephone,
1878, FREDERICK THAYER received a patent for the catcher's mask.
1879, NEW YORK'S MADISON SQUARE GARDEN introduced the first artificial-ice rink in the UNITED STATES.
1892, CONGRESS declared PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S birthday a national holiday.
1899, the temperature dropped to minus-47 degrees FAHRENHEIT at CAMP CLARKE, NEBRASKA -- a state record.
"GEORGE WASHINGTON, JR."
OPENED
1906, GEORGE M. COHAN'S musical, "GEORGE WASHINGTON, JR.", opened at the HERALD SQUARE THEATRE in NEW YORK for a run of 81 performances.
NEW YORK TO PARIS ROAD RACE
1908, off and running from TIMES SQUARE, the first NEW YORK to PARIS automobile road race, via the BERING STRAIT, began its 88 days of torturous driving. Racer GEORGE SCHUSTER finished first.
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1909, the NAACP (NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE) was established. The same day, the first LINCOLN penny was minted.
1912, the last emperor of CHINA, HSÜAN T'UNG of the CH'ING DYNASTY, abdicated. The same day, CHINA adopted the GREGORIAN CALENDAR. |
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NAACP FOUNDED
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LINCOLN MEMORIAL
GROUNDBREAKING
1914, in the nation's capital, LINCOLN MEMORIAL construction began with the laying of a cornerstone.
1921, the SOVIET UNION invaded its neighbor, GEORGIA. The same day, WINSTON CHURCHILL became BRITAIN'S minister of the colonies.
1922, UNITED ARTISTS released its silent version of HENRIK IBSEN'S "A DOLL HOUSE", starring ALAN HALE and ALLA NAZIMOVA.
1924, the PAUL WHITEMAN ORCHESTRA debuted GEORGE GERSHWIN'S "RHAPSODY IN BLUE" at AEOLIAN HALL in NEW YORK. The same day, CALVIN COOLIDGE became the first president to make a speech on the radio; and GEORGE KAUFMAN'S "BEGGAR ON HORSEBACK" debuted at the BROADHURST THEATRE in NEW YORK for a run of 223 performances.
1925, ESTONIA outlawed the COMMUNIST PARTY.
1927, a BRITISH expeditionary force arrived in SHANGHAI, CHINA.
"DRACULA" PREMIERED IN NEW YORK
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| 1931, UNIVERSAL'S horror-film "DRACULA", starring
BELA LUGOSI, HELEN CHANDLER, and DAVID MANNERS, debuted in NEW YORK CITY. It was released to theatres on ST. VALENTINE'S DAY. |
"USS MACON" CRASHED
1935, the AMERICAN-airship "USS MACON" crashed off the CALIFORNIA coast into the PACIFIC OCEAN.
1937, the NFL granted CLEVELAND a franchise (as the RAMS). The team later moved to LOS ANGELES, and then ST. LOUIS.
1938, to plead for AUSTRIA'S continued independence, CHANCELLOR KURT VON SCHUSCHNIGG met with ADOLF HITLER at BERCHTESGADEN in GERMANY.
| 1940, RKO released the film "ABE LINCOLN IN ILLINOIS", starring RAYMOND MASSEY, GENE LOCKHART, and RUTH GORDON. The same day, MUTUAL RADIO debuted the "ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN", featuring BUD COLLIER as the "MAN OF STEEL". |
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"ABE LINCOLN IN ILLINOIS" RELEASED |
1942, "AMERICAN GOTHIC" artist GRANT WOOD died at 49. The same day, singer MILDRED BAILEY recorded "MORE THAN YOU KNOW" for DECCA RECORDS.
1944, REPUBLICAN WENDELL WILKIE announced his candidacy in the presidential race.
1947, actor SIDNEY TOLER, who often played "CHARLIE CHAN", died at 72. The same day, fashion-designer CHRISTIAN DIOR launched his "NEW LOOK".
1949, the musical "ANNIE GET YOUR GUN" closed at the IMPERIAL THEATRE in NEW YORK after a run of 1,147 performances.
1952, the prime-time, religious series, "LIFE IS WORTH LIVING", hosted by BISHOP FULTON J. SHEEN, debuted on the DUMONT TELEVISION NETWORK.
1953, the SOVIET UNION severed diplomatic ties with ISRAEL.
1955, PRESIDENT DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER sent the first AMERICAN advisors to SOUTH VIETNAM. The same day, "SINCERELY" by the MCGUIRE SISTERS began its ten-week stay atop the pop-singles charts. The recording was a cover version of the original by the MOONGLOWS.
1956, SCREAMIN' JAY HAWKINS recorded "I PUT A SPELL ON YOU" for OKEH RECORDS.
1957, the COASTERS recorded "SEARCHIN'" and "YOUNG BLOOD" for ATCO RECORDS.
"ENTERTAINER" OPENED |
| 1958, JOHN OSBORNE'S play, "THE ENTERTAINER", starring LAURENCE OLIVIER, opened at the ROYALE THEATRE in NEW YORK for a run of 97 performances. The same day, ARGO RECORDS released the MONOTONES' r&b-classic "BOOK OF LOVE". |
| 1961, the SOVIET UNION launched "VENERA 1", an unmanned space probe, toward VENUS. The same day, SMOKEY ROBINSON AND THE MIRACLES' "SHOP AROUND" became MOTOWN RECORDS first, certified million seller. |
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SOVIETS LAUNCHED "VENERA ONE"
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1962, black patrons began a bus boycott in MACON, GEORGIA.
1964, the BEATLES ("DO YOU8 WANT TO KNOW A SECRET") made their first NEW YORK appearances with two performances at CARNEGIE HALL. The same day, PEGGY FLEMING captured the U-S WOMEN'S FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIP. SCOTT ALLEN won the men's title.
1966, the CYRKLE recorded "RED RUBBER BALL" for COLUMBIA. The same day, the same record company released "HOMEWARD BOUND" by SIMON and GARFUNKEL.
"PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM" OPENED
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1969, WOODY ALLEN'S play, "PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM" opened at the BROADHURST THEATRE in NEW YORK for a run of 453 performances.
1971, retail-entrepreneur J-C PENNEY died at 95. |
1972, the rock-group YES released the single "ROUNDABOUT" on ATLANTIC RECORDS.
1973, NORTH VIETNAM began its first release of AMERICAN prisoners of war. 116 were flown to the PHILIPPINES.
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1975, PALOMAR PICTURES released the film "THE STEPFORD WIVES", starring KATHARINE ROSS, PAULA PRENTISS, PETER MASTERSON, TINA LOUISE, and WILLIAM PRINCE. |
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"STEPFORD WIVES RELEASED
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1976, actor SAL MINEO, 37 ("YOUNG AS WE ARE"), was stabbed to death in WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA.
1977, in the NHL, the TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS shutout the WASHINGTON CAPITALS, 10-0. The same day, the POLICE recorded "FALL OUT", the group's first single.
1978, LINDA FRATIANNE won the U-S WOMEN'S FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIP. CHARLES TICKNER won the men's title.
1982, actor VICTOR JORY died at 79. The same day, UNIVERSAL released the film-drama "MISSING", starring JACK LEMMON and SISSY SPACEK; and, tying an NHL record, WAYNE GRETZKY scored his 153rd point of the season.
1983, songwriter- pianist EUBIE BLAKE ("CHARLESTON RAG") died at 99 in NEW YORK.
PERFECT SCORES FOR
TORVILL AND DEAN [VIDEO]
1984, at the WINTER OLYMPICS, JAYNE TORVILL and CHRISTOPHER DEAN, skating to "BOLERO", received perfect scores and a gold medal. The same day, CALE YARBOROUGH became the first to qualify above 200 miles per hour at the DAYTONA 500.
1985, at CALGARY, the WALES CONFERENCE beat the CAMPBELL CONFERENCE, 6-4, to win the NHL ALL-STAR GAME.
1989, the WEST beat the EAST, 143-134, to win the NBA ALL-STAR GAME. The same day, CHRISTOPHER BOWMAN won the U-S MEN'S FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIP; and singer TINY TIM ("DO OU THINK I'M SEXY?") entered the mayoral race in NEW YORK.
LILLEHAMMER WINTER OLYMPICS OPENED
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1994, the 17TH WINTER OLYMPICS, the first on a different yearly cycle than the summer games, opened in LILLEHAMMER, NORWAY. The same day, model ANNA NICOLE SMITH was hospitalized for a drug overdose.
1995, the WEST beat the EAST, 139-112, in the 45TH NBA ALL-STAR GAME. |
1997, singer DAVID BOWIE ("LET'S DANCE") received his star on HOLLYWOOD'S WALK OF FAME.
1998, four died when fog on an ITALIAN highway caused a 250-car pile-up. The same day in the NFL, CHAN GAILEY became the head coach of the DALLAS COWBOYS; and a federal district court declared the presidential "LINE-ITEM VETO" unconstitutional.
1999, DISNEY released its film-comedy "MY FAVORITE MARTIAN", starring JEFF DANIELS, CHRISTOPHER LLOYD, ELIZABETH HURLEY, DARYL HANNAH, WALLACE SHAWN, and RAY WALSTON. The same day, the U-S SENATE acquitted PRESIDENT CLINTON of obstruction of justice and perjury.
| 2000, "PEANUTS®" cartoonist CHARLES SCHULZ died at 77. The same day, NFL-legend TOM LANDRY, former coach of the DALLAS COWBOYS, died at 75; singer OLIVER (SWOFFORD) ("JEAN") died at 54; and singer SCREAMIN' JAY HAWKINS ("I PUT A SPELL ON YOU") died at 70. |
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CHARLES SCHULZ DIED |
2001, a federal court ruled that the internet-site NAPSTER must prevent its users from swapping copyrighted files. The same day, NASA'S "NEAR SHOEMAKER" spacecraft descended to the surface of EROS -- the first landing on an asteroid.
2002, in THE HAGUE, former YUGOSLAVIAN-leader SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC went on trial for war crimes. The same day, the U-S DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY proposed YUCCA MOUNTAIN in NYE COUNTY, NEVADA, as the location for a nuclear-waste depository.
2003, the UNITED NATIONS nuclear agency, declaring NORTH KOREA in violation international treaties, placed the matter in the hands of the SECURITY COUNCIL.
BARBIE AND KEN BREAK-UP
2004, MATTEL, INC., announced that "BARBIE" and "KEN" had broken up after 43 years of dating bliss.
2005, the outspoken HOWARD DEAN became chairman of the DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE The same day, country-singer SAMMI SMITH ("HELP ME MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT") died at 61 in OKLAHOMA CITY.
2006, a "NOR'EASTER" winter-storm struck the NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES from WASHINGTON, DC, to BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, dumping a record 26.9 inches of snow on NEW YORK CITY.
2007, at the TROLLEY SQUARE MALL in SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, a gunman began random fire that killed five people.
2009, COLGAN "AIR FLIGHT 3407" crashed into a house in BUFFALO, NEW YORK, killing 50 people.
2010, UNIVERSAL PICTURES released a remake the film-classic "THE WOLFMAN", starring SIMON MERRELLS, EMILY BLUNT, and BENICIO DEL TORO.
2011, actress BETTY GARRETT died at 91 in LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.
Preacher COTTON MATHER (1663)
16th-President ABRAHAM LINCOLN (1809)
Naturalist CHARLES DARWIN (1809)
Labor-Leader JOHN L. LEWIS (1880)
General OMAR BRADLEY (1893)
Actor WALLACE FORD (1898)
Radio-TV Host TED MACK (1904)
Singer-Musician TEX BENEKE (1914)
Actor LORNE GREENE (1915)
Actor FORREST TUCKER (1919)
Senator ARLEN SPECTER (1930)
Singer GENE MCDANIELS (1935)
Film-Director FRANCO ZEFFIRELLI is 91
Sportscaster JOE GARAGIOLA is 88
Quiz-Show Winner CHARLES VAN DOREN is 88
NBA-Great BILL RUSSELL is 80
Actor JOE DON BAKER is 78
Race-Car Driver JOHNNY RUTHERFORD is 76
Author JUDY BLUME is 76
Musician RAY MANZAREK of the DOORS is 75
Israeli-Leader EHUD BARAK is 72
Country-Singer MOE BANDY is 70
Actress MAUD ADAMS is 69
Actor CLIFF DE YOUNG is 69
Actor MICHAEL IRONSIDE is 64
Musician STEVE HACKETT of GENESIS is 64
Singer MICHAEL MCDONALD ("KEEP FORGETTIN'") is 62
Actress JOANNA KERNS is 61
Actor ARSENIO HALL is 58
Actress CHRISTINE ELISE is 49
Singer CHYNNA PHILLIPS of WILSON-PHILLIPS is 46
Actor JOSH BROLIN is 46
Musician JIM CREEGGAN of the BARENAKED LADIES is 44
Actress CHRISTINA RICCI is 34
Tennis-Player JUAN CARLOS FERRERO is 34
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