TODAY IS ... 11 NOVEMBER

TODAY IS ... 11 NOVEMBER

BIRTHDAYS: 1974 - Leonardo DiCaprio - has been an international superstar since the box office megahit Titanic (1997, directed by James Cameron). In front of the camera since childhood, his first big role came in 1991, on the television series Growing Pains. As a young movie actor he won critical raves for his role in This Boy's Life (1993, with Robert DeNiro), and an Oscar nomination for What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993, with Johnny Depp). His performance in 1996's Romeo and Juliet proved his bankability as a leading man and heartthrob, and after the success of Titanic (with Kate Winslet), DiCaprio became a favorite of the tabloids, with a party-boy reputation. He kept on working, however, and has since grown into one of Hollywood's top movie actors.

Leonardo DiCaprio

1964 - Calista Flockhart – American actress who suddenly entered the celebrity spotlight with her portrayal of the title character in Ally McBeal (1997–2002), an insecure but effective lawyer, a role that became a sensation and a touchstone for popular debate about modern femininity. Ironically, Flockhart had resisted television roles for years, laboring in relative obscurity on Broadway before her eye-opening turn as the bride-to-be in The Birdcage (1996)

Calista Flockhart

1962 - James Morrison, is an Australian jazz musician who plays numerous instruments, but is best known for his trumpet playing. He is a multi-instrumentalist, having performed on the clarinet, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, flugelhorn, bass flugelhorn, trombone, euphonium, tuba and piano. He is also a composer, writing jazz charts for ensembles of various sizes and proficiency levels. He performed the opening fanfare at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

1962 - Demi Moore - After minor roles in film, and a role in the television drama series, General Hospital, Moore established her career in films such as St. Elmo's Fire (1985) and Ghost (1990), and in the early 1990s became one of the highest paid actresses in Hollywood following her successes in A Few Good Men (1992), Indecent Proposal (1993) and Disclosure (1994).

Demi Moore

1960 – Stanley Tucci – An American actor whose film debut was in Prizzi's Honor (1985). Tucci is known for his work in films such as The Pelican Brief, Kiss of Death, Road to Perdition, and Big Night, and in the television series Murder One as the mysterious Richard Cross. Big Night (1996), which he co-wrote with his cousin Joseph Tropiano, starred in, and co-directed with Campbell Scott, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. The film also featured his sister Christine and mother, who wrote a cookbook for the film. It won him and Tropiano the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay.

Stanley Tucci

1947 - Rodney Marsh, Australian cricketer, nicknamed Iron Gloves.

Rodney Marsh

OTHER EVENTS:

2008 - The RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) set sail on her final voyage to Dubai.

RMS Queen Elizabeth 2

2005 – Billy Joel announces his return to the road as a solo headlining artist for the first time in nearly eight years. 2003 – Madonna publishes her second children’s book, Mr. Peabody’s Apples. She celebrates the event by reading to second grade students at a private school in Montclair, New Jersey.

2001 - Westlife went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Queen Of My Heart.' The Irish boy bands 9th No.1 equaled the tally of the Spice Girls and Abba. 1999 – Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, Meatloaf and Helen Bonham Carter starred in The Fight Club which started screening in Australia. An office employee and a soap salesman build a global organization to help vent male aggression.

1994 - Bill Gates buys Leonardo da Vinci's "Codex" for $30,800,000

A Page from da Vinci’s Dodex

1992 - The Disney animated feature Aladdin - featuring the voice of Robin Williams and the song "Whole New World" - has its world premiere.About a street-smart young thief in the mythical city of Agrabah who meets and falls in love with the Sultan'sbeautiful daughter named Jasmine, it will become the highest-grossing animated film up to that time. Aladdin will win Academy Awards for Best Song - "A Whole New World" and Best Original Score.) 1989 - Lisa Stansfield was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'All Around The World'. The British singers debut solo single was a No.1 hit in 11 other countries and a No.3 hit in the US. 1987 - Vincent Van Gogh's "Irises" was sold for a then record 53.9 million dollars in New York.

Vincent Van Gogh's "Irises"

1985 – After 18 years and several name changes, the group Starship scores its first No. 1 hit with “We Built This City,” a song originally written by Martin Page for his band QFeel. 1978 - David Bowie played the first night of his 8-date Low / Heroes tour of Australia and New Zealand at The Oval in Adelaide. This was Bowies first ever show in Australia. 1978 – No. 1 on the soul chart today is Chaka Khan’s “I’m Every Woman.” No. 1 on the pop chart is Donna Summer’s epic take on “MacArthur Park.” It stays at No. 1 for three weeks. 1978 - The Cars released the first picture-disc single commercially available, 'My Best Friend's Girl' which made No.3 in the UK charts.

The Cars picture disc

1977 - During an Australian tour Fleetwood Mac appeared at the RAS Sydney Showgrounds. Also on the bill, Santana, Little River Band and The Kevin Borich Express. 1971- Disney's Bedknobs and Broomsticks opens at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

1967 - The Supremes' "In And Out Of Love" is released. 1964 - Elvis Presley's movie "Roustabout" is released 1962 - Frank Ifield was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Lovesick Blues', the singers second UK No.1 1958 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: ``Tom Dooley,'' The Kingston Trio. The song is a century-old Blue Ridge Mountains tune originally called ``Tom Dula.'' 1957 - Buddy Holly's "Peggy Sue" is released in the US. 1955 - Elvis Presley was voted the most promising new country & western artist by Billboard magazine. 1954 - Bill Haley scored his first US Top ten single with 'Shake Rattle And Roll'. He had dropped his cowboy image about a year and a half earlier, while renaming The Saddlemen to Bill Haley and His Comets. The song became the theme song for the Springfield Indians of the American Hockey League. ‘Shake, Rattle and Roll’ was originally made popular by Big Joe Turner. 1940 - The Willys-Overland Company came out with a four-wheel drive vehicle for the U.S. Army, named "jeep" after GP, or "general purpose."

Willy’s Jeep

1940 - The chant, “invovo legem magicarum,” was heard for the first time when "Mandrake the Magician" debuted on WOR radio in New York City. 1937 - The final animation is completed for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - which is scheduled to open in a little more than a month! 1920 - The body of an unknown British soldier was buried in Westminster Abbey. The service was recorded with the first electronic recording process developed by Lionel Guest and H.O. Merriman.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Westminster Abbey

1918 - Today is Remembrance Day, marking the end of World War 1, in 1918. 1620 - The Mayflower Compact was signed by the 41 men on the Mayflower when they landed in what is now Provincetown Harbor near Cape Cod. The compact called for "just and equal laws.