TODAY IS ... 20 DECEMBER
BIRTHDAYS:
1983 - Jonah Hill - an American actor, producer and screenwriter. Hill has had a successful career as an actor in comedy films, and has appeared in Accepted, Grandma's Boy, Evan Almighty, Superbad, Strange Wilderness, Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Funny People.
1952 - Jenny Agutter - Emmy Award-winning actress: The Snow Goose [1971-72]; Logan’s Run, An American Werewolf in London, Child’s Play
1946 - Uri Geller - an Israeli British entertainer well known for his trademark television performances of spoon bending and other physical effects. Geller has throughout the years claimed that he achieves these effects through psychokinesis and telepathy, though critics say they are easily replicated magic tricks.
1932 - John Hillerman - Emmy Award-winning actor: Magnum P.I. [1986-1987]; Hands of a Murderer, Chinatown, Blazing Saddles, Paper Moon, The Last Picture Show
OTHER EVENTS:
2007 - National Treasure: Book of Secrets starring Nicolas Cage, Justin Bartha, Diane Kruger and Helen Mirren starts screening in Australia. Treasure hunter Benjamin Franklin Gates looks to discover the truth behind the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, by uncovering the mystery within the 18 pages missing from assassin John Wilkes Booth's diary.
2007 – The painting Portrait of Suzanne Bloch (1904), by the Spanish artist Pablo Picasso, is stolen from the São Paulo Museum of Art, along with O Lavrador de Café, by the major Brazilian modernist painter Candido Portinari.
2007 - An earthquake of magnitude 6.6 ML hits the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand, causing one death and significant damage in the town of Gisborne.
2001 - Tom Cruise, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz and Kurt Russell star in Vanilla Sky which started screening in Australia. A successful publisher finds his life taking a turn for the surreal after a car accident with a jaded lover.
1999 - Macau reverted to Chinese rule; it had been a Portuguese colony since 1557.
1991 - Oliver Stone's "JFK" opened in the U.S.
1996 - Swedish Riksbank says it will investigate assertions by the World Jewish Congress that looted Nazi gold from Holocaust victims had been deposited in Swedish banks.
1993 - Maldives issues 26 postage stamps depicting scenes from Disney's Peter and the Wolf.
1991 - Archaeologists announce the discovery of a fleet of 5,000 year old Egyptian royal ships buried 13km from the River Nile.
1990 - The Neverending Story II: The Next Chapter starring Jonathan Brandis, Kenny Morrison and Clarissa Burt starts screening in Australia. A young boy with a distant father enters a world of make-believe and magic through a portal within an antique book.
1986 - The Housemartins were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with their version of The Isley Brothers 'Caravan Of Love.' It was only the second a cappella song to be a No.1 hit after 'Only You' by the Flying Pickets.
1986 - The Bangles’ Walk like an Egyptian moved to the top of the "Billboard" "Hot 100". It was #1 for three weeks.
1984 – The Puppets Take Manhattan starts screening in Australia. Kermit and his friends go to New York to get their musical on Broadway only to find it's a more difficult task than they anticipated.
1981 - "Dreamgirls" opens at Imperial Theater New York City for 1522 performances
1975 - Paul Simon’s 50 Ways to leave Your Lover jumped on U.S. singles charts. It hit number one (for three weeks) Feb 7, 1976
1974 – The run of disaster movies continued with Earthquake being released in Australia. Starring Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner and Lorne Greene, Earthquake portrayed various stories of people as an earthquake of un-imaginable magnitude hits Los Angeles.
1974 - George Harrison releases his "Dark Horse" album in the United Kingdom
1972 - Jack Albertson and Sam Levine starred as two retired vaudevillians in Neil Simon’s classic comedy, The Sunshine Boys, which opened at the Broadhurst Theatre in NYC. The play had a run of 538 performances. The movie version later became a box office smash, as well.
1969 - Rolf Harris was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Two Little Boys', (the song was written in 1902). The Christmas No.1 of 1969 and the last No.1 of the 60s. The song stayed at No.1 for six weeks.
1968 - Glen Campbell went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Wichita Lineman'.
1967 - The Hollies' "He Ain't Heavy (He's My Brother)" is released.
1966 – The Beatles record vocal harmonies and bells for use on “When I’m Sixty-Four.”
1963 - The Berlin Wall was opened for the first time. It remained open for the holiday season, but closed again on January 6, 1964. 4,000 people crossed over to visit relatives during this period.
1963 – In this year’s NME poll, the Beatles win Best World Vocal Group and Best British Vocal Group. The Rolling Stones come sixth in the Best British Vocal Group category.
1962 - The Osmonds appeared for the first time on the NBS-TV Andy Williams show. The brothers performed 'I'm A Ding Dong Daddy From Dumas'.
1959 - Emile Ford and the Checkmates were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For.'
1954 - Buick Motor Company signed Jackie Gleason to one of the largest contracts ever entered into with an entertainer. Gleason agreed to produce 78 half-hour shows over a two-year period for $6,142,500.
1952 - Jimmy Boyd reached the #1 spot on the record charts with the Christmas song of the year, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.
1949 - Harry Belafonte had his second session with Capitol Records. Included in the session were Whispering and Farewell to Arms. With eight tunes then recorded and little enthusiasm from record buyers, Capitol decided to part company with Belafonte by not renewing the singer’s contract. He went to RCA Victor in April, 1952
1946 - The Frank Capra film "It's A Wonderful Life" had a preview showing for charity at New York City's Globe Theatre, a day before its "official" world premiere. James Stewart and Donna Reed star in the film.
1946 - Disney's Goofy cartoon Double Dribble, directed by Jack Hannah, is released. The Goofies of P.U. take on the Goofies of U.U. in a crazy full court game of basketball!
1939 - Radio Australia begins overseas shortwave service
1933 - The film "Flying Down to Rio" was first shown in New York.
1932 - Al Jolson recorded April Showers on Brunswick Records.
1929 - James A. DeLacy is given a $500 fine and sentenced to a month in jail for selling the book Lady Chatterly's Lovers by D.H. Lawrence.
1928 - For the first time, a living actress in the United States had a theatre named after her. The Ethel Barrymore Theatre opened in New York City.
1922 - The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was formed when 15 eastern European republics merged to form the USSR.
1920 - An English-born comedian named Leslie Townes Hope became an American citizen. He had lived in the United States since 1908 and became one of the nation’s true ambassadors for show business and charity. We say, “Thanks for the memory,” to Bob Hope.
1919 - Canadian National Railways established (North America's longest, 50,000 KM).
1880 - New York's Broadway became known as the "Great White Way" when it was lighted by electricity.
1803 - The Louisiana Purchase was completed as ownership of the territory was formally transferred from France to the United States during ceremonies in New Orleans. The massive land purchase, nearly doubled the size of the young republic, and was Thomas Jefferson's most notable achievement as President.
Celebrating the Louisiana Purchase
1606 - The Susan Constant, Godspeed and Discovery set sail from London. Their destination: America. Captain Christopher Newport commanded the three tiny ships for the royally chartered Virginia Company. Their landing at Jamestown, VA was the start of the first permanent English settlement in America.
1952 - Jenny Agutter - Emmy Award-winning actress: The Snow Goose [1971-72]; Logan’s Run, An American Werewolf in London, Child’s Play
1946 - Uri Geller - an Israeli British entertainer well known for his trademark television performances of spoon bending and other physical effects. Geller has throughout the years claimed that he achieves these effects through psychokinesis and telepathy, though critics say they are easily replicated magic tricks.
1932 - John Hillerman - Emmy Award-winning actor: Magnum P.I. [1986-1987]; Hands of a Murderer, Chinatown, Blazing Saddles, Paper Moon, The Last Picture Show
OTHER EVENTS:
2007 - National Treasure: Book of Secrets starring Nicolas Cage, Justin Bartha, Diane Kruger and Helen Mirren starts screening in Australia. Treasure hunter Benjamin Franklin Gates looks to discover the truth behind the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, by uncovering the mystery within the 18 pages missing from assassin John Wilkes Booth's diary.
2007 – The painting Portrait of Suzanne Bloch (1904), by the Spanish artist Pablo Picasso, is stolen from the São Paulo Museum of Art, along with O Lavrador de Café, by the major Brazilian modernist painter Candido Portinari.
2007 - An earthquake of magnitude 6.6 ML hits the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand, causing one death and significant damage in the town of Gisborne.
2001 - Tom Cruise, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz and Kurt Russell star in Vanilla Sky which started screening in Australia. A successful publisher finds his life taking a turn for the surreal after a car accident with a jaded lover.
1999 - Macau reverted to Chinese rule; it had been a Portuguese colony since 1557.
1991 - Oliver Stone's "JFK" opened in the U.S.
1996 - Swedish Riksbank says it will investigate assertions by the World Jewish Congress that looted Nazi gold from Holocaust victims had been deposited in Swedish banks.
1993 - Maldives issues 26 postage stamps depicting scenes from Disney's Peter and the Wolf.
1991 - Archaeologists announce the discovery of a fleet of 5,000 year old Egyptian royal ships buried 13km from the River Nile.
1990 - The Neverending Story II: The Next Chapter starring Jonathan Brandis, Kenny Morrison and Clarissa Burt starts screening in Australia. A young boy with a distant father enters a world of make-believe and magic through a portal within an antique book.
1986 - The Housemartins were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with their version of The Isley Brothers 'Caravan Of Love.' It was only the second a cappella song to be a No.1 hit after 'Only You' by the Flying Pickets.
1986 - The Bangles’ Walk like an Egyptian moved to the top of the "Billboard" "Hot 100". It was #1 for three weeks.
1984 – The Puppets Take Manhattan starts screening in Australia. Kermit and his friends go to New York to get their musical on Broadway only to find it's a more difficult task than they anticipated.
1981 - "Dreamgirls" opens at Imperial Theater New York City for 1522 performances
1975 - Paul Simon’s 50 Ways to leave Your Lover jumped on U.S. singles charts. It hit number one (for three weeks) Feb 7, 1976
1974 – The run of disaster movies continued with Earthquake being released in Australia. Starring Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner and Lorne Greene, Earthquake portrayed various stories of people as an earthquake of un-imaginable magnitude hits Los Angeles.
1974 - George Harrison releases his "Dark Horse" album in the United Kingdom
1972 - Jack Albertson and Sam Levine starred as two retired vaudevillians in Neil Simon’s classic comedy, The Sunshine Boys, which opened at the Broadhurst Theatre in NYC. The play had a run of 538 performances. The movie version later became a box office smash, as well.
1969 - Rolf Harris was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Two Little Boys', (the song was written in 1902). The Christmas No.1 of 1969 and the last No.1 of the 60s. The song stayed at No.1 for six weeks.
1968 - Glen Campbell went to No.1 on the US album chart with 'Wichita Lineman'.
1967 - The Hollies' "He Ain't Heavy (He's My Brother)" is released.
1966 – The Beatles record vocal harmonies and bells for use on “When I’m Sixty-Four.”
1963 - The Berlin Wall was opened for the first time. It remained open for the holiday season, but closed again on January 6, 1964. 4,000 people crossed over to visit relatives during this period.
1963 – In this year’s NME poll, the Beatles win Best World Vocal Group and Best British Vocal Group. The Rolling Stones come sixth in the Best British Vocal Group category.
1962 - The Osmonds appeared for the first time on the NBS-TV Andy Williams show. The brothers performed 'I'm A Ding Dong Daddy From Dumas'.
1959 - Emile Ford and the Checkmates were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'What Do You Want To Make Those Eyes At Me For.'
1954 - Buick Motor Company signed Jackie Gleason to one of the largest contracts ever entered into with an entertainer. Gleason agreed to produce 78 half-hour shows over a two-year period for $6,142,500.
1952 - Jimmy Boyd reached the #1 spot on the record charts with the Christmas song of the year, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.
1949 - Harry Belafonte had his second session with Capitol Records. Included in the session were Whispering and Farewell to Arms. With eight tunes then recorded and little enthusiasm from record buyers, Capitol decided to part company with Belafonte by not renewing the singer’s contract. He went to RCA Victor in April, 1952
1946 - The Frank Capra film "It's A Wonderful Life" had a preview showing for charity at New York City's Globe Theatre, a day before its "official" world premiere. James Stewart and Donna Reed star in the film.
1946 - Disney's Goofy cartoon Double Dribble, directed by Jack Hannah, is released. The Goofies of P.U. take on the Goofies of U.U. in a crazy full court game of basketball!
1939 - Radio Australia begins overseas shortwave service
1933 - The film "Flying Down to Rio" was first shown in New York.
1932 - Al Jolson recorded April Showers on Brunswick Records.
1929 - James A. DeLacy is given a $500 fine and sentenced to a month in jail for selling the book Lady Chatterly's Lovers by D.H. Lawrence.
1928 - For the first time, a living actress in the United States had a theatre named after her. The Ethel Barrymore Theatre opened in New York City.
1922 - The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was formed when 15 eastern European republics merged to form the USSR.
1920 - An English-born comedian named Leslie Townes Hope became an American citizen. He had lived in the United States since 1908 and became one of the nation’s true ambassadors for show business and charity. We say, “Thanks for the memory,” to Bob Hope.
1919 - Canadian National Railways established (North America's longest, 50,000 KM).
1880 - New York's Broadway became known as the "Great White Way" when it was lighted by electricity.
1803 - The Louisiana Purchase was completed as ownership of the territory was formally transferred from France to the United States during ceremonies in New Orleans. The massive land purchase, nearly doubled the size of the young republic, and was Thomas Jefferson's most notable achievement as President.
Celebrating the Louisiana Purchase
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