TODAY IS ... 8 FEBRUARY

TODAY IS ...

8 FEBRUARY

BIRTHDAYS –

1980 - Ralf Little is an English actor, writer and semi-professional footballer, working mainly on television. He is perhaps best known for playing Antony Royle, the son in the series The Royle Family, Jonny Keogh in the first six series of sitcom Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps and Danny in Massive.

1974 - Seth Green is an American actor, comedian, voice actor, and television producer who is well known for his role as Daniel "Oz" Osbourne in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as well as Doctor Evil's son Scott in the Austin Powers series of comedy films and Mitch Miller in That '70s Show.

1969 - Mary McCormack is an American actress whose television roles include Deputy National Security Adviser Kate Harper in The West Wing and Mary Shannon in In Plain Sight.

1968 - Gary Coleman is an American actor, best known for his role as Arnold Jackson in the American sitcom Diff'rent Strokes (1978–1986)

1955 - John Grisham is an American author, best known for his popular legal thrillers. Before becoming a writer, he was a successful lawyer and politician. As of 2008, his books have sold over 250 million copies worldwide.

1941 - Nick Nolte is an American actor, film producer and former model. Nick’s first major film role was in 1977's The Deep starring opposite Jacqueline Bisset and Robert Shaw. This was followed by Who'll Stop the Rain in 1978 and North Dallas Forty, based on the Peter Gent novel, in 1979. The buddy cop/convict film 48 Hrs. (1982) would strongly bolster his film career and make his co-star Eddie Murphy a box-office sensation.

1932 - John Williams is an American composer, conductor, and pianist. In a career that spans six decades, Williams has composed many of the most famous film scores in Hollywood history, including Star Wars, Superman, Home Alone, the first three Harry Potter movies and all but two of Steven Spielberg's feature films including the Indiana Jones series, Schindler's List, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Jurassic Park and Jaws. He also composed the soundtrack for the hit 1960s television series Lost in Space as well as the fanfare of the DreamWorks Pictures' logo.

1931 - James Dean was an American film actor. Dean's status as a cultural icon is best embodied in the title of his most celebrated film, Rebel Without a Cause, in which he starred as troubled Los Angeles teenager Jim Stark. Two other roles that defined his star were as loner Cal Trask in East of Eden, and as the surly farmer Jett Rink in Giant. His enduring fame and popularity rests on only these three films, his entire output in a starring role. His death at an early age cemented his legendary status

1928 - Jack Larson is an American actor, librettist, screenwriter and producer best known for his portrayal of Jimmy Olsen in the TV series Adventures of Superman.

1925 - Jack Lemmon was an American actor. He starred in more than 60 films including Some Like It Hot, The Apartment, Mister Roberts, Days of Wine and Roses, The Great Race, Irma la Douce, The Odd Couple, Save the Tiger, The Out-of-Towners, The China Syndrome, Missing, Glengarry Glen Ross, Grumpy Old Men and Grumpier Old Men.

1921 - Lana Turner was an American actress who was discovered and signed to a film contract by MGM at the age of sixteen, Turner first attracted attention in They Won't Forget (1937). She played featured roles, often as the ingenue, in such films as Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938). During the early 1940s she established herself as a leading actress in such films as Johnny Eager (1941), Ziegfeld Girl (1941) and Somewhere I'll Find You (1942), and her reputation as a glamorous femme fatale was enhanced by her performance in the film noir The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946). Her popularity continued through the 1950s, in such films as The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) and Peyton Place (1957), for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress.

1894 - King Vidor was an acclaimed American film director whose career spanned nearly seven decades. In 1979 he was awarded an Honorary Academy Award for his "incomparable achievements as a cinematic creator and innovator."[1] He was nominated 5 times for Best Director, and won 8 international film awards during his career.

OTHER EVENTS –

2009 - At the 62nd British Academy Film Awards, Wall-E wins for Best Animated Film.

2007 – Starring Ryan Reynolds, Ray Liotta, Alex Rocco and a cameo role from Wayne Newton, Smokin' Aces starts screening in Australia. When a Las Vegas performer-turned-snitch named Buddy Israel decides to turn state's evidence and testify against the mob, it seems that a whole lot of people would like to make sure he's no longer breathing

2006 – U2 cruises by leading contenders Mariah Carey and Kanye West to win five awards at the 48th annual Grammy Awards. The band surprises many by winning album of the year and rock album of the year for “How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb” as well as song of the year and best rock performance by a duo or group with vocal for Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own. The veteran Irish rock act’s other trophy comes for “City of Blinding Lights” (best rock song).

2006 – Music legend Sly Stone makes his first major public appearance since his 1993 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.

2006 - MotorWeek magazine awards the Corvette Z06 its Drivers' Choice Award at the Chicago Auto Show.

2006 - Kelly Clarkson won two Grammys. The awards were for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for "Since U Been Gone" and Best Pop Vocal Album for "Breakaway". She was the first "American Idol" participant to win a grammy. She also performed "Because of You" at the show.

2005 – Kylie Minogue was voted the world’s sexiest woman in her 30’s by UK magazine Good Housekeeping. Sade was voted No.4 in the over 40’s with Madonna coming in at No.7 and Jerry Hall at No.8. And Sharon Osbourne was voted into 3rd place in the over 50’s section.

2004 - Beyonce won five Grammy Awards, tying the record for female performers held by Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keyes and Norah Jones.

2004 - 46th Grammy Awards, Coldplay, Outkast, Richard Marx, Luther Vandross, Christina Aguilera and Justin Timberlake win major awards

2001 - The Legend of Bagger Vance starring Will Smith, Matt Damon and Charlize Theron commenced screening in Australia. A down-and-out golfer attempts to recover his game and his life with help from a mystical caddy.

1998 – Winners at this years Brit Awards included Finley Quaye who won Best British Male Solo Artist, Best British Female Solo Artist went to Shola Ama, The Verve won British Group and Best British Album for ‘Urban Hymns’, British Dance Act went to The Prodigy, British Breakthrough Act was Stereophonics, Best Selling British Album Act was The Spice Girls, International Male, Jon Bon Jovi, International Female, Bjork, International Group, U2 and Outstanding Contribution went to Fleetwood Mac.

1997 – Reef went to No.1 on the UK album charts with their debut album ‘Glow.’

1996 - To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar starring Wesley Snipes, Patrick Swayze, John Leguizamo and Stockard Channing started screening in Australia. Three drag queens travel cross-country until their car breaks down, leaving them stranded in a small town.

1993 - Tom Jones guest stars on an episode of NBC's The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air.

1993 - General Motors sues NBC after Dateline NBC allegedly rigs two crashes intended to demonstrate that some GM pickups can easily catch fire if hit in certain places. NBC settles the lawsuit the next day.

1992 – Wet Wet Wet scored their second UK No.1 album with ‘High On The Happy Side.’

1992 - The single by R*S*F (Right Said Fred), I’m Too Sexy, was #1 in the U.S. It was a smash, staying at number one for three weeks, then dropping to number two for three more.

1992 - The XVIth Winter Olympic Games opened in Albertville, France. The games ran through Feb 23 and included 64 countries with 1801 athletes, 488 of whom were women.

1991 - US Chart Toppers - The First Time – Surface ; Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now) - C & C Music Factory  featuring Freedom; WilliamsPlay that Funky Music - Vanilla Ice ; Daddy’s Come Around - Paul Overstreet

1986 - INXS debut on UK LP chart with Listen Like Thieves.

1986 - Billy Olson, who actually claimed that he was afraid of heights, broke an indoor pole vault record for the seventh time in four months. He vaulted 19 feet, 5-1/2 inches.

1986 – Billy Ocean: When the going Gets Tough UK 45  No. 1 Chart Topper.

1985 - The Dukes of Hazzard ended its 6-1/2 year run on CBS television. The series was credited with using more stunt men than any other TV series in history. The show had used as many as eight cars per episode when the crash sequences got complicated. Waylon Jennings did the theme song, The Dukes of Hazzard (Good Ol’ Boys).

1984 - The Winter Olympics opened in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia (now Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina). Some 1,579 athletes from 50 nations participated. The Olympic facilities have since been all but destroyed by the war in Bosnia.

1983 – Winners at the second annual Brit Awards held in London included Paul McCartney who won Best British Male Solo Artist, Kim Wilde won Best British Female Solo Artist, Dire Straits won British Group, British Breakthrough Act went to Yazoo, International Act was Kid Creole & The Coconuts, Best Selling Single Dexy’s Midnight Runners “Come On Eileen” and the Life Achievement Award went to Pete Townshend.

1983 - US Chart Toppers - Africa – Toto ; Baby, Come to Me - Patti Austin with James Ingram ; Shame on the Moon - Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band ; Inside - Ronnie Milsap

1982 - Cher makes her Broadway debut in Come Back To The Five And Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean.

1981 - "Brigadoon" closes at Majestic Theater New York City after 133 performances

1980 - Elliott Gould, Cybill Shepherd and Angela Lansbury starred in The Lady Vanishes which commenced screening in Australia. While traveling in pre-war Nazi Germany, a young couple realize that a passenger seems to have been kidnapped from their train.

1975 - US Chart Toppers - Fire - Ohio Players ; You’re No Good ; Boogie on Reggae Woman - Stevie Wonder ; Then Who Am I - Charley Pride

1975 – The Ohio Players went to No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘Fire’, the groups first of two US No.1’s.

1975 - Queen's single "Killer Queen" was released. It was their first hit single.

1975 – Bob Dylan went to No.1 on the US album chart with ‘Blood On The Tracks’ his second US No.1 album.

 

1974 - The three-man crew of the NASA space station, Skylab, return to Earth after completing a lengthy 84-day mission.

1974 - Soap opera "The Secret Storm" ends a 20 year run

1973 - Carly Simon's "You're So Vain" is certified gold

1971 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “One Bad Apple,” The Osmonds.

1969 - The last issue of the Saturday Evening Post was published, ending a magazine tradition that began in 1821.

1969 – ‘TBC’ by The Supremes with Temptations went to No.1 on the US album chart.

1967- Georgy Girl by the Seekers goes to #1 in pop charts.

1967 - US Chart Toppers - I’m a Believer - The Monkees ; Georgy Girl - The Seekers ; Kind of a Drag - The Buckinghams ; There Goes My Everything - Jack Greene

1966- The Vatican closed it’s office of censorship.

1965 - The Supremes' "Stop in the Name Of Love" was released

1965 - Julie Andrews receives a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Actress - Musical/Comedy for her role in Disney's Mary Poppins.

1965 - Dave Clark Five begin filming their movie Catch Us if You Can.

1964 - Songs released today include the Temptations' "The Way You Do the Things You Do" on Motown, the Beach Boys' "Fun, Fun Fun" is out on Capitol and the album "Beatlemania in the USA!" by the Liverpools is released on Wyngate Records

1964 - Representative Martha Griffiths address gets civil rights protection for women being added to the 1964 Civil Rights Act

1964 - Peter Shaffer's "Royal Hunt of the Sun," premieres in London

1964 - In response to the public uproar over the "pornographic" nature of the Kingsmen's "Louie Louie," Max Firetag, the song's publisher, offers $1,000 to anyone who can find anything suggestive in the lyrics.

1961 – No. 1 Chart Toppers Pop Hit: “Calcutta,” Lawrence Welk. Welk and his orchestra – which includes a harpsichord – record the song in one take.

1960 - The infamous disc jockey "payola" hearings begin in Washington, DC. The House of Representatives' Special Subcommittee on Legislative Oversight calls many famous radio DJs and rock artists -- most notably Alan Freed, Dick Clark, Bobby Darin, and Les Paul -- to defend themselves against allegations of illegal money and gifts given to secure airplay or television appearances.

Alan Freed

1960 - Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom issued an Order-in-Council, stating that she and her family would be known as the House of Windsor, and that her descendants will take the name "Mountbatten-Windsor".

1959  - US Chart Toppers - Smoke Gets in Your Eyes - The Platters ; The All American Boy - Bill Parsons ; Stagger Lee - Lloyd Price ; Billy Bayou - Jim Reeves

1958 - The Quarrymen perform at the Wilson Hall in the Garston section of Liverpool, England. Afterwards, member Paul McCartney introduces his friend George Harrison to John Lennon.

1956 - Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers' "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" and the Teen Queens' "Eddie, My Love" enter the R&B chart.

1956 - Buddy Holley signs a recording contract with Decca Records, one which mistakenly drops the "e" from his last name. Buddy, knowing a good thing when he sees it, drops the letter from his name as well.

1952 - New Queen proclaimed for UK - Princess Elizabeth has formally proclaimed herself Queen and Head of the Commonwealth and Defender of the Faith.

1952 – The West Point Story starring James Cagney, Virginia Mayo, Doris Day and Gordon MacRae commenced screening in Australia. A Broadway director helps the West Point cadets put on a show, aided by two lovely ladies and assorted complications.

1952 – The Disney 8-minute animated short Lambert, the Sheepish Lion, featuring the narration of Sterling Holloway, is released. Lambert, a lion that is mistakenly left with a flock of sheep by a stork, lives his life thinking he is a sheep - until he is forced to defend the flock from an attack by a wolf! The short will win an Oscar for Best Animation.

1951 - US Chart Toppers - My Heart Cries for You - Guy Mitchell ; Tennessee Waltz - Patti Page ; If - Perry Como ; There’s Been a Change in Me - Eddy Arnold

1948 - 5th Winter Olympics games close at St Moritz, Switzerland

1943 - The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominates the film Bambi for an Oscar Award in the category Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture.

1943 - The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominates the song "Love is a Song" from the film Bambi for an Oscar Award in the category Music, Best Song.

1943 - The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominates the film Der Fuehrer's Face for an Oscar Award in the category Short Subjects, Cartoons.

1943 - The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominates the film The Grain that Built a Hemisphere for an Oscar Award in the category Short Subjects, Documentary.

1943 - The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominates the film The New Spirit for an Oscar Award in the category Short Subjects, Documentary.

1936 - In England, Odhams Press first publishes Mickey Mouse Weekly. 375,000 copies of the first issue are sold.

1932 - Disney completes the Mickey Mouse film The Grocery Boy. Pluto and Minnie Mouse also appear.

1930 - "Happy Days Are Here Again" by Benny Mereoff hits #1

1928- Englishman John Logie Baird transmitted a still television image across the Atlantic from England to Hartsdale New York. It was a still image of a woman. Baird was one of the fathers of Television with Vladimir Zworkin, Lee DeForrest and Deutches Telefunken.

1927 - The original version of the motion picture, Getting Gertie’s Garter, opened at the Hippodrome Theatre in New York City. The movie centered on a young lawyer who, believe it or not, didn’t know the difference between a bracelet and a garter.

1926 - Walt Disney Studios is formed

1920 - Swiss men vote against women's suffrage

1915 - The Birth of a Nation, D.W. Griffith's silent movie Civil War epic, premieres in Los Angeles .

1893- At Paris's famed Moulin Rouge an artist's model named Mona decided to get an edge in a beauty contest judged by art students by disrobing to music while walking up and down the stage. She was arrested and fined 100 francs and the students rioted over her arrest.

HOLIDAYS AND OBSERVANCES

•  Slovenia – Prešeren Day, the Slovenian cultural holiday.

•  Nirvana Day – an annual Buddhist festival.

•  Japan: Ha-Ri-Ku-Yo (Needle Mass).

•  Boy Scouts of America – Scout Sunday; The Sunday preceding February 8 is designated as Scout Sunday and the following Saturday is designated as Scout Sabbath.

Catholic Traditions

• Saint Jerome Emiliani
  Saint Juventius
  Saint Meingold of Huy
  Saint Stephen of Muret
  St. John of Matha
  St. Cuthman
  St. Elfleda
  St. Nicetius or Nizier of Besançon

Eastern Orthodox Liturgies

• 
  Great martyr Theodore Stratelates "the General" (319) 
  Prophet Zechariah (520 BC) 
  Saint Sabbas II, Archbishop of Serbia (1268) 
  Martyr Nicephorus 
  Martyr Stephen 
  Martyr Philadelphus 
  Martyr Polycarp 
  Saint Macarius of Paphus, bishop 
  Saint Pergetus