Events in history February 18 1735 - The first opera performed in America, known as either Flora or Hob in the Well, was presented in Charleston, SC. 1908 - U.S. postage stamps in coil form were sold for the very first time. They cost only a penny -- or two... 1922 - Kenesaw Mountain Landis resigned his post as U.S. District Judge in Illinois. He hung up his robe and donned a baseball cap, instead. Judge Landis had been baseball commissioner since 1920 and wanted to devote all of his time to America’s pastime. 1927 - Singer Jessica Dragonette starred on radio’s Cities Service Concerts (sponsored by the oil company of the same name) and literally, “sang her way into radio immortality.” She also sang on the Palmolive Beauty Box Theatre in the 1930s. In 1940 she starred on Pet Milk’s Saturday Nite Serenade. Her many fans referred to her as the “first great voice of the air.” 1930 - Elm Farm Ollie became the first cow to fly in an airplane. Elm Farm Ollie was a Guernsey who took to the air and as a special added attraction, got a milking in flight (mmmmmoooooooo!) while over St. Louis, MO. The milk was sealed in little paper containers and then parachuted over the city. And you thought we were just winging it with this stuff, didn’t you? 1932 - Sonja Henie won her 6th world women’s figure skating title in Montreal, Canada. 1942 - The Mills Brothers waxed one of their three greatest hits. Paper Doll became Decca record #18318. In addition to Paper Doll, the other two classics by the Mills Brothers are: You Always Hurt The One You Love (1944) and Glow Worm (1952). 1949 - Yours Truly Johnny Dollar debuted on CBS radio. The program starred Charles Russell as the insurance investigator with the action-packed expense account. The show was the last of the major, dramatic network programs on radio. Johnny Dollar walked into the radio sunset in 1962. 1953 - The new fad in America was 3-D, as demonstrated in the movie, Bwana Devil. The 3-D feature opened at Loew’s State Theatre in New York City. Arch Oboler directed the movie which starred Robert Stack and the three-dimensional Barbara Britton. 1953 - Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz signed a contract worth $8,000,000 to continue the I Love Lucy TV show through 1955. The deal was the richest contract in television. “Babaloo!” 1960 - The VIIIth Winter Olympic Games were opened in Squaw Valley, California. A lack of snow had prompted organizers to hire Native Americans to do a snow dance, but a deluge of rain was the only result. Snow finally arrived just before the opening ceremonies, which had to be delayed to await the arrival of U.S. Vice-President Richard M. Nixon, who would declare the games open. The storm had held up his flight. 1964 - Any Wednesday opened at the Music Box Theatre in New York City. The play established Gene Hackman as an actor. Don Porter and Sandy Dennis also starred in the show. 1972 - The California Supreme Court declared the death penalty cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the state constitution. 107 inmates were taken off death row. Among those spared by the ruling was Charles Manson. 1973 - The King Biscuit Flower Hour debuted in the U.S. with a live (nationally syndicated) broadcast of Blood Sweat & Tears and the Mahavisnu Orchestra. The program also featured a then unknown Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. 1984 - Reed Larson of Detroit got two assists to become the highest scoring American-born player in the history of the National Hockey League. Larson broke the record (previously held by Tom Williams) by scoring his 432nd point. 1985 - Diver Greg Louganis was recognized as the top amateur athlete in the United States, as he received the James E. Sullivan Award of the Amateur Athletic Union in Indianapolis, IN. Louganis had won double gold at the 1984 Olympic Games. 1997 - Trinity Broadcasting Network, a U.S. Christian TV net, cancelled Pat Boone’s weekly gospel music show after he appeared in black leather and fake tattoos on the American Music Awards show. The network said it received thousands of protest phone calls and letters from its ‘prayer partners’. Boone explained that his garb was designed to promote his album In a Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice Guy. 1998 - Long-time Chicago Cubs broadcaster Harry Caray died at the age of 83; in Rancho Mirage, California. 2000 - Movies opening in the U.S. were: Boiler Room, with Ben Affleck and Vin Diesel; Pitch Black, starring Vin Diesel and Radha Mitchell; and The Whole Nine Yards, with Bruce Willis, Matthew Perry, Natasha Henstridge, Michael Clarke Duncan, Amanda Peet, Rosanna Arquette, Kevin Pollak and Harland Williams.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Feb 2014 16:31:21 +0000