“February 4”
Contributed by Pearleen Ang
“BORN TODAY”
- Rosa Parks (RIP)
- Ida Lupino (RIP)
- William Phipps (95)
- Conrad Bain (RIP)
- Alice Cooper (69)
- Michael Beck (68)
- Clint Black (55)
- Jim O’Heir (55)
- Gabriella Anwar (47)
- Rob Corddry (46)
- Oscar Dela Hoya (44)
- Bug Hall (32)
- Jeff Dye (34)
- Kimberly Wyatt (35)
- Gavin DeGraw (40)
- Cam’ron (41)
- Jeff Schroeder (43)
- Dan Quayle (70)
- George A. Romero (77)
- Jerry Adler (88)
“DIED TODAY”
- Karen Carpenter (RIP) Born: March 2, 1950 / Died: February 4, 1983.
“MOVIES TODAY”
- 1938 – The animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was released and had major success in the box-office, making more money than any other motion picture up till that point .
- 1976 – Next Stop, Greenwich Village – A drama film, set in the early 1950s, written and directed by Paul Mazursky, featuring, amongst others, Lenny Baker, Shelley Winters, Ellen Greene, Lois Smith, and Christopher Walken. The film was generally well received by critics.
- 1983 – Videodrome – a 1983 Canadian science fiction film written and directed by David Cronenberg, starring James Woods, Sonja Smits, and Deborah Harry.
- 1983 – Without a Trace – A 1983 dramatic film. It is based on the novel Still Missing by Beth Gutcheon. The film stars Kate Nelligan, Judd Hirsch, David Dukes and Stockard Channing.
- 1994 – Ace Ventura: Pet Detective – A goofy detective (Jim Carrey) specializing in animals goes in search of a missing dolphin mascot of a football team
- 1994 – I’ll Do Anything – It is an American dramedy film written and directed by James L. Brooks. Its primary plot concerns a down-on-his-luck actor who suddenly finds himself the sole caretaker of his six-year-old daughter.
- 1994 – My Father the Hero – It is English language remake of the 1991 French film Mon père, ce héros. The remake was directed by Steve Miner and released by Touchstone Pictures.
“MUSIC TODAY”
- 1959 – Frankie Avalon and Jimmy Clanton took over headlining the Winter Dance Party after the death of Buddy Holly.
- 1963 – The Beach Boys released the single “Surfin’ U.S.A.” #1
- 1963 – Ruby & the Romantics released the single “Our Day Will Come”.
- 1967 – “I’m A Believer” by the Monkees, one of The Top 100 Songs of the 1960’s*, as well as one of The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era*, spent a sixth week at #1.
- 1971 – Diana Ross guest starred on Danny Thomas’ “Make Room For Granddaddy” TV show.
- 1974 – Elton John released his new single “Bennie & The Jets”.
- 1977 – Fleetwood Mac’s second album, “Rumours,” was released.
- 1978 – ABBA achieved their third #1 album in the U.K. with their release entitled The Album.
- 1978 – Neil Diamond posted his fifth #1 on the Adult chart with “Desiree”.
- 1978 – The Bee Gees’ “Staying Alive” hits #1
- 1978 – Rita Coolidge had one of the hottest songs as her remake of “The Way You Do The Things You Do” moved from 58 to 38.
- 1980 – The Eagles released the single “I Can’t Tell You Why”.
- 1984 – Christopher Cross enjoyed his third #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart since 1980 with “Think Of Laura”.
- 1984 – Culture Club moved to #1 with “Karma Chameleon”, unseating Yes with “Owner Of A Lonely Heart”.
- 1984 – Michael Jackson spent a 26th week at #1 on the album chart with Thriller, just five short of the Rock Era record of 31 set by Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours.
- 1986 – Janet Jackson released her third but what would prove to be her breakthrough album–Control.
- 1989 – Steve Winwood reached #1 on the AC chart with “Holding On”.
- 1989 – Edie Brickell & the New Bohemians’ eclectic album Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars moved into the Top 10.
- 1989 – One of The Top 100 Songs of the 1980’s*, “When I’m With You” by Sheriff, was #1 with Paula Abdul chasing from behind with “Straight Up”.
- 1989 – “When I’m With You” was released in 1982 and hit No. 1 in
- 1991 – Londonbeat released the awesome single “I’ve Been Thinking About You”.
- 1995 – Celine Dion went to #1 in the U.K. with “Think Twice”, a song that would remain at the top for seven weeks and would go on to win the Ivor Novello Award for Song of the Year.
- 1995 – The incredible TLC enjoyed a ninth week at #1 on the R&B chart with “Creep”, one of The Top R&B Songs of the 1990’s*.
- 1995 – Pam Tillis earns her first #1 single in Billboard with “Mi Vida Loca (My Crazy Life)”
“TV/RADIO TODAY”
- 1956 – Elvis Presley appears again on CBS’ Dorsey Brothers Stage Show, performing “Baby, Let’s Play House” and “Tutti Frutti.”
- 1962 – The NBC-TV series Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color airs “Fantasy on Skis.”
- 1977 – It’s Showtime Day on The New Mickey Mouse Club. Multi-talented musician Scotty Plummer from San Francisco performs.
- 1977 – ABC’s American Bandstand rock show celebrates its 25th anniversary on the air with a primetime special.
- 1979 – The Wonderful World of Disney airs part 2 of “Shadow of Fear.”
- 1990 – The Disney television series airs the episode Disneyland’s 35th Anniversary Celebration. The special – presented in a series of sketches – features Tony Danza, Michael Eisner, Charles Fleischer, Kelsey Grammar, Woody Harrelson, and Frank Oz
- 1991 – “Cher at the Mirage” aired on CBS-TV.
- 1985 – Glenn Frey (Eagles) appeared on an episode of “Miami Vice” on NBC-TV.
- 2002 – Stevie Wonder sang “Happy Birthday” to Rosa Parks for her 89th at the premiere of the television movie Ride to Freedom: The Rosa Parks Story.
“OTHER IMPORTANT EVENTS…”
- 1959 – Today was the first day of the invention of the Barbie Doll. This doll was created by Ruth Handler, who was one of the founders of the Mattel Company. Barbie was named after Ruth’s daughter. Later on, when the Ken doll was made, it was named after Ruth’s son.
- 1974 – Newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst was kidnapped in Berkeley, Calif., by the Symbionese Liberation Army.
- 1984 – At EPCOT Center, Backstage Magic opens in Communicore East in Future World. Replacing the Astuter Revue, Backstage Magic features computer operator Julie and her graphic sidekick, I/O (Input/Output). It demonstrates the process of operating the Audio-Animatronics found throughout the Disney parks. (The show will run through 1993.)
- 1997 – A civil jury panel in Santa Monica, California had determined that O.J. Simpson was guilty of the deaths of both his ex-wife Nicole Brown-Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. He had originally been acquitted in the year 1995.