Epic Idiot's what happened
On This Day

February 9

1972
Paul McCartney and Wings: The ex-Beatle and his new group make their debut performance at Nottingham University, England.

1964
The Beatles: The Fab Four make their first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. It was watched by 73.7 million people.

1950
Joseph McCarthy launches his anti-Red campaign when he addresses a Republican Women's Club telling them that members of the Communist Party are working in the State Department.

1926
Evolution: Teaching of Darwin's theory of evolution in public schools is banned by Atlanta's Board of Education.

1909
First U.S. federal narcotics prohibition: The importation and smoking of opium is banned. The law went into effect on April 1.

1870
U.S. National Weather Service: Congress establishes the agency as a division of the U.S. Army.

1865
Civil War: Gen. Robert E. Lee assumes command of the Confederate armies. (Source: The Civil War Day by Day)

1864
Pres. Lincoln poses for the picture that now appears on the five dollar bill.

1861
Civil War: Jefferson Davis is unanimously elected provisional president of the Confederate States of America. (Source: The Civil War Day by Day)

1825
Presidential election: John Quincy Adams is chosen president of the U.S. by the House of Representatives. Even though Andrew Jackson had received more electoral votes (99-84), he didn't have the necessary majority; therefore the House was allowed to choose.

1775
American Revolution: The British Parliament declares the Massachusetts Colony to be in a state of rebellion.

1690
King William's War: French and Indian forces burn Schenectady, New York.

1949
Judith Light, American Emmy-winning actress. TV: One Life to Live (Karen Wolek) and Who's the Boss? (Angela).

1945
Mia Farrow, American actress. Film: Rosemary's Baby (1968, Rosemary). TV: Peyton Place (Allison MacKenzie).

1944
Alice Walker, American Pulitzer-winning author, "womanist." Writings: The Color Purple (Pulitzer).

1943
Joe Pesci, American actor. Film: Raging Bull (1980), Once Upon a Time in America (1984), and Home Alone (1990).

1941
Carole King (Carole Klein), American Grammy-winning singer. Music: It's Too Late (1971, #1).

1939
Barry Mann, American songwriter, teamed with Cynthia Weil. Over 150 million copies of their songs have been sold. Music: On Broadway (Drifters), You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling (Righteous Brothers), and Here You Come Again (Dolly Parton).

1928
Roger Mudd, American Emmy-winning TV newscaster.

1922
Kathryn Grayson (Zelma Hedrick), American actress, star of many MGM musicals of the 1940s and '50s.

1914     d. 1984
Ernest Tubb, American country music Hall of Famer. Music: I'm Walkin' the Floor Over You (1942) and Goodnight, Irene (1950, #1).

1909     d. 1986
Heather Angel, British actress. TV: Family Affair (Miss Faversham).

1909     d. 1955
Carmen Miranda (Maria do Carmo Miranda Da Cunha), Portuguese-born Brazilian dancer, actress, the "Brazilian Bombshell," known for her fruit-bearing headgear. She was the highest-paid performer of the 40s. She also experienced a famous wardrobe malfunction that exposed her pubic area.

1773     d. 1841
William Henry Harrison, 9th U.S. President (Mar. 4 - Apr. 4, 1841). He died of pneumonia 31 days after taking office, making him the first U.S. president to die in office.

1984     b. 1914
Yuri Vladimirovich Andropov, Soviet leader.

1981     b. 1925
Bill Haley, American rock 'n' roll pioneer. Music: Rock Around the Clock (1954, #1).

1969     b. 1885
Gabby Hayes (George Hayes), American western actor. Film: Hopalong Cassidy films (Windy).

1966     b. 1884
Sophie Tucker (Sophie Kalish-Abuza), Polish-born American cabaret singer. Music: I'm The Last Of The Red Hot Mamas (1929, It became her billing for the rest of her life).

1881     b. 1821
Fëodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky, Russian author. Writings: Crime and Punishment (1866) and The Brothers Karamazov (1880).

249     b. ????
Saint Apollonia, patron saint of dentists and people with toothaches. After having her teeth beaten out for refusing to renounce her faith, she leapt to her death in a fire.

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