23rd November 2008

(day 327, 39 remaining) (LY 328/39)

Religious events today...

Feast day of St Clement I, pope
St Alexander, prince,
St Columbanus,
St Amphilochius,
St Trudo or Trond,
St Gregory of Girgenti,
and St Felicitas.

History Test for November 23rd

Who resigned as the manager of the England football team today in 1993? -Graham Taylor

Who was the Flemish impostor and pretender to the English throne, hanged today in 1499? -Perkin Warbeck

Which horror film star was born William Henry Pratt today in 1887? -Boris Karloff

Children's author Roald Dahl died today in 1990. 'The B.F.G.' is the title of one of his stories. What do the initials stand for? -`Big Friendly Giant'

Born today in 1934, Australian Lew Hoad was a champion in which sport? -Tennis

Events today...

1499 Perkin Warbeck, a Flemish-born imposter who claimed to be the Duke of York, presumed killed with his brother Edward V in 1483, was hanged after two unsuccessful attempts to escape from the Tower of London.

1670 Molière’s satirical play Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme was premiered in Paris.

1852 Britain’s first pillarboxes were intruduced today at points in St. Helier on Jersey. They were green.

1889 The world’s first jukebox was unveiled in the Palais Royal Saloon in San Francisco by Mr. Louis Glass, General Manager of the Pacific Phonograph Company.

1897 The pencil sharpener was patented by J. L. Love

1906 Italian operatic tenor Enrico Caruso was fined $10 for sexual harassment.

1910 Death of Dr Hawley Harvey Crippen, US murderer, executed.

1921 US President Warren Harding banned doctors from prescribing beer, eliminating a loophole in the prohibition law.

1934 Death of Arthur Pinero, British dramatist.

1941 Death of P. C. Wren, British novelist.

1943 "BFBS" (British Forces Broadcasting Service) began broadcasting.

1956 Petrol was rationed in Britain and driving tests were suspended as a response the Suez crisis which threatened oil supplies.

1960 "The Magnificent Seven" received its premiere.

1963 The BBC premiered a new sci-fi TV show called Dr. Who, telling of the adventures of the eponymous Doctor, one of the Time Lords, and his struggle against implacable enemies, gravel-voiced robots called Daleks. The first episode starred William Hartnell as Dr Who and Anna Ford as his female companion.

1964 The Rolling Stones were banned by the BBC from recording sessions after they turned up late for two different shows.

1968 Singer Tammy Wynette topped the country music charts with her song "Stand by Your Man".

1973 Death of Sessue Hayakawa, (aged 83) Japanese actor 'Bridge over River Kwai'

1976 Death of André Malraux, French novelist.

1979 IRA bomber Thomas McMahon received a life sentence for the murder of Lord Mountbatten.

1979 Death of Merle Oberon, Anglo-Indian actress whose films included The Scarlet Pimpernel, A Song to Remember and Wuthering Heights.

1980 A violent earthquake struck Southern Italy, killing over 4,000 people.

1988 Sumo champion Chionofuji became the fifth sumo wrestler ever to win 50 consecutive matches.

1990 Death of Roald Dahl, (aged 74) Author 'James and the Giant Peach' 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'

1991 Death of Klaus Kinski, (aged 65) Actor

1992 Death of Roy Acuff, (aged 89) Country singer

1993 England's football manager, Graham Taylor, resigned his post.

1995 Death of Junior Walker, (aged 53) Jazz performer 'Walk in the Night'

1995 Death of Louis Malle, (aged 63) Director 'Atlantic City'

1995 Michael Jackson and Bjork won the "Best Male" and "Best Female" artists awards at the MTV European Awards show in Paris.

2003 Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze resigned amid massive protests over disputed election results.

2003 Police wanted to speak to West Bromwich Albion striker Lee Hughes in connection with a fatal road crash in Coventry.

2004 Thousands of Ukrainians surrounded the presidential offices in a second night of protests over the election.

2004 A Fathers 4 Justice activist was arrested after dressing as Santa and chaining himself to lamps at Buckingham Palace.

2004 A £100,000 reward was offered as police hailed Ozzy Osbourne for "very courageously" tackling a jewellery thief in his home.

2004 Man Utd qualifed for the Champions League knockout phase in Sir Alex Ferguson's 1,000th game in charge.

2004 Zimbabwe denies British journalists entry, putting England's cricket tour in doubt.

2006 The presenter of BBC Radio 4's "The World at" One programme, Nick Clarke, died of cancer, aged 58.

2006 Pink Floyd star David Gilmour announced he was to release a single featuring songs by former band member Syd Barrett.

2006 The BBC confirmed that the adventure drama "Robin Hood" was to return for a second series in 2007.

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BIRTHDAYS (for 23 November 2008)

William H. "Billy The Kid" Bonney (born Henry McCarty), 149 (born 23 November 1859)
Died 1881. American outlaw who finally met his death at the gun of Sheriff Pat Garrett.

Valdemar Poulson, 139 (born 23 November 1869)
Danish inventor of the tape recorder.

Manual de Falla, 132 (born 23 November 1876)
Spanish composer best-known for Nights in the Gardens of Spain and the ballets El Amor Brujo and The Three-cornered Hat.

Boris Karloff, 121 (born 23 November 1887)
Died 1969. English actor who specialised in horror roles - most notably as Frankenstein’s monster - and starred in The Mask of Fu Manchu, The Mummy and The Body Snatcher.

Sir Peter Saunders, 97 (born 23 November 1911)
British impressario who staged Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, which broke the world record for the longest-running play.

Michael Gough, 92 (born 23 November 1916)
Actor - Alfred in 'Batman'

Perez Prado, 92 (born 23 November 1916)
(Died 1983) Bandleader

Michael Gough, 91 (born 23 November 1917)
British actor whose films include The Boys from Brazil and The Go-Between.

Lew Hoad, 74 (born 23 November 1934)
Australian tennis player who won the men’s singles title at Wimbledon Two years running.

Betty Everett, 69 (born 23 November 1939)
Singer - 'It's In His Kiss'

Susan Anspach, 69 (born 23 November 1939)
Actress

Sue Nichols, 65 (born 23 November 1943)
Actress - Audrey Roberts in 'Coronation Street'

David Rappaport, 57 (born 23 November 1951)
(Died 1990) Actor - 'Timebandits' 'L A Law'

Bruce Hornsby, 54 (born 23 November 1954)
Singer - biggest UK hit 'The Way It Is'

Merv Hughes, 47 (born 23 November 1961)
The cricketer with the mammoth moustache

Zoe Ball, 38 (born 23 November 1970)
Children's TV presenter; daughter of Johnny