Entertainment History
On February 22nd, 1934, the comedy "It Happened One Night," starring
Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert, opened in New York. In 1964, The
Beatles arrived in London following their first visit to the U.S. In
1976, original Supremes member Florence Ballard died in Detroit of
coronary thrombosis at age 32. Ballard and her children were living on
welfare at the time of her death. In 1978, The Police starred in a TV
commercial for Wrigley's chewing gum. The ad was made a few months
before the band's single "Roxanne" was released in the UK. In 1989, the
first heavy metal Grammy was given out. Jethro Tull won. In 1990, a
jury in Los Angeles rejected a claim that Stevie Wonder's hit "I Just
Called To Say I Love You" was stolen from another songwriter. In 1993,
CBS announced that the network had purchased the Ed Sullivan Theatre in
New York for David Letterman's new TV show. At that point, Letterman
was rumored to be moving his program to Los Angeles. In 1997, Farrah
Fawcett and Ryan O'Neal announced they were ending their 15-year
relationship. In 2001, Steely Dan won their first Grammys ever,
including album of the year for "Two Against Nature. They beat out
Eminem's "The Marshall Mathers LP," which had generated controversy
over its lyrics. In 2004, Puddle of Mudd singer Wes Scantlin was
arrested in Toledo, Ohio, for allegedly throwing a bottle into an
audience and spitting on them while publicly drunk. In 2005, Blink-182
announced they were going on hiatus. It turned out to be their breakup.
They have since reunited. In 2007, Britney Spears checked into rehab
for the third time in a week. In 2015, "Birdman" won the Oscar for best
picture. Today's Birthdays: Actor Paul Dooley is 88. Singer Marni Nixon
("West Side Story," 'My Fair Lady") is 86. Director Jonathan Demme
(DEM'-ee) is 72. Actor John Ashton is 68. Actress Julie Walters ("Harry
Potter" films, "Mamma Mia!") is 66. Actress Ellen Greene ("Pushing
Daisies") is 65. Actor Kyle MacLachlan is 57. Comedian Rachel Dratch
("30 Rock," 'Saturday Night Live") is 50. Actor Paul Lieberstein ("The
Office") is 49. Actress Jeri Ryan ("Boston Public," 'Star Trek:
Voyager") is 48. TV co-host Clinton Kelly ("The Chew" 'What Not to
Wear") is 47. Actor Thomas Jane ("The Sweetest Thing") is 47.
Actress-singer Lea Solanga (LAY'-uh suh-LAHN'-guh) is 45. Actor Jose
Solano ("Baywatch") is 45. Drummer Scott Phillips of Creed and of Alter
Bridge is 43. Singer James Blunt is 42. Actress Drew Barrymore is 41.
Singer Tom Higgenson of Plain White T's is 37. Actor Zach Roerig ("The
Vampire Diaries") is 31. Actor Daniel E. Smith ("John Q.") is 26.
