Entertainment History
On February 25th, 1950, the variety series "Your Show of Shows" made
its debut on NBC. In 1957, Buddy Holly and the Crickets recorded
"That'll Be The Day," their first and only number one hit. In 1963, Vee
Jay Records released the first Beatles record in the U.S., "Please
Please Me" backed with "Ask Me Why. At the time, the single went
unnoticed by the record-buying public. In 1973, the Stephen Sondheim
musical "A Little Night Music" opened on Broadway. In 1981, singer
Christopher Cross was the big winner at the Grammy Awards, picking up
an award for best album for his self-titled debut album. His hit
"Sailing" was named best song and best record. In 1983, Pulitzer
Prize-winning playwright Tennessee Williams was found dead in his New
York hotel suite. He was 71. In 1992, Natalie Cole won seven Grammy
Awards, including Album of the Year for "Unforgettable. Bonnie Raitt
and R.E.M. each won three. In 1993, Marshall Tucker Band founder Toy
Caldwell was found dead at his home in South Carolina. He was 45. A
coroner later ruled that Caldwell's death was cocaine-related. Also in
1993, actor Dick Van Dyke got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. At
the star's unveiling, Van Dyke was shocked to see that his last name
had been engraved as one word instead of two. In 1995, singer Lyle
Lovett broke his collarbone in a motorcycle accident while practicing
for a segment for "Moto World" on ESPN. In 1996, actor Dr. Haing (hang)
S. Ngor (nohr) was shot to death outside his home in Los Angeles. He
was 45. Ngor won a best supporting actor Oscar for his role in "The
Killing Fields" and was a real-life survivor of the Khmer (kuh-MAYR')
Rouge death camps. In 1998, Bob Dylan won the album of the year Grammy
for "Time Out of Mind," his first win in that category on his 42nd
album. His performance was interrupted by a dancing man with "Soy Bomb"
written on his chest. At that same ceremony, singer Shawn Colvin's
acceptance speech was interrupted by rapper ODB, who upstaged her with
a rant about his clothes. In 2004, "The Passion of the Christ" opened
nationwide. In 2007, Martin Scorsese won his first Oscar, for directing
"The Departed. Today's Birthdays: Country singer Ralph Stanley is 89.
Actor Tom Courtenay ("Dr. Zhivago") is 79. CBS newsman Bob Schieffer is
79. Actress Diane Baker is 78. Actress Karen Grassle ("Little House on
the Prairie") is 74. Singer-guitarist Mike Peters of The Alarm is 57.
Actress Veronica Webb is 51. Actor Alexis Denisof ("Angel," 'Buffy the
Vampire Slayer") is 50. Actress Tea Leoni (TAY'-ah lee-OH'-nee) Leoni
is 50. Comedian Carrot Top is 49. Actress Lesley Boone ("Ed") is 48.
Actor Sean Astin is 45. Singer Daniel Powter is 45. Singer Justin
Jeffre of 98 Degrees is 43. Comedian Chelsea Handler is 41. Actress
Rashida Jones ("The Office," 'Parks and Recreation") is 40. Singer
Shawna Thompson of Thompson Square is 38. Actor Justin Berfield
("Malcolm in the Middle") is 30. Actors James and Oliver Phelps ("Harry
Potter" films) are 30. Bassist Erik Haager of Carolina Liar is 29.
