Entertainment History
On February 22, 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,
Jethro Tull won the first metal Grammy. DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh
Prince won the first rap Grammy. 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 89. Director Jonathan Demme (DEM'-ee) is 73. Actor
John Ashton is 69. Actress Julie Walters ("Harry Potter" films, "Mamma
Mia!") is 67. Actress Ellen Greene ("Pushing Daisies") is 66. Actor
Kyle MacLachlan is 58. Comedian Rachel Dratch ("30 Rock," 'Saturday
Night Live") is 51. Actor Paul Lieberstein ("The Office") is 50.
Actress Jeri Ryan ("Boston Public," 'Star Trek: Voyager") is 49. TV
co-host Clinton Kelly ("The Chew" 'What Not to Wear") is 48. Actor
Thomas Jane ("The Sweetest Thing") is 48. Actress-singer Lea Solanga
(LAY'-uh suh-LAHN'-guh) is 46. Actor Jose Solano ("Baywatch") is 46.
Drummer Scott Phillips of Creed and of Alter Bridge is 44. Singer James
Blunt is 43. Actress Drew Barrymore is 42. Singer Tom Higgenson of
Plain White T's is 38. Actor Zach Roerig ("The Vampire Diaries") is 32.
Actor Daniel E. Smith ("John Q.") is 27.
