February 6
Contributed by Pearleen Ang
BORN TODAY
1971 – Brian Stepanek
1962 – Axl Rose
1962 – Richie McDonald
1966 – Rick Astley
1969 – David Hayter
1957 – Robert Townsend
1956 – Jon Walmsley
1950 – Natalie Cole (RIP)
1945 – Bob Marley (RIP)
1943 – Fabian
1939 – Mike Farrell
1931 – Rip Torn
1917 – Zsa Zsa Gabor (Pictured)
1914 – Thurl Ravenscroft (RIP)
1911 – Ronald Reagan (RIP)
1895 – Babe Ruth (RIP)
DIED TODAY
Jesse Belvin (Born: December 15, 1932/ Died: February 6, 1960)
Hugo Montenegro (Born: September 2, 1925 / Died: February 6, 1981)
Carl Wilson (Born: December 21, 1946/ Died: February 6, 1998)
Falco (Born: February 19,1957 /Died: February 6, 1998)
MOVIES TODAY
1943 – Disney’s Saludos Amigos, a 42-minute film about Latin America is generally released in the U.S. Made up of four animated segments tied together by live-action footage of the activities of Walt Disney and his artists on their trip to South America, the film features Donald Duck, Goofy, and José Carioca. Released through RKO, it will earn 3 Academy Award nominations.
1975 – Disney’s live-action comedy The Strongest Man in the World starring Kurt Russell is released.
1987 – Black Widow – A 1987 film noir thriller film starring Debra Winger, Theresa Russell, Sami Frey and Nicol Williamson.
1987 – Light of Day – A 1987 American drama film starring Michael J. Fox, Gena Rowlands and Joan Jett. It was written and directed by Paul Schrader. (Pictured)
1998 – The Replacement Killers – The Replacement Killers is a 1998 American action film directed by Antoine Fuqua in his feature film directorial debut, and starring Chow Yun-fat, Mira Sorvino, Michael Rooker and Kenneth Tsang.
2004 – Walt Disney Pictures releases Miracle, starring Kurt Russell, to theaters. The film centers on the United States men’s hockey team, led by head coach Herb Brooks (Russell), that won the gold medal in the 1980 Winter Olympics.
MUSIC TODAY
1938 – The music from Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is nominated for an Academy Award.
1943 – Frank Sinatra made his debut as vocalist on radio’s “Your Hit Parade.”
1957 – The Del-Vikings’ “Come Go with Me” enters the pop charts
1961 – “Shop Around” by the Miracles was #1 on the R&B chart for a fourth week. (Pictured)
1971 – Dolly Parton scores her first #1 single in Billboard with “Joshua”
1980 – George Jones records “He Stopped Loving Her Today” at the Columbia Recording Studio in Nashville, then bets producer Billy Sherrill that the record won’t go to #1.
1982 – Dan Fogelberg’s great tribute to his father–“Leader Of The Band” was #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
1988: – Tiffany reached #1 on the AC chart with “Could’ve Been”.
1988 – Dusty Springfield makes her first appearance on the Billboard charts in 19 years with “What Have I Done To Deserve This?,” a duet with Pet Shop Boys.
1990 – Billy Idol broke several bones in a serious motorcycle accident. As a result he could not appear in Oliver Stone’s “The Doors” in a major role.
1998 – Blues Brothers 2000: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack – is the twelfth studio album by The Blues Brothers. It is a soundtrack album to the 1998 film, Blues Brothers 2000, the sequel to the 1980 film, The Blues Brothers. In addition to tracks by the Blues Brothers Band and guest artists, there are songs by the Paul Butterfield Blues Band and Blues Traveler as well as an all-star blues supergroup, the Louisiana Gator Boys, featuring B.B. King, Eric Clapton and dozens of other artists.
TV/RADIO TODAY
1928 – Disney’s Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoon The Ol’ Swimmin’ ‘Ole is released.
1948 – The Goofy short The Big Wash, directed by Clyde Geronimi, is released. Circus employee Goofy must feed and wash the elephants!
1959 – The TV series Walt Disney Presents airs “Elfago Baca: Attorney at Law.” It is the 5th episode of the Baca serial starring Robert Loggia. Mouseketeer Annette Funicello plays the role of a teenager whose father Baca must defend.
1964 – Tickets for the first Beatles appearance on CBS’ Ed Sullivan Show sell out. (Pictured)
2003 – ABC’s 20/20 airs the British documentary Living With Michael Jackson, where we see him climb a tree, go shopping, and talk about sharing his bed with kids.
OTHER IMPORTANT EVENTS...
1859 – Elias Disney (the father of Walt Disney) is born to Kepple Disney II and Mary Richardson in Bluevale, Ontario, Canada. While still in his teens, Elias moved with his family to the United States and eventually settled in Ellis, Kansas. As an adult, he found employment as a construction worker for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago – a likely source of inspiration for his son Walt many years later! As a a general contractor, he opened his first contracting office in 1895. Elias is honored with a Main Street window at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom that reads:
Elias Disney
Contractor
Est. 1895
1935 – “Monopoly” board game goes on sale for 1st time. Prior to being purchased by Parker Brothers, the game had been developed by Elizabeth Magie under the name, “The Landlord’s Game.”
1952 – Princess Elizabeth Becomes Queen at Age 25. (Pictured)
1960 – Ben-Hur wins the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures, beating out twelve other films including Disney’s The Shaggy Dog (directed by Charles Barton).
1985 – Disneyland begins year-round, seven days-a-week operation. Prior to this day, the park was traditionally closed on Monday and Tuesday during the off season.
1986 – Walt Disney Productions officially changes its name to The Walt Disney Company.