Monday, February 28, 2011

Jeopardy

The popular and long-running game show Jeopardy premiered on NBC on March 30, 1964. The show's concept, rules, and name were developed by Merv Griffin and his wife Julann. Mary Eubanks of North Carolina was the show's first champion, winning $345. Within weeks of its premiere, Jeopardy was pulling in 40% of the TV-watching market during its time slot.
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Sunday, February 27, 2011

Barbie

The first Barbie doll was introduced at the American International Toy Fair in New York in February 1959. Barbie was invented by Ruth Handler and was named after Handler's daughter Barbara. Girls went wild for the new doll as Barbie's first year set a sales record for Mattel.
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Saturday, February 26, 2011

Walk of Fame

Hollywood, California established the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. The first star on the Walk of Fame was awarded to actress Joanne Woodward in February 1960. Her star is located at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard. Since 1960, more than 2,000 sidewalk stars have been awarded along the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which stretches along Hollywood Boulevard from LeBrea to Vine.
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Friday, February 25, 2011

Hiram Rhodes Revels

Hiram Rhodes Revels became the first African American member of Congress on February 25, 1870. The republican from Mississippi was elected by Congress to fill the last year of an unexpired term in the U.S. Senate once held by former Confederate States president Jefferson Davis.
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Thursday, February 24, 2011

Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley entered the American music charts for the first time in February 1956. Presley introduced the song "Heartbreak Hotel" live on the Tommy Dorsey TV Show on February 11. Ten days later, the song hit the charts and later reached #1. "Heartbreak Hotel" is ranked #45 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs and is a Grammy Hall of Fame record.
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Wednesday, February 23, 2011

War to end all wars

The First World War began in 1914 after Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro Hungarian throne, was assassinated in Bosnia. The "War to end all wars" lasted from 1914 to 1918 and involved over 100 countries from Africa, America, Asia, Australia and Europe. All told, over eight million soldiers died in the four year conflict. The outcome of World War I was a major cause of World War II.
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Tuesday, February 22, 2011

U2

The members of what would become the Irish quartet U2 first met in 1976 in response to a Dublin high school ad posted by Larry Mullen looking for people interested in forming a rock band. Bono (Paul Hewson), Adam Clayton, and The Edge (David Evans) responded to the ad and established the band The Hype. The band changed its name to U2 after winning the Harp-Lager Talent contest in 1978.
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