Happy Birthday Duke Ellington
Jazz legend Edward Kennedy Ellington was born on April 29, 1899, in Washington, DC. Better known as Duke Ellington, he was considered one of the most influential jazz composers.
Entertainment
Birth of Harold Lloyd
Film star Harold Clayton Lloyd Sr. was born on April 20, 1893, in Burchard, Nebraska. Best known as a silent film star, he appeared in nearly 200 films, most notably Safety Last.
Brussels World’s Fair
On April 17, 1958, the Brussels World’s Fair, also known as Expo ’58, opened its doors. It was the first major official world’s fair after WWII.
Birth of Henry Mancini
Enrico Nicola “Henry” Mancini was born on April 16, 1924, in the Little Italy neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. Considered the most successful film composer of his time, he scored more than 100 movies, including numerous beloved classics.
Birth of Lon Chaney Jr
Lon Chaney Jr. was born Creighton Tull Chaney on February 10, 1906, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Territory. He gained fame for portraying horror characters such as the Wolfman, Frankenstein, and the Mummy, but he broke out of that mold later in his career to explore other genres.
Happy Birthday Babe Ruth
George Herman “Babe” Ruth was born on February 6, 1895, in Baltimore, Maryland. One of the sports world’s most famous players, he set and broke numerous records during his career and is a legend of baseball.
Premiere of The Nutcracker Ballet
On December 18, 1892, Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker premiered in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Despite initial poor reviews, today it’s a holiday staple for millions.
Happy Birthday Boris Karloff
Boris Karloff was born William Henry Pratt on November 23, 1887, in Camberwell, London, England. Karloff appeared in more than 170 films during his career, becoming a horror icon for his memorable performances in Frankenstein and The Mummy.
Wolf Trap Farm National Park
On October 15, 1966, the Wolf Trap Farm National Park for Performing Arts was established in Virginia. It’s the only National Park dedicated exclusively to the performing arts.