Birth of a Circus Legend
Showman Phineas Taylor “P.T.” Barnum was born on July 5, 1810, in Bethel, Connecticut. Barnum became known as the “Shakespeare of Advertising” because of his many innovative ideas for the time.
Entertainment
Happy Birthday John Wayne
John Wayne was born Marion Robert Morrison in Winterset, Iowa, on May 26, 1907. Starring in over 200 movies, Wayne became an American icon, whose name and image were synonymous with the rugged Wild West.
Happy Birthday Douglas Fairbanks
Douglas Elton Thomas Ullman was born on May 23, 1883 in Denver, Colorado. Better known as Douglas Fairbanks, he was one of Hollywood’s top stars of the 1920s, known as “Everybody’s Hero.”
Buffalo Bill’s Wild West
On May 19, 1883, the first Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show opened in Omaha, Nebraska. The show ran under a few different names for 30 years.
Happy Birthday J.M. Barrie
James Matthew Barrie was born on May 9, 1860, in Kirriemuir, Angus, Scotland. His most famous work was Peter Pan, which was turned into an animated film in 1953.
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.
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.