On this day in 1940, sponsorship of the Metropolitan Opera’s Saturday afternoon broadcasts by The Texas Company (Texaco) began with Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro.

Born on this day in 1863 composer Pietro Mascagni

Born on this day in 1887 composer Ernst Toch

Born on this day in 1906 mezzo-soprano Elisabeth Höngen

Born on this day in 1927 contralto Helen Watts

Happy 66th birthday baritone Frederick Burchinal

Happy 64th birthday mezzo-soprano Kathleen Kuhlmann