WindyCityOperaman
Dan Soda (Windy City Operaman) is a Chicago native whose first visit to opera was at age 17 and Massenet’s Werther with Troyanos and Kraus. Nothing was ever the same. Opera and concert performances, recordings and video are an obsession. He prepares Parterre Box’s daily birthday and anniversary tributes. He also enjoys concerts, live theater and movies.
Born on this day in 1881 gossip columnist Louella Parsons, and in 1911 actress Lucille Ball.
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On this day in 1926 the first Vitaphone “talkie” movie, Don Juan premiered at the Warner Theatre in New York City.
This day in 1693 is the date traditionally ascribed to Dom Perignon‘s invention of Champagne.
On this day in 1778 the Teatro alla Scala opened in Milan.
Born on this day in 1900 actress and singer Helen Morgan.
On this day in 1971 The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour debuted on CBS-TV.
Born on this day in 1956 actor Michael Biehn.
On this day in 1943, Girl Crazy, the final film in which Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney starred as a team, was released.
On this day in 1579 King Philip II ordered the arrest of Ana de Mendoza, Princess of Eboli, on the charge of betraying state secrets.
On this day in 1933, the first singing telegram was delivered (to Rudy Vallée, actually.)
On this day 100 years ago, tenor Mario del Monaco was born.
On this day in 1882 Richard Wagner‘s music drama Parsifal premiered at Bayreuth.
On this day in 1946 Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis staged their first show as a comedy team.
On this day in 1983 a revival of Mame starring Angela Lansbury opened at the Gershwin Theater, to run only 41 performances.
On this day in 1904 the first ice cream cone, created by Charles E. Menches, was served during the St. Louis World Fair.
On this day in 1933, soprano Caterina Jarboro performed the title role of Aida at the New York Hippodrome.
On this day in 1983 a storm cut short Diana Ross‘s free concert in Central Park.
Born on this day in 356 BC Macedonian king Alexander the Great.
On this day in 1951 the revue Two on the Aisle opened at the Mark Hellinger Theater for 276 performances.
On this day in 1907, Florenz Ziegfeld‘s Follies of 1907, first in the impresario’s legendary series of lavish revues, premiered at the Jardin de Paris in New York City.
On this day in 1762 Catherine II became tsarina of Russia upon the murder of Peter III.
On this day in 1782 Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail premiered in Vienna.
On this day in 1971 President Nixon announced he would visit the People’s Republic of China.
On this day in 1789 the French Revolution began with the fall of the Bastille.
