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.
On this day in 1718 French colonists in Louisiana established a settlement named for the Duc d’Orléans, which would later become the city of New Orleans.
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On this day in 1853 the first potato chips were prepared by chef George Crum in Saratoga Springs, NY.
On this day in 1834 Mount Vesuvius erupted.
On this day in 1945 Noel Coward‘s revue Sigh No More premiered in London.
Happy 81st birthday mezzo-soprano Dame Janet Baker.
On this day in 1828 Gioacchino Rossini‘s opera Le Comte Ory premiered in Paris.
On this day in 1772 Gustav III seized effective control of the Swedish government and restored the full power of the monarchy, which had been subordinate to parliament since 1720.
Born on this day in 1873 lyricist Otto Harbach.
On this day in 1939 The Wizard of Oz opened at Loew’s Capitol Theater in New York City.
On this day in 1876 the music drama Siegfried premiered in Bayreuth.
On this day in 1040 King Duncan I of Scotland was killed in battle against his first cousin and rival Macbeth (not, as per Shakespeare’s play, murdered in his sleep.)
On this day in 1965 (i.e., 50 years ago), Sonny & Cher‘s “I Got You Babe” hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Happy 67th birthday soprano Kathleen Battle.
On this day in 1877, Thomas Edison invented the “Edisonphone,” an early phonograph.
On this day in 1866 the world’s roller rink opened, in Newport, Rhode Island.
On this day in 1930 Betty Boop first appeared in Max Fleischer‘s animated cartoon “Dizzy Dishes.”
On this day in in 1963, the Kingsmen released “Louie, Louie”, later the subject of a two-year investigation by the FBI on the charge of obscenity.
On this day in 1954 the musical The Golden Apple closed at the Alvin Theater after 125 performances.
Born on this day in 1881 gossip columnist Louella Parsons, and in 1911 actress Lucille Ball.
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.
Born on this day in 1900 actress and singer Helen Morgan.
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