TODAY IN HISTORY

On this day in 1944

In 1944, the first Canadian Kiwanis Music Festival opened at the Eaton Auditorium in Toronto. There were about 7,000 competitors. One of the winners was a 10-year-old pianist — Glenn Gould.

In 1964, The Beatles invasion of North America began as thousands of screaming fans welcomed John, Paul, George and Ringo at New York’s Kennedy Airport. Only a month before, Capitol Records had been persuaded to release the group’s fourth single, “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” and an album, “Meet the Beatles.” The company also had agreed to spend $50,000 to promote the then-unknown British foursome. By April, “The Beatles” held the top five positions on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart.

In 1971, women in Switzerland won the right to vote and hold office.

In 1986, Corazon Aquino was elected president of the Philippines, despite vote-buying, stuffed ballot boxes and violence. The day she was sworn in, Feb. 25, former president Ferdinand Marcos fled the country with his family.

In 1997, a Quebec man drove a Jeep up two flights of stairs of the Parliament buildings before stopping just short of the main door under the Peace Tower. The incident caused the government to ban tour buses and unauthorized cars from Parliament Hill. The driver, who was mentally ill, was found not criminally responsible for his actions.

In 1999, King Hussein of Jordan died of cancer at the age of 63. He had ruled for 47 years.