IT HAPPENED TODAY
1154:
Nicholas Breakspear became the only English Pope — as Adrian IV.
1791:
The Observer, the oldest Sunday newspaper in the United Kingdom, was first published.
1865:
Edith Cavell the nurse shot by the Germans in 1915 for helping refugees, was born in Norfolk.
1921:
Roscoe ‘Fatty’ Arbuckle, silent film comedian, was found not guilty by 10-2 of rape and manslaughter. He was retried twice and found not guilty both times — but his career was ruined.
1935:
The game of Monopoly was born — the brainchild of unemployed engineer Charles Darrow.
The Dandy comic, featuring Desperate Dan, was first published by DC Thomson.
1947:
Tennessee Williams’s play A Streetcar Named Desire was premiered on Broadway with Marlon Brando and Jessica Tandy in the leading roles.
ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR:
Phillip Schofield described the Duke of Edinburgh as being blessed with “James Bond-esque” genes, after working with the royal for an ITV documentary.
BIRTHDAYS:
Gemma Jones, actress, 75; Jeff Bridges, actor, 68; Pamela Stephenson, comedy actress turned therapist, 68; Paul McGrath, former footballer, 58; Marisa Tomei, actress, 53; Jay-Z, rapper, 48; Kevin Sussman, actor, 47; Tyra Banks model, 44; Kate Rusby, folk musician, 44.