IT HAPPENED TODAY
1540:
The first recorded horse racing meeting in Britain was held at the Roodeye Field, Chester.
1855:
The ‘Devil’s Footprints’ appeared in snowbound south Devon — 100 miles of cloven hoof prints, eight inches apart in a single line and measuring four inches by two.
1865:
Mrs Patrick Campbell, actress (above) with an abrasive wit, was born in London. She created several famous roles including Eliza Doolittle in Pygmalion (1914), and had a well-documented relationship with George Bernard Shaw.
1891:
Ronald Colman, English actor who became a romantic star in Hollywood, was born in Richmond, Surrey. His films included The Prisoner Of Zenda.
1893:
The world’s first public striptease took place at the Moulin Rouge in Paris.
1949:
1961:
1964:
1981:
Soap rationing began in Britain.
Robert Mitchum (above) was jailed in Los Angeles for smoking marijuana.
The Beatles made their first appearance at the Cavern during a lunchtime session.
Beatlemania gripped America as around 70 million tuned in to see the Fab Four on the Ed Sullivan Show.
Rock ‘n’ roller Bill Haley died. He spearheaded the 1950s rock revolution with Rock Around The Clock.
ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR:
The typical UK household spends £1.9m over the course of a lifetime, a report suggested.
BIRTHDAYS:
Janet Suzman, actress, 79; Carole King, (above)singer/songwriter, 76; Joe Pesci, actor, 75; Mia Farrow, actress, 73; Gordon Strachan, ex-football manager, 61; Sandy Lyle, golfer, 60; Glenn McGrath, former cricketer, 48; Darren Ferguson, football manager, 46; Tom Hiddleston, actor, 37.