Today in history

Today is the 81st day of 2017 and the third day of spring.

TODAY’S HISTORY: In 1882, the U.S. Congress passed an act that made polygamy a felony.

In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Beer and Wine Revenue Act, which legalized the sale of alcoholic beverages.

In 1945, the Arab League charter was adopted in Cairo.

In 1963, the Beatles’ debut album, “Please Please Me,” was released in the United Kingdom.

In 1995, cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov returned to Earth after completing the longest single spaceflight in history, at 437 days 18 hours.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: Louis L’Amour (1908-1988), author; Karl Malden (1912-2009), actor; Marcel Marceau (19232007), mime artist; Stephen Sondheim (1930- ), composer; William Shatner (1931- ), actor; James Patterson (1947- ), author; Wolf Blitzer (1948- ), journalist; Andrew Lloyd Webber (1948- ), composer; Bob Costas (1952- ), sportscaster; Matthew Modine (1959- ), actor; Keegan-Michael Key (1971- ), actor/comedian; Kathryn Jean Lopez (1976- ), journalist; Reese Witherspoon (1976- ), actress; J.J. Watt (1989- ), football player.

TODAY’S FACT: The album cover photograph for “Please Please Me” was taken in the stairwell of record label EMI’s London headquarters.

TODAY’S SPORTS: In 1894, the Montreal AAA beat the Ottawa Generals 3-1 in the first Stanley Cup championship hockey game.

TODAY’S QUOTE: “I prefer neurotic people. I like to hear rumblings beneath the surface.” -Stephen Sondheim

TODAY’S NUMBER: $219.5 billion - total alcoholic beverage sales in the United States in 2015.

TODAY’S MOON: Between last quarter moon (March 20) and new moon (March 27).