On this day, Jan. 19

1853 Giuseppe Verdi’s opera “Il Trovatore” premiered in Rome.

1911 The Elizabeth Steel Magee Hospital, founded by Christopher L. Magee, began operation.

1952 Five years after its opening, the Union Bus Terminal, Downtown, closed its doors because of bankruptcy, leaving five bus lines “homeless.”

1977 President Gerald Ford pardoned Iva Toguri D’Aquino, an American convicted of treason for making radio broadcasts aimed at demoralizing Allied troops in the Pacific Theater during World War II. (Although she was popularly referred to as “Tokyo Rose,” D’Aquino never used that name.)

1979 Members of the Fraternal Association of Steel Haulers (FASH) voted to end their violence-torn strike as a result of a court-ordered injunction.

2006 Osama bin Laden, in an audiotape that was his first in more than a year, said al-Qaida was preparing for attacks in the United States; at the same time, he offered a “long-term truce” without specifying the conditions. Some items are from Stefan Lorant’s “Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City” (digital.library.pitt.edu/chronology).

— Compiled by Rick Nowlin Today’s birthdays: Former U.N. Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar, 100. Actress Tippi Hedren, 90. Former PBS newsman Robert MacNeil, 89. Movie director Richard Lester, 88. Actor-singer Michael Crawford, 78. Actress Shelley Fabares, 76. Country singer Dolly Parton, 74. Former ABC newswoman Ann Compton, 73. TV chef Paula Deen, 73. Singer Dewey Bunnell (America), 68. Actor Desi Arnaz Jr., 67. Actress Katey Sagal, 66. Comedian Paul Rodriguez, 65. Conductor Sir Simon Rattle, 65. Rock musician Jeff Pilson (Foreigner), 62. Basketball coach and commentator Jeff Van Gundy, 58. International Tennis Hall of Famer Stefan Edberg, 54. Comedian-impressionist Frank Caliendo, 46. Actress Jodie Sweetin, 38. Olympic gold medal gymnast Shawn Johnson, 28.

Thought for today: “Love without passion is dreary; passion without love is horrific.”

— Abraham Cowley, English poet (1618-1667)