Monthly Archives: February 2016

Brian Wilson completes ‘Caroline, No’ 50 years ago today (Feb 3 1966)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s


Video: 'Caroline, No (The Stereo Mix) (1996 Digital Remaster)'

(Thursday, February 3, 1966) — Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys today concluded tracking work on “Caroline, No” at United Western Recorders studios in Hollywood for release as his first solo single on Mar. 7, 1966, and would also appear on the band’s Pet Sounds album (with added sound effects, including a dog barking recorded Mar. 22, 1966) on May 16, 1966.

“Caroline, No” was named at #214 in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”

Soviet probe achieves first soft landing on moon 50 years ago this hour (Feb 3 1966)

1960s, space exploration


Video: 'The Luna 9 Story - Space Vehicle Lands On The Moon (1966)'

(Thursday, February 3, 1966, 9:45 p.m. MSK/1:45 p.m. EST) — The Soviet probe Luna 9 today became the first man-made object to achieve a soft landing on the Moon, or any planetary body other than Earth, and to transmit photographic data to Earth from the surface of another planetary body.

Giacomo Puccini’s opera ‘La Boheme’ premieres in Turin 120 years ago today (Feb 1 1896)

1890s


Video: 'Giacomo Puccini -- La Bohème -- Anna Netrebko, Rolando Villazón (New Upload, Full HD 1080p)'

(Saturday, February 1, 1896) — La bohème, an opera in four acts composed by Giacomo Puccini, premiered today in Turin, Italy, at the Teatro Regio, conducted by the young Arturo Toscanini.

Norwegian statesman Trygve Lie chosen to be first UN secretary-general 70 years ago today (Feb 1 1946)

1940s


Video: 'TRYGVE LIE BECOME SECRETARY GENERAL TO UNO'

(Friday, February 1, 1946) — Norwegian statesman Trygve Lie was chosen today in London to be the first secretary-general of the United Nations (he would be formally inducted the following day). Continue reading Norwegian statesman Trygve Lie chosen to be first UN secretary-general 70 years ago today (Feb 1 1946) →

‘The Court Jester’ opens in New York 60 years ago this hour (Feb 1 1956)

1950s, Movies 1950s


Video: 'The Court Jester' trailer

(Wednesday, February 1, 1956, doors opened at 9:30 a.m. EST) — The Court Jester, a musical-comedy film about a traveling actor who is mistaken for a medieval rebel, opened in New York this morning at Paramount Theater (it had been released in Japan on Dec. 24, 1955).

Directed by Melvin Frank and Norman Panama, the film starred Danny Kaye, Glynis Johns, Basil Rathbone, Angela Lansbury and Cecil Parker.