(Saturday, February 8, 1936, 10:25 a.m. EST) — Charles Curtis, the 31st Vice President of the United States (1929-1933, under President Herbert Hoover), died today of a heart attack in in Washington, D.C. He was 76 (click here to watch moving pictures of Curtis).
Video: 'Clips from Coretta Scott King's funeral'
(Tuesday, February 7, 2006) — Coretta Scott King, the widow of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., was laid to rest today, after a funeral where white-gloved ushers welcomed 15,000 people, including four presidents, three governors, three planeloads of Congress members, celebrities, gospel stars and leading figures of the civil rights movement.
The six-hour service, held in the vast two-tiered sanctuary of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church just outside Atlanta, was marked by elegiac moments, standing ovations, and, with the Clintons and Bushes sharing a podium, some overt political gibes about the war in Iraq and the Bush administration’s response to Hurricane Katrina.
Video: 'Hannah and Her Sisters' trailer
(Friday, February 7, 1986) — Hannah and Her Sisters, a comedy-drama film about three sisters who deal with their tangled relationships amidst the wonders of New York City, opened today in 54 theaters across the U.S. (the premiere took place Jan. 16, 1986, at the UA Coronet Theater in Los Angeles). Continue reading ‘Hannah and Her Sisters’ released in U.S. theaters 30 years ago today (Feb 7 1986)
(Saturday, February 7, 1976) — “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” by Paul Simon peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for three consecutive weeks (Feb. 7/14/21, 1976).
It was Simon’s fourth of four number one hits on the chart (including three as “Simon and Garfunkel” with Art Garfunkel from 1966 to 1975).
(Saturday, February 7, 1976) — “Love to Love You Baby” by Donna Summer peaked at #2 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks.
(Saturday, February 7, 1976) — “You Sexy Thing” by Hot Chocolate peaks at #3 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for three weeks.
(Saturday, February 7, 1976) — “Sing a Song” by Earth, Wind & Fire peaks at #5 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks.
(Saturday, February 7, 1976) — “Times of Your Life” by Paul Anka peaks at #7 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for one week.
(Friday, February 7, 1936) — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 7285 today authorizing a flag for the office of the vice president.
Video: 'PBS American Experience & The Kennedys 1 of 2' (Feb. 7, 1926, at 13:17)
(Sunday, February 7, 1926) — Boston banker Joseph P. Kennedy entered the motion picture production business today by buying, with some associates, control of the Film Booking Offices of America (FBO) film studio from Lloyds Bank and other British financial interests.
