March 20 is the 80th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. If the ancient Mayans were correct, there are 276 days remaining until the end of time.
1852 Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin" is published in Boston, and becomes the first novel to sell more than 1 million copies. The book galvanizes public opinion and, according to some, is the first shot in the civil war.
1914 In New Haven, Connecticut, the first international figure skating championship takes place. Unfortunately, the rules for pairs skating are changed in subsequent years in a doomed attempt to erase gays from the sport.
1934 Mildred "Babe" Didrickson (Zaharias), perhaps the greatest female (we think) athlete of all time, pitches hitless inning for Philadelphia A's in exhibition game against Brooklyn Dodgers
1969 Beatle John Lennon marries Yoko Ono in Gibraltar. Apparently the Houses of Valentino and Chanel did not get the call to dress the bride.
1987 FDA approves sale of AZT. There is still no cure.
1988 David Henry Hwang's "M. Butterfly" premieres in New York City. Think "The Crying Game" with less awareness on the part of the white guy.
1996 U.K. admits humans can catch Mad Cow Disease
1906 Ozzie Nelson, bandleader/actor/He, wife Harriet, and sons David and Ricky all starred on radio and TV's The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
March 18 is the 78th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. If the ancient Mayans were correct, there are 278 days remaining until the end of time.
1834 Six farm labourers from Tolpuddle, Dorset, England are sentenced to be transported to Australia for forming a trade union.
1894 Lord Stanley presents his silver challenge cup for hockey to Montreal
1919 Order of DeMolay, a Roman Catholic Masonic fraternity to recruit boys aged 12-21 for NAMBLA, forms in Kansas City
1931 1st electric shavers go on sale in U.S. from Schick
1961 Poppin' Fresh, sexually ambiguous Pillsbury Dough Boy, is introduced
1981 "The Greatest American Hero," starring William Katt, premiers on ABC-TV. I only watched it for Katt’s impressive bulge.
2003 British Sign Language is recognised as an official British language.
2006 Youth riot in Paris
1886 Edward Everett Horton, gay US comedy actor/narrator of "Fractured Fairy Tales" on Rocky & Bullwinkle
1926 Peter Graves, US actor/He will never see another grown man naked!
