One hundred years ago, on Nov. 28, 1909, Sergei Rachmaninoff's notoriously difficult Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30 had its world premiere in New York, with Walter Damrosch conducting the New York Symphony and Rachmaninoff himself at the piano.
On this date:
In 1520, Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan reached the Pacific Ocean after passing through the South American strait that now bears his name.
One hundred and fifty years ago, in 1859, American author Washington Irving died in present-day Tarrytown, N.Y., at age 76.
In 1895, the first automobile race took place, between Chicago and Waukegan, Ill.
Ninety years ago, in 1919, American-born Lady Astor was elected the first female member of the British Parliament.
Seventy years ago, in 1939, James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, died at age 78.
In 1942, nearly 500 people died in a fire that destroyed the Cocoanut Grove nightclub in Boston.
In 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Josef Stalin began conferring in Tehran.
In 1963, Cape Canaveral, the space center in Florida, was renamed Cape Kennedy to honor the assassinated president. Area residents later voted to revert to the original name.
In 1964, the United States launched the space probe Mariner 4 on a course to Mars.
In 1975, President Gerald R. Ford nominated federal Judge John Paul Stevens to the U.S. Supreme Court seat vacated by William O. Douglas.
Thirty years ago, in 1979, an Air New Zealand DC-10 en route to the South Pole crashed into a mountain in Antarctica, killing all 257 people aboard.
In 1987, a South African Airways Boeing 747 crashed into the Indian Ocean with the loss of all 159 people aboard.
In 1989, Czechoslovakian Premier Ladislav Adamec agreed to a coalition government. The next day, the Czech Parliament revoked the Communist Party's monopoly.
In 1994, serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer was murdered in a Wisconsin prison by a fellow inmate.
In 1995, President Bill Clinton signed a bill that ended the federal 55 mph speed limit.
In 1999, Hsing-Hsing, the popular giant panda that arrived in America in 1972 as a symbol of U.S.-China detente, was euthanized at Washington, D.C.'s National Zoo at age 28 because of his deteriorating health.
In 2000, George W. Bush's lawyers asked the U.S. Supreme Court to bring "legal finality" to the presidential election by ending any further ballot recounts; Al Gore's team countered that the nation's highest court should not interfere in Florida's recount dispute.
In 2001, Enron Corp. collapsed after would-be rescuer Dynegy Inc. backed out of an $8.4 billion deal to take it over.
In 2005, U.S. Rep. Randall "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif., pleaded guilty to tax evasion and conspiracy charges involving bribes from military contractors.
In 2006, Pope Benedict XVI flew to Ankara, Turkey, amid heavy security measures to mend religious fences and establish a dialogue with Muslims. Some 250,000 Muslims demonstrated against the papal visit over remarks Benedict made in September perceived as offensive to Islam.
Also in 2006, leftist candidate Rafael Correa was officially declared winner of the Ecuadorian presidential election.
In 2007, a U.S. airstrike in eastern Afghanistan killed 22 Afghan civilian road construction workers. The men, working on a U.S. military contract, died as they slept in two large tents in a remote mountainous area. Also in 2007, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf relinquished his role as head of his country's military forces, one day before he was sworn in for a third term as president. O.J. Simpson pleaded not guilty in Las Vegas to charges of kidnapping and armed robbery stemming from a confrontation with sports memorabilia dealers. (Simpson was later convicted and sentenced to nine to 33 years in prison.)
In 2008, Indian forces fired grenades at the landmark Taj Mahal hotel, the last stand of suspected Muslim militants, just hours after elite commandos stormed a Jewish outreach center and found six hostages dead. (The 60-hour rampage in Mumbai ended the following day.) At least 400 people were reported killed and hundreds more wounded in violent clashes in Nigeria between Muslims and Christians over local elections. Super Bowl hero Plaxico Burress of the New York Giants accidentally shot himself in the right thigh with a gun tucked into his waistband at a New York City nightclub. (Burress was later sentenced to two years in prison for a weapons conviction.)
Today's Birthdays: Recording executive Berry Gordy Jr. is 80. Former Sen. Gary Hart, D-Colo., is 73. Singer-songwriter Bruce Channel is 69. Singer Randy Newman is 66. CBS News correspondent Susan Spencer is 63. Movie director Joe Dante is 62. "Late Show" orchestra leader Paul Shaffer is 60. Actor Ed Harris is 59. Former NASA teacher in space Barbara Morgan is 58. Actress S. Epatha Merkerson is 57. Former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff is 56. Country singer Kristine Arnold (Sweethearts of the Rodeo) is 53. Actor Judd Nelson is 50. Movie director Alfonso Cuaron is 48. Rock musician Matt Cameron is 47. Actress Jane Sibbett is 47. Comedian/talk show host Jon Stewart is 47. Actress Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon is 43. R&B singer Dawn Robinson is 41. Hip-hop musician apl.de.ap (Black Eyed Peas) is 35. Actress Aimee Garcia is 31. Rapper Chamillionaire is 30. Actor Daniel Henney is 30. Rock musician Rostam Batmanglij (Vampire Weekend) is 26. Actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead is 25. Actress Scarlett Pomers ("Reba") is 21.
Today In Entertainment History November 28
In 1925, the Grand Ole Opry made its radio debut on station WSM.
In 1964, Willie Nelson made his Grand Ole Opry debut. Also in 1964, "Leader of the Pack" by The Shangri-Las hit number one on the Billboard pop chart.
Thirty-five years ago, in 1974, John Lennon performed in concert for the first time in several years. He sang three songs with Elton John at Madison Square Garden in New York. It was payback for a bet in which John had made Lennon promise they'd perform together if "Whatever Gets You Thru the Night" hit number one.
In 1976, actress Rosalind Russell died. She was 68.
In 1989, IRS agents raided the Las Vegas home of actor Redd Foxx, who owed an estimated $755,000 in taxes.
In 1990, officials in Los Angeles decided there wasn't enough evidence to prosecute singer Axl Rose for assault in connection with a dispute with his neighbor. The neighbor claimed Rose hit her over the head with an empty wine bottle.
In 1997, Chumbawamba singer Danbert Nobacon was arrested in Florence, Italy, for wearing a skirt. He was released when a police officer recognized the name "Chumbawamba." Also in 1997, the last episode of "Beavis and Butt-head" aired on MTV.
Thought for Today: "Great minds have purposes; others have wishes." — Washington Irving, American author (1783-1859). [We wish he'd just shut up. — Ed.]
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