A century ago, even before the phonograph had become a
a common household item, there was already a burgeoning
music industry in the United States based not on the sale of
recorded musical performances, but on the sale of sheet
music. It was in the medium of printed paper, and not grooved
lacquer or vinyl discs, that songs gained popularity in the first
two decades of the 20th century, and no song gained greater
popularity in that era than Irving Berlin’s “Alexander’s Ragtime
Band.” Copyrighted on March 18, 1911, The song was the
was the multimillion-selling smash hit that helped turn
American popular music into an international phenomenon,
both culturally and economically.

Irving Berlin (born Israel Beilin) 
(May 11, 1888 – September 22, 1989)

CAMILE
BOHANNON

Irving Berlin
(May 11, 1888 – September 22, 1989)

Composer and lyricist Irving Berlin is widely
considered one of the greatest songwriters
in American history.

ED DANAHUE

Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins is 82 years old today.

Welsh actor Anthony Hopkins is best known for his portrayal of the
ingenious serial killer Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs 
(1991), a role that won him the Academy Award for Best Actor. He
has also played roles in The Mask of Zorro (1998) and Nixon (1995).  

Hopkins turned to TV in 2016 upon landing a starring role on HBO’s
series Westworld.  He was encouraged by actor Richard Burton to
pursue acting at age 15.

MIKE GRACIA

During World War II on this day in 1944, the Battle of the Bulge began in
Belgium. It was the final major German counteroffensive in the war.

The Germans achieved a total surprise attack due to a combination of
Allied overconfidence, preoccupation with Allied offensive plans, and
poor aerial reconnaissance due to bad weather. American forces bore
the brunt of the attack and incurred their highest casualties of any
operation during the war. The battle also severely depleted Germany’s
armored forces, and they were largely unable to replace them.

The "Bulge" was the largest and bloodiest single battle fought by the
United States in World War II and the third deadliest campaign in
American history.

TIM MAGUIRE

The first televised debate between presidential candidates Richard
M. Nixon and John F. Kennedy took place in Chicago, IL. on this day         
in 1960.

John F. Kennedy                      Richard  M. Nixon