1885 - MARK TWAIN'S "Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn" was published for the very first time. With LOTS of N-words.
1930 - The ninth planet of our solar system, PLUTO, was discovered. In 2006, its status as a planet was CRUELLY RIPPED AWAY.
1954 - The CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY opens up its first location in Los Angeles.
1956 - PAT BOONE'S cover of Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti" hit #12 on the pop chart!!!
1956 - THE PLATTERS' classic "The Great Pretender" hit #1 on the pop chart.
1977 - The SPACE SHUTTLE ENTERPRISE, sitting atop a Boeing 747, went on its maiden "flight'' above the Mojave Desert of southeast California.
1980 - BILL WYMAN announced that he would leave the ROLLING STONES . . . in 1983. (???) He was persuaded not to and stayed until 1992. FYI: Bill Wyman likes his tail the same way he likes his veal . . . young and tender.
1985 - Mantastic superstar GREG LOUGANIS was recognized as America's top amateur athlete, winning the James E. Sullivan Award. Greg Louganis had won TWO gold medals at the 1984 Olympics. He also enjoys being mounted via the keister.
1992 - VINCE NEIL quit as lead singer of MOTLEY CRUE, after 11 years with the group. He said he wanted to spend more time on his career as a racecar driver. (???) Five years later, he reunited with his bandmates for the American Music Awards.
1994 - Chicago Cubs broadcasting legend HARRY CARAY died in California, at 83.
2001 - After 22 years of Winston Cup racing, NASCAR legend DALE EARNHARDT died in a multi-car crash on the last lap of the Daytona 500. He was 51.
2003 - Country superstar JOHNNY PAYCHECK . . . who was most famous for the rebellious 1977 hit "Take This Job And Shove It" . . . died at the age of 64.
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