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September 18th Today in History
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Famous People & Celebrities Born on September 18th:
- Elmer Maytag
(1883) - The last hand-operated wringer washing machine was manufactured by the Maytag company in 1983. Maytag was the last American appliance manufacturer to offer a hand-operated model.
- Jack Warden
(1920) - Actor. TV series: Crazy Like a Fox, The Bad News Bears, N.Y.P.D. Flicks: The Replacements (2000), A Dog of Flanders (1999), Mighty Aphrodite (1995), Bullets Over Broadway (1994), Heaven Can Wait (1978), Shampoo (1975), 12 Angry Men (1957).
- Robert Blake
(1933) - The 5-foot, 4-inch Blake -- whose real name is Mickey Gubitosi -- started his acting career as a child star in the Our Gang comedies. Played Tony Baretta on TV police drama Baretta (1975-78). On May 4, 2001, Blake's wife Bonny Lee Bakley was shot to death in Blake's car outside of Vitello's italian restaurant in Studio City. Blake was arrested and charged with the murder. Before he was arrested, the media was making comparisons to the O.J. Simpson case. A bizarre trend surrounding the case did evolve with the letter "B". The people involved in the case contained the letter "B" in either their first or last names. The list begins with Bob Blake himself, who played Tony Baretta on television, and his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley. Then there are Blake's attorneys: Barry Levin and Harland Braun. The "B" connection continued with actor Gary Busey and Marlon Brando's son, Christian Brando, who were both possible victims of Bonny Bakley's schemes. Finally, Los Angeles Chief of Police who investigated the case is named Bernard Parks. One of Blake's Our Gang buddies believes he didn't kill his wife. Former child actor Tommy Bond -- who played "Butch" on the Little Rascals -- says he thinks anyone who considers Blake a suspect in the murder really doesn't know the man because he claims Blake "...isn't the type to shoot someone." Bond says Blake has an interest in making films with good moral messages. Flicks: In Cold Blood (1967), Town Without Pity (1961), Pork Chop Hill (1959).
- Jimmie Rodgers
(1933) - Musician. "Honey Comb."
- Frankie Avalon
(1939) - The former teen idol never would have become a star were it not for a practical joke he pulled during one of his first recording sessions. Avalon says he recorded his first hit, "De-De Dinah," as a last-ditch effort to get a hit song because his earlier recordings were flops. While recording "De-De Dinah," the music sounded tinny through Avalon's headphones so, as a joke, he held his nose and sang the lyrics in a nasal twang. The producer was shocked, but told Frankie to sing the entire song with his nose plugged. The joke was on Frankie because the nasal take was picked for the single and it became his first hit. Other hits: "Venus" (1959), "Why" (1960), Beach Blanket Bingo. Born on Sept. 18, 1939, not in 1940 or on Sept. 8 as reported by some sources.
- Fred Willard
(1939) - The comedian and actor was the co-host of the 1970s TV series Real People, America 2-Night and Fernwood 2-Night. Flicks: Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999), Can't Stop Dancing (1999).
- Dee Dee Ramone
(1952) - Ramones bassist. He died June 5, 2002, of an accidental drug overdose. His real name was Douglas Colvin. Ramone traded his bass guitar for a pen and paper when he published his autobiography, Lobotomy. He admited his spelling and grammar were so horrible that he received tons of complaints from the professional typists who transcribed the autobiography. "Beat On The Brat," (1976), "Blitzkrieg Bop" (1976), "Rock 'N' Roll High School" (1979).
- Debbi Fields
(1956) - She's the woman behind the Mrs. Fields chocolate chip cookies. Debbi says she can't resist chocolate and claims it's more than food to her -- it's an emotion to be indulged in.
- Lita Ford
(1958) - Musician. The Runaways.
- James Gandolfini
(1961) - Plays Anthony "Tony" Soprano Sr. on The Sopranos. Flicks: Sharkslayer (2004), Catch Me If You Can (2002), The Last Castle (2001), The Man Who Wasn't There (2001), The Barber Project (2001), The Mexican (2001).
- Holly Robinson Peete
(1964) - Hollywood Squares, Vanessa on Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, Officer Judy Hoffs on 21 Jump Street.
- Ricky Bell
(1967) - Bell Biv Devoe.
- Jada Pinkett Smith
(1971) - The actress says making love with her husband, Will Smith, is an incredible experience because he's a "hands on" type of guy. "He makes love like a woman," says Jada. "He loves to touch and massage and feel." Will also doesn't bat an eye when Jada is required to perform nude scenes in a film. She says he just watches the movie and tells her how gorgeous she looks. Flicks: The Matrix 3 (2004), The Matrix Reloaded (2003), Ali (2001), Kingdom Come (2001), Bamboozled (2000), Woo (1998), Scream 2 (1997), Demon Knight (1995). Born on September 18 not August 18.
- Michael Landes
(1972) - One of two Jimmy Olsens who appeared on ABC's Lois & Clark. Flicks:Hart's War (2002), The Gentleman from Boston (2000).
- James Marsden
(1973) - Played Ricky on Second Noah. Josh on Blossom. Flicks: The Notebook (2004), X2 (2003), Preacher (2003), The 24th Day (2002), Interstate 60 (2002), Ocean Warrior (2001), Sugar and Spice (2001), X-Men (2000), Gossip (2000).
- Patrick Arnold Scwarzenegger
(1993) - Son of Arnold and Maria Shriver.
Famous and Noteworthy Events on September 18th:
(1793) - President Washington laid the cornerstone of the US Capitol.
(1830) - The first steam locomotive built in America lost a 9-mile race with a horse. The locomotive suffered from mechanical problems and a boiler leak kept it from finishing the race.
(1851) - The first issue of The New York Times went on sale. Back then, the paper was known as The New York Daily Times, but its name was shortened to The New York Times in 1857. A copy of the first Times cost only 2 cents.
(1994) - Tennis star Vitas Gerulaitis was found dead in Southhampton, New York, poisoned by carbon monoxide gas. Gerulaitis, the victim of a faulty propane heater, died in his sleep at a friend's house where he was visiting.
(1932) - A despondent 24-year-old actress named Peg Entwistle climbed to the top of the famous "HOLLYWOOD" sign and committed suicide by jumping from the 50-foot-tall "H."
(1947) - The United States Air Force became a separate military service, organized under the Secretary of the Air Force.
(1970) - 27-year-old Jimi Hendrix died from a drug overdose in London after washing down nine sleeping tablets with more than a quart of whiskey. He choked to death on his own vomit. Upon hearing of Hendrix death, Janis Joplin reportedly told friends, "Dammit! He beat me to it." She died 16 days later of an overdose on October 4, 1970.
(1975) - Patty Hearst, the kidnapped newspaper heiress who joined the Symbionese Liberation Army, was captured in a San Francisco apartment after a 19-month search by the FBI.
(1978) - WKRP in Cincinnati debuted on CBS.
(1985) - David Letterman read his first "Top 10 List." The list was titled "Things That Almost Rhyme With Peas." Here's the list: 10-Heats; 9-Rice; 8-Moss; 7-Ties; 6-Needs; 5-Lens; 4-Ice; 3-Nurse; 2-Leaks; 1-Meats.
MORE HISTORIC BIRTHS & EVENTS IN SEPTEMBER :
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