On this day in 1957, U.S. Customs agents seized 500+ copies of Allen Ginsberg’s famed Beat Generation book and poem “Howl,” as part of a government crackdown on “angelheaded hipsters burning for the ancient heavenly connection to the starry dynamo in the machinery of night.” (Video: Ginsberg reading part of the poem)
On this day in 1991, seven Oscars were awarded to the epic Marvel frontier western starring Kevin Costner and Hugh Jackman, “Dances With Wolverine.”
On this day in 1965, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. led thousands of non-violent marchers to the Alabama state capitol, demanding the right to urinate in “whites only” drinking fountains. (Hey, just M.L. Kidding here!)
Today’s Birthdays:
Gloria Steinem, 90: noted feminist, original publisher of the trailblazing “Ms” magazine and its lesser-known matronly sister publication “Ma’am.”
Sir David Lean (1908-1991): Oscar-winning filmmaker, directed the 1962 epic “Lawrence of Arabia” and its gender-bending sequel Florence of Arabia.”
Aretha Franklin (1942–2018): singer known as the Queen of Soul; hit #1 on the soul-comedy charts with her duet with Rodney Dangerfield, “No Respect.”
Sarah Jessica Parker, 59: actress, starred opposite James Spader in the creepy Steven Soderbergh drama “Sex Lies and Videotape in the City.”
Elton John, 77: singer, hit #1 with his ode to a wacky cartoon space family, “Bennie and the Jetsons”