Today's Trivia and What Happened on April 1

What do the movies "The Sixth Sense" and "Titanic" have in common?

What do the movies "The Sixth Sense" and "Titanic" have in common? Close Large View

Icy dead people.

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Quote: Native American 10 Commandments Remain close to the Great Spirit. Show great respect for your fellow beings. Give assistance and kindness wherever needed. Be truthful and honest at all times. Do what you know to be right. Look after the well being of mind and body. Treat the earth and all that dwell there on with respect. Take full responsibility for your actions. Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater good. Work together for the benefit of all man kind. - Bird Clan of East Central Alabama

Quote: Native American 10 Commandments Remain close to the Great Spirit. Show great respect for your fellow beings. Give assistance and kindness wherever needed. Be truthful and honest at all times. Do what you know to be right. Look after the well being of mind and body. Treat the earth and all that dwell there on with respect. Take full responsibility for your actions. Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater good. Work together for the benefit of all man kind. - Bird Clan of East Central Alabama Close Large View

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Holidays

April Fool's Day

A day of practical jokes and humor.

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What Happened On

Taco Liberty Bell

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Taco Liberty Bell

April 1, 1996

As part of an April Fool's day joke, Taco Bell takes out ads in seven leading newspapers announcing they had purchased the Liberty Bell to "reduce the country's debt" and had renamed it the "Taco Liberty Bell".
In response to public concerns, White House Press Secretary Mike McCurry stated that the federal government was also "selling the Lincoln Memorial to Ford Motor Co. and renaming it the Lincoln-Mercury Memorial".
The prank was successful in that it cost US$300,000, but generated a sales increase exceeding US$1,000,000 for the first two days in April along with a large amount of free publicity.

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Marvin Gaye Killed By His Father

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Marvin Gaye Killed By His Father

April 1, 1984

The Grammy-winning Motown singer Marvin Gaye is shot and killed by his father on the day before his birthday. Marvin and his father became involved in a physical altercation after Marvin intervened in a fight between his parents. This was one day before his birthday.

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Rocky Horror Picture Show - First Midnight Showing

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Rocky Horror Picture Show - First Midnight Showing

April 1, 1976

The Rocky Horror Picture Show has its first midnight showing, at the Waverly Theatre in New York City.
Although the film did poorly during its regular theater run, it soon became a cult midnight classic. Schoolteacher Louis Farese, Jr., Theresa Krakauskas, and Amy Lazarus are credited with starting the convention of talking back to the screen, bringing props and making up one-liners. Originally, they were just doing it to amuse each other, not realizing they were starting a long-lasting tradition.

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Apple Computer

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Apple Computer

April 1, 1976

The company is founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne. Their first product was the Apple I personal computer kit which sold for $666.66.

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Smoking Ads Banned - Providing a Boon to the Cigarette Companies

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Smoking Ads Banned - Providing a Boon to the Cigarette Companies

April 1, 1970

U.S. President Richard Nixon signs the bill banning cigarette commercials on public TV and radio. The ban went into effect the following year and applied to all broadcast mediums regulated by the FCC.
The last cigarette commercial on the national public networks was a Virginia Slims ad that aired January 1, 1971 at 11:59 p.m. on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Johnny Carson, a lifelong smoker, died of emphysema. It was reported that he repeatedly said, "These things are killing me."
Smokeless tobacco ads were allowed until 1986.
Ironically, this did not have the intended effect and actually provided a boon to the cigarette industry. Prior to this ban, stations were required to give the same time to anti-smoking messages as they did to cigarette commercials, as per the Fairness Doctrine which required equal time to controversial topics. Cigarette smoking among Americans had been on the decline of 2.6% annually from 1968 to 1970 after the application of the Fairness Doctrine to cigarette commercials. On the other hand, cigarette commercials didn't generally increase the market, but only tended to only get consumers to switch brands. Without cigarette commercials the Fairness Doctrine no longer applied thus eliminating the required anti-smoking spots. Smoking increased by 2.5% annually over the next several years. Plus, the cigarette industry's total advertising budget decreased by $80 million in 1971.

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1964 Plymouth Barracuda 1964 Plymouth Barracuda
Photo Credit: MercurySable99

1964 Plymouth Barracuda 1964 Plymouth Barracuda
Photo Credit: MercurySable99
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Barracuda - The First Pony Car

April 1, 1964

Plymouth debuts the 1964 Barracuda. It was a fastback coupe, based on the Plymouth Valiant compact car.
The term "pony car" was coined by Car Life magazine editor Dennis Shattuck to describe a sporty compact car that typically had a long hood, short deck, and "open mouth" styling.
Note: The 1965 Ford Mustang pony car was released several weeks later on April 17, 1964.

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General Hospital

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General Hospital

April 1, 1963

The daytime drama General Hospital debuts on ABC. It is the longest-running American soap opera in production and the second longest-running drama in American television history after Guiding Light.
The romance between Luke Spencer and Laura Webber became the most popular storyline in soap opera history. The two-part 1981 Luke and Laura wedding was watched by about 30 million viewers, setting a record for the highest-rated episode of an American soap opera.

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Spaghetti Tree Hoax go to Video for Spaghetti Tree Hoax

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Spaghetti Tree Hoax

April 1, 1957

"You're so dumb, you think spaghetti grows on trees!"
The BBC airs an April Fool's "news story" about the spaghetti harvest in Switzerland. It purported to show spaghetti being harvested from trees and laid out to dry and claimed that spaghetti trees had been specially bred to produce such uniform length spaghetti strands.
After the broadcast, hundreds of people called in to find out how they could obtain their own spaghetti trees.
To make it sound more authoritative, the voice-over was done by respected broadcaster Richard Dimbleby.
The idea was the brainchild of Panorama cameraman Charles de Jaeger who came up with the idea for the hoax after remembering how teachers at his school teased his classmates for being so stupid that if they were told that spaghetti grew on trees, they would believe it.

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World War II - Okinawa Invasion

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World War II - Okinawa Invasion

April 1, 1945

One of the bloodiest battles of the war. This 82-day-long battle began on Easter Sunday and April Fool's day of 1945 ending in an Allied victory. It was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific. The Japanese lost 77,000 soldiers, while the U.S. lost 14,000. It is estimated that between 42,000-150,000 civilians also died in the battle out of a population of 300,000. U.S. Lieutenant General Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr., who called for the invasion, was killed in action. After surrendering, the Japanese General Mitsuru Ushijima committed suicide. The famous war correspondent Ernie Pyle was killed by enemy fire during this battle.

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Bonnie and Clyde

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Bonnie and Clyde

April 1, 1934

The criminal couple Bonnie and Clyde, along with Henry Methvin, kill two highway patrolmen near Grapevine, Texas.

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Hitler Sentenced to Prison

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Hitler Sentenced to Prison

April 1, 1924

The future German leader Adolf Hitler is sentenced to five years in prison for his involvement in an attempt to overthrow the Bavarian government in a revolt known as the Beer Hall Putsch. He only served nine months and used his time in prison to write the first volume of Mein Kampf, which included Hitler's plans for transforming Germany into a society based on race.
Mein Kampf became a best seller and earned Hitler 7.8 million reichsmarks (about $190 million in current inflation-adjusted US dollars).

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First U.S. Serviceman Killed in World War I

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First U.S. Serviceman Killed in World War I

April 1, 1917

USN Boatswain's Mate 1st Class John E. Eopolucci is killed when the steamship SS Aztec, an American civilian cargo ship, is torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine off the coast of France. Eopolucci had volunteered to serve as part of a Naval Armed Guard team to protect the vessel as it traveled through submarine infested waters.
Twenty-eight passengers were killed, including 10 American crew members.
The following day, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson asked Congress to declare war on Germany, which it did on April 6th.

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Workers on Ford's first moving assembly line, assembling magnetos Workers on Ford's first moving assembly line, assembling magnetos

Workers on Ford's first moving assembly line, assembling magnetos Workers on Ford's first moving assembly line, assembling magnetos
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Ford's First Moving Assembly Line

April 1, 1913

Henry Ford further advances his assembly line by experimenting with a moving assembly line in his Detroit factory. It was for assembling flywheel magnetos. The assembly process was split among 29 employees, each putting together a part of the magneto, which was then conveyed by belt to the next worker. Previously, each magneto was built by a single person. The production time was lowered from 20 minutes to 13 minutes per magneto. Further improvements over the next year lowered the time to five minutes.
Ford had been inspired by Chicago meat packers, where cows and hogs were slaughtered, dressed, and packed using overhead trolleys that took the meat from worker to worker.
Ford began using a moving assembly line for entire automobile later that year.

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Book from the Anti-Opium league Book from the Anti-Opium league

Book from the Anti-Opium league Book from the Anti-Opium league
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First U.S. Federal Narcotics Prohibition

April 1, 1909

A ban on the importation and smoking of opium goes into effect. This was "The Opium Exclusion Act of 1909". It did not ban the use of opium, only the smoking and importation of it. Chinese immigrants were the primary smokers of opium, while opium was a common medicine used by Americans at the time. The previously legal trade of opium was soon taken over by criminal enterprises.

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Wrigley's ad from 1920 Wrigley's ad from 1920

Wrigley's ad from 1920 Wrigley's ad from 1920
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Wrigley's Gum

April 1, 1891

Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company is founded by 29-year-old William Wrigley, Jr. It would add chewing gum to its line of products the following year.
He originally sold Wrigley's Scouring Soap, offering premiums such as baking powder, as an incentive to buy his soap. He then switched to selling the baking powder offering chewing gum as an incentive to buy the baking powder. The chewing gum proved so popular that he began focusing on selling gum.
Wrigley's gum was originally made out of chicle, the milky latex of the sapodilla tree. In the 1960s they switched from chicle to synthetic rubber.

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Bodies and cargo being recovered from the wreckage of the RMS Atlantic Bodies and cargo being recovered from the wreckage of the RMS Atlantic

Bodies and cargo being recovered from the wreckage of the RMS Atlantic Bodies and cargo being recovered from the wreckage of the RMS Atlantic
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RMS Atlantic Disaster

April 1, 1873

The RMS Atlantic strikes an underwater rock and sinks off the coast of Nova Scotia, killing more than 535 of the 952 on board. The ship's engineer had intentionally under-reported their coal reserves in order to increase the margin for error in favor of safety. The captain, taking these numbers at face value, mistakenly believed they didn't have enough coal to make it to their destination of New York City, so he diverted to Halifax, Nova Scotia to refuel. They, in fact, had plenty of coal. While approaching Halifax, strong storm winds and currents blew them off course by about 12½ miles (20.1 km). The crew, unfamiliar with the dangers of Halifax, failed to take proper safety precautions, such as soundings, posting a lookout, or reducing speed, and struck an underwater rock. The crew attempted to lower the lifeboats, but all ten were smashed or washed away as the ship filled with water and partially capsized.

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The "$" Symbol

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The "$" Symbol

April 1, 1778

The "$" symbol for the U.S. dollar is created by Irish-born New Orleans businessman Oliver Pollock.

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Fake Psychic Video go to Video for Fake Psychic Video

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Fake Psychic Video

April 1, 1981

CNN broadcasts a video taped interview of psychic Tamara Rand predicting the Reagan assassination attempt, which had occurred two days earlier. The interview was by local KTNV TV host Dick Maurice, who claimed the interview had been taped back in January, several months before the assassination attempt. In reality, it had actually been taped the day after the shooting.
Maurice was suspended by CNN and from his radio and TV show, but remained as an entertainment columnist for the Las Vegas Sun.
Rand initially threatened to sue those who claimed the video was a fraud, but eventually admitted that the tape was a hoax. She then went on to claim that she had predicted the assassination attempt in a printed interview in early March, but that also turned out to be false.

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U.S. Information Agency

April 1, 1978

U.S. Information Agency (USIA): The agency responsible for the government's overseas information and cultural programs, including Voice of America, is founded.

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First Major League Baseball Strike

April 1, 1972

The first general player strike in organized baseball's 102-year history begins, lasting 13 days.

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U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)

April 1, 1967

The transportation agency begins operation.

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U.S. Air Force Academy seal and cadets from the first class U.S. Air Force Academy seal and cadets from the first class

U.S. Air Force Academy seal and cadets from the first class U.S. Air Force Academy seal and cadets from the first class
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U.S. Air Force Academy

April 1, 1954

Congress establishes and authorizes the construction of the U.S. Air Force Academy. It would be built in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The first recruits were accepted in 1955.

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Republic of Ireland

April 1, 1949

Republic of Ireland is established.

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Spanish Civil War

April 1, 1939

The end of the Spanish Civil War is proclaimed when the last of the Republican forces surrender.

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Civil War - Battle of Five Forks

April 1, 1865

In Petersburg, Virginia, the last major battle of the war begins.

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Western Union

April 1, 1856

Ezra Cornell founds his famous telegraph company.

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Internal-Combustion Engine

April 1, 1826

American inventor Samuel Morey receives the first U.S. patent for an internal-combustion engine. It was a two-cylinder, two-cycle device fueled by turpentine vapors.

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First U.S. Bridge

April 1, 1634

Massachusetts authorizes the construction of a bridge crossing the Neponset River.

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Birthdays

Terry Nichols

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Terry Nichols

Born April 1, 1955

American terrorist. He conspired with Timothy McVeigh in the planning of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. The attack killed 168, injured more than 680 others, and caused $652 million worth of damage. It was the largest domestic terrorist attack in the United States up to that date. For his part, he was sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole.

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Lon Chaney, Sr.

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Lon Chaney, Sr.

Born April 1, 1883 d. 1930

American horror actor, "The Man of a Thousand Faces." Film: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923, title role) and Phantom of the Opera (1925, title role).

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Jeff Porcaro

Born April 1, 1954 d. 1992

American drummer, with the group Toto. Music: Rosanna (1982) and Africa (1982, #1). He died of an allergic reaction to pesticides after spraying his yard.

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This is a birthday

Rudolph Isley

Born April 1, 1939

American Grammy-winning singer, with the Isley Brothers. Music: Twist and Shout (1962), This Old Heart of Mine (1966), and It's Your Thing (1970, Grammy).

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This is a birthday

Ali MacGraw

Born April 1, 1939

American actress. Film: Goodbye, Columbus (1969) and Love Story (1970).

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Don Hastings

Born April 1, 1934

American actor. TV: Captain Video and His Video Rangers (Captain Video's 15-year-old partner, Ranger, on TV's first space series) and As the World Turns (Dr. Bob Hughes).

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Gordon Jump

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Gordon Jump

Born April 1, 1932 d. 2003

American actor. TV: WKRP In Cincinnati (1978-82, Mr. Carlson) and the Maytag repairman of the commercials (1989-2003).

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Debbie Reynolds Photo Credit: Allan Warren

Debbie Reynolds Photo Credit: Allan Warren
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Debbie Reynolds (Mary Frances Reynolds)

Born April 1, 1932 d. 2016

American actress, Miss Burbank (1948). Film: Singin' in the Rain (1952, Kathy Selden) and Tammy and the Bachelor (1957, her performance of the song Tammy reached #1 on the music charts).

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Whitney as Star Trek's Janice Rand Whitney as Star Trek's Janice Rand

Whitney as Star Trek's Janice Rand Whitney as Star Trek's Janice Rand
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Grace Lee Whitney (Mary Ann Chase)

Born April 1, 1930 d. 2015

American actress. Known for her role as Star Trek's Janice Rand (1966, 8 episodes), Captain James T. Kirk's personal assistant. Her character was supposed to be Kirk's ongoing love interest. But, the producers decided they would rather Kirk be more of a space playboy; so her character was written out after eight episodes.
Whitney reprised her role as Janice Rand in Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979), Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986), and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991), and also played a woman in the cafeteria in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984).

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Jane Powell

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Jane Powell (Suzanne Lorraine Burce)

Born April 1, 1929 d. 2021

American actress. Film: A Date with Judy (1948), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954), and Hit the Deck (1955).TV: Growing Pains (1988-92, Irma Seaver).

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Ann McCaffrey

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Ann McCaffrey

Born April 1, 1926 d. 2011

American-born Irish Hugo Award-winning Science Fiction Hall of Fame writer. Writings: The Dragonriders of Pern series (1967‑). She was the first woman to win a Hugo award for science fiction and also the first woman to win a Nebula Award. The Pern series was continued after her death by her son Todd, who had previously collaborated with her on the books.

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Edmond Rostand

Born April 1, 1868 d. 1918

French poet, playwright. Plays: Cyrano de Bergarac (1897).

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Prince Otto von Bismarck

Born April 1, 1815 d. 1898

Prussian statesman. He created and became first chancellor of the German Empire.

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William Harvey

Born April 1, 1578 d. 1657

English physician. He discovered the function of the heart and circulatory system.

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Deaths

Rusty and Rin Tin Tin Rusty and Rin Tin Tin

Rusty and Rin Tin Tin Rusty and Rin Tin Tin
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Lee Aaker

Died April 1, 2021 b. 1943

American actor. TV: The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin (1954-59, Rusty "B-Company").

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Steven Bochco

Died April 1, 2018 b. 1943

American Emmy-winning writer, producer. TV: Hill Street Blues (1981-87), L.A. Law, Doogie Howser M.D., and NYPD Blue.

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John Forsythe (John Freund)

Died April 1, 2010 b. 1918

American actor. TV: Charlie's Angels (1976-81, voice of Charlie) and Dynasty (1981-89, Blake Carrington).

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Carrie Snodgress

Died April 1, 2004 b. 1945

American Golden Globe-winning actress. Film: Diary of a Mad Housewife (1970) and The Fury (1978).

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Marvin Gaye

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Marvin Gaye (Marvin Pentz Gaye Jr.)

Died April 1, 1984 b. 1939

American Grammy-winning Motown singer. He was shot and killed by his father on the day before his birthday. Music: How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You (1965), I Heard It Through The Grapevine (1969, #1), Let's Get It On (1973, #1), and (Sexual) Healing (1982, Grammy).

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Max Ernst

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Max Ernst

Died April 1, 1976 b. 1891

German-born Surrealist artist, and leader of the Cologne Dadaists.

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Scott Joplin

Died April 1, 1917 b. 1868

American musician, composer, rag time piano player. Music: Maple Leaf Rag and The Entertainer.

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