Bizarro Files: 14 July 2010

Today is Bastille Day in France and its dependencies, the only holiday to be named after a Rush song.

The Manliest Damn Thing You'll Read All Day: Phil Everly smashed his guitar and stomped off stage at Hollywood's John Wayne Theatre this day in 1973. After finishing the set solo, Don Everly announced to the audience -- in case anyone hadn't noticed -- that The Everly Brothers had disbanded. (Smashing a perfectly good guitar -- not manly. Finishing the set by yourself -- manly.)

Famous and/or infamous people and/or critters and/or things born this day include American painter James Abbott McNeill Whistler (1834-1903); animator William Hanna (1910-2001); folk singer and songwriter Woody Guthrie (1912-1967); President Gerald Ford (1913-2006); Swedish film and theatre director Ingmar Bergman (1918-2007); American actor Harry Dean Stanton (born in 1926); Buddhist nun Pema Chodron (born in 1936); actor Vincent Pastore (born in 1946); evangelist and anti-Muslim bigot Franklin Graham (born in 1952); American actress, comedian and singer Jane Lynch and Beninese singer Angelique Kidjo (both born in 1960); American actor Jackie Earle Haley (born in 1961); musician Tanya Donelly and actor Matthew Fox (both born in 1966).

Deaths on this date include American outlaw Billy the Kid (1859-1881, killed by his supposed BFF Pat Garrett); and presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson (1900-1965).

Elsewhen:

Parisian citizens stormed the Bastille this day in 1789 and freed seven prisoners as part of the French Revolution. A year later, the Parisians held the Fête de la Fédération to celebrate the constitutional monarchy and the nation's reconciliation. And on this day in 1791, rioters drove Unitarian clergyman and scientist Joseph Priestley out of Birmingham, England, for his support of the French Revolution. (News traveled slowly in those days.)

The federal Sedition Act took effect this day in 1798, making it illegal to write, publish or speak false or malicious statements regarding the U.S. government. The Republican Party of today would be headquartered in a federal penitentiary, and Fox News and the Tea Party would be based in its mental hospital wing, if the law were still in effect today.

Topping the U.S. singles chart on this date: "I'll Be Seeing You" by Bing Crosby (1944); "Mona Lisa" by Nat "King" Cole (1950); "I'm Sorry" by Brenda Lee (1960); "Rag Doll" by The Four Seasons (1964); "Listen to What the Man Said" by Paul McCartney and Wings (1975); "Bad Girls" by Donna Summer (1979); and "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" by Billy Joel (1980).

The United States stopped circulating the $500, $1,000, $5,000 and $10,000 bills this day in 1969. Bummer.

The movie based on Pink Floyd's album The Wall debuted in London this day in 1982.

Other No. 1 songs on the U.S. singles chart on this date include "Invisible Touch" by Genesis (1986); "If You Don't Know Me by Now" by Simply Red (1989); "Unbelievable" by EMF (1991); and "Everything You Want" by Vertical Horizon (2000).

French President Jacques Chirac was the victim of an unsuccessful assassination attempt during Bastille Day celebrations this day in 2002.

The U.S. government acknowledged the existence of Area 51 this day in 2003. Wait, what? The Bush Crime Family OPENED a government file for once?

Sources: Wikipedia, Josh Hosler's Web site, This Day in Music.com, the voices in my head.