1910 - (James) David (Graham) Niven
Academy Award-winning actor: Separate Tables [1958], The Moon is Blue, Paper Tiger, The Pink Panther, The Guns of Navarone, Around the World in 80 Days, Casino Royale; died July 29, 1983, geboren
David Niven

Born in England on this day in 1910, actor and author David Niven first reached Hollywood in the 1930's, then rose to leading man status and earned a 1958 Oscar for his acting in 'Separate Tables.' He used his clipped diction and witty, sophisticated manner to equally good effect in 'Around the World in 80 Days' and 'Casino Royale' among other films. Later, he authored two successful novels and a pair of funny, best-selling autobiographical volumes, including 'The Moon's A Balloon.' 
Mit seiner zum Understatement neigenden Komik wurde Niven zu einem der beliebtesten Schauspieler in Hollywood. Er trat oft als Offizier und als Gentleman-Gauner auf (»Der rosarote Panther«, 1963).

 1917: Das Deutsche Reich nimmt den U-Bootkrieg wieder auf. Das ist einer der äußeren Anlässe, die die USA kurz darauf zum Eintritt in den Ersten Weltkrieg bewegen werden.
 

 1922 - William Gaines
publisher: Mad magazine; died June 2, 1992, geboren

 1926 - Pete (Alvin) Rozelle
football: LA Rams GM, NFL commissioner; died Dec 6, 1996, geboren

FM RADIO DAY

Hey gang, crank up the FM stereo tuner and celebrate the reason why you listen to that hard rock/alternative music stuff in the first place. Commercial FM broadcasting began in the U.S. when station W47NV in Nashville, TN started operations on this day in 1941. W47NV was the first commercial FM radio station to receive a license, some 20 years after its AM radio counterpart, KDKA in Pittsburgh. For those of you who don’t remember, FM stands for ‘frequency modulation’ as opposed to ‘amplitude modulation’. 

W47NV operated with 20,000 watts on a frequency of 44,700 kilocycles. FM stations don’t do that anymore. They operate in a different segment of the radio spectrum (88-108 MHz) and at power outputs not exceeding 100,000 watts, except in rare instances. (There are a few FM stations in the U.S. with power output up to 300,000 watts and antennas more than a thousand feet high.) 

In the beginning, FM radio was pretty much a graveyard for beautiful music that numbed us in doctor’s offices and in elevators. It became a primary source for educational programming; featuring classical music, opera and jazz. 

Today, more than 80 percent of radio listening in the United States is done by way of FM and one can hear just about everything, from oldies, rock and pop, country and blues to National Public Radio -- not to mention Howard Stern and his ilk. (And if you haven’t heard Howard Stern’s ilk, you haven’t heard anything.) 

That’s it. I’m Mr. Wizard. Thank you. And thank you FM! 
 1941: Der Reichsführer SS, Heinrich Himmler, besichtigt das Konzentrationslager Auschwitz und ordnet dessen Ausbau an. Er will das KZ zu einer "Häftlings-Rüstungs-Zentrale" ausbauen.
1941 - Downbeat magazine scooped the entertainment world with news that Glenn Miller’s renewed contract with Chesterfield Cigarettes was worth $4,850 a week (for three 15-minute programs). 

1941 - Duffy’s Tavern debuted on CBS radio -- and became a popular hit for 10 years. 
 

 1949: In Hannover wird der von Telefunken gebaute UKW/FM-Sender des NWDR eingeschaltet.
1949 - ‘The Brown Bomber’, Joe Louis, announced that he was retiring from boxing as world heavyweight boxing champion. Louis held the title longer than any other champ -- 11 years, eight months and seven days.