A man named Friedrich Froebel actually invented kindergarten. Little Freddie was born on this day in 1782 in Germany. He grew up to become a teacher, author and toy maker. 

Friedrich’s experience as an educator led him to the conclusion that playtime can be very instructive; an essential part of a child’s education. He founded the first kindergarten for this purpose in 1837 in Blankenburg, Germany. 

This directed playtime led to his invention of a series of toys that were designed to stimulate learning. He called these toys, gifts. The mother of famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright gave her son some of these gifts ... in the form of maple wood blocks. Wright often spoke of the value the gifts had brought him throughout his life. 

Nursery school and kindergarten as we know it are the direct results of the influence of Friedrich Froebel. The first public school kindergarten in the U.S. was started in St. Louis, Missouri in 1873. 

Now put your paper and paste away; it’s time to lie down on your mats. 

 1924 - Clara Ward
gospel singer: group: Clara Ward Gospel Troupe; died Jan 16, 1973, geboren
Eleonora Duse (65), Filmschaffende/R, gestorben
Marie Corelli, Filmschaffende/R, gestorben

 1926: Elisabeth II., brit. Königin, Seit 1952 Königin von Großbritannien und Nordirland, geboren

 1926: Erich Bachmann, dt. Komponist und Orchesterleiter, geboren

 1926 - Queen Elizabeth II (Elisabeth Mary)
Queen of the United Kingdom [1952- ]; eldest daughter of George VI and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon; married Philip Mountbatten [1947]: four children: Charles [Prince of Wales], Anne, Andrew, Edward, geboren

 1935 - Charles Grodin
actor: Clifford, Beethoven I & II, Midnight Run, Dave; director, host: The Charles Grodin Show, geboren

 1947 - Al (Alonza Benjamin) Bumbry (Bumbrey)
baseball: Baltimore Orioles (Rookie of the Year: 1973/World Series: 1979, 1983/all-star: 1980), SD Padres, geboren

 1947 - Iggy Pop (James Newell Osterburg)
singer, songwriter: group: Psychedelic Stooges: LP: The Stooges, geboren

 1947 - John Weider
musician: bass: group: Family: No Mule’s Fool, Weaver’s Answer, In My Own Time, Burlesque, LPs: Fearless, Bandstand, geboren

 1949 - Patti LuPone
actress: Evita, Song Spinner, Driving Miss Daisy, Wise Guys, 1941, Life Goes On, geboren

 1951 - Tony Danza
actor: Family Law, Who’s the Boss, Taxi, Angels in the Outfield, Baby Talk, geboren

 1958 - Andie (Rosalie Anderson) MacDowell
actress: Multiplicity, Unstrung Heroes, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Short Cuts, Groundhog Day, Green Card, sex lies and videotape, St. Elmo’s Fire, The Player, Greystroke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes, geboren

 1965: Thomas Helmer, dt. Fußballspieler, geboren
 1965: Christina Plate, dt. Schauspielerin, "Zoff und Zärtlichkeit", geboren
1965 - Christina Plate (37), deutsche Film- und Fernsehschauspielerin , geboren
1965 - Christina Plate (38), deutsche Film- und Fernsehschauspielerin («Praxis Bülowbogen»), geboren

 1976: Wegen Auseinandersetzungen mit der Steuerbehörde verläßt der schwedische Filmregisseur Ingmar Bergman sein Heimatland und reist in die Bundesrepublik Deutschland, wo er Regisseur am Münchner Residenztheater wird.
1976 - A Cadillac convertible, the ‘last’ American-made rag-top automobile, rolled off the assembly line at GM’s Cadillac production facility in Detroit, MI. This ended a tradition that began in 1916. The tradition didn’t stay ended, however. A few years later, Chrysler Corporation, under chairman Lee Iacocca, began production once again of soft-top cars. Then Ford brought back the convertible Mustang and GM got back in the picture with the convertible Pontiac Sunbird and a new, smaller Cadillac version. It seems that the convertible is just too popular to disappear from the American auto scene! 

1977 - The Broadway musical, Annie, opened at the Alvin Theatre in New York City. Andrea McArdle was a shining star in the title role. Annie continued on the Great White Way until January 2, 1983. 

1984 - David Palmer pitched only the fourth shortened, perfect game in major-league baseball history. Palmer was pitching the Montreal Expos to a 4-0 lead over the St. Louis Cardinals when the home plate umpire called the game in five innings when the rains came. Palmer had made 57 pitches. 

1998 - Jean-François Lyotard, französischer Philosoph («Postmoderne Moralitäten»), geb. 1925 , gestorben