Entertainment History
On Oct. 18, 1952, Hank Williams married his second wife, Billie Jean Jones, in Minden, Louisiana. The next day, they repeated their vows twice at two shows for concert-goers in New Orleans.
In 1966, the Jimi Hendrix Experience made its debut in Paris.
In 1967, the satiric film “How I Won the War” premiered in London. It starred John Lennon as Private Gripweed.
In 1968, Bob Wills was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Also in 1968, John Lennon was arrested in Ringo Starr’s London apartment for marijuana possession. The arrest became the basis for a battle by U.S. immigration officials who wanted to deport Lennon.
In 1974, Al Green’s girlfriend, Mary Woodson, threw a pot of boiling grits on Green as he was getting out of a bathtub, then took her own life at Green’s home north of Memphis.
In 1988, Bruce Springsteen broke up the E Street Band, telling them he wanted to pursue his own projects. They have since reunited.
Also in 1988, the sitcom “Roseanne,” starring Roseanne Barr, made its debut on ABC.
In 2000, singer Zack De La Rocha announced he was leaving Rage Against The Machine. They have since reunited.
Today’s Birthdays: Singer Russ Giguere of The Association is 81. Actor Joe Morton is 77. Actor Pam Dawber is 74. Gospel singer Vickie Winans is 71. Director David Twohy (“Riddick” movies) is 69. Actor Jon Lindstrom (“General Hospital”) is 67. Actor Jean-Claude Van Damme is 64. Jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis is 63. Actor Vincent Spano is 62. Bassist Tim Cross (Sponge) is 58. Singer Nonchalant is 57. Actor Joy Bryant (“Parenthood”) is 50. Guitarist Peter Svensson of The Cardigans is 50. Actor Wesley Jonathan is 46. Singer Ne-Yo is 45. Country singer and “American Idol” contestant Josh Gracin is 44. Country musician Jesse Littleton (Marshall Dyllon) is 43. Actor Freida Pinto (“Slumdog Millionaire”) is 40. Jazz musician Esperanza Spalding is 40. Actor Zac Efron (“High School Musical,” ″Hairspray”) is 37. Actor Joy Lauren (“Desperate Housewives”) is 35. Actor Tyler Posey is 33. Actor Toby Regbo (“Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald”) is 33.
