Entertainment

On Dec. 4, 1944, country singer Eddy Arnold made his first recordings in Nashville.

In 1956, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins made a series of impromptu recordings in Memphis at Sun Records. They were released 25 years later under the title “The Million Dollar Quartet.” The event was dramatized in a musical of the same name in 2007.

In 1965, Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones was knocked unconscious when his guitar touched an ungrounded microphone during a concert in Sacramento, California. He still managed to finish the show.

In 1976, actor Elizabeth Taylor married Senator John Warner of Virginia. They divorced in 1982.

In 1980, the surviving members of Led Zeppelin announced they would not re-form after the death of drummer John Bonham.

In 1989, the Supreme Court upheld an appeals court ruling that said Prince did not steal the song “U Got the Look” from his half-sister. Lorna Nelson claimed the lyrics were similar to ones she had written.

In 1990, Madonna appeared on ABC’s “Nightline” to defend her “Justify My Love” video, which was banned by MTV. She denied the video’s explicit content was meant to stir up controversy and get publicity.

In 1991, Van Halen performed a free show in Dallas. Lead singer Sammy Hagar had promised to do the show because he had lost his voice during a concert in Dallas three and a half years earlier.

In 1993, musician Frank Zappa died at his home in Los Angeles. He was 52.

In 1997, the band Dinosaur Jr. broke up. They have since reformed.

In 2023, “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time, 65 years after its release. It set a record for the song with the longest run between its release and hitting number one. Lee also became the oldest artist to top the chart, at 78.

Today’s birthdays: Game show host Wink Martindale is 91. Singer Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon is 88. Actor-producer-director Max Baer Junior (“The Beverly Hillbillies”) is 87. Actor Gemma Jones is 82. Bassist Bob Mosley of Moby Grape is 82. Singer-bassist Chris Hillman (The Byrds, the Flying Burrito Brothers) is 80. Singer Southside Johnny Lyon of Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes is 76. Actor Jeff Bridges is 75. Actor Patricia Wettig is 73. Drummer Brian Prout of Diamond Rio is 69. Jazz singer Cassandra Wilson is 69. Bassist Bob Griffin (The BoDeans) is 65. Singer Vinnie Dombroski of Sponge is 62. Actor Chelsea Noble (“Growing Pains,” ″Kirk”) is 60. Actor Marisa Tomei (toh-MAY’) is 60. Comedian Fred Armisen (“Portlandia,” ″Saturday Night Live”) is 58. Rapper Jay-Z is 55. Actor Kevin Sussman (“Ugly Betty”) is 54. Model Tyra Banks is 51. Country singer Lila McCann is 43. Actor Lindsay Felton (“Caitlin’s Way”) is 40. Actor Orlando Brown (“That’s So Raven”) is 37. Actor Scarlett Estevez (“Lucifer”) is 17.

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On Dec. 2, 1933, “Dancing Lady,” Fred Astaire’s first film, was released. Joan Crawford was his dance partner.

In 1943, “Carmen Jones” opened on Broadway. It was a contemporary reworking of the Bizet (bee-ZAY’) opera “Carmen” with an all-black cast by Oscar Hammerstein II.

In 1949, Gene Autry’s “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” first hit the pop charts.

In 1973, mail-in tickets for a Bob Dylan U.S. tour went on sale. At one San Francisco post office, there was a five-block-long traffic jam.

Also in 1973, The Who spent the night in jail in Montreal after causing $6,000 worth of damage to a hotel room. The incident inspired John Entwistle to write “Cell Block Number Seven.”

In 1983, MTV first aired Michael Jackson’s 14-minute “Thriller” video.

In 1986, Jerry Lee Lewis checked into the Betty Ford Clinic to overcome an addiction to painkillers.

In 1990, composer Aaron Copland (KOHP’-land) died at age 90.

Also in 1990, actor Katharine Hepburn made a rare appearance in Washington to accept the Kennedy Center Honor for Lifetime Achievement.

In 1996, actor Burt Reynolds filed for bankruptcy.

In 2000, Smashing Pumpkins played their last concert with the original lineup, at the Metro concert hall in Chicago. It was the same club where they had played their first show 13 years earlier.

In 2004, Brian Williams anchored his first “Nightly News” on NBC. He took over for Tom Brokaw.

Today’s Birthdays: Actor Cathy Lee Crosby (“That’s Incredible”) is 80. Director Penelope Spheeris (“Wayne’s World,” “The Decline of Western Civilization”) is 79. Actor Ron Raines (“Guiding Light”) is 75. Country singer John Wesley Ryles is 74. Actor Keith Szarabajka (zayr-ah-BY’-kah) (”Angel,” “The Equalizer”) is 72. Actor Dan Butler (“Frasier”) is 70. News anchor Stone Phillips is 70. Actor Dennis Christopher (“Breaking Away,” ″Chariots of Fire”) is 69. Actor Steven Bauer (“Scarface”) is 68. Bassist Rick Savage of Def Leppard is 64. Actor Brendan Coyle (“Downton Abbey”) is 61. Actor Lucy Liu is 56. Bassist Nate Mendel of Foo Fighters is 56. Actor Suzy Nakamura (“Dr. Ken”) is 56. Actor Rena Sofer (“24,” ″Just Shoot Me”) is 56. Rapper Treach of Naughty By Nature is 54. Actor Joe Lo Truglio (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”) is 54. Singer Nelly Furtado is 46. Singer Britney Spears is 43. Singer-actor Jana Kramer is 41. Actor-comedian Yvonne Orji is 41. Actor Daniela Ruah (“NCIS: Los Angeles”) is 41. Actor Alfred Enoch (“How To Get Away With Murder”) is 36. Singer Charlie Puth is 33.

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On Nov. 25, 1952, the Agatha Christie play “Mousetrap” opened in London. It became the longest-running play ever.

In 1961, musicians Don and Phil Everly were sworn in to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves in Nashville and later reported to Camp Pendleton in San Diego.

In 1968, The Beatles’ “White Album” was released.

In 1976, The Band gave its final performance in San Francisco. The concert was documented in the movie “The Last Waltz.”

In 1969, John Lennon returned his MBE medal to the queen to protest Britain’s support for U.S. involvement in Vietnam, among other things. The other three Beatles kept their medals, which they received in 1965.

In 1984, the Ethiopian famine relief song “Do They Know It’s Christmas” by Band Aid was recorded in London. The session was organized by singer Bob Geldof of Boomtown Rats and Ultravox singer Midge Ure.

In 1985, singer Bobby Brown announced he was leaving the group New Edition for a solo career.

In 1992, Whitney Houston’s first movie, “The Bodyguard,” opened nationwide. The movie’s theme song “I Will Always Love You” was already a number-one song when the film opened.

Also in 1992, the movie “Aladdin” opened nationwide.

In 1998, comedian Flip Wilson died of liver cancer at his home in Malibu, California. He was 64.

Also in 1998, actor Michael J. Fox revealed he had Parkinson’s disease.

In 2002, actor Nicolas Cage filed for divorce from singer Lisa Marie Presley. They had been married for four months.

In 2023, “Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce’” premiered in Los Angeles.

Today’s Birthdays: Singer Bob Lind is 82. Actor-game show host Ben Stein is 80. Actor John Larroquette is 77. “Dancing With The Stars” judge Bruno Tonioli is 69. Singer Amy Grant is 64. Drummer Scott Mercado (Candlebox) is 60. Singer Tim Armstrong of Rancid is 59. Actor Steve Harris (“Friday Night Lights,” ″The Practice”) is 59. Actor Billy Burke (“Twilight” films) is 58. Singer Stacy Lattisaw is 58. Guitarist Rodney Sheppard of Sugar Ray is 58. Rapper-producer Erick Sermon is 56. Actor Jill Hennessy (“Crossing Jordan”) is 55. Actor Christina Applegate is 53. Actor Eddie Steeples (“My Name Is Earl”) is 51. Actor Kristian Nairn (“Game of Thrones”) is 49. Actor Jill Flint (“The Good Wife,” “Royal Pains”) is 47. Actor Jerry Ferrara (“Entourage”) is 45. Actor Valerie Azlynn (“Sullivan and Son”) is 44. Actor Katie Cassidy (“Arrow,” new “Melrose Place”) is 38. Actor Stephanie Hsu (Film’s “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” TV’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) is 34. Contemporary Christian singer Jamie Grace is 33.

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On Nov. 21, 1934, the Cole Porter musical “Anything Goes” opened in New York.

In 1960, George Harrison was deported from Germany after The Beatles had moved to Hamburg to play clubs there. Authorities were tipped off that he was not yet 18 and was therefore not allowed to be in a nightclub after midnight.

In 1974, the Kiss Army fan club officially formed in Terre Haute, Indiana.

In 1980, an estimated 83 million TV viewers tuned in to the CBS prime-time soap opera “Dallas” to find out who shot J.R., played by Larry Hagman. It turned out to be Kristin Shephard, played by Mary Crosby.

Also in 1980, singer Don Henley was arrested after a nude 16-year-old girl, overdosing on drugs, was found in his Los Angeles home. Henley pleaded no contest, was fined and given probation.

In 1982, Liza Minnelli, Willie Nelson, Smokey Robinson and Andrew Lloyd Webber were honored as the first group of Grammy Living Legends at a gala in Los Angeles.

Also in 1982, singer Joni Mitchell married her bassist, Larry Klein, in Malibu, California. They divorced after nearly 12 years together.

In 1987, actors Bruce Willis and Demi Moore were married in Las Vegas. They separated after 10 years.

In 1990, singer Mick Jagger and model Jerry Hall were married after being together for 12 years. They split in 1999.

In 1995, singer Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day was arrested for dropping his pants at a concert in Milwaukee. He was fined $141.

In 1996, actor Sherry Stringfield quit the cast of “ER” to spend more time with her family and boyfriend. She rejoined the cast five years later.

In 1997, rapper Coolio and seven members of his band were arrested for theft and assault in a boutique in Boblingen, Germany. Coolio was convicted and fined.

In 2014, the single “Happy” by Pharrell Williams was released.

Today’s Birthdays: Actor Laurence Luckinbill is 90. Actor Marlo Thomas is 87. Actor Juliet Mills (“Passions,” ″Nanny and the Professor”) is 83. Actor Goldie Hawn is 79. Director Andrew Davis (“The Fugitive,” “Holes”) is 78. Keyboardist Lonnie Jordan of War is 76. Singer Livingston Taylor is 74. Actor-singer Lorna Luft is 73. Actor Cherry Jones (“The Horse Whisperer”) is 68. Bassist Brian Ritchie of Violent Femmes is 64. Contemporary Christian singer Steven Curtis Chapman is 62. Actor Nicollette Sheridan is 61. Singer Bjork (BYORK) is 59. Singer Chauncey Hannibal of BLACKstreet is 56. Bassist Alex James of Blur is 56. TV personality Rib Hillis (“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”) is 54. Rapper Pretty Lou of Lost Boyz is 53. Football player-turned-TV host Michael Strahan (“Good Morning America,” ″Live With Kelly and Michael”) is 53. Actor Marina de Tavira (“Roma”) is 51. Country singer Kelsi Osborn of SHeDAISY is 50. Actor Jimmi Simpson (“Westworld,” ″It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”) is 49. Actor Lindsey Haun (“True Blood,” “Broken Bridges”) is 40. Actor Jena Malone (“Hunger Games” films) is 40. Singer Carly Rae Jepsen is 39. Actor Sam Palladio (“Nashville”) is 38.

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On Nov. 20, 1966, the musical “Cabaret” opened on Broadway.

In 1970, Kinks singer Ray Davies re-recorded one word for the single “Apeman.” The song contained the word “foggin’,” which sounded too much like an expletive.

In 1973, Who drummer Keith Moon collapsed twice during a concert in San Francisco, apparently because of jet lag. Guitarist Pete Townshend asked for a volunteer from the audience to finish the set — and got one.

In 1983, an estimated 100 million people watched the controversial ABC movie “The Day After,” which depicted the outbreak of nuclear war.

In 1990, Milli Vanilli held a press conference to discuss the lip-synching scandal that cost them their Grammy. Rob Pilatus (pih-LAY’-tuhs) told kids to get a good lawyer if they want to get into show business.

In 1994, musician David Crosby got a liver transplant.

In 2015, Adele released her “25” album. It sold 3.38 million copies in its first week of release in the U.S., setting a record for first-week sales.

Today’s Birthdays: Actor Estelle Parsons (“The Connors,” “Roseanne”) is 97. Comedian Dick Smothers is 86. Singer Norman Greenbaum is 82. Actor Veronica Hamel (“Hill Street Blues”) is 81. Broadcast journalist Judy Woodruff is 78. Musician Joe Walsh is 77. Actor Richard Masur (“One Day at a Time,” “Rhoda”) is 76. Actor Bo Derek is 68. Drummer Jimmy Brown of UB40 is 67. Actor Sean Young is 65. Pianist Jim Brickman is 63. Actor Ming-Na (“Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” ″Mulan”) is 61. Rapper Mike D of the Beastie Boys is 59. Rapper Sen Dog of Cypress Hill is 59. Actor Callie Thorne (“Rescue Me,” “Homicide: Life on the Street”) is 55. Actor Sabrina Lloyd (“Numb3rs”) is 54. Actor Joel McHale (“Community”) is 53. Actor Marisa Ryan (“New York Undercover”) is 50. Country singer Dierks Bentley is 49. Actor Joshua Gomez (“Chuck”) is 49. Country singer Josh Turner is 47. Actor Nadine Velazquez (“My Name Is Earl”) is 46. Actor Jacob Pitts (“Sneaky Pete,” “Justified”) is 45. Actor Andrea Riseborough (“National Treasure”) is 43. Actor Jeremy Jordan (“Supergirl”) is 40. Actor Ashley Fink (“Glee”) is 38. Bassist Jared Followill of Kings of Leon is 38. Actor Jaina Lee Ortiz (“Station 19”) is 38. Actor Cody Linley (“Hannah Montana”) is 35. Guitarist Michael Clifford of 5 Seconds Of Summer is 29.

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On Nov. 15, 1969, singer Janis Joplin was arrested in Tampa, Florida, for using vulgar and indecent language at her concert. Joplin was released on bond, and the charges eventually were dropped.

Also in 1969, the Star Club in Hamburg, Germany, closed. It’s where The Beatles performed in their early days.

In 1977, the soundtrack to “Saturday Night Fever” was released.

In 1980, David Bowie opened on Broadway in the title role of “The Elephant Man.”

In 1990, Milli Vanilli producer Frank Farian admitted that Rob Pilatus and Fab Morvan didn’t sing a note on their “Girl You Know It’s True” album.

In 1996, Michael Jackson married dermatologist aide Debbie Rowe in Sydney, Australia. She was six months pregnant with his child. They later divorced.

In 2000, Michael Abram was acquitted of stabbing musician George Harrison in his home. Abram was found innocent by reason of insanity.

In 2004, rapper Dr. Dre was punched at the Vibe Awards by Jimmy “James” Johnson, who was then stabbed by rapper Young Buck.

Also in 2004, ABC ran a sketch during “Monday Night Football” showing Nicolette Sheridan in a towel trying to persuade Terrell Owens of the Philadelphia Eagles to spend the night with her. The sketch prompted an uproar that resulted in an apology from ABC.

Today’s Birthdays: Singer Petula Clark is 92. Actor Sam Waterston (“Law and Order”) is 84. Singer Anni-Frid Lyngstad of ABBA is 79. Actor Bob Gunton (TV’s “24,” film’s “The Shawshank Redemption”) is 79. Actor Beverly D’Angelo (“National Lampoon’s Vacation”) is 73. Actor-director James Widdoes (“Animal House”) is 71. News correspondent John Roberts is 68. Bandleader Kevin Eubanks (“The Tonight Show With Jay Leno”) is 67. Comedian Judy Gold is 62. Actor Rachel True (“Half and Half”) is 58. Rapper E-40 is 57. Country singer Jack Ingram is 54. Actor Jonny Lee Miller (“Elementary,” “Eli Stone”) is 52. Actor Sydney Tamiia Poitier-Heartsong (“Carter,” “Veronica Mars”) is 51. Drummer David Carr of Third Day is 50. Singer Chad Kroeger of Nickelback is 50. Drummer Jesse Sandoval (The Shins) is 50. Actor Virginie Ledoyen (“The Beach”) is 48. Actor Sean Murray (“NCIS”) is 47. Rapper B.o.B is 36. Actor Shailene Woodley is 33. Actor Emma Dumont (Film’s “Oppenheimer,” TV’s “Bunheads”) is 30.

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