Tuesday, August 1, 2006

Spotlight
Happy 25th anniversary to MTV. Music Television debuted on this date in 1981 with the video of The Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star." MTV started out as a music video station on cable television, devoted primarily to pop music. Over the years the station has featured a variety of programs, including animated cartoons, reality shows, drama and comedy, and a majority of its programming now consists of non-music TV shows. Some of its top-rated shows include Beavis and Butt-Head, The Osbournes and Punk'd.

Quote
"It's great to know rock music still has a place on MTV." – Billie Joe Armstrong

Today in History

• census: first US tally showed a population close to 4 million; it is now nearly 250 million (1790)
• cable car: inventor Andrew S. Hallidie successfully tested new SF model (1873)
• Colorado: became second Rocky Mountain state to join the Union (1876)
• Berlin Olympics: opening ceremony was presided over by Adolf Hitler (1936)
• Fulbright: scholarship program was signed into law (1946)

Today's Birthdays

• Francis Scott Key: attorney who wrote "The Star Spangled Banner," inspired by Fort McHenry battle (1779-1843)
• Yves Saint Laurent: Algerian-born French fashion designer who popularized pants for women (70)
• Jerry Garcia: leader of The Grateful Dead (1942-1995)