Welcome to ON THIS DAY! Each day, we'll look at a few moments from history and popular culture. We'll show you where you can rediscover classic movies and music, or read more about great moments in history. We'll point you to e-books, downloadable and streamable music and film, and e-audio; and of course, we haven't forgotten about physical books or DVDs.
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On this day in 1907, Barbara Stanwyck was born. She was working as a Broadway showgirl while still in her teens, and became one of the most popular movie stars of the 1930s and 1940, appearing in such classic films as Stella Dallas, Ball of Fire, The Lady Eve, and Sorry, Wrong Number. In the 1960s and 1970s, her career moved to television, where she won Emmy Awards for the Western series The Big Valley and the miniseries The Thorn Birds. She stars with Fred MacMurray and Edward G. Robinson in Double Indemnity, available for streaming at Hoopla or on DVD. |
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On this day in 1941, Joe DiMaggio hit safely in his 56th consecutive game, setting a record that still stands for the longest hitting streak in Major League Baseball. He'd had an even longer streak, though; eight years earlier, he had a 61-game streak while playing for the minor league San Francisco Seals. DiMaggio was one of nine children, and two of his brothers, Dom and Vince, were also major league baseball players. Tom Clavin's biography of the brothers, The DiMaggios, is available in print and as an OverDrive e-book. |
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And on this day in 1948, Rubén Blades was born. The Panamanian singer performs a mix of salsa and Latin jazz, and has recorded more than 30 albums. He also holds law degrees from the University of Panama and Harvard University, and ran for president of Panama in 1994. From 2004-2009, he served as minister of tourism. Several of his albums are available for streaming or download at Freegal. |