In the mood for a good movie? Some toe-tapping music? A thrilling book? ON THIS DAY will lead you to new possibilities every day, tied to interesting moments from history and popular culture. Whether it’s streamable and downloadable music and film, e-books and e-audio, or physical books and DVDs, we hope you’ll find something to enjoy as you pick up a few bits of history each day.

	On this day in 1872, Paul Laurence Dunbar was born. Dunbar was among the first African-American poets to gain national recognition and critical praise. Much of his poetry was written in various dialects (African-American, German, Irish, Midwestern). Dunbar also wrote four novels, which were not well received by critics of the era, and the lyrics to the 1903 musical In Dahomey, the first Broadway musical to be written and performed entirely by African-Americans. He was a prolific writer, publishing ten books of poetry before his death of tuberculosis at the age of 33. Selections of Dunbar's poems are available as an e-book from OverDrive, or in print.
	On this day in 1925, Doc Pomus was born. Pomus was a songwriter who contributed greatly to early rock and R&B beginning in the late 1950s. His best-known songs were written in collaboration with Mort Shuman; "A Teenager in Love," "This Magic Moment," and "Viva Las Vegas" are all Pomus & Shuman songs. Their most frequently recorded song is "Save the Last Dance for Me;" versions by The Drifters, Dolly Parton, Paul Anka, Leonard Cohen, Buck Owens, and The Troggs (among others) are available for streaming or download at Freegal.
	And on this day in 1927, Bob Keeshan was born. Keeshan was one of the first stars of children's television, playing Clarabell the Clown on Howdy Doody in the late 1940s. In 1955, he took on the role for which he will be remembered, as the star of Captain Kangaroo. For almost 30 years, Keeshan welcomed children to "The Captain's Place," where he would play games, tell stories, and show short films with his regular cast of characters -- Mr. Green Jeans, the farmer; puppets Mr. Bunny Rabbit and Mr. Moose, Dancing Bear, and Grandfather Clock. Keeshan, as Captain Kangaroo, narrates a performance of Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf in a recording available for streaming or download at Freegal.