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 1899, Fred Astaire was born. Astaire was one of the great dancers during the heyday of the Hollywood musical, starring in 30 musicals over a 25-year period. His most frequent partner was Ginger Rogers; together, they starred in such films as Top Hat, Shall We Dance, and Swing Time. Astaire often downplayed his singing abilities, but composers of the era admired him, and he was the first to sing several songs that have since become standards ("Pick Yourself Up," "Night and Day," and "One for My Baby" among them). In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Astaire made several television specials, now partnered with dancer Barrie Chase; two of those programs, Another Evening With Fred Astaire and Astaire Time, are available for streaming at Hoopla.
	On this day in 1933, Barbara Taylor Bradford was born. She is the author of nearly 30 best-selling novels, many of them tales of young women overcoming their humble backgrounds to achieve great success. Bradford's books have been translated into more than 40 languages, and many have been adapted as television movies or mini-series. Her first novel, A Woman of Substance, is available as an e-book at OverDrive.
	And on this day in 1946, Donovan was born. His blend of folk, jazz, and psychedelia was popular in the late 1960s, when he recorded such hits as "Sunshine Superman," "Mellow Yellow," and "Hurdy Gurdy Man." By the mid-1970s, Donovan's music was going out of fashion as punk rock displaced flower power, but critics began to re-evaluate his career in the 1990s, and he has returned to recording and occasional performances. Several of Donovan's albums are available for streaming or download at Freegal.