This Day In History:5/25/06

On this day, 128 years ago, a great American artist, born to a machinest and choir singer, was born. Starting at the age of 12 he traveled around the country practicing his craft. He started in Vaudeville, performed on Broadway and became a famous movie star. He was a teacher to Sammy Davis, Jr. and Shirley Temple. Once the highest paid African-American, this man

"became (known as) a modern John Henry, who instead of driving steel, laid down iron taps."

Mr. Bojangles. The Mayor of Harlem. Mr. Bill Robinson was a monster of creative energy. He is one of America's great dancers.

Other Events On This Day:

1844 - Stuart Perry of New York City patented the gasoline engine on this day.

1927 - The Ford Motor Company announced that its popular automobile model, the Model T, known as the Tin Lizzie, would not be rolling off assembly lines anymore.

1935 - Babe Ruth, then of the Boston Braves, hit home runs 713 and 714 on this day at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh -- home of the Pirates.

1965 - From the Look But Don’t Blink file: A very short, heavyweight title fight happened in Lewiston, ME. Cassius Clay knocked out challenger Sonny Liston in one minute and 56 seconds of the first round. Liston never saw the punch coming. Neither did an unbelieving crowd at ringside, nor those in theatres all over the world watching the fight on closed-circuit TV. The phantom punch was never explained, but Liston was knocked cold from whatever Clay threw at him.

1983 - Return of the Jedi, topped all previous opening day box office records with a gross of $6,219,629. It opened on 1,002 movie screens around the U.S

Birthdays:

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Miles Davis
Frank Oz

Hat Tip to 440 International