(Following Advance for Use Thursday, September 25th)




MORNINGPREP-MORNINGPREP-MORNINGPREP-MORNINGPREP

! ENTERTAINMENT HISTORY !

On September 25th, 1964, Beatles manager Brian Epstein turned down an offer from a group of U.S. businessmen to buy out his management contract with The Beatles.

In 1965, "The Beatles" cartoon show premiered on ABC. The show featured Beatles songs but not their voices.

In 1973, the Rolling Stones album "Goat's Head Soup" went gold, even though the band admitted it wasn't their favorite album.

In 1974, guitarist Robert Fripp of King Crimson announced the band was breaking up temporarily.

In 1975, singer Jackie Wilson suffered a heart attack while performing in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. He collapsed just as he sang the line "My heart is crying" from "Lonely Teardrops." He emerged from a coma with significant brain damage.

In 1976, Loggins and Messina broke up.

In 1980, drummer John Bonham of Led Zeppelin died from choking on his own vomit after drinking a huge amount of vodka the night before the band's U.S. tour. He was 32.

In 1990, drummer Dave Grohl joined Nirvana.

Today's birthdays: Newswoman Barbara Walters is 79. Singer Ian Tyson of Ian and Sylvia is 75. Actor Robert Walden ("Lou Grant") is 65. Actor Michael Douglas is 64. Model Cheryl Tiegs is 61.

Actress Mimi Kennedy ("Dharma and Greg") is 59. Actor Anson Williams ("Happy Days") is 59. Actor Mark Hamill is 57. Polka band leader Jimmy Sturr is 57. Actor Colin Friels is 56. Actor Michael Madsen is 50. Actress Heather Locklear is 47. Actress Aida Turturro ("The Sopranos") is 46. Actor Tate Donovan ("The O.C.") is 45. Actor Jason Flemyng ("The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen") is 42. Actor-singer Will Smith is 40. Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones is 39. Actress Bridgette Wilson-Sampras ("I Know What You Did Last Summer") is 35. Rapper T.I. is 28. Actor Lee Norris ("One Tree Hill") is 27. Singer Diana Ortiz of Dream is 23. Actress Emmy Clarke ("Monk") is 17.

(Above for release Thursday, September 25th) Copyright 2008, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 09-15-08 1352CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list