February 1: William F. Mangels
February 1: On this date, William F. Mangels, who invented “The Whip” ride and the wave pool, was born on this date in 1866.
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January 31: Paul Jabara
January 31: Paul Jabara, who wrote “Last Dance” for Donna Summer and “It’s Raining Men” for the Weathergirls, was born on this date in 1948.
January 30: Dr. Harvey Burdell
January 30: Dr. Harvey Burdell was last seen in his office on Bond Street on this date in 1857; the next morning, his dead body, stabbed repeatedly, was found.
January 29: Polly Platt
January 29: Polly Platt, Hollywood producer, screenwriter, and production designer, who wrote the screenplay for “Pretty Baby” and was the production designer for “The Last Picture Show,” “Paper Moon,” and “What’s Up Doc,” was born on this date in 1939.
January 28: Samuel Chester Reid
January 28: Samuel Chester Reid, whose idea for changes to the American flag as new states were admitted to the Union (change the number of stars but maintain the 13 stripes) was adopted into law in 1818, died on this date in 1861.
January 27: Edward “Daddy” Browning
January 27: The scandalous separation trial of Peaches and Edward “Daddy” Browning (she was 15, he was 51, when they married) began on this date in 1927.
January 26: William Shepard Wetmore
January 26: China-trade merchant William Shepard Wetmore, whose Newport, Rhode Island, mansion, Chateau-Sur-Mer (1852) is now open to the public, was born on this date in 1801.
January 25: George Francis Train
January 25: On this date in 1904, George Francis Train, a character if there ever was one, who went around the world in 90 days and became the model for Phineas Fogg, and who charged admission to his rallies during his 1872 presidential campaign (in which he got few votes but made much money), died.
January 24: Henry J. Raymond
January 24: Henry J. Raymond, founder and editor of The New York Times, was born on this date in 1820.
January 23: Henry Placide
January 23: Actor and comedian Henry Placide, who starred in America and London, died on this date in 1870.