Today in History for 9th February 2026

[CoM Moderators]

Historical Events

1682 - Thomas Otway's "Venice Preserved" premieres in London
1979 - Walter Hill's crime drama film "The Warriors", based on Sol Yurick's 1965 novel, is released in the United States, sparking gang violence at many theaters and a halt to the film's marketing campaign
1990 - Spacecraft Galileo flies by Venus at an altitude of 10,000 miles (16,000 km) in a gravity assist maneuver to gain speed on its way to Jupiter
1990 - "Bradys" return to TV for 6 episodes on CBS TV
2021 - WHO team investigating origin of COVID-19 in Wuhan say it is "extremely unlikely" that it leaked from a local research lab

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Famous Birthdays

1900 - Walter Page, American jazz double bassist, saxophonist, tuba player, and bandleader (Blue Devils; Count Basie Orchestra), born in Gallatin, Missouri (d. 1957)
1903 - Georg Trexler, German composer, choirmaster, and organist (St. Trinitatis, Leipzig, 1930-70), born in Pirna, Germany (d. 1979)
1927 - Joe Maneri, American jazz composer, saxophone and clarinet player (Boston Microtonal Society), born in Brooklyn, New York City (d. 2009)
1944 - Alice Walker, American novelist (The Color Purple, Meridian), born in Putnam County, Georgia
1964 - Rachel Bolan [James Southworth], American musician and songwriter (Skid Row), born in Point Pleasant, New Jersey

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Famous Deaths

1583 - Jeseph Sanalbo, Jewish convert in Rome, burned at stake
1916 - Hynek Vojáček, Czech composer, dies at 90
1973 - Max Yasgur, American dairy farmer, and owner Woodstock Festival site in Bethel, New York, dies of a heart attack at 53
2001 - Reginald Marsh, British actor (Sicilians: It Happened Here), dies at 74
2002 - Margaret Rose, British princess and Countess of Snowdon, sister of Queen Elizabeth II, dies of a stroke at 71

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