What Happened On
Smoke On The Water
December 4, 1971
The Montreux Casino, Switzerland, burns to the ground during a set by Frank Zappa. The group Deep Purple, who were recording there at the time, immortalized the event on their next album. "Some stupid with a flare gun burned the place to the ground…"
Pope Who Ran a Brothel
December 4, 963
Pope John XII, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, is temporarily deposed by the Roman Council for his wrongdoings. He is reputed to have gambled, run a brothel, and toasted the devil with wine. He regained Papal authority by killing his enemies, but died during an adulterous sexual encounter, possibly at the hands of an outraged husband.
Falcon Crest
December 4, 1981
The TV show Falcon Crest debuts on CBS. The series follows the feuding factions of the wealthy Gioberti/Channing family in the California wine industry. It ran until 1990.
Photo Credit: NathanBeach
Photo Credit: NathanBeach
Manila Paper
December 4, 1843
Manila paper is patented by John Mark and Lyman Hollingsworth of Massachusetts. They produced their paper from old marine hemp ropes. The hemp typically came from the Philippines, thus the name Manila. Manila paper is usually a light brownish yellow and is often used for envelopes and folders (i.e. Manila folders). Before then, the paper was usually made from old cotton and linen rags.
Birthdays
Marisa Tomei
Born December 4, 1964
American Oscar-winning actress. Film: My Cousin Vinny (1992, Oscar), In the Bedroom (2001), and The Wrestler (2008). TV: As the World Turns (1984-85, Marcy Thompson) and A Different World (1987, Maggie Lauten).
Roy Lee "Rocky" Dennis
Born December 4, 1961 d. 1978
American boy who had craniodiaphyseal dysplasia. Craniodiaphyseal dysplasia is a bone disorder that causes calcium to build up in the skull.
The movie Mask (1985) was loosely based Rocky Dennis' life and starred Eric Stoltz as Rocky and Cher as his mother.
Rocky learned to read and excelled at school, despite poor eyesight caused by his condition. He also declined to have plastic surgery to correct his facial deformities. Rocky succumbed to his disease and died at age 16. When initially diagnosed at age two, the doctors said he wouldn't live past age 7.
In 2006, his mother Rusty was driving a three-wheel motorcycle when the wheel fell off causing her to crash. She died several weeks later in the hospital of an infection.
Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore
Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore
Jeff Bridges (Jeffrey Leon Bridges)
Born December 4, 1949
American Oscar-Emmy actor. Film: The Last Picture Show (1971), The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989), and Crazy Heart (2009, Oscar)
Dennis Wilson (Dennis Carl Wilson)
Born December 4, 1944 d. 1983
American singer, with The Beach Boys. Dennis was the only true surfer in the Beach Boys, living a lifestyle celebrated by their early songs. He drowned while swimming in Marina Del Rey, California; he should have stayed on the beach.
He was also known for his association with Charles Manson, whom he helped record some songs and let members of the Manson Family live in his home. Eventually, Wilson grew concerned about Manson's behavior and cut off contact with him and his followers to which Manson retaliated with death threats towards Wilson and his family.
Music: Surfin' USA (1963), I Get Around (1964, #1), Help Me Rhonda, (1965, #1), and Good Vibrations (1966, #1).
Photo Credit: Beeld & Geluid
Photo Credit: Beeld & Geluid
Chris Hillman (Christopher Hillman)
Born December 4, 1944
American musician, with The Byrds. Music: Mr. Tambourine Man (1965, #1) and Turn! Turn! Turn! (1966).
Max Baer, Jr. (Maximilian Adalbert Baer Jr.)
Born December 4, 1937
American actor. Best known for his portrayal of Jethro Bodine and Jetrho's twin sister Jethrine (voiced by Linda Kaye Henning) on the TV show The Beverly Hillbillies (1962-71).
Baer wrote and starred in the movie Macon County Line (1974). Made for $110,000, it earned almost $25 million at the box office, making it 1974's highest-grossing movie per dollar invested.
Baer is the only surviving regular cast member of The Beverly Hillbillies.
His father was boxing champion Max Baer.
Gregory "Pappy" Boyington
Born December 4, 1912 d. 1988
American World War II flying ace. His book Baa Baa Black Sheep (1958) chronicled his days with the Flying Tigers and The Black Sheep squadrons, during which he earned both the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross. He and his squadron's experiences were the basis for the TV show Baa Baa Black Sheep (1976-78).
Gary Gilmore
Born December 4, 1940 d. 1977
American criminal. He was executed by a Utah firing squad, the first execution in the U.S. since 1967. In 1976, Gilmore robbed and murdered gas station employee Max Jensen. The next evening, he robbed and murdered motel manager Bennie Bushnell. Both men had complied with his demands. While disposing of the pistol used in the killings, Gilmore accidentally shot himself in his right hand, leaving a trail of blood to the service garage where he had left his truck. He was witnessed by a mechanic hiding the gun in the bushes. Gilmore's cousin turned him in to the police after he phoned her asking for bandages and painkillers for his injured hand.
Victor French
Born December 4, 1934 d. 1989
American actor. TV: Little House on the Prairie (Isaiah Edwards) and Highway to Heaven (Mark Gordman).
Deanna Durbin (Edna Mae Durbin)
Born December 4, 1921 d. 2013
Canadian Oscar-winning actress, singer. Movies: Three Smart Girls (1936, the success of which helped save Universal Studios from bankruptcy). In 1947, she was the highest-paid woman in the United States. Her fan club was the world's largest during her active years.
Eddie Heywood, Jr.
Born December 4, 1915 d. 1989
American jazz pianist. Composed Canadian Sunset (1956). He was stricken with partial paralysis of the hands from 1947 to 1951 and was unable to play during this time, and then again from 1966 to 1969.
Generalissimo Francisco Franco (Francisco Franco Bahamonde)
Born December 4, 1892 d. 1975
Spanish dictator (1939-75). With the help of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy he overthrew the democratically elected Second Republic during the Spanish Civil War. However, he declined Adolf Hitler's request to join the Axis. He did provide some support to the Axis powers, but remained mostly neutral during World War II. He banned all religions except Catholicism and claimed to have locked up 26,000 political prisoners.
"This just in, Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead!" (Chevy Chase on SNL).
Jethro Bodine
Born December 4, ????
fictional character on the TV show The Beverly Hillbillies, as played by Max Baer, Jr.
Deaths
Frank Zappa (Francis Vincent Zappa Jr.)
Died December 4, 1993 b. 1940
American Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, leader of The Mothers of Invention. Music: Yellow Snow (1974), Valley Girl (1982), and Jazz From Hell (1987, Grammy).
In 1971, Zappa was playing at the Montreux Casino, Switzerland when "Some stupid with a flare gun burned the place to the ground", an event that was immortalized by the Deep Purple song Smoke on the Water. Six days later he pushed off a London stage by a fan and suffered a broken leg and ankle and a fractured skull and was wheelchair-bound for a year. The attacker said he was jealous because his girlfriend was infatuated with Zappa.
Quote: "Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible."
Quote: "Jazz is not dead. It just smells funny."
Lahr as the Cowardly Lion
Lahr as the Cowardly Lion
Bert Lahr (Irving Lahrheim)
Died December 4, 1967 b. 1895
American actor. Film: The Wizard of Oz (1939, the Cowardly Lion and Zeke the farm worker).
Note: The Wizard of Oz - The story of two women fighting over a pair of shoes.
First Black American Naval Aviator
Jesse LeRoy Brown
Died December 4, 1950 b. 1926
American aviator. He was the first black U.S. Navy aviator and also became the first black U.S. naval aviator killed in the Korean War, after being shot down over Korea. The USS Jesse L. Brown (launched 1972) was the first U.S. Navy ship named in honor of a black naval officer. He was also a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross.
June Blair (Margaret June Blair)
Died December 4, 2022 b. 1932
American actress. TV: The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1961-66, Dave's wife in both the show and in real life, 1961-75). She was Playboy's Playmate of the Month for the January 1957 issue.
Frank Sturgis (Frank Angelo Fiorini)
Died December 4, 1993 b. 1924
American private investigator. He was one of the five Watergate burglars (1972) whose capture led to the resignation of U.S. President Richard Nixon. The burglars had been paid by Nixon to obtain information about Nixon's political opponents.
In 1973, Sturgis was convicted of transporting cars stolen in Texas into Mexico, for which he served 14 months in prison.
John C. Rock
Died December 4, 1984 b. 1890
American physician. He and Mirian Menkin achieved the first in vitro fertilization of a human ovum (1944) and he co-developed the birth control pill (1956).
Stella Walsh (Stanislawa Walasiewicz)
Died December 4, 1980 b. 1911
Polish-born Olympic gold medal winner (1932) and the first woman to run the 100-yard dash in under 11 seconds (10.8 sec., 1930). She received more than 5,000 medals and awards. After her death, it was found that she possessed male genitalia and had a mix of male and female chromosomes and characteristics.
Alfred Carl Fuller
Died December 4, 1973 b. 1885
Canadian-born American businessman, "The Fuller Brush Man." He founded the Fuller Brush Co. (1906) utilizing door-to-door salesmen.
Thomas Hunt Morgan
Died December 4, 1945 b. 1866
American zoologist. He won a 1933 Nobel Prize for his discovery of the chromosome's role in heredity.
Silent-Night-Chapel in Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria, where the song was first performed
Photo Credit: Gakuro
Silent-Night-Chapel in Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria, where the song was first performedPhoto Credit: Gakuro
Silent Night, Holy Night
Joseph Mohr
Died December 4, 1848 b. 1792
Austrian clergyman. He wrote the words to Silent Night, Holy Night (1818).
The melody was composed by organist Franz Xaver Gruber. Mohr asked Gruber to compose the melody and guitar accompaniment for the Christmas Eve Mass since a flood had destroyed their organ.
"Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace."
John Gay
Died December 4, 1732 b. 1685
English poet. Best known for The Beggar's Opera (1727).
John XXII (Jacques d'Euse)
Died December 4, 1334 b. 1249
196th Pope (1316-34). In 1317, he prohibited the practice of alchemy.
Omar Khayyam
Died December 4, 1131 b. 1048
Persian poet and mathematician. First to solve the general cubic equation of the third degree (1070). In 1074 he calculated the length of the year as 365.2422 days (The modern estimate is 365.242189 days).