Holidays
Annunciation of the Lord
Commemorating the announcement by the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary that she was to become the mother of Christ.
What Happened On
Arson Kills 87 People - Fire Started by Man Angry at Coat Check Girl
March 25, 1990
A fire started by a man angry with his ex-girlfriend kills 87 people at the "Happy Land Social Club". His ex-girlfriend was working as the coat check girl at the club. She survived the fire. The fire exits had been blocked to prevent people from entering without paying. In November of 1988, the club had been ordered closed due to lack of fire exits and a sprinkler system, but this was never enforced. This event is memorialized in song by Joe Jackson with Happyland and Duran Duran in Sin of the City.
Michael Jackson's Moonwalk
March 25, 1983
Michael Jackson performs the Moonwalk dance move before a live audience during the song Billie Jean for the TV show 
Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever. The show would air on May 16th.
The raiders set a train car on fire to ignite a covered bridge and block pursuers
The raiders set a train car on fire to ignite a covered bridge and block pursuers
First U.S. Medal of Honor
March 25, 1863
Six Union soldiers become the first recipients of the U.S. Medal of Honor. In 1862, Union soldiers stole a passenger train and took it from Atlanta, Georgia to Chattanooga, Tennessee damaging the railway tracks, bridges, and telegraph lines along the way. They were pursued by Confederate troops, first on foot, then by handcar, and eventually by train. The raiders eventually ran out of wood for the steam engine and had to abandon the train, where they tried to escape on foot. The leader of the raid, civilian scout James J. Andrews, and his men were eventually captured. Eight of the men, including Andrews, were hanged. Six of the soldiers became the first to receive the U.S. Medal of Honor. However, Andrews was not eligible since he was a civilian.
The raid became known as "The Great Locomotive Chase" and was made into a 1956 Disney film of the same name.
First Salem Witch Trial
March 25, 1692
Sarah Good and a female slave are convicted of witchcraft and sent to jail. Sarah was later hanged and the slave was eventually pardoned. In the following months, 19 others would be executed for witchcraft.
Island in Danger of Tipping Over
March 25, 2010
"My fear is that the whole island will become so overly populated that it will tip over and capsize." This concern was expressed by Congressman Hank Johnson during a House Armed Services Committee hearing about the U.S. military installation on the island of Guam. Admiral Robert F. Willard replied, "We don't anticipate that."
In 2014, The Washingtonian published its "Best & Worst of Congress" list in which Johnson was voted "Most Clueless" by congressional staffers.
Dave Thomas Gets his GED
March 25, 1993
The 60-year-old founder of the Wendy's hamburger chain - and high school dropout, Dave Thomas, passes his General Educational Development exam. He was then awarded an honorary diploma by a Florida high school who voted him "most likely to succeed."
Cagney and Lacey
March 25, 1982
Cagney and Lacey debuts on CBS.
Sugar Ray Robinson Wins 5th Championship
March 25, 1958
Sugar Ray Robinson wins the boxing middleweight championship for a record 5th time.
First Masters Golf Tournament
March 25, 1934
The winner was Horton Smith.
Slavery
March 25, 1807
British Parliament abolishes the slave trade.
Birthdays
Elton John (Reginald Dwight)
Born March 25, 1947
British singer, songwriter. He was the first Western rock star to play Moscow. Music: Crocodile Rock (1973, #1) and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973). Film: Tommy (1975, playing the Pinball Wizard).
Aretha Franklin
Born March 25, 1942 d. 2018
American Grammy-winning Hall of Fame soul singer. "The Queen of Soul". Music: Respect (1967, #1). Film: The Blues Brothers (1980). She has more million-selling singles than any other female artist.
Houston, We've Had a Problem
Jim Lovell (James Arthur Lovell, Jr.)
Born March 25, 1928
American astronaut. In 1968, as command module pilot of Apollo 8, he became, with Frank Borman and William Anders, one of the first three astronauts to fly to and orbit the Moon. He then commanded the Apollo 13 lunar mission in 1970 which, after a critical failure en route, circled the Moon and returned safely to Earth. During the flight, he repeated the famous phrase, "Uh, Houston, we've had a problem".
Note: The actual phrase was "Okay, Houston, we've had a problem here", spoken by Jack Swigert. After being asked to repeat the transmission Jim Lovell responded with "Uh, Houston, we've had a problem". In the 1995 movie Apollo 13, the line was shortened to the more dramatic, "Houston, we have a problem". The movie was based on the 1994 book he co-authored titled Lost Moon. Lovell also had a cameo in the film.
Gutzon Borglum
Born March 25, 1867 d. 1941
American sculpture. Works: Mount Rushmore (1927-41), the colossal head of Lincoln in Washington D.C., and the twelve apostles for the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.
He was hired as the initial designer of the Stone Mountain carving in 1914, but was fired in 1925 after financial disagreements with United Daughters of the Confederacy, who were building the monument.
Sarah Jessica Parker
Born March 25, 1965
American actress. Film: Hocus Pocus (1993). TV: Square Pegs (Patty Greene).
Bonnie Bedelia
Born March 25, 1948
American actress. Film: the Die Hard movies (rescued by Bruce Willis). TV: Love of Life (Sandy Porter).
Richard O'Brien (Richard Timothy Smith)
Born March 25, 1942
British actor. Film: The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975, writer, lyricist, and Riff Raff the butler) and the sequel Shock Treatment (1981) which continued the story of Brad and Janet.
Anita Bryant
Born March 25, 1940
American singer, "It's not just for breakfast anymore."
Gloria Steinem
Born March 25, 1934
American feminist, founder of Ms. magazine (1971).
Jeanne Cagney
Born March 25, 1919 d. 1984
American actress. She appeared in several films with her brother James Cagney, including Man of a Thousand Faces (1957). TV: Queen for a Day (co-host).
Jackie Condon (John Condon)
Born March 25, 1918 d. 1977
American child actor, one of the original Little Rascals. He appeared in 78 Our Gang films.
Howard Cosell (Howard Cohen)
Born March 25, 1918 d. 1995
American Emmy-winning sports commentator. Known for his "tell it like it is" style, Howard Cosell described himself as, "Arrogant, pompous, obnoxious, vain, cruel, verbose, a showoff. There's no question that I'm all of those things." He was a commentator for television's Monday Night Football (1970-83) and was a supporter of boxer Muhammad Ali when he was stripped of his heavyweight title after refusing to serve in the Vietnam War.
Jean Rogers (Eleanor Lovegreen)
Born March 25, 1916 d. 1991
American actress, Dale Arden of the Flash Gordon movie serials (1936-38).
Sir David Lean
Born March 25, 1908 d. 1991
British director. His films have won 28 Oscars. Film: Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), and Dr. Zhivago (1965).
Ed Begley
Born March 25, 1901 d. 1970
American Oscar-winning actor. Film: Sweet Bird of Youth (1962, Oscar) and 12 Angry Men (1957, juror #10).
Andy Clyde
Born March 25, 1892 d. 1967
Scottish-born actor. Film: Hopalong Cassidy movies (Gabby Hayes). TV: Lassie (Cully Wilson).
Jean-Antoine Houdon
Born March 25, 1741 d. 1828
French sculpture. He created the bust of George Washington (1788) that now appears on the U.S. quarter.
Deaths
Why Do Boxing Rings Have Four Ropes?
Davey Moore
Died March 25, 1963 b. 1933
American boxer, World Featherweight Champion (1959-63). He died of injuries sustained when his head hit the bottom rope during a fight defending his title. Although he managed to continue the fight, he lapsed into a coma in the dressing room and died four days later. As a result, the bottom rope was loosened and a fourth rope was added to boxing rings. This is why boxing rings now have four ropes. He is memorialized in the Bob Dylan song Who Killed Davey Moore.
Richard Fleischer
Died March 25, 2006 b. 1916
American film director. Film: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954), Fantastic Voyage (1966), Dr. Dolittle (1967), Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970), Soylent Green (1973), and Red Sonja (1985).
Buck Owens (Alvis Edgar Owens, Jr.)
Died March 25, 2006 b. 1929
American country-western singer. He helped create the "Bakersfield Sound." He and the Buckaroos were regulars on Hee Haw (1969-86, co-host). He had 15 #1 hits in a row. Music: Act Naturally (1963, #1).
Nancy Walker (Anna Myrtle Swoyer)
Died March 25, 1992 b. 1922
American actress. TV: Rhoda (Rhoda's mom), McMillan and Wife (Mildred the maid), and in commercials as Rosie - the quicker picker upper.
Claude Debussy
Died March 25, 1918 b. 1862
French musician, composer. Known for his impressionist "tone poems."
"Ape Woman"
Julia Pastrana
Died March 25, 1860 b. 1834
Mexican circus performer billed as the "Ape Woman". Pastrana was born with hypertrichosis which caused her face and body to be covered with straight black hair. Her ears and nose were unusually large and she had an extra row of both upper and lower teeth causing her mouth to protrude. Pastrana gave birth to a baby with features similar to her own, but the child survived only three days. Pastrana, herself, died several days later of postpartum complications. After her death, Pastrana's husband had her and her son mummified, and displayed them in a glass cabinet.
Father of Hypnotism
James Braid
Died March 25, 1860 b. 1795
Scottish surgeon. He coined the term "hypnotism" and is regarded as the first genuine hypnotherapist and the "Father of Modern Hypnotism." He was also a significant innovator in the treatment of club-foot and other deformities.
William Colgate
Died March 25, 1857 b. 1783
English-born American soap and toiletries maker, philanthropist, founder of what became the Colgate toothpaste company. He also helped found the American Bible Society (1816).