November 26 Dateline

Birthdays

 

1731 - William Cowper, English poet and hymnodist. Cowper changed the direction of 18th-century nature poetry by writing of everyday life and scenes of the English countryside. A forerunner of Romantic poetry, Samuel Taylor Coleridge called him "the best modern poet", whilst William Wordsworth particularly admired his poem Yardley-Oak. After being institutionalised for insanity, Cowper found refuge in a fervent evangelical Christianity. He recovered and wrote more religious hymns. His religious sentiment and association with John Newton (who wrote the hymn "Amazing Grace") led to much of the poetry, and to the series of Olney Hymns. His poem "Light Shining out of Darkness" gave English the phrase: "God moves in a mysterious ways." He also wrote a number of anti-slavery poems and his friendship with Newton, who was an avid anti-slavery campaigner, resulted in Cowper being asked to write in support of the Abolitionist campaign. 

1910 - Cyril James Cusack, Irish actor. He appeared in numerous films and television productions lasting more than 70 years. In 2020, he was listed at number 14 on The Irish Times' list of Ireland's greatest film actors. In 1963, Cusack joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in London. By this stage he established a successful career in films which started at the age of eight; he also won a Jacob's Award for his performance in the Telefís Éireann production of Triptych. He received honorary degrees in 1977 and 1980 from the NUI and the University of Dublin respectively.  Cusack, who was bilingual in English and Irish, had a leading part in the controversial Irish language film Poitín. His last stage performance was in Chekhov's Three Sisters, in which three of his daughters played the sisters.

1915 - Earl Wild, American  pianist and composer, known for his transcriptions of jazz and classical music, and played for seven U.S. presidents. Wild recorded for several labels, including RCA Records, where he recorded an album of Liszt and a collection of music by George Gershwin, including Rhapsody in Blue, Cuban Overture, Concerto in F, and "I Got Rhythm" Variations, all with the Boston Pops Orchestra and Arthur Fiedler. Later in his career, Wild recorded for Ivory Classics. (Earl Wild plays his own Fantasy on the themes of opera Gershwin Porgy and Bess. Accessed  November 26, 2016.) 

1922 - Charles "Sparky" (Monroe) Schulz, American cartoonist, creator of the famous cartoon Peanuts with Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the Gang. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential cartoonists of all time, cited by cartoonists including Jim Davis, Bill Watterson, Matt Groening, Dav Pilkey and Stephan Pastis. In addition to comics, Schulz was interested in art in general; his favorite artist in his later years was Andrew Wyeth. As a young adult, Schulz also developed a passion for classical music. Although the character Schroeder in Peanuts adored Beethoven, Schulz's personal favorite composer was reportedly Brahms. (C. Schulz interview on Peanuts, 1997 - here). and the trailer of Snoopy & Charlie Brown: The Movie - here. The Untold Story of Charles Schulz. Uploaded by TechnoLogical. Accessed November 26, 2018.)

1925 - Eugene Istomin, American pianist, later married Marta Casals, widow of cellist Pablo Casals.  He was famous for his work in a piano trio in which he collaborated with Isaac Stern and Leonard Rose (Schubert Piano Trio No. 2. II. Andante con moto.  Istomin-Stern-Rose. Uploaded by Alja Mandic. Accessed November 26, 2013.)

1939 - Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock), American-born singer, songwriter, dancer, and actress who later became a Swiss citizen. She rose to prominence as part of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue before launching a successful career as a solo performer. Turner is noted for her energetic stage presence, powerful vocals, trademark legs, and career longevity. Her 1983 single "Let's Stay Together" was followed by the release of her fifth solo album, Private Dancer. The album contained the hit song "What's Love Got to Do with It", which won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year, and it became her first and only Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit. Having sold over 100 million records, Turner is one of the best-selling recording artists of all time. She has won 12 Grammy Awards, which include eight competitive awards, three Grammy Hall of Fame awards, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Leftie:
None known

 

More birthdays and historical events, November 26 - On This Day

Historical Events

1857 - In Australia, the Legislative Assembly in the colony of Victoria proclaims universal manhood suffrage for the first time.

1922 - Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon opens the tomb of Tutankhamen in the Valley of Kings, Egypt. A slow, painstaking process, it takes months before they lay eyes on the inner tomb, containing the famous gold sarcophagus of the young pharaoh and many other incredible valued and antiquity items.

1942 - On November 26, 1942, the film Casablanca premiered at the Hollywood Theatre in New York City. Featuring one of the best ensemble casts ever, led by Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, this perfect film has transcended its humble beginnings to become a globally-beloved classic. 

 

1961 - Dame Joan Sutherland makes her Metropolitan Opera debut in New York, singing in Donizetti's opera Lucia di Lammermoor.

Here's Dame Joan Sutherland performing 'Eccola!' (The Mad Scene) from Donizetti's opera Lucia di Lammermoor in the Australian Opera 1986 production at the Sydney Opera House.



1992 - Queen Elizabeth II volunteers to begin paying taxes and takes most of her family off the public payroll.

 

Video Credit:

Dame Joan Sutherland - 'Eccola!" (The Mad Scene), Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor. YouTube, uploaded by Opera Australia.  Accessed November 26, 2016.


Resources:

 
1. Asiado, Tel. The World's Movers and Shapers. New Hampshire: Ore Mountain Publishing House (2005)

2. Britannica. www.britannica.com
3. Chambers Biographical Dictionary, 19th Ed. London: Chambers Harrap, 2011
4. Dateline. Sydney: Millennium House, (2006)
5. Grun, Bernard. The Timetables of History, New 3rd Revised Ed. Simon & Schuster/Touchstone (1991)
6. Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org

 

 (c) June 2007. Updated November 26, 2023. Tel. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.