On This Date...
In 1999, Space Shuttle Discovery completed the first docking with the International Space Station. In 1942, Bing Crosby recorded Irving Berlin's "White Christmas," the best-selling Christmas album in history. In 1919, Einstein's theory of general relativity was tested (and later confirmed) by Arthur Eddington's observation of a total solar eclipse in Principe and by Andrew Crommelin in Sobral, Brazil. In 1913, Igor Stravinsky's ballet score "The Rite of Spring" was premiered in Paris, provoking a riot. And in 1886, chemist John Pemberton placed his first advertisement for Coca-Cola. Happy Birthday Melissa Etheridge (1961), Annette Bening (1958), LaToya Jackson (1956), Danny Elfman (1953), Peter Chernin (1951), Al Unser, Sr. (1939), Bob Hope (1903–2003), Isaac Albéniz (1860–1909) and Patrick Henry (1736–1799). RIP Harvey Korman (d. 2008), Barry M. Goldwater (1998) and Moe Berg (1972).