What Happened in February 1966

Historical Events

  • Feb 2 Pakistan suggests six-point agenda, with Kashmir dispute as number one item, for proposed Indo-Pak ministerial talks after 1965 war
  • Feb 3 1st operational weather satellite, ESSA-1 launched US
  • Feb 3 First soft landing on the Moon, by the Soviet spacecraft Luna 9
  • Feb 4 All-Nippon Airways 727 crashes off Haneda Airport (Japan); kills 133
  • Feb 5 BBC opens a relay radio station on Ascension Island
  • Feb 7 KWCM TV channel 10 in Appleton, MN (PBS) begins broadcasting
  • Feb 9 Dow-Jones Index hits record 995 points
  • Feb 9 UK Government announces construction of a nuclear reactor on the North coast of Scotland

Valley of the Dolls

Feb 10 "Valley of the Dolls" by Jacqueline Susann is published by Bernard Geis Associates in the US - sold over 31 million copies

  • Feb 10 Pierre Harmel's Belgium government resigns

Contract of Interest

Feb 11 SF Giant Willie Mays signs highest contract, $130,000 per year

  • Feb 13 USSR performs nuclear test at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in northeast Kazakhstan
  • Feb 14 Australian currency is decimalised, and decimal currency postage stamps introduced
  • Feb 14 Russian writers Andrei Sinyavsky & Joey Daniel found guilty under the offense of anti-Soviet agitation and propaganda for publishing their satirical writings abroad

NBA Record

Feb 14 Wilt Chamberlain breaks NBA career scoring record at 20,884 points

  • Feb 15 Kees Verkerk becomes world champion all-round skater
  • Feb 16 Australian cricket batsman Bob Cowper makes a patient 307 (727 mins, 20 x 4s) in drawn 5th Test v England in Melbourne
  • Feb 16 End of Wally Grout's Test Cricket career, 187 dismissals as Australian wicketkeeper
  • Feb 16 France performs underground nuclear test at Ecker, Algeria
  • Feb 17 French satellite Diapason D-1A launch into Earth orbit
  • Feb 20 Author Valery Tarsis banished in USSR

Event of Interest

Feb 21 Indonesian President Sukarno dismisses General Nasution

  • Feb 22 Soviets launch Kosmos 110 with Veterok & Ugolek, 1st 2-dog crew
  • Feb 23 Military coup in Syria ends Bitar government
  • Feb 23 Premier Milton Obote seizes power in Uganda

Coup d'état

Feb 24 Military coup ousts President Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana

  • Feb 24 US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
  • Feb 25 Syrian military coup under General Hafiz al-Assad
  • Feb 26 KBIM TV channel 10 in Roswell, NM (CBS) begins broadcasting

Daytona 500

Feb 27 8th Daytona 500: Polesitter Richard Petty comes from 2 laps down to win the event after 198 laps were completed because of rain

  • Feb 27 Ice Dance Championship at Davos won by Diane Towler and Bernard Ford of great Britain
  • Feb 27 Ice Pairs Championship at Davos won by Belousova and Protopopov of the Soviet Union

Sports History

Feb 27 Ladies Figure Skating Championship in Davos won by Peggy Fleming of US

  • Feb 27 Men's Figure Skating Championship in Davos won by Emmerich Danzer of Austria

Golden Globes

Feb 28 23rd Golden Globes: "Doctor Zhivago", Omar Sharif, & Samantha Eggar win

  • Feb 28 Cavern Club (Beatles hangout) in Liverpool, England closes

Baseball History

Feb 28 Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale begin a joint holdout against the Los Angeles Dodgers


1966 History

Famous Birthdays

  • Feb 1 Donna Edmondson, American Playboy playmate (Nov, 1986, Playmate of the Year 1987), born in Greensboro, North Carolina
  • Feb 1 Michelle Akers, American soccer forward (Olympics gold 1996, World Cup 1991, 99), born in Santa Clara, California
  • Feb 1 Rob Lee, English soccer midfielder (21 caps; Charlton Athletic, Newcastle United), born in London, England
  • Feb 2 Andrei Chesnokov, Russian tennis player, born in Moscow, Russia
  • Feb 2 Bob Estes, American golfer (4 PGA Tour titles), born in Graham, Texas
  • Feb 2 D. C. Douglas, American actor and director (Z Nation), born in Berkeley, California
  • Feb 2 Robert DeLeo, American bass player, songwriter and backing vocalist (Stone Temple Pilots, Army of Anyone, Hollywood Vampires), born in Montclair, New Jersey
  • Feb 3 Danny Morrison, New Zealand cricket fast bowler (48 Tests, 160 wickets; 96 ODIs, 126 wickets) and broadcaster (TVNZ, Sky Sports, Radio Sport), born in Auckland, New Zealand
  • Feb 3 Frank Coraci, American film director
  • Feb 3 Jimmy Thunder, New Zealand boxer (IBO heavyweight title 1994-95), born in Apia, Samoa (d. 2020)
  • Feb 4 Viatcheslav Ekimov, Russian cyclist
  • Feb 5 José María Olazábal, Spanish golfer (US Masters 1994, 99), born in Hondarribia, Spain
  • Feb 5 Rok Petrovič, Slovenian skier, born in Ljubljana, Slovenia (d. 1993)

Rick Astley (58 years old)

Feb 6 English pop singer-songwriter ("Never Gonna Give You Up"), born in Newton-le-Willows, England

  • Feb 6 Tom Tupa, American football punter & quarterback (Cleveland Browns, NE Patriots), born in Cleveland, Ohio
  • Feb 7 Kristin Otto, German swimmer (6 Olympic gold 1988), born in Leipzig, Germany
  • Feb 8 Alex Antonitsch, Austrian tennis player, born in Villach, Austria

Hristo Stoichkov (58 years old)

Feb 8 Bulgarian footballer (FC Barcelona, CSKA Sofia), born in Plovdiv, Bulgaria

  • Feb 8 Kirk Muller, Canadian NHL center (Toronto Maple Leafs), born in Kingston
  • Feb 9 Amanda Roocroft, British operatic soprano, born in Coppull, Lancashire, England
  • Feb 9 Ellen van Langen, Dutch athlete
  • Feb 9 Harald Eia, Norwegian TV - comedian
  • Feb 10 Daryl Johnston, American NFL running back (Dallas Cowboys), born in Youngstown, New York
  • Feb 11 Alexander Semak, Russian NHL center (NY Islanders), born in Ufa, Russia
  • Feb 11 Patrick Kuhnen, German tennis player, born in Püttlingen, Germany
  • Feb 11 Stephen Gregory, American actor (Chase-Young & Restless), born in New York City
  • Feb 12 Boty Goodwin, British artist (d. 1995)
  • Feb 13 Frederick "Freedom" Williams, American hip hop and dance music performer (C&C Music Factory - "Everybody Dance Now"), born in Brooklyn, New York City
  • Feb 13 Neal McDonough, American actor (Band of Brothers; Desperate Housewives; Suits), born in Dorchester, Massachusetts
  • Feb 13 Tally Chanel, Israeli actress (Warrior Queen), born in Tel Aviv, Israel
  • Feb 14 Gary Halpin, Irish rugby union prop (11 caps; Wanderers F.C, Leinster, London Irish, Harlequins), born in Dublin, Ireland (d. 2021)
  • Feb 14 Petr Svoboda, Czech NHL defenseman (Philadelphia Flyers, Olympic gold 1998), born in Most, Czechia
  • Feb 15 Melido Perez, Dominican-American baseball pitcher (NY Yankees), born in San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic
  • Feb 15 Petra Huber, Austrian professional tennis player
  • Feb 17 Ioannis Kalitzakis, Greek footballer, born in Eleusis, Greece
  • Feb 17 Luc Robitaille, NHL left wing (NY Rangers, Pitts Penguins), born in Montreal, Quebec
  • Feb 17 Melissa Brooke-Belland, American musician (Voice of the Beehive - "Let it Bee)", born in Los Angeles, California
  • Feb 17 Michael Lepond, American musician (Symphony X), born in Newark, New Jersey
  • Feb 17 Quorthon [Thomas Forsberg], Swedish heavy and Viking metal musician, and record producer (Bathory), born in Stockholm, Sweden (d. 2004)
  • Feb 18 Guy Ferland, American television director, born in Beverly, Massachusetts
  • Feb 18 Kris King, Canadian NHL left wing (Winnipeg Jets), born in Hornepayne, Canada
  • Feb 18 Phillip De Freitas, English cricket fast bowler (44 Tests, 140 wickets, 4 x 50; 103 ODIs, 115 wickets; Derbyshire, Leicestershire), born in Scotts Head, Dominica
  • Feb 19 Enzo Scifo, Belgian footballer
  • Feb 19 Justine Bateman, America actress (Family Ties, Satisfaction), born in Rye, New York
  • Feb 19 Paul Haarhuis, Dutch tennis star (1994 US/Austral doubles), born in Eindhoven, Netherlands
  • Feb 19 Peter Douris, Canadian NHL right wing (Anaheim Mighty Ducks), born in Toronto, Ontario
  • Feb 19 Prince Markie Dee [Mark Anthony Morales], American rapper (Fat Boys - "Jail House Rap"; "Wipe-Out"), and actor (Disorderlies), born in Brooklyn, New York City (d. 2021) [1]
  • Feb 19 William White, American NFL safety (KC Chiefs, Atlanta Falcons), born in Lima, Ohio
  • Feb 20 Britt Hager, NFL linebacker (Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos, St Louis Rams), born in Odessa, Texas
  • Feb 20 Cecilia Cummins, 5th of 5 siblings born on 2/20, born in Clintwood, Virginia

Cindy Crawford (58 years old)

Feb 20 American supermodel (Sports Illustrated Swimsuit), born in DeKalb, Illinois

  • Feb 20 Dennis Allen Mitchell, American sprinter100m/200m (Olympic 4x100m gold 1992, silver 1996), born in Havelock, North Carolina
  • Feb 21 Bronwen Booth, English actress (Andy-One Life to Live, Eternal Evil), born in London, England
  • Feb 21 Chris Donnels, American baseball infielder (Houston Astros), born in Angeles, California
  • Feb 21 Edie Boyer, American discus thrower, born in Saint Paul, Minnesota
  • Feb 21 Wendy James, English vocalist (Transvision Vamp - "Velveteen"), born in London, England
  • Feb 22 Brad Edwards, American football safety (Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons) and executive (AD Newberry College, AD Jacksonville Uni, AD George Mason Uni), born in Lumberton, North Carolina
  • Feb 22 Brent Severyn, Canadian NHL defenseman (NY Islanders), born in Vegreville, Canada
  • Feb 22 Brian Greig, Australian politician, born in Fremantle, Australia
  • Feb 22 Rachel Dratch, American actress and comedienne, born in Lexington, Massachusetts
  • Feb 22 Resha Riggins, Miss Alabama (1990), born in Trussville Alabama
  • Feb 22 Suave [Waymond Anderso], American R&B singer (covered The Temptations' "My Girl"), born in Los Angeles, California
  • Feb 22 Thorsten Kaye, German-British soap actor (Patrick-One Life to Live, Silencers), born in Frankfurt, Germany
  • Feb 23 Didier Queloz, Swiss astronomer (discovered 1st exoplanet), 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics, born in Switzerland
  • Feb 23 John Druce, NHL right wing (Philadelphia Flyers, LA Kings), born in Peterborough, Canada
  • Feb 23 Mark Abrahamian, American rock guitarist (Starship), born in San Francisco, California (d. 2012)
  • Feb 24 Ben Miller, English comedian and actor (Armstrong and Miller), born in London, England
  • Feb 24 Billy Zane, actor (Titanic, Dead Calm), born in Chicago, Illinois
  • Feb 24 Rene Arocha, Cubans-American baseball pitcher (St Louis Cardinals)

Alexis Denisof (58 years old)

Feb 25 American actor (Angel), born in Salisbury, Maryland

  • Feb 25 Don Anurasiri, cricketer (Sri Lankan slow left-armer)
  • Feb 25 Nancy O'Dell, American reporter and television personality
  • Feb 25 Samantha Phillips, Ft Meade MD, Penthouse Pet
  • Feb 25 Samson Kitur, Kenyan athlete (d. 2003)
  • Feb 25 Stacey Cortez, actress (Sheila Cantillan-General Hospital)
  • Feb 25 Tea Leoni, American actress (Flying Blind, Madam Secretary), born in New York City
  • Feb 26 Jennifer Grant, American actress (Celeste-Beverly Hills 90210), born in Burbank, California
  • Feb 26 Najwa Karam, Lebanese singer-songwriter ("Ma Bassmahlak"), born in Zahlé, Lebanon
  • Feb 27 Chris Howard, American baseball catcher (Seattle Mariners), born in Kenner, Louisiana
  • Feb 27 Donal Logue, Canadian actor, born in Ottawa, Canada
  • Feb 27 Gregg Rainwater, American actor (Buck Cross-Young Riders), born in Flint, Michigan
  • Feb 28 Edward Shearmur, British film score composer (Diary of a Wimpy Kid; Charlie's Angels), born in London, England
  • Feb 28 Paulo Futre, Portuguese footballer
  • Feb 28 Tim Goad, NFL defensive tackle (Cleveland Browns)
  • Feb 28 Vincent Askew, NBA guard/forward (Seattle Supersonics, Trailblazers)
Born in 1966

Famous Weddings

Bob Marley

Feb 10 Reggae Musician Bob Marley (21) marries fellow musician Rita Anderson (19)

Bettie Page

Feb 14 American pin-up model Bettie Page (43) weds lineman Harry Lear; divorce in 1972


Famous Deaths

Buster Keaton (1895-1966)

Feb 1 American actor and comedian (Navigator, Steamboat Bill Jr, The General), dies at 70

  • Feb 1 Hedda Hopper [Elda Furry], American gossip columnist, dies at 75
  • Feb 1 William Harrigan, American actor (Invisible Man, Girl in 419), dies at 71
  • Feb 3 June Walker, American actress (War Nurses), dies at 65
  • Feb 4 Gilbert H. Grosvenor, American geographer and 1st full-time editor of National Geographic Society (1899-1954), dies at 90
  • Feb 6 Algot Haquinius, Swedish pianist, and composer, dies at 79
  • Feb 6 Narcisa de León, Filipino film mogul, dies at 88
  • Feb 9 Sophie Tucker [Kalish], Russian-born American singer and actress (My Yiddish Mama) known as "last of the red hot mammas", dies at 79
  • Feb 10 Billy Rose [William Samuel Rosenberg], American theatrical producer (Diamond Horse Show), dies at 66
  • Feb 13 Elio Vittorini, Italian writer (Conversations in Sicily), dies at 57
  • Feb 13 Marguerite Long, French concert pianist (Ravel) and teacher (Paris Conservatoire, 1906-40), dies at 91
  • Feb 15 Camillo Torres, Colombian priest/guerrilla fighter, dies
  • Feb 15 Gerard Ciołek, Polish architect, dies at 56
  • Feb 16 Hendrik Tilanus, Dutch artillery officer and political leader (CHU 1939-63), dies at 81
  • Feb 17 Frank Pettingell, English actor (Becket, Up the Creek), dies at 75
  • Feb 17 Gail Kane, American actress (White Sister, Arizona), dies at 81
  • Feb 17 Hans Hofmann, German-American painter (Search for the Real), dies at 85
  • Feb 18 Casimir von Paszthory, composer, dies at 79
  • Feb 18 Grigori Grigoyevich Nelyubov, Russian cosmonaut, dies at 31
  • Feb 18 Robert Rossen, American screenwriter, producer, and film director (All the King's Men, The Hustler), dies at 57

Chester Nimitz (1885-1966)

Feb 20 American admiral who commanded the US Pacific fleet in World War II, dies at 80

  • Feb 21 Paul Comtois, French Canadian politician, dies at 70
  • Feb 22 Paul de Keyser, Flemish philologist and folklorist, dies at 74
  • Feb 25 James D. Norris, American sports businessman (Chicago Black Hawks), dies at 59
  • Feb 26 Minerva Urecal [Dunnock], American stage, radio, and screen character actress (Accent on Love; The Adventures of Tugboat Annie; Peter Gunn; The 7 Faces of Dr. Lao), dies of a heart attack at 71
  • Feb 26 Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, Indian independence activist and writer (The Indian War of Independence), dies at 82
  • Feb 28 Charles A Bassett II, American US Air Force Captain, and NASA astronaut, dies in a crash of T-38 jet at 34
  • Feb 28 Elliot McKay See Jr., American engineer and NASA astronaut, dies at 38 in T-38 jet crash
  • Feb 28 Jonathan Hale [Hatley], Canadian-American, actor (Blondie films; The Saint films), shoots himself at 74