What Happened on January 2, 1969

Historical Events

  • Allan Sherman and Albert Hague's musical "The Fig Leaves Are Falling", starring Dorothy Loudon, Barry Nelson, and David Cassidy, opens at Broadhurst Theater, NYC; runs for 4 performances

News of the World to Murdoch

Australian Rupert Murdoch gains control of the 'News of the World'

  • Luis Ferré becomes the first statehooder Governor of Puerto Rico

Zatopek "Public Enemy"

Once influential daily sports newspaper, 'Soviet Sport' declares Czech super-star distance runner Emil Zatopek a "public enemy" after he supports democratic wing of the Communist Party at start of the Prague Spring

  • Operation Barrier Reef begins in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam
  • Robert B. Nemiroff's stage drama "To Be Young, Gifted & Black" adaptated from the writings of his late wife of Lorraine Hansberry, starring Ruby Dee, premieres in NYC
  • The Beatles begin rehearsals, while being filmed, for the Let It Be project at Twickenham Film Studios, London
1969 History

Famous Birthdays

Christy Turlington (55 years old)

American model (Calvin Klein Eternity), born in San Francisco, California

  • Glen Johnson, Jamaican boxer (IBF, IBO and Ring magazine light heavyweight titles 2004-05), born in Clarendon Parish, Jamaica
  • Karl-Heinz Grasser, Austrian politician
  • Róbert Švehla, Slovak NHL defenceman (Florida Panthers 573 games; Slovakia 44 games), born in Martin, Slovakia

Tommy Morrison (1969-2013)

American boxer (WBO heavyweight title 1993) and actor (Rocky V), born in Gravette, Arkansas

  • William Fox-Pitt MBE, English equestrian (Olympic silver team 2004, 12; bronze 2008; World Equestrian Games gold team 2010), born in London, England
Born in 1969

Famous Deaths

  • George Renevant [Georges de Cheux], French actor (Moulin Rouge, Scotland Yard, Comrade X), dies at 74
1969 Highlights

About January 2, 1969

Day of the Week: Thursday
How Long Ago? 55 years, 2 months and 27 days
Leap Year: No

Generation: Generation X
Chinese Zodiac: Monkey
Star Sign: Capricorn

Music Charts

  • US #1 Song: I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
  • UK #1 Song: Lily The Pink - Scaffold