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What happened in history on this day: February 20?
Since 1995, I have been collecting information on a variety of topics,
creating several timelines of history.
Here you will find specific events from those databases
for this day, on the topics of personal computers, video games, the Walt Disney Company,
Chevrolet Corvettes, A&W Root Beer, Sweden, and Canadian coins.
On February 20 in ...
- 1997 - Borland International announces it will lay off 30 percent of its workforce, and will refocus products on software tools to create custom applications.
- 1997 - Compaq Computer introduces the Presario 2100 computer. It features 132 MHz Cyrix MediaGX processor, 15-in monitor, 24 MB RAM, 2 GB hard drive, 33.6 kbps modem, 8X CD-ROM drive. Price is US$999.
- 2002 - Apple Computer releases the Mac OS 10.1.3 operating system. New additions include support for several digital cameras and CD burners.
- 2003 - Lindows announces the Lindows Mobile PC portable computer. It features 12.1-inch screen, 933 MHz Via Technologies C3 processor, LindowsOS Linux operating system, 256 MB RAM, 20 GB hard drive, CompactFlash port, USB port, Ethernet, and FireWire ports. Price is US$799.
- 2005 - The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A personal computer is used to access an Internet Web site.
- 2011 - The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A touch-pad computer resembling the Apple iPad is used. A scene from 1999 shows a room full of mini-tower computers, CRT and LCD monitors, keyboards.
- 1927 - The Paramount Theater in New York City premieres the Alice Comedy film Alice at the Carnival.
- 1928 - Universal Pictures releases the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit film Africa Before Dark to theaters.
- 1937 - The Mickey Mouse film Moose Hunters is released to theaters. Donald Duck and Goofy also appear.
- 1959 - The ABC TV network airs the Walt Disney Presents TV show, featuring the sixth "Elfego Baca" episode, The Griswold Murder.
- 1966 - The NBC TV network airs the Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color show, featuring The Legend of Young Dick Turpin, part two.
- 1972 - The NBC TV network airs The Wonderful World of Disney show, entitled The City Fox.
- 1977 - The NBC TV network airs The Wonderful World of Disney show, entitled Go West, Young Dog.
- 1982 - The CBS TV network airs the Walt Disney show, entitled Beyond Witch Mountain. It is a pilot for a proposed series, based on the film Escape to Witch Mountain.
- 1984 - Anguilla issues ten postage stamps depicting Mickey Mouse participating in Olympic decathlon events.
- 1985 - Clarence Nash, the voice of Donald Duck for over 50 years, dies of leukemia.
- 1996 - Disney releases the animated film compilation The Best of Roger Rabbit on laserdisc in the US, for US$20. It includes Tummy Trouble, Roller Coaster Rabbit, Trail Mix-Up.
- 1999 - The One Saturday Morning show closes at the ABC Sound Studio in Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World.
- 2000 - The name of Captain Jack's Oyster Bar at the Downtown Disney Marketplace at Walt Disney World is changed to Cap'n Jack's Restaurant.
- 2004 - The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Fairly Oddparents TV show in the US. The title of the episode is "Pixies, Inc.", a reference to the Disney-Pixar film Monsters, Inc..
- 2004 - Disney releases the film Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen to theaters in the USA.
- 2011 - The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US.
- Movie posters in an animation studio are parodies of Monsters, Inc. ("Monsters. Ltd."), The Lion King ("The Lyin' King"), and The Incredibles ("The Not-So-Incredibles");
- a character says "it's like meeting Mickey Mouse and Walt Disney at the same time";
- characters representing the animation studio "Mixar" appear, as a parody of Pixar Animation Studios;
- a girl says to the Mixar crew "I've seen all of your movies except Cars";
- "Randy" plays and sings a song "You've got an enemy" mocking "You've Got a Friend" from Toy Story;
- a Mr. Carrot Head character appears, similar to Mr. Potato Head from Toy Story;
- the Wall-E robot from Disney's Wall-E appears.
- 2005 - At the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona, Florida, the Daytona 500 race is held. A 2005 Corvette Millenium Yellow coupe is the pace car.
- 1938 - Adolf Hitler makes a speech in which he demands self-determination for 10 million Germans in Austria and Czechoslovakia.
- 1938 - British Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden resigns to protest Premier Chamberlain's policy of appeasing dictators.
- 1942 - Japanese troops land at Dili and south of Kupang, Timor, taking both.
- 1943 - (1700 hours) Near Tunisia, German forces capture Kasserine pass from the Americans.
- 1944 - About 200 American bombers from England attack Leipzig, Germany. Much damage is done to five of ten targets.
- 1944 - Over the day, the US 8th Air Force launches over 1000 bombers on various attacks.
- 1944 - (evening) British bombers make a massive assault on Stuttgart, Germany. Heavy damage is inflicted.
- 1945 - The Soviet 6th Army launches an all-out attack on the southern sector of German town of Breslau.
- 1945 - On Iwo Jima, American private first class Jacklyn Lucas covers two Japanee grenades to save the Marines around him. He survives, and is later awarded the Medal of Honor.
- 1946 - The Supreme Court of Canada rules that part of the government's orders-in-council on deporting Japanese Canadians is invalid, but parts of the orders were made under the War Measures Act, making them legal.
- 1946 - In Justice Court in Paris, Marcel Bucard, leader of the French Blueshirt Fascists, is condemned to death.
- 1994 - Marshall Islands issues a postage stamp marking the 50th anniversary of the "Big Week", the American bombing of Germany.
- 1992 - Nintendo asks a United States trade representative to cite Taiwan for failing to stop piracy of video game cartridges, wohich would lead to Taiwan being assessed punitive duties to their exports to the US.
- 2000 - Fox Network airs the Malcolm in the Middle TV show in the USA. A scene briefly takes place in a video game arcade.
- 2004 - The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Fairly Oddparents TV show in the US. One character hands another a handheld video game system looking like a Nintendo Game Boy Color, saying "I want you to relax and play mindless video games..."
- 2007 - Sierra releases the M.A.C.H. video game for the PlayStation Portable in the US.
- 2007 - Sega releases the Sonic and the Secret Rings video game for the Nintendo Wii in the US.
- 2009 - The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rules that a California law restricting the sales and rental of violent video games to minors and imposing labeling requirements is too restrictive and violates free speech guarantees.
- 2011 - The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. An arcade machine resembling Ms. Pac-Man appears.
- 1629 - King Gustav Adolf and King Kristian IV of Denmark meet at Ulfbäck, and have a heated debate.
- 2002 - Guinea issues 28 postage stamps commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Nobel Prizes.
- 2014 - Princess Madeleine of Sweden gives birth to daughter Leonore Lilian Maria, in New York; father is Christopher O'Neill. Title is Duchess of Gotland, 5th in line to throne.
- 1851 - The British Treasury replies to Francis Hincks' memorandum of November 1850, refusing to budge on the subject of Canadian currency.
- 1911 - Dies for sovereigns of the current year arrive at the mint.
- 2008 - The Royal Canadian Mint releases the 6th circulating 2010 Olympics coin, a 25-cent coin depicting snowboarding. The design was created by Glen Green. Mintage limit is 22 million coins.
- 1777 - Continental Congress committee on Treasury recommends a mint be established for coining money.
- 1879 - The New Orleans Mint re-opens, and commences coinage operations.
- 1883 - Mint engraver begins work on incorporating "CENTS" into 5-cent coin design.
- 1895 - Congress changes designation of the Denver Assay Office to Denver Mint, with authority to strike gold and silver coins.
- 1915 - William Ashbrook introduces H.R. 2 in the House of Representatives seeking authorization for the Mint to create silver coins to honor President William McKinley.
- 1934 - The U.S. Assay Commission returns 437 1933 Saint-Gaudens gold double eagles to the US Mint.
- 1979 - The San Francisco Assay Office begins coining Susan Anthony dollars.
- 1877 - International Association (minor baseball league) organizes.
- 1887 - First minor league baseball association organizes (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA).
- 1903 - Nick Young remains as National League baseball president as AG Spalding ends challenge.
- 1912 - Argentina beats the MCC in their inaugural cricket first-class fixture.
- 1923 - Christy Mathewson becomes president of Boston Braves.
- 1927 - Golfers in South Carolina are arrested for violating Sabbath.
- 1929 - Boston Red Sox announce they will play Sunday games at Braves Field.
- 1943 - Phil Wrigley and B Rickey charter All-American Girls Softball League.
- 1953 - August A Busch buys the Saint Louis Cardinals for US$3.75 million.
- 1953 - US Court of Appeals rules that Organized Baseball is a sport and not a business, affirming the 25-year-old Supreme Court ruling.
- 1954 - Babe Didrikson-Zaharias wins LPGA Serbin Golf Open.
- 1955 - Fay Crocker wins LPGA Serbin Golf Open.
- 1957 - Hughie Tayfield takes 9-113 versus England, 13 wickets for match.
- 1958 - Jockey Eddie Arcaro rides his 4,000th winner.
- 1958 - Los Angeles Coliseum Committee approves two-year pact allowing Los Angeles Dodgers to use facility.
- 1963 - End of the Test Cricket careers of Neil Harvey and Alan Davidson.
- 1963 - Willie Mays (San Francisco Giants) signs a record US$100,000 per year contract.
- 1971 - Boston Bruins' Phil Esposito is NHL's quickest to score 50 goals in a season.
- 1972 - First time Cleveland Cavaliers beat New York Knicks (111-109).
- 1972 - Ard Schenk becomes world champion skater.
- 1973 - 10th time New York Islanders shut-out - 4-0 versus Pittsburgh Penguins.
- 1974 - Gordie Howe comes out of retirement for US$1 million from Houston Aeros, WHA.
- 1975 - Leonard Baichan scores 105 on Test Cricket debut, versus Pakistan Lahore.
- 1976 - Muhammad Ali knocks out Jan Pierre Coopman in five rounds for heavyweight boxing title.
- 1977 - Judy Rankin wins LPGA Orange Blossom Golf Classic.
- 1978 - Jane Blalock wins LPGA Orange Blossom Golf Classic.
- 1981 - James Sanford equals 50 metre indoor world record (5.61 seconds).
- 1982 - New York Islanders win record 15th straight NHL game.
- 1983 - Roland Liboton becomes world champion cross-country cycling.
- 1985 - After defending his WBC flyweight championship, Sot Chitalada's check for US$104,000 is stolen by a ringside pickpocket.
- 1986 - Los Angeles Dodgers' Orel Hershiser is first to win a US$1 million salary by arbitration.
- 1988 - André Hoffmann skates world record 1500 metre (1:52.06).
- 1988 - Brian Boitano wins Olympics gold medal in figure skating.
- 1988 - Cornelia Oschkenat hurdles indoor world record 50 metre (6.58 seconds).
- 1988 - Kelly Hrudy's 5th New York Islanders shut-out win against Hartford Whalers, 3-0.
- 1988 - Rob Druppers runs world record indoor 1000 metre (2:16.2).
- 1988 - Stefka Kostadinova high jumps indoor world record (2.06 metres).
- 1989 - Members of 1949 Oklahoma football team cancel an April reunion because of the deplorable conduct of Oklahoma players.
- 1992 - The English FA Premier League is officially formed.
- 1993 - Florida Marlins open their first spring training camp.
- 1993 - Lisa Walters wins LPGA Itoki Hawaiian Ladies Golf Open.
- 1993 - New York Islanders retire Billy Smith's number 31.
- 1994 - Johann Olav Koss skates world record 10 km (13:30.55).
- 1997 - San Francisco Giants' Barry Bonds signs record $22.9 million two-year contract.
- 1998 - Tara Lipinski wins Olympics figure skating gold medal.
- 2022 - Olympic flame extinguished at Beijing National Stadium, ending the 2022 Beijing Games.
- 2022 - At SAP Center in San Jose, California, USA, NHL regular season game: Vegas Golden Knights beats San Jose Sharks by score 4-1.
- 2022 - At Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, NHL regular season game: Minnesota Wild beats Edmonton Oilers by score 7-3.
- 2022 - At Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona, USA, NHL regular season game: Arizona Coyotes beats Dallas Stars by score 3-1.
- 2022 - At Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, USA, NHL regular season game: Columbus Blue Jackets beats Buffalo Sabres by score 7-3.
- 2022 - At Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, NHL regular season game: New York Rangers beats Ottawa Senators by score 2-1.
- 2022 - At United Center in Chicago, Illinois, USA, NHL regular season game: Florida Panthers beats Chicago Blackhawks by score 5-2.
- 2022 - At UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, USA, NHL regular season game: Montreal Canadiens beats New York Islanders by score 3-2.
- 2022 - At PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, NHL regular season game: Carolina Hurricanes beats Pittsburgh Penguins by score 4-3.
- 1962 - At Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA, NASA launches the Friendship 7 space craft on a Mercury-Atlas rocket, at 9:48AM, carrying US Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel John Glenn. Glenn is the first American and third person to successfully orbit Earth. The craft makes three orbits in five hours, landing in the Atlantic Ocean at 2:43PM.
- 1965 - Ranger 8 makes hard landing on the Moon, returns photos, other data.
- 1983 - Japan launches Tenma satellite to study x-rays (450/570 km).
- 1989 - Total eclipse of the Moon.
- 2008 - A total lunar eclipse crosses North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Southwest Asia.
- 2008 - A U.S. Navy warship neat Hawaii fires a missile at a defunct spy satellite 153 miles up in the atmosphere, to destroy the fuel tank of hydrazine fuel, to prevent it from being released as a toxic gas if it had fallen to Earth.
- 1861 - Steeple of Chichester Cathedral is blown down during a storm.
- 1988 - 500 die in heavy rains in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- 1777 - Continental Congress committee on Treasury recommends a mint be established for coining money.
- 1792 - US postal service created; postage 6-12.5 cents, depending on distance.
- 1809 - US Supreme Court rules federal government power greater than any state.
- 1839 - US Congress prohibits dueling in District of Columbia.
- 1856 - Liverpool-New York steamer John Rutledge hits iceberg; many die.
- 1864 - Civil War Battle of Olustee, Florida.
- 1865 - M I T establishes first US collegiate architectural school.
- 1869 - Tennessee Governor W C Brownlow declares martial law in Ku Klux Klan crisis.
- 1872 - Metropolitan Museum of Art opens (New York City, New York).
- 1877 - First cantilever bridge in US is completed, in Harrodsburg, Kentucky.
- 1893 - An act of US Congress protects the Grand Canyon as a Forest Reserve.
- 1895 - US Congress changes designation of the Denver Assay Office to Denver Mint, with authority to strike gold and silver coins.
- 1899 - Illinois Tel and Tel granted franchise for Chicago freight tunnel system.
- 1901 - First US territorial legislature of Hawaii convenes.
- 1915 - (to December 4) The Panama-Pacific International Exposition opens in San Francisco. The event is held to celebrate the completion of the Panama Canal, and the 400th anniversary of Vasco Nunez de Balboa's discovery of the Pacific Ocean.
- 1927 - Golfers in South Carolina are arrested for violating Sabbath.
- 1929 - American Samoa organized as a territory of US.
- 1931 - California gets the go-ahead by the U.S. Congress to build the San Francisco - Oakland Bay Bridge.
- 1933 - House of Representatives completes congressional action to repeal Prohibition.
- 1937 - First automobile/airplane combination tested, Santa Monica, California.
- 1942 - Lieutenant E H O'Hare single-handedly shoots down five Japanese heavy bombers.
- 1943 - Phil Wrigley and B Rickey charter All-American Girls Softball League.
- 1944 - US takes Eniwetok Island.
- 1947 - Chemical mixing error causes explosion that destroys 42 blocks in Los Angeles, California, USA.
- 1949 - First International Pancake Race held (Liberal, Kansas, USA).
- 1953 - US Court of Appeals rules that Organized Baseball is a sport and not a business, affirming the 25-year-old Supreme Court ruling.
- 1962 - At Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA, NASA launches the Friendship 7 space craft on a Mercury-Atlas rocket, at 9:48AM, carrying US Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel John Glenn. Glenn is the first American and third person to successfully orbit Earth. The craft makes three orbits in five hours, landing in the Atlantic Ocean at 2:43PM.
- 1965 - Ranger 8 makes hard landing on the Moon, returns photos, other data.
- 1967 - New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison holds a press conference announcing an investigation into New Orleans-based conspiracy behind the President John Kennedy assassination.
- 1971 - National Emergency Center erroneously orders US radio and TV stations to go off the air; the mistake isn't resolved for 30 minutes.
- 1978 - 4th People's Choice Awards: Star Wars, Carol Burnett, and Bob Hope.
- 1986 - International Harvester changes its company name to Navistar International Corp.
- 1987 - Bomb blamed on Unabomber explodes by computer store in Salt Lake City, Utah.
- 1988 - Peter Kalikow purchases New York Post from Rupert Murdoch for US$37.6 million.
- 1998 - US movie box office hits quickest $1 billion for year (51 days).
- 2008 - In Wisconsin and Hawaii, Democratic caucuses Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton for Presidential candidate. John McCain wins Wisconsin on the Republican side.
- 2008 - A U.S. Navy warship neat Hawaii fires a missile at a defunct spy satellite 153 miles up in the atmosphere, to destroy the fuel tank of hydrazine fuel, to prevent it from being released as a toxic gas if it had fallen to Earth.
- 2009 - Spot gold hits a peak of US$1005.40, its highest since March 18, 2008.
- 2009 - Swedish carmaker Saab (a unit of American carmaker General Motors) files for protection from creditors while it tries to find a new partner and raise funds.
Other history:
- 2005 - Early legislative elections in Portugal result in a landslide victory for José Sócrates and the Socialist Party.
- 2008 - A U.S. Navy warship neat Hawaii fires a missile at a defunct spy satellite 153 miles up in the atmosphere, to destroy the fuel tank of hydrazine fuel, to prevent it from being released as a toxic gas if it had fallen to Earth.
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