On this date in . . .

1929: At the Victor Records studio in New York City, Jimmie Rodgers recorded 11 songs, including "Desert Blues" and "Any Old Time." He was already America’s first country music superstar.

1947: Edwin Land demonstrated his Polaroid Land camera, which could produce a black-and-white photograph in 60 seconds.

1964: A company in Britain exported 24-thousand rolls of Beatles wallpaper to the U.S.

1965: The Rolling Stones released their third single, Buddy Holly’s "Not Fade Away." It became the group’s first Top Ten British hit.

1970: The Jackson-5 made its TV debut on "American Bandstand."

1983: Donald Davis set a world record at the University of Hawaii by running a mile backwards in 6 minutes 7.1 seconds.

1984: Meeting in New York, toy manufacturers showed off their top dolls of the year, including Menudo, Michael Jackson, and Mr. T. dolls, and Judy Garland from "The Wizard of Oz."

1988: Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart confessed tearfully to his Baton Rouge congregation that he had sinned. Media reports linked Swaggart to a prostitute.

1993: An 80-year-old Tel Aviv man refused once again to grant his wife a divorce. Under Israeli law both spouses must agree to a divorce, and one who refuses can be imprisoned until he or she consents. Yahiya Avraham had been in prison for 31 years.

1995: Chicago adventurer Steve Fossett landed in Leader, Saskatchewan, after becoming the first person to fly solo across the Pacific Ocean in a balloon.

1996: Nutritionists at the Centre for Science in the Public Interest reported that a typical American family breakfast of sausage, eggs, bacon and pancakes provided nearly a day's worth of fat and more than 1,100 calories.

2000: A Tehran taxi driver was so upset by tough traffic regulations that he walked around in a hat and full-length dress made from 200 parking tickets. But the protest did no good. The 54-year-old cabby told an Iranian newspaper he was arrested and charged by police with spreading lies. He was freed on bail.

2000: David Letterman returned to his "Late Show" five weeks after emergency quintuple heart bypass surgery

2005: Former Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush wrapped up their tour of tsunami-ravaged nations with a visit to the Maldives.

Birthdays:

• actress Jennifer Love Hewitt is 33;
• actor Kelsey Grammer 57;
• actor Chris Atkins is 51;
• actor William Petersen 59;
• actress Tyne Daly 66;
• producer David Geffen 69;
• singer Mary Chapin Carpenter 59;
• singer Eric Heatherly 42;
• singer Charlotte Church 26;
• baseball's Alan Trammel 54.

     Q: Did Jennifer Love Hewitt make her acting debut in: (a) a pig barn; (b) a shopping mall; or (c) a museum?
     A: At age 6 in a pig barn at a Texas livestock show.

     Q: Mary Chapin Carpenter wrote her first song at age 7. Was it about: (a) a Barbi doll; (b) a kitten; or (c) a bumblebee?
     A: She wrote her first song about a bumblebee she had squashed on the sidewalk.

     Q: How many American babies are named after close relatives: (a) 60%; (b) 70%; or (c) 80%?
     A: About 60%.

     Animal Truths: Camels can close their noses. Alligators can close their ears.

     Fun History: When Bugs Bunny first appeared in 1935, he was called Happy Rabbit.

17 years ago today:

• The #1 U.S. song was "Take a Bow" by Madonna.
• The #1 country song was "Old Enough to Know Better" by Wade Hayes.