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23rd September

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1964: Chagall's ceiling unveiled


The Paris Opéra unveils a stunning new ceiling painted as a gift by Belorussian-born artist Marc Chagall, who spent much of his life in France. Chagall's Russian soul and Jewish heritage stirred his love for folklore and biblical themes. Before the advent of surrealism, he painted fantastical paintings that were among the first expressions of psychic reality in modern art. Among his most famous works are paintings such as I and the Village (1911); his series of 12 stained-glass windows symbolizing the tribes of Israel (1960-61); the two vast murals he painted for New York's Metropolitan Opera House (1966); and the sets and costumes he designed for various operas and ballets. He continued to work vigorously until his death in 1985 at the age of 97.

1997

In Saudi Arabia, British nurse Lucille McLauchlan is sentenced to 500 lashes and eight years in jail for accessory to murder.

1986

England and Yorkshire batsman Geoff Boycott is controversially sacked from Yorkshire Cricket Club after playing for the county side for 24 years.

1974

In Britain, the BBC launches the world's first Ceefax teletext service.

1973

Juan Peron is re-elected President of Argentina after being ousted from the position almost 18 years earlier.

1940

During World War II, Britain intoduces two civilian awards for bravery and gallentry - the George Cross and the George Medal.

1926

American boxer Gene Tunney outpoints Jack Dempsey to win the world heavyweight title in Philadelphia.

1912

The first silent comedy film starring the Keystone Cops is released in America by Mack Sennett - called 'Cohen Collects A Debt'.

1848

First commercial production of chewing gum by John Curtis on a stove at his home in Bangor, Maine in the United States and marketed as 'The State of Maine Pure Spruce Gum'.

1846

German Astronomer Johann Galle discovers another planet - Neptune.

480BC

Greeks defeat the Persians at the Battle of Salamis to halt the Persian advance into Europe.

1949

British athlete Geoff Capes.

1949

American rock singer Bruce Springsteen.

1943

Spanish singer Julio Iglesias.

1920

American film star Mickey Rooney (real name Joe Yule Jnr) Appears on stage aged just 15 months as part of his parent's Vaudeville act. Appears in more than 100 films after his debut in 1926 in 'Not To Be Trusted'. Receives special Academy Awards in 1938 and 1983. An incurable romantic, he marries 8 times.

1981

British broadcaster Sam Costa, aged 71.

1939

Sigmund Freud, the Austrian psychiatrist and founder of psycho-analysis, dies in Hampstead, London aged 83. Born in Freiburg, Moravia, he studied medicine in Vienna and published his best-known work 'The Interpretation of Dreams' in 1900 in which he linked subconscious dreams to repressed sexual desires. He fled to Britain after Austria was annexed by Germany in 1938 and died of cancer the following year. Gave his name to a 'Freudian slip' - an off the cuff, personal comment or remark that is regarded as revealing a repressed or hidden truth - usually of a sexual nature.

1928

Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, aged 56, disappears while flying over the North Pole searching for a fellow explorer who had gone missing. Was the first man to navigate the North-west Passage in both directions.In December 1911 became the first man to reach the South Pole - a month ahead of the British expedition led by Captain Scott. In 1926 part of the three-man team that successfully flew across the North Pole in an airship.

1889

English novelist William (Wilkie) Collins.