idiomas y más

February 22, the Beatles returned to

England.
In Baltimore, Maryland, a small
The Beatles' first American tour left fire in the business district is
a major imprint in the nation's wind-whipped into an
BEATLES ARRIVE IN NEW cultural memory. With American uncontrollable conflagration that
YORK: youth poised to break away from the engulfs a large portion of the city
February 7, 1964 culturally rigid landscape of the by evening. The fire is believed to
1950s, the Beatles, with their have been started by a discarded
exuberant music and good-natured cigarette in the basement of the
On February 7, 1964, Pan Am rebellion, were the perfect catalyst Hurst Building. When the blaze
Yankee Clipper flight 101 from for the shift. Their singles and finally burned down after 31
London Heathrow lands at New albums sold millions of records, and hours, an 80-block area of the
York's Kennedy Airport--and at one point in April 1964 all five downtown area, stretching from
"Beatlemania" arrives. It was the best-selling U.S. singles were the waterfront to Mount Vernon
first visit to the United States by Beatles songs. By the time the on Charles Street, had been
the Beatles, a British rock-and-roll Beatles first feature-film, A Hard destroyed. More than 1,500
quartet that had just scored its first Day's Night, was released in August, buildings were completely
No. 1 U.S. hit six days before with Beatlemania was epidemic the world leveled, and some 1,000 severely
"I Want to Hold Your Hand." At over. Later that month, the four boys damaged, bringing property loss
Kennedy, the "Fab Four"--dressed from Liverpool returned to the United from the disaster to an estimated
in mod suits and sporting their States for their second tour and $100 million. Miraculously, no
trademark pudding bowl haircuts-- played to sold-out arenas across the homes or lives were lost, and
were greeted by 3,000 screaming country. Baltimore's domed City Hall, built
fans who caused a near riot when in 1867, was preserved.
the boys stepped off their plane Later, the Beatles gave up touring to
and onto American soil. concentrate on their innovative The Great Baltimore Fire was the
studio recordings, such as 1967's most destructive fire in the United
Two days later, Paul McCartney, St. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club States since the Great Chicago
age 21, Ringo Starr, 23, John Band, a psychedelic concept album Fire of 1871 destroyed most of
Lennon, 23, and George Harrison, that is regarded as a masterpiece of the city and caused an estimated
20, made their first appearance on popular music. The Beatles' music $200 million in property damage.
the Ed Sullivan Show, a popular remained relevant to youth
television variety show. Although it throughout the great cultural shifts of
was difficult to hear the the 1960s, and critics of all ages 1984 First human satellite
performance over the screams of acknowledged the songwriting
teenage girls in the studio genius of the Lennon-McCartney
audience, an estimated 73 million team. In 1970, the Beatles While in orbit 170 miles above
U.S. television viewers, or about disbanded, leaving a legacy of 18 Earth, Navy Captain Bruce
40 percent of the U.S. population, albums and 30 Top 10 U.S. singles. McCandless becomes the first
tuned in to watch. Sullivan human being to fly untethered in
immediately booked the Beatles During the next decade, all four space when he exits the U.S.
for two more appearances that Beatles pursued solo careers, with space shuttle Challenger and
month. The group made their first varying success. Lennon, the most maneuvers freely, using a bulky
public concert appearance in the outspoken and controversial Beatle, white rocket pack of his own
United States on February 11 at was shot to death by a deranged fan design. McCandless orbited Earth
the Coliseum in Washington, D.C., outside his New York apartment in tangent with the shuttle at
and 20,000 fans attended. The building in 1980. McCartney was speeds greater than 17,500 miles
next day, they gave two back-to- knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in per hour and flew up to 320 feet
back performances at New York's 1997 for his contribution to British away from the Challenger. After
Carnegie Hall, and police were culture. In November 2001, George an hour and a half testing and
forced to close off the streets Harrison succumbed to cancer. flying the jet-powered backpack
around the venerable music hall 1904 The Great Baltimore Fire and admiring Earth, McCandless
because of fan hysteria. On begins safely reentered the shuttle.

TODAY IN HISTORY 1
 idiomas y más
Hussein was named the third
Later that day, Army Lieutenant constitutional king of Jordan in 1952
Colonel Robert Stewart tried out and proved a great leader in his
the rocket pack, which was a country and throughout the Middle
device regarded as an important East. He was a member of the
step toward future operations to Hashemite dynasty, said to be in
repair and service orbiting direct line of descent from the
satellites and to assemble and Prophet Muhammad. The
maintain large space stations. It Hashemites became the rulers of
was the fourth orbital mission of Jordan following the dissolution of
the space shuttle Challenger. the Ottoman Empire in the early
20th century.

1992 European Union In 1963, Hussein appointed his one-

established year-old son, Prince Abdallah, as
heir, but after suffering through a
After suffering through centuries of series of assassination attempts, the
bloody conflict, the nations of Jordanian king feared he would not
Western Europe finally unite in the live long enough for Prince Abdallah
spirit of economic cooperation with to reach maturity. He amended the
the signing of the Maastricht Jordanian constitution to allow for
Treaty of European Union. The fraternal succession and in 1965
treaty, signed by ministers of the appointed his younger brother,
European Community, called for Prince Hassan bin Talal, as crown
greater economic integration, prince. Hassan was age 18 and thus
common foreign and security just old enough by Islamic law to
policies, and cooperation between avoid a regency that might
police and other authorities on compromise the Hashemite dynasty.
crime, terrorism, and immigration
issues. The agreement also laid After Hussein's son Prince Abdallah
the groundwork for the reached adulthood, Prince Hassan
establishment of a single remained crown prince and during
European currency, to be known the late 1990s served as acting king
as the "euro." By the time the while Hussein suffered through a
Maastricht Treaty took effect in long illness. However, in January
1993, it had been ratified by 12 1999, just weeks before his death,
nations: Great Britain, France, King Hussein made Prince Abdallah
Germany, the Irish Republic, crown prince, ending Prince
Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Hassan's 34 years as the Jordanian
Denmark, Luxembourg, Belgium, heir. Hussein had long wanted the
and the Netherlands. The euro royal line to revert back to his eldest
was introduced into circulation on son, but delayed making the
January 1, 2002. acrimonious decision until it was
almost too late. In February, 37-
1999 King Hussein of Jordan year-old Abdallah ascended to the
dies throne upon Hussein's death.

On February 7, 1999, King

Hussein bin Talal, the 20th
century's longest-serving executive
head of state dies, and his son
Prince Abdallah bin Hussein
ascends to the Jordanian throne.

TODAY IN HISTORY 2