Jan. 24 in history

19 Years Ago --- Only In Las Vegas Toronto Star January 24, 1987 On May 16, 1919, Nevada's third-leading tourist attraction was born in West Allis, Wis., to Frances Zuchowski and Salvatore Liberace. They named him Wladizu Valentine Liberace. To millions of women of a certain age he is simply "Mr. Showmanship." Liberace is big business here, where the Liberace Museum ranks in popularity behind only gambling and the Hoover Dam. Nearly 150,000 tourists stream through the 5,000-square-foot museum each year, pilgrims come to worship, to pay homage to the man detractors call "Peter Pansy." ... If you pay attention you will learn how many dogs Liberace has (16), how many cars he owns (48) and how many pianos (42). You will also learn his maid, Gladys, has worked for Liberace for 30 years, he wears a size 12 shoe, and his hobbies are interior decorating, shopping and cooking (he made Michael Jackson a vegetarian dish covered with packaged Hollandaise sauce; Jackson reportedly loved it)... --- 18 Years Ago --- Jackson's Stage Gear Arrives Orlando Sentinel January 24, 1988 The arrival of rock singer Michael Jackson's stage equipment at the Pensacola Civic Center attracted a small crowd curious to see rehearsal gear for the performer's upcoming national tour. Jackson is not expected to arrive for at least a week, the Pensacola News Journal reported Saturday. He has leased the center for 26 days for rehearsals only and plans no public performances. Jackson's rehearsals before 10,000 empty seats will be worked around a Feb. 13 concert by the country music group Alabama and five home games of the Pensacola Tornados, a Continental Basketball Association team. --- 16 Years Ago --- Jackson's Chimp Lives Los Angeles Times January 24, 1990 There's no truth to the rumors that Michael Jackson's chimpanzee Bubbles has died, Jackson's publicist announced, and "when Bubbles heard about his demise he went bananas." "Like Mark Twain, his death is grossly exaggerated and he's alive and doing well," publicist Lee Solters said Tuesday. A fire in Jackson's Santa Barbara menagerie last month destroyed a giraffe barn, but the animals were evacuated safely. Jackson's private zoo includes ostriches, llamas and boa constrictors. --- 14 Years Ago --- Black or White Ends Nearly Two Month Reign Chicago Tribune January 24, 1992 After nearly two months with Michael Jackson's hit "Black or White" ruling as champ of the pop singles list, the nation finally has a new No. 1 song: Color Me Badd's appealing "All 4 Love," which waited its turn in the Top 5 for seven weeks before finally moving up to No. 1 this week... --- 13 Years Ago --- American Music Awards The Washington Post January 24, 1993 Bobby Brown, Gloria Estefan and Wynonna will host the 20th annual American Music Awards presentation Monday from Shrine Civic Auditorium in Hollywood (8 on ABC). Michael Jackson will open the star-studded event, which honors musical artists in pop/rock, soul/rhythm & blues, country, heavy metal/hard rock, rap/hip hop, and adult contemporary. Among other entertainers scheduled to perform: Michael Bolton, Bon Jovi, Boyz II Men, Billy Ray Cyrus, En Vogue, Kris Kross, Metallica, Reba McEntire and Vince Gill, among others. --- 10 Years Ago --- Music Awards Producer Keeping Fingers Crossed Chicago Tribune January 24, 1996 Allow Al Schwartz, a producer of Monday's American Music Awards, to have a headache. Michael Jackson is up for three awards and, says Schwartz, "We're still trying to work something out to have him come to the show." Schwartz has dealt with Jackson a lot in the 20 years he's produced the spectacle... --- --- R&B Artist R. Kelly Receives Two Grammy Nods New York Beacon January 24, 1996 R. Kelly who has been dubbed The king of R&B has received two Grammy nominations for "You Are Not Alone" - his critically acclaimed number one single off of Michael Jackson's HIStory Past, Present and Future Book 1. Nominated for Song of the Year, R. Kelly wrote, composed and co-produced "You Are Not Alone." --- 4 Years Ago --- Michael Jackson, Destiny's Child Win NRJ Awards in France New York Amsterdam News January 24, 2002 ...With Spears opening the show, Seal taking the limelight in a duo selection with one of their own, and Jagger delivering the most energy-charged performance of the evening, one of those names would walk away with France's answer to the Grammys. Instead, it was the absent Michael Jackson, Destiny's Child and Jennifer Lopez who won national acclaim last Saturday. Only arrivals to the Oscars bear any resemblance to this crowd attraction. From early in the day, thousands of fans crowd the entrance to the Palais des Festivals with hopes of catching a glimpse of their favorite celebrity. Cheers swelled as names such as Dido, Eve Angeli, Sally bat des ailes, MC Solaar, Yannick Noah, Mylene Farmer, Helene Segara, Zazie, Alizee, Daft Funk and many others walked onto the red carpet. Models, sports figures and screen stars from France also received the higher-than-Hollywood greeting. Spears, who held a press conference earlier in the day, answered queries about her new record as well as gave thoughts on what she thought of Jackson. "He is the king of pop," Spears said. ---