Today’s Past in the Movies … May 18

May 18 … What occurred in movie-land today in years past?

Events on this day:

1927 – Grauman’s Chinese Theatre opens in Hollywood, California.
1934 – The Academy Award is first referred to (in print) as an Oscar.
1980 – The Oscar-Winning Fame records $118,160 box office on opening weekend.
2003 – The Matrix Reloaded records $91,774,413 box office on opening weekend.

Born on this day:

1887 – Jeanie MacPherson (Actress, Screenwriter & a founding member of the AMPAS)
1897 – Frank Capra (Writer/Director/Producer: Its a Wonderful Life)
1912 – Richard Brooks (Writer/Director: Blackboard Jungle, The Professionals)
1924 – Priscilla Pointer (Actress: Carrie, Mommie Dearest, Blue Velvet)
1955 – Chow Yun-Fat (Actor: Hard Boiled, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon)
1970 – Tina Fey (Writer/Actress/Comedienne: Mean Girls, Baby Mama)

Died on this day:

1981 – Arthur O’Connell (Actor: Bus Stop, The Great Race, Fantastic Voyage)
1992 – Marshall Thompson (Actor: It! The Terror From Beyond Space, Fiend Without a Face)
1995 – Elisha Cook, Jr. (Actor: Maltese Falcon, The Big Sleep, The Killing)