01-23-09 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
PRES. OBAMA TO GET A BLACKBERRY SUBSTITUTE: National Security Agency approves a hacker-proof smartphone for the new president.
*The Internet has already nicknamed it "BarackBerry," but, in fact, President Obama's new smartphone is a $3,350 device that has all the bells and whistles of his beloved Blackberry, but none of the security risks.
The president has been fighting efforts by the National Security Agency to ditch his BlackBerry phone, saying they would have to "pry it out of my hands." He protests that a mobile device would help him stay in touch with the real world.
However, e-mail has long been treated with suspicion by the Secret Service because of fears it could be hacked into by foreign espionage agencies, or that sensitive information could reach the public domain via a single mis-stroke of the "send" key.
Writing on his blog for the Atlantic magazine, Marc Ambinder reports that the NSA and the president have reached a compromise, a spy-proof BlackBerry alternative called Sectera Edge.
Made by General Dynamics, the cell phone is reportedly capable of encrypting top secret voice conversations and handling classified documents. However, Ambinder also reports that instant messaging in the White House will still be forbidden.
VIOLA DAVIS, TARAJI P. HENSON GET OSCAR NODS: Names announced by Forest Whitaker in Beverly Hills.
*Viola Davis and Taraji P. Henson received their first Oscar nominations and will compete against each other in the supporting actress category for their performances in "Doubt" and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," respectively.
“I didn’t sleep all night. I screamed in my husband’s ear and drank some champagne," Davis told Variety shortly after her name was called. "When you’re acknowledged like this, you feel confident that you’ve reached people and you’re on the right path. That’s a basic need of any human being, especially when you’re living out a dream like I am.”
Nominations for the 81st Annual Academy Awards were announced Thursday morning from the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater. Other actresses in the supporting category are Penelope Cruz for "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," Amy Adams for "Doubt" and Marisa Tomei for "The Wrestler."
Henson's nomination is one of a leading 13 for "Benjamin Button," also earned a best actor nod for Brad Pitt, best director for David Fincher and best picture.
Other best picture nominees are "Frost/Nixon," "Milk,' "The Reader" and Slumdog Millionaire.
Also of note, Robert Downey Jr. received a supporting actor nomination for his role as a white actor playing a black soldier in the comedy "Tropic Thunder."
The 81st Annual Academy Awards will be presented one month from today on Feb. 22 at 8 p.m. EST (5 p.m. PST) and broadcast live on ABC. Here are the nominees in the top categories:
BEST PICTURE
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire
ACTRESS
Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married)
Angelina Jolie (The Changeling)
Melissa Leo (Frozen River)
Meryl Streep (Doubt)
Kate Winslet (Revolutionary Road)
ACTOR
Richard Jenkins (The Visitor)
Frank Langella (Frost Nixon)
Sean Penn (Milk)
Brad Pitt (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler)
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Viola Davis (Doubt)
Taraji P. Henson (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona) Amy Adams (Doubt) Marisa Tomei (The Wrestler)
SUPPORTING ACTOR
Josh Brolin (Milk)
Robert Downey Jr. (Tropic Thunder)
Philip Seymour Hoffman (Doubt)
Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road)
Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)
DIRECTOR
David Fincher (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) Ron Howard (Frost/Nixon) Gus Van Sant (Milk) Stephen Daldry (The Reader) Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire)
SCREENPLAY
Frozen River
Happy-Go-Lucky
In Bruges
Milk
Wall-E
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Doubt
Frost/Nixon
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany)
The Class (France)
Departures (Japan)
Revanche (Austria)
Waltz With Bashir (Israel)
ANIMATED
Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
Wall-E
SASHA AND MALIA BEANIE BABIES ON SALE: But doll maker claims the names have nothing to do with Obama daughters.
*Two new Beanie Babies are on the market – one named "Sweet Sasha,"
the other "Marvelous Malia." But, the company behind the popular brand claims the names do not refer to President Barack Obama's daughters.
"There's nothing on the dolls that refers to the Obama girls," said Tania Lundeen, a spokeswoman for Ty Inc. "It would not be fair to say they are exact replications of these girls. They are not."
The 23-inch dolls have bronze skin and "real doll hair," Lundeen told the Associated Press. They were introduced in early January as part of the company's "TyGirlz Collection" and a limited supply has been shipped to retailers.
The Sasha doll has pigtails and wears a white and pink dress with hearts. The Malia doll has a side ponytail and a long-sleeve shirt with capri pants.
The Oak Brook-based company says it chose those particular names because "they are beautiful names."
CONDI RICE SIGNS WITH WILLIAM MORRIS: Deal includes representation for books, lectures and various media opportunities.
*Shortly after Condoleezza Rice's last official day as the U.S. Secretary of State, the William Morris Agency announced it has signed her as a client for representation in multiple areas – including books and lecture appearances.
"It was certainly a competitive situation," said Jim Wiatt, chairman and CEO of the William Morris Agency. "She was very thorough about the process and who she would feel most comfortable with and who would be speaking on her behalf."
The former professor and Stanford University provost has been in the Bush administration since its beginning, first as national security adviser and then as secretary of state. Her appointment ended Tuesday afternoon, after Barack Obama was sworn in as president.
The management deal also includes William Morris representation for philanthropic efforts involving classical music and college educations for disadvantaged students, as well as initiatives to help U.S. children become global citizens.
WMA co-chief operating officer Wayne Kabak said that the agency was struck not only by Rice's well-rounded resume. In addition to her political career, Rice is an accomplished concert pianist as well as a big-time National Football League fan.
"It's more than just books, it's much more than just lectures," Kaback said. "We're here to help her create and enhance an agenda that is very important to her in her post-government career."
INAUGURATION COVERAGE DRAWS 38 MILLION: Ratings are second only to Reagan's oath of office in 81.
*Some 38 million Americans tuned in to watch Tuesday's inauguration of President Barack Obama, the most popular inauguration day on television since Ronald Reagan took office in 1981.
According to Nielsen Media Research, Reagan's 41.8 million viewers continues to hold the record. Obama more than doubled the 15.5 million viewers who watched George Bush's second inauguration four years ago.
The ratings figure was an average number of people watching at any point from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST, reports the Associated Press. Viewership peaked during the noon hour when Obama was taking the oath of office and delivered his inaugural address.
During the 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. period, NBC captured the largest audience — an estimated 10.4 million viewers, Nielsen reported. ABC had 10.1 million and CBS had 7 million.
CNN, with 6.9 million, narrowly missed beating CBS during those three hours but did during the 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. period. Fox News Channel had 4.4 million and MSNBC 2.6 million viewers between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., Nielsen said.
JOHN LEGEND BOUNCES INTO NBA ALL-STAR GAME: Crooner tapped to sing "If You're Out There" with Latin star Juanes.
*The National Basketball Association has booked R&B singer John Legend and Latin rocker star Juanes to perform at its Feb. 15 All-Star event in Phoenix.
The artists will belt "If You're Out There," an anthem about leadership, from Legend's recent album, "Evolver." The NBA All-Star game will air live on TNT.
The NBA says Legend and Juanes were chosen because of their dedication to community service, a theme that will be highlighted during their performance as they spotlight the NBA Cares program.
WE REMEMBER DAVID 'FATHEAD' NEWMAN: Jazz musician died Tuesday of pancreatic cancer.
*David "Fathead" Newman, a jazz musician who gained fame as a tenor sax soloist, died Tuesday of pancreatic cancer in a Kingston, N.Y., hospital, his manager Karen Nemman told the Associated Press. He was 75.
Newman played and recorded with a number of jazz and R&B greats, including Herbie Mann, Aretha Franklin and Aaron Neville. He also enjoyed a successful solo career.
He was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1990 for his work with Art Blakey and Dr. John.
According to his Web site, Newman spent 12 years with the Ray Charles Band beginning in 1954. He began as the baritone sax player and became the star tenor sax soloist.
AKON KEEPS HIS AGE A MYSTERY: Singer says it's not important to him, and shouldn't be to anyone else.
*Count pop star Akon among the celebrities who refuse to tell their real age. The Senegalese singer claims he doesn't know how old he is anyway, and that's fine with him.
"All it's going to do is depress me," he told The Associated Press in a recent interview. "I don't want to know I'm getting older. Then I'll start to think about getting checkups and insurance. I don't want that."
Various reports have put his age between 25 to 35 years old. In 2006, he said he was 25. But now, he claims his birth certificate shows he was born on April 16, 1977, which would make him 31.
Akon has long been accused of trying to push back his age. But the singer, who was born in the United States but spent his early life in Senegal, where his family is from, says he never knew it. "In Africa ... age is not important over there. They don't care. People only focus on it here
(America) and in Europe," he said.
The artist answers age questions by giving people a figure that comes to mind. "I feel like I'm 21 right now," he says. "And I'll be 21 for the next 10 years."
FIRST LADY'S HAIR DRESSER BOOKS REALITY SHOW: Johnny Wright signs development deal with 44 Blue.
*Michelle Obama's hairstylist has landed a development deal to star in a reality television show, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Former Chicagoan Johnny Wright styled the first lady's hair for the Democratic National Convention, her upcoming appearance on the cover of Vogue magazine and other occasions.
He has signed a deal with 44 Blue, which produces such reality shows as Style Network's "Split Ends" and A&E's "L.A. Gang Unit." The company's executive vice president Stephanie Drachkovitch said she discovered Wright while searching for a reality host.
"There aren't many people of color doing makeover and beauty shows," she said. "We figured there's got to be somebody out there with a mainstream clientele, but brings a different point of view."
Wright moved to Los Angeles recently and has actors Vivica A. Fox, Rebecca Gayheart and Lauren London among his clients. Drachkovitch said she was impressed with the hairstylist's personality before she knew his Obama connection.
"We fell in love with him before we knew," she said. "There's a lot of hairstylists out there who do celebrities, but they can't center a show."
Drachkovitch soon will pitch the idea to cable networks as a docu-soap or a makeover series. The well-timed Obama connection doesn't hurt.
"She has certainly emerged as a style icon," Drachkovitch said of the first lady. "She has everyday beauty mixed with elegance. It certainly raises (Wright's) profile."
OPRAH BOOK SELECTION HEADED TO BIG SCREEN: Universal picks up rights to 'The Story of Edgar Sawtelle.'
*The David Wroblewski novel "The Story of Edgar Sawtelle," a recent selection for Oprah’s Book Club, will be made into a feature film at Universal Pictures under a partnership between Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Films and Tom Hanks' Playtone.
The novel revolves around a mute teenager who lives on a farm in Wisconsin with a family that’s raised a coveted breed of dog for generations. Sawtelle’s father dies mysteriously after his uncle comes to stay with the family, which sends the youth fleeing into the woods with three of his dogs.
Published in September by Ecco, the book has been at or near the top of the bestseller lists for 30 weeks. It got a boost when it was selected as a title for Oprah’s Book Club.
The film will be produced by Playtone’s Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman and Harpo Films partners Winfrey and Kate Forte. The project marks the first collaboration for Hanks’ and Winfrey’s shingles. The pairing was facilitated by the relationship developed when Goetzman was a producer with Forte on Winfrey’s 1998 film "Beloved."
MARIAH CAREY TO SING ON IN-LAW'S ALBUM: 'Mimi' to help launch career of hubby's younger brother.
*Mariah Carey will reportedly offer some vocal assistance to the younger brother of her husband Nick Cannon.
"Reuben and Mariah are doing a duet together for Reuben's first album," an industry source tells E! News. "They are meeting at the end of the month with Mariah's record label, Universal Music Group, to seal the deal, and Reuben is thrilled."
Reuben Cannon was recently signed with Lavert Entertainment and is halfway through recording his album, slated for release later this year.
There was no comment on the collaboration from the Carey and Cannon camps, but a Reuben rep wasn't beyond teasing, saying, "Reuben Cannon is working on some really amazing things right now."
ETTA JAMES 'PROUD' OF HER SIGNATURE SONG: Singer says she loved Beyonce's rendition during Obamas' first dance.
*R&B legend Etta James says she was overcome with pride watching Beyonce belt her classic song, "At Last," while Barack Obama and his wife shared their first dance Tuesday night as President and First Lady.
James watched the Neighborhood Ball performance live on ABC Tuesday night from her home in California.
Her son, Donto James, tells the New York Daily News: "She was looking forward to seeing it. She was honored (and) she thought it was great. She's gotten emotional, just like everybody else."
Knowles also became emotional during her own performance. She told ABC's Robin Roberts: "I was thinking (about) all the sacrifices Obama and his wife and his children have made, and at last he's here. I'm sorry, I'm so embarrassed. I'm just so lucky to be a part of this history. It's probably the most important day of my life, and I'm so grateful."
ARETHA SAYS THE COLD AFFECTED INAUGURATION SONG: Plus, where did she get that hat?
*While most people have spent the last 72 hours being critical of her hat, Aretha Franklin said she was more concerned with the way she sounded during her rendition of "My Country 'Tis of Thee'" at Tuesday's Inauguration.
The Queen of Soul was invited to sing for the incoming president, but blamed the bitter cold temperatures for affecting her vocal performance.
"I don't have to tell you, it was freezing, if you were there," she told CNN's Larry King. "Some singers it doesn't bother, and others it does. I don't care for it. It affected my voice."
Ultimately, she told King: "I was delighted and thrilled to be there. That was the most important thing, not so much the performance, but just to be there and to see this great man go into office -- the promise of tomorrow coming to pass.
As for the hat, a gray pillbox with an oversized bow on the side, Franklin said "I bought it at a little millinery that I frequent out in Detroit."
VENUS OUSTED, SERENA ADVANCES IN AUSTRALIA: Older sister loses to Carla Suarez; younger squeezes past Gisela Dulko.
*It was a bittersweet Thursday for the Williams sisters at the Australian Open. Venus squandered a match point before losing to 46th-ranked Carla Suarez Navarro, while Serena advanced with a close win over Argentinian Gisela Dulko.
Navarro, 20, rallied to beat Williams 2-6, 6-3, 7-5. "She was super consistent and aggressive and just went for her shots," Williams said of the Spaniard. "Probably one of her best matches she's ever played."
The sixth-seeded V. Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, now hopes to come away with a doubles crown with Serena, who said her 6-3, 7-5 victory over Dulko left "lots and lots and lots of room for improvement."
"Today I was at like a D minus at best, that's pretty far away," said three-time Australian Open champion Serena following the second-round match. "But it's good that I was able to win when I wasn't playing my best. I definitely will try to do better."
NICOLE RICHIE PITCHES NEW REALITY SHOW: Celeb looking to show her life as a working mom.
*Nicole Richie is hoping to give reality television another run. Some six years after the debut of "The Simple Life," the daughter of Lionel Richie is pitching a new family-focused series about her life as a busy mother.
"Nicole wants the world to know what it's like to be a working mom with a rock star boyfriend," a source tells Star magazine.
Richie welcomed daughter Harlow with Good Charlotte star Joel Madden last year and is said to have since hatched plans for the project, which she began pitching to studios earlier this month, the tabloid reported.
Madden, his rocker twin Benji and Lionel Richie have all signed on to the project, according to Star.
"The Simple Life," which premiered in 2003 on FOX, followed her shenanigans with best friend Paris Hilton as they toured the country and attempted odd jobs.
OBAMA BITS: Winfrey's White House toast; Sharon Stone snubs Hughley; Halle Berry vs. escalator; Usher disses D.C. fan?
*The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that Oprah Winfrey spent some private time with the Obamas after the nation's First Couple left the last inauguratl ball at 12:45 a.m. After arriving at the White House, the president and his wife enjoyed a champagne toast with a select group of people, including the talk show host, the paper reported.
*At the Huffington Post ball Tuesday night in Washington, Sharon Stone reportedly "threw a fit when she found out D.L. Hughley was replacing Larry King during a live CNN segment in which she was supposed to take part," the New York Post reported. "Sharon was barking out questions about where Larry King was," said a spy for Page Six. When she was told Hughley was doing the interview, "Sharon turned cold, snapped, 'I'm not doing this,' and went to the VIP room. D.L. did the party coverage on his own."
*Page Six also reported that Halle Berry was spotted on her way to the Western Ball, "looking lost and confused in the crowd," according to a witness. "She stepped onto the escalator and the long train of her dress got caught, causing a scene of panic." The source said Berry was "frantically screaming" and "security had to hit the emergency brake." She eventually yanked her dress out of the escalator and went to the party.
*Earlier that day, while the entire city seemed to be packed into the National Mall, Usher and his wife, Tameka Foster, were at Barneys in Georgetown. A Page Six source said, "The [shopping] mall was practically empty, and a young girl went up and asked Usher for a photo. His bodyguard very meanly refused, and Tameka laughed in the girl's face. After they left, the little girl was crying." His rep said: "Usher took as many photos as possible while in DC. He was there to witness a great moment in history. It's absurd that people would try to ruin it."
OPENING THIS WEEK: Kam's Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
For movies opening January 23, 2009
by Kam Williams
BIG BUDGET FILMS
Inkheart (PG for fantasy action, scary moments and mild epithets) Screen adaptation of the Cornelia Funke children’s novel of the same name about a man (Brendan Fraser) who discovers he has an uncanny ability to bring fairy tale characters to life when reading aloud to his daughter (Eliza Bennett). Cast includes Helen Mirren, Paul Bettany and Sienna Guillory.
Possession (PG-13 for profanity, sexuality, violence and disturbing images) Sarah Michelle Gellar stars in this out-of-body thriller about a woman whose husband (Michael Ryan) is left comatose by the same car accident from which his brother (Lee Pace) awakes believing he’s married to his sister-in-law.
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (R for sexuality and graphic violence) Third installment in the horror franchise delves into the roots of the centuries-old feud between a race of aristocratic vampires ruled by an evil monarch (Bill Nighy) and their werewolf slaves led by a young rebel (Michael Sheen) with a lover (Rhona Mitra) hiding a big secret.
INDEPENDENT & FOREIGN FILMS
California Dreamin’ (Unrated) Armand Assante stars in this Kosovo War saga, set in 1999, revolving around the stalemate which ensues after a crooked railway station manager (Razvan Vasilescu) detains a NATO train with military equipment in his remote Romanian village for five days. (In Spanish, Italian, Romanian and English)
Crips and Bloods: Made in America (Unrated) Gangsta’ documentary chronicles the bloody, L.A. turf war which has claimed 15,000 lives and counting over the past four decades.
Dealing and Wheeling in Small Arms (Unrated) Shocking expose’ examines the contribution of weapons brokers to the political stability of such developing nations as the Congo, Cambodia and Uganda.
Donkey Punch (R for eroticized violence, profanity, drug use, graphic nudity and a scene involving bizarre sexuality) Suspense thriller about the ruthless struggle which unfolds among the six surviving partygoers aboard a luxury yacht in the Mediterranean following the death of a female passenger
(Sian Breckin) in a freak accident.
Killshot (R for violence, profanity and brief nudity) Thriller about a married couple (Diane Lane and Thomas Jane) in the Federal Witness Protection Program who find themselves the target of an over-the-hill hit man (Mickey Rourke) and his psychopathic, young protégé (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). Supporting cast includes Rosario Dawson and Hal Holbrook.
The Lodger (R for violence, profanity and brief nudity) Remake of the 1927 Hitchcock horror flick about a couple (Donal Logue and Hope Davis) who unwittingly rent a room to a mysterious man (Simon Baker) suspected of committing a series of grisly murders in the neighborhood. Cast includes Alfred Molina and Shane West as the detectives trying to crack the case.
Of Time and the City (Unrated) Terence Davies directs this semi-autobiographical documentary taking a nostalgic look back at both his life and his beloved hometown of Liverpool, England.
Outlander (R for profanity) Sci-fi fantasy, set in ancient Norway, about a man from (Jim Caviezel) a faraway planet who crash lands on Earth where he teams with the Vikings to do battle with an alien creature called the Moorwen. (In English and Old Norse with subtitles).
ITTY BITTY BITS: Perry's 'Preys' tops DVD chart; USO books Banner; Kilpatrick loses law license fight; 'Noah's Arc' DVD.
*Tyler Perry's "The Family That Preys," a drama that grossed $37.1 million in U.S. theaters, debuted at the top of the national home video sales chart for the week ended Jan. 18. Sony Pictures' "Pineapple Express" slid to No. 2, followed by "My Best Friend's Girl" at No. 3, the horror film "Mirrors" at No. 4 and the Western "Appaloosa" at No. 5.
*Rapper David Banner has signed on for the next USO Tour in the Persian Gulf, to take place between February and March. The Jackson, Mississippi native will spend a week visiting several military posts along with fellow artists James Taylor, Kelly Price and Gary Sinese and the Lt. Dan Band. “There’s nothing I enjoy more than giving back and expressing my thanks to those serving our nation,” Banner said in a press release. “I am honored to travel with the USO and feel privileged to do what I do everyday. Regardless of your political affiliation or viewpoint on the war, our soldiers work hard and have paved the way to where we are today.”
*A lawyer for Kwame Kilpatrick has failed in a bid to stop the revocation of the former Detroit mayor's law license. Attorney Philip Thomas said Tuesday that the Michigan Attorney Discipline Board decided it doesn't have the authority to lift a judge's order revoking the jailed ex-mayor's license, reports the AP. Thomas petitioned the board last month, arguing that Wayne County Circuit Judge David Groner didn't have the authority to revoke Kilpatrick's license earlier in 2008. Kilpatrick pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and agreed to surrender his law license.
*"Noah’s Arc: Jumping The Broom," a feature length movie based on the television show following four African-American gay friends in Los Angeles, will be released on DVD Feb. 3. Special features include a “Making Of” segment, deleted scenes, photo shoots and more. The film, from cable channel LOGO, will also be sold as a 2-pack with the soundtrack from Tommy Boy Records. "Jumping The Broom" finds Noah (Darryl Stephens), Alex (Rodney Chester), Ricky (Christian Vincent), Chance (Doug Spearman) and their significant others traveling to Martha's Vineyard for a weekend wedding getaway. Drama ensues as one-by-one their relationships start to crack under the pressure of closer examination.
RICHARD PARSONS TO HEAD CITIGROUP: Bank taps former Time Warner vet as its new chairman.
*Troubled U.S. banking giant Citigroup on Wednesday named as its new chairman Richard Parsons, a longtime top executive at media giant Time Warner, to steer it through its most challenging period, reports the AFP.
Parsons immediately pledged to revamp the bank as it moves to split into two business entities, amid retrenchments, massive losses and a deepening global financial crisis.
"One of my top priorities will be to ensure the board remains committed to strong, independent corporate governance -- especially in today's challenging economic conditions," Parsons, 60, said in a statement.
"I also will work to reconstitute the board as directors retire with new members who bring strong, proven business judgment and financial and banking sector expertise," added the former Time Warner chief.
Parsons will succeed Win Bischoff as chairman of the board of directors, effective February 23. Binchoff, with the bank since 2000, will retire later this year.
EUR MOTIVATIONAL NOTE
"People with goals succeed because they know where they are going...It's as simple as that." — Earl Nightingale
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Jan. 23: Singer Anita Pointer of the Pointer Sisters is 61. Singer Marc Nelson (Az Yet) is 38.
Jan. 24: Singer Aaron Neville is 68. Singer Sleepy Brown of Society of Soul is 39. Actress Tatyana Ali ("The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air") is 30.
Jan. 25: Blues singer Etta James is 71. Singer Alicia Keys is 28.
WEBSITE OF THE WEEK
Black Financial Group provides cost saving insurance and financial
services information (www.blackfinancialgroup.com).
Submit your favorite Web site to us along with a 15-20 word (or less) description to info@eurweb.com.
BLACK HISTORY
Jan. 23, 1891: Pioneer in surgery, Dr Daniel Hale Williams founds Provident Hospital in Chicago, IL. At the same time, he founded Provident Hospital School of Nursing because Emma Reynolds, an African American, had been denied admission to every school of nursing in Chicago.
Jan. 24, 1962: Jackie Robinson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Jan. 25, 1980: Black Entertainment Television (BET) - first black-owned company to be listed on the NYSE, begins broadcasting from Washington, D.C. (Source: www.BlackFacts.com)
