On January 16th, 1942, actress Carole Lombard, her mother and about 20 other people were killed when their plane crashed near Las Vegas. They were returning from a war-bond promotion tour.

In 1957, the Cavern Club in Liverpool, England, opened. It became famous as the place where The Beatles were a house band.

In 1964, the musical “Hello, Dolly!” starring Carol Channing, opened on Broadway.

In 1970, The Who began a tour of European opera houses, performing excerpts from the rock opera “Tommy.”

In 1973, the last episode of “Bonanza” aired on NBC.

In 1976, the live album “Frampton Comes Alive!” was released.

In 1980, Paul McCartney was jailed in Tokyo after customs agents found marijuana in his luggage. Exactly four years later, he was arrested for marijuana possession in Barbados.

In 1990, actors Tom Cruise and Mimi Rogers released a statement that said they were ending their three-year marriage.

In 1991, The Byrds and Wilson Pickett were among those inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

In 1996, Jamaican authorities opened fire on Jimmy Buffett’s seaplane, mistaking it for a drug trafficker’s plane. U2 singer Bono was with Buffett, but neither one was hurt.

Also in 1996, Wayne Newton performed his 25,000th Las Vegas show. Newton has performed more shows as a headliner in Las Vegas than any other entertainer.

Today’s birthdays: Opera singer Marilyn Horne is 79. Singer Barbara Lynn is 71. Country singer Ronnie Milsap is 70. Country singer Jim Stafford is 69. Director John Carpenter is 65. Actress-dancer Debbie Allen is 63. Singer Sade is 54. Bassist Paul Webb of Talk Talk is 51. Singer Maxine Jones of En Vogue is 47. Actor David Chokachi (“Baywatch”) is 45. Actor Richard T. Jones (“Judging Amy”) is 41. Supermodel Kate Moss is 39. Guitarist Nick Valensi of The Strokes is 32. Actress Yvonne Zima is 24.