Audio Escape Almanac

On Ash Wednesday and International Mother Tongue Day, we'll visit the WWI Battle of Verdun and give a nod to Greta Garbo. Also, anniversary audio from Alka Seltzer, the Jackson 5, Jimmy Swaggart, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Andres Segovia.

We observe Mardi Gras, Pancake Day, and North American Hoodie-Hoo Day, and bring you anniversary audio from The Barber of Seville, Follow the Fleet, Dylan Thomas, The African Queen, Friendship 7, and Kelsey Grammer. All that, plus a gratuitous wedding anniversary or two.

On President's Day -- and Nepal's National Democracy Day -- we'll remember the first rescuers who reached the Donner Party in the Sierras and listen to a little bit of the 6th Symphony by Jean Sibelius on the anniversary of its first performance. Also, anniversary audio from Tommy Dorsey's orchestra, Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, The Starland Vocal Band, and Jeff Daniels. Oh, and the uncredited Tommy Dorsey Orchestra track is... "I'll Take Tallulah".

On Lithuanian Independence Day, we'll look at Studebaker's origins, observe the birthdays of Edgar Bergen, Hugh Beaumont, and John McEnroe, and bring you anniversary music from Bessie Smith and Elvis

We observe Canada's National Flag Day, New Zealand's National Lamb Day, and the anniversary of the explosion of the US battleship Maine in Havana Harbor. Also, music of Duke Ellington, Inner Circle, and UB40. Plus... the Teddy Bear turns 104.

A brief history of St. Valentine's Day and a few things that also happened on this date, including the premier of the WWII radio series This is War, the revival of West Side Story, Jacqueline Kennedy's White House tour, Aretha Franklin's Respect, and Jack Benny's birth, among others.

It's Get a Different Name Day (with thanks to wellcat.com), and we'll start there on today's show, segue to the birthdays of a couple actors who changed their names, and then bring you anniversary audio from Bruno Hauptman, William Winter, and Jack Webb.

On this first day of Random Acts of Kindness Week, it's Clean Out Your Desk Day. We observe both and bring you the link between Charles Darwin and a riot in Ecuador. Also, Lorne Greene's link to Santa Anna, and anniversary audio the McGuire Sisters, Barbie, and Ray Manzarek. Oh yeah, and it's Lincoln's birthday!

We observe the origins of volleyball, intercollegiate basketball, the Davis Cup, and the Brickyard, and listen to anniversary audio from She Done Him Wrong, the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show, The Bradys on CBS, the Simpson's Itchy, Scratchy, and Poochie Show, and the two links between Bill Haley and Halley's Comet.

A nod to Narvik, Norway, on its Sun Pageant Day, the two Salem teens who weren't witches, The Boy Scouts of America on its founding day (and FDR's anniversary speech), Jimmy Carter's first press conference as President, Larry Flynt's sentencing and brief incarceration, Spud Webb's slam-dunk, and Andy Rooney's suspension