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On This Day In History – August 9th

Thomas Edison not Ben Franklin. Axel Rose and James Hetfield. Fig newtons and John Travolta. King Kong loved her. Gangsta rap gets real. Gangsta gansta at the top of the…

History

Title page from book

Thomas Edison not Ben Franklin. Axel Rose and James Hetfield. Fig newtons and John Travolta. King Kong loved her. Gangsta rap gets real.

Gangsta gansta at the top of the list

34 years ago - In 1988, N.W.A released their debut album "Straight Outta Compton".

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Obey your master

30 years ago - In 1992, Metallica singer James Hetfield was badly burned by a pyro explosion at a Montreal concert.
At the same show, Axl Rose claimed he "lost his voice" and cut Guns 'N Roses' set short. Fans rioted and caused $300,000 in damage.

http://gty.im/1313110373

Monkey business

18 years ago - In 2004, Fay Wray, star of the original "King Kong", passed away. She was 96.

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Greased lightning

42 years ago - In 1980, the Olivia Newton John movie "Xanadu" was released. It was her first movie after "Grease", and a box office disaster.

http://gty.im/905913522

Sniff it

146 years ago - In 1876, Thomas Edison received a patent for his mimeograph.  Today's brats don't remember getting mimeographed homework assignments  (peepaw called 'em "dittos"), the ones with the purple ink that you usually couldn't read.

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