Today in History and Celebrity Birthdays

Today in Music History for Aug. 26: In 1907, the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto opened with the musical revue "Top of the World." It was the world's first fully fireproof theatre and the first to be air-conditioned.

Today in History for Aug. 27: On this date: In 1612, landing in his ship "The Discovery," Captain Thomas Button became the first European to winter in Manitoba. In 1758, Fort Frontenac, now Kingston, Ont., was captured and destroyed by the British.

Today in History for Aug. 30: On this date: In 30 B.C., Cleopatra, the celebrated queen of Egypt, committed suicide. In 1463, King Louis XI died after ruling France for 22 years.

Today in History for Aug. 29: On this date: In 1583, the "Delight," one of Sir Humphrey Gilbert's ships, ran aground and was lost at Sable Island, drowning 85 people, in one of Canada's first marine disasters.

Today in History for Aug. 25: On this date: In 1530, Ivan the Terrible, Czar of Muscovy, was born. He ascended to the Russian throne at the age of three and eventually became the first czar.

Today in Music History for Aug. 25: In 1817, Joseph Mohr began serving as pastor of St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf, Austria.

Today in History for Aug. 24: On this date: In 79, Mount Vesuvius erupted and buried the Italian cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, killing 20,000 people.

Today in Music History for Aug. 24: In 1841, cellist Henri Billet, who may well have been the first Russian musician to visit Canada, appeared at the Theatre royal in Quebec City.

Today in Music History for Aug. 27: In 1877, James P. Clarke, the first musician in English-speaking Canada to have written and published a sizeable number of compositions, died in Toronto.

Today in Music History for Aug. 29: In 1908, Lewis Redner, American Episcopal organist and composer, died at age 78. Redner composed "St. Louis," the tune to which is most commonly sung Phillips Brooks’ Christmas hymn, "O Little Town of Bethlehem.