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! ENTERTAINMENT HISTORY !

On December 13th, 1928, George Gershwin's "An American in Paris" premiered in New York.

In 1974, former Beatle George Harrison visited the White House at the invitation of Jack Ford, the president's son. Harrison was the first rock musician to be invited to the White House.

In 1985, singer Phil Collins made his TV acting debut in the U.S. with an episode of "Miami Vice." In 1988, singer Bruce Springsteen and model-actress Julianne Phillips divorced.

In 1992, an estimated 150,000 people showed up for a free Scorpions concert in Frankfurt, Germany. The concert was aimed at protesting violence by radical rightists.

Today's birthdays: Actor Dick Van Dyke is 83. Actor Christopher Plummer is 79. Actor Robert Prosky ("Veronica's Closet," "Hill Street Blues") is 78. Country singer Buck White of The Whites is 78. Actor-singer John Davidson is 67. Singer Ted Nugent is 60.

Actress Kathy Garver ("Family Affair") is 63. Guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter (The Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan) is 60. Guitarist Ron Getman of The Tractors is 60. Country singer-guitarist Randy Owen of Alabama is 59. Actress Wendie Malick ("Just Shoot Me") is 58. Country singer John Anderson is 54. Singer Morris Day of The Time is 52. Actor Steve Buscemi (boo-SHEM'-ee) is 51. Actor Johnny Whitaker ("Family Affair") is 49. Actor-comedian Jamie Foxx is 41. Singer-guitarist Tom Delonge of Angels and Airwaves (and Blink-182) is 33. Actor James Kyson Lee ("Heroes") is 33. Actress Chelsea Hertford ("Major Dad") is 27. Singer Amy Lee of Evanescence is 27. Country singer Taylor Swift is 19.

(Above for release Saturday, December 13) Copyright 2008, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 12-01-08 1354CST | save this article / add to your favorites list