The Beatles met Elvis Presley at his mansion on Perugia Way in Bel Air on this date in 1965.

The meeting between two of the biggest acts in show business came about after negotiations between Beatles manager Brian Epstein and Presley’s manager, Colonel Tom Parker. When the Beatles came to America in February 1964 to perform on The Ed Sullivan Show, Sullivan read a telegram to the band: “Congratulations on your appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show and your visit to America. We hope your engagement will be a successful one and your visit pleasant. Give our best to Mr. Sullivan. Sincerely, Elvis & the Colonel.”

It was decided that with Elvis as the older performer (just four years older than John Lennon and Ringo Starr but famous for a decade by 1965), the Beatles would visit him at home while they were performing in Los Angeles instead of bring him to the home that had been rented for them or bring him backstage after they had performed.

Thus, there were no photographers present at 10:00 p.m. that night when the Beatles arrived at Elvis Presley’s mansion, and no tape recorders were turned on. All present say that an informal jam session took place, but no one wrote down what was played. Elvis played bass.

A few photographs exist, taken by fans outside Presley’s mansion gates who possibly did not know what they were witnessing or could not believe it. One is above; you can make out John Lennon walking toward a limo with Elvis and his girlfriend (later wife) Priscilla in the doorway on the left. In another photo, one of Elvis’ neighbors appears to be walking past, oblivious.

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The first edition of The Guinness Book of Records was published on this date in 1955. Within years it set its own record as the best-selling copyrighted book in history.

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The volcanic island of Krakatoa exploded in a series of four explosions on this date in 1883. Two-thirds of the island was immediately obliterated. Each explosion resulted in a tsunami and some estimates hold that each one reached almost 100 feet in height. Approximately 40,000 individuals were killed in the explosions and subsequent tsunamis. It is believed the sound was the loudest recorded on Earth: it was heard 3000 miles away. The ash cloud surrounded the planet and affected climate for several years.

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Haile Sellassie died on this date in 1975. Stevie Ray Vaughan died in 1990 on this date.

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President Lyndon B. Johnson was born on this date in 1908. Martha Raye was born 100 years ago today.

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Lady Antonia Fraser is 84. Sir Michael Holroyd is 81 today. Ernie Broglio is 81. Daryl Dragon is 74. Senator Bob Kerrey is 73. Tuesday Weld is 73. Barbara Bach is 69. Charles Fleischer is 66. Paul Reubens is 64. Peter Stormare is 63. Tom Ford is 55. Downtown Julie Brown is 53. Sarah Chalke is 40 today.

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