Historical Events
- Feb 1 "The Broadway Melody" directed by Harry Beaumont and starring Bessie Love is released. 1st film with sound to win an Oscar (Outstanding Picture 1930)
- Feb 1 1st clean & jerk of 400 lbs (182 kg), Charles Rigoulet, 402½ lbs
- Feb 1 Pi Alphha Phi, the first Asian-American interest fraternity in the United States, is founded at UC Berkeley
Deep Night
Feb 6 Rudy Vallee records single "Deep Night"
Dynamo
Feb 11 Eugene O'Neill's play "Dynamo" premieres in NYC
Al Capone, Public Enemy Number One
Feb 14 Saint Valentine's Day Massacre in Chicago, seven gangsters are killed, allegedly on Al Capone's orders
Murder of Interest
Feb 16 In mysterious murder suicide Ned Doheny Jr., son of oil magnate Edward L. Doheny, dies along with secretary Hugh Plunkett at Greystone Mansion, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles
- Feb 16 KID-AM in Idaho Falls ID begins radio transmissions
- Feb 19 Medical diathermy machine 1st used in Schenectady, NY
- Feb 20 Boston Red Sox announce they will play Sunday MLB games at Braves Field; Fenway Park located too close to a church
- Feb 20 Congress passes the Ratification Act of 1929, recognizes American Samoa as an unincorporated territory of the United States
Grand Teton National Park
Feb 26 US President Calvin Coolidge establishes Grand Teton National Park
Famous Birthdays
- Feb 2 Ed Reed, American jazz vocalist, born in Cleveland, Ohio (d. 2024) [1] [2]
- Feb 2 Reiner Bredemeyer, German composer, born in Vélez, Colombia (d. 1995)
- Feb 2 Waldemar Kmentt, Austrian operatic tenor (Vienna State Opera, 1951-2005), born in Vienna, Austria (d. 2015)
- Feb 3 Pedro Nájera, Mexican soccer midfielder (27 caps; Club América), born in Mexico City (d. 2020)
- Feb 3 Russell Arms, American actor and vocalist (Your Hit Parade; "Cinco Robles"), born in Berkeley, California (d. 2012)
- Feb 4 Jerry Adler, American actor, director and producer (The Sopranos, The Good Wife), born in Brooklyn, New York
- Feb 4 Paul Burlison, American rockabilly musician (The Rock N Roll Trio), born in Brownsville, Tennessee (d. 2003)
- Feb 4 Reino Börjesson, Swedish soccer midfielder (10 caps; FIFA World Cup runner-up 1958; Jonsereds IF, IFK Göteborg, Norrby IF, Örgryte IS), born in Partille, Sweden (d. 2023)
- Feb 5 Al Worthington, baseball player
- Feb 5 Fred Sinowatz, Austrian politician (Chancellor of Austria, 1983-86; Vice-Chancellor, 1981-83; Minister of Education 1971-83), born in Neufeld an der Leitha, Austria (d. 2008)
- Feb 5 Hal Blaine [Harold Belsky], American pop and rock session drummer (The Wrecking Crew), born in Holyoke, Massachusetts (d. 2019)
- Feb 5 Mary Joan Nielubowicz, US Navy Rear Admiral and nurse (Director of the Navy Nurse Corps, 1983-87), born on Shenandoah, Pennsylvania (d. 2008)
- Feb 6 Oscar Sambrano Urdaneta, Venezuelan writer, born in Boconó, Venezuela (d. 2011)
- Feb 6 Pierre Brice [Pierre-Louis Le Bris], French actor (Winnetou), born in Brest, France (d. 2015)
- Feb 6 Sixten Jernberg, Swedish skier (Olympic gold 1956/60/64), born in Lima, Sweden (d. 2012)
- Feb 8 Roger Byrne, English soccer fullback (33 caps; Manchester United 245 games; died Munich air disaster), born in Manchester, Lancashire (d. 1958)
- Feb 9 Bill Barrett, American politician (Rep-R-Nebraska 1991-2001), born in Lexington, Nebraska (d. 2016)
- Feb 9 Clement Meadmore, Australian-born sculptor (d. 2005)
- Feb 9 James Mulcro Drew, American avant-garde composer, born in St. Paul, Minnesota (d. 2010)
- Feb 9 Lennox Butler, cricketer (1 Test WI v Aust 1955, 16 & 2-151)
- Feb 9 Willem Kersters, Flemish composer (Parwati, Gospel Song), born in Antwerp, Belgium (d. 1998)
- Feb 10 Hallgeir Brenden, Norwegian cross country skier (Olympic gold 1952, 56), born in Trysil, Norway (d. 2007)
- Feb 10 Henk Heidweiler, Suriname politician and diplomat (Ambassador to United Nations, 1968-75; Ambassador to United States, 1981-84; Ambassador to Netherlands, 1984-85), born in Paramaribo, Dutch Colony of Surinam (d. 1989)
- Feb 10 Jerry Goldsmith, American pianist, television and film composer ("The Twilight Zone"; "Planet Of The Apes"), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 2004)
- Feb 10 Jim Whittacker, mountain climber (1st American to climb Mt Everest)
- Feb 11 Albert Azaryan, Armenian gymnast (Olympic gold USSR rings, team 1956, 60; World C'ship gold rings, team 1954, 58), born in Gəncə, Armenia (d. 2023)
- Feb 11 Burhan Sargun, Turkish soccer forward (8 caps, 7 goals; Fenerbahçe SK), born in Ankara, Turkey (d. 2023)
- Feb 11 Leonard Kastle, opera composer, librettist, director (The Passion of Mother Ann), and film maker (The Honeymoon Killers), born in New York City (d. 2011)
- Feb 13 Omar Torrijos, Panamanian military officer, coup d-etat leader, and dictator (Maximum Leader of the Panamanian Revolution, 1968-81), born in Santiago, Panama (d. 1981)
- Feb 14 Matthew G. Martinez, American politician (Rep-D+R-CA, 1982-2001), born in Walsenburg, Colorado (d. 2011)
- Feb 14 Vic Morrow [Morozoff], American film and television actor (Combat!; Cimmaron; Roots; Twilight Zone: The Movie), born in New York City (d. 1982)
- Feb 15 Bob Moore, American food entrepreneur (Bob's Red Mill), and philanthropist, born in Portland, Oregon (d. 2024) [1]
- Feb 15 Fred Martinelli, American College Football Hall of Fame coach (Ashland University 1959-93), born in Columbus, Ohio (d. 2021)
- Feb 15 Gerald Harper, British broadcaster and actor (Tunes of Glory, Extra Day), born in London
Graham Hill (1929-1975)
Feb 15 British auto racer (Formula One World Champion, 1962 & 1968), born in Hampstead, London
- Feb 15 James Schlesinger, American economist and public servant (US Secretary of Energy, 1977-79; US Secretary of Defense, 1973-75; Chair of Atomic Energy Commission, 1973-75), born in NYC (d. 2014)
- Feb 16 Benny Barth, American session and touring jazz drummer, born in Indianapolis, Indiana (d. 2017)
- Feb 16 Gerhard Hanappi, Austrian footballer (d. 1980)
- Feb 16 Peter Porter, Australian-British author and poet (Chair of Babel), born in Brisbane, Australia (d. 2010)
- Feb 17 Chaim Potok [Herman Potok], American novelist (The Promise; The Chosen), and rabbi, born in The Bronx, New York City (d. 2022)
- Feb 17 Dame Patricia Routledge, British stage and screen actress and singer (Keeping Up Appearances; Talking Heads: A Lady of Letters), born in Tranmere, Birkenhead
- Feb 17 Nicholas Ridley, Lord Ridley of Liddesdale, English politician, Minister of Finance, born in Northumberland (d. 1993)
- Feb 18 Agustín González Acilu, Spanish composer (Prince of Viana Prize), and educator, born in Alsasua, Navarre, Spain (d. 2023)
- Feb 18 André Mathieu, Canadian pianist and composer (Concerto de Québec), born in Montreal, Quebec (d. 1968)
- Feb 18 Leonard Cyril Deighton, English author (Ipcress File, Fighter)
- Feb 18 Lou Gorman, American baseball executive (general manager Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox), born in Providence, Rhode Island (d. 2011)
- Feb 19 Jacques Deray, French film director (d. 2003)
- Feb 19 Joe Crozier, Canadian ice hockey head coach (Buffalo Sabres 1971-74, Toronto Maple Leafs 1980-81), born in Winnipeg, Manitoba (d. 2022)
- Feb 20 Amanda Blake [Beverly Louise Neill], American actress (Kitty Russell-Gunsmoke), born in Buffalo, New York (d. 1989)
- Feb 20 Toshiro Mayuzumi, Japanese composer (Sphenogramme), born in Yokohama, Japan (d. 1997)
- Feb 21 Henry Kloss, American audio engineer (acoustic loudspeaker), born in Altoona, Pennsylvania (d. 2002)
- Feb 21 James Beck, British actor (Dad's Army), born in Islington, London (d. 1973)
- Feb 22 (Margaret) "Marni" Nixon [McEathron], American soprano singer and film 'ghost voice' (for Audrey Hepburn in "My Fair Lady"; Natalie Wood in "West Side Story"; Deborah Kerr in "The King And I"), born in Altadena, California (d. 2016)
- Feb 22 James Hong, American-Chinese actor (The New Adventures of Charlie Chan), born in Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Feb 22 Rebecca Schull [Wattenberg], American actress (Wings, United 93), born in New York City
- Feb 22 Ryne Duren, American near-sighted pitcher (NY Yankees), born in Cazenovia, Wisconsin (d. 2011)
Elston Howard (1929-1980)
Feb 23 American baseball catcher (12 × MLB All-Star; 6 × World Series; AL MVP 1963; first African-American NY Yankee), born in St. Louis, Missouri
- Feb 23 Richard Moryl, American composer, pedagogue, and visual artist, born in Newark, New Jersey (d. 2018)
- Feb 24 David Houston, Major-General/Lord Lieutenant of Sutherland
- Feb 24 Richard B Shull, American character actor (Diana, Holmes & Yoyo), born in Evanston, Illinois (d. 1999)
- Feb 25 Peter Bingham Hinchcliff, British-South African Anglican priest and church historian (1 Sided Reciprocity), born in South Africa (d. 1995)
- Feb 25 Tommy Newsom, American saxophonist and bandleader (Tonight Show), born in Portsmouth, Virginia (d. 2007)
- Feb 27 Djalma Santos, Brazilian footballer, (d. 2013)
- Feb 27 Jack Gibson, Australian rugby league footballer and coach (d. 2008)
- Feb 27 Pat Hales, English tennis player (US C'ships women's singles 1955 runner-up; French C'ship doubles 1955, 60 & Wimbledon doubles 1955 runner-up), born in London, England (d. 1985)
Frank Gehry (95 years old)
Feb 28 Canadian born American architect (Bilbao Guggenheim Museum), born in Toronto, Canada
- Feb 28 Hayden Fry, American College Football Hall of Fame coach (SMU 1962-72, North Texas State University 1973-78, University of Iowa 1979-98), born in Eastland, Texas (d. 2019)
- Feb 28 John Montague, Irish poet and 1st occupant of the Ireland Chair of Poetry, born in Brooklyn, New York
- Feb 28 Joseph Rouleau, French Canadian bass opera singer (Royal Opera), born in Matane, Quebec (d. 2019)
Famous Deaths
- Feb 1 Alexander Ogston, British surgeon (discovered Staphylococcus), educator, and military doctor, dies at 84
- Feb 1 August Halm, German composer, dies at 59
- Feb 3 Agner Krarup Erlang, Danish scientist (b. 1878)
- Feb 5 Siegfried Ochs, German composer, dies at 70
- Feb 8 Maria Christina of Austria, Austrian born Queen and Regent of Spain, dies at 71
- Feb 12 Freiherr Albert von Schrenk-Notzing, German para-psychologist, dies at 66
- Feb 12 Lillie Langtry (née Emilie Charlotte Le Breton), British-American artists' model, stage actress (His Neighbor's Wife), theatrical producer, thoroughbred owner, and socialite, dies at 75
- Feb 14 Tom Burke, American athlete (Olympic gold 100m, 400m 1896), dies at 53
- Feb 17 Maurice Read, English cricket batsman (17 Tests, 2 x 50; Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1890; Surrey CCC), dies at 70
- Feb 24 André Charles Prosper Messager, French organist, composer and conductor (Les Deux Pigeons, Véronique), dies at 75
- Feb 27 Manuel Manrique de Lara, Spanish composer (The Oresteia), dies at 65
- Feb 28 Clemens von Pirquet, Austrian physician (Pirquet’s skin test for tuberculosis, coined the word 'allergy'), commits suicide at 54
- Feb 28 John Ebenezer West, English composer, dies at 65
