According to the AP, on Dec. 14;
- In 1947, Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman separated.
- In 1961, Jimmy Dean's "Big Bad John" became the first country single to be certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.
- In 1963, singer Dinah Washington died of an overdose of sleeping pills in Detroit. She was 39.
- In 1972, Alexander's department store in New York stayed open late so singer Alice Cooper could do his Christmas shopping.
- In 1977, the movie "Saturday Night Fever" opened in New York.
- In 1978, the movie "Superman," starring Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder, opened in Los Angeles.
- In 1980, fans around the world paid tribute to John Lennon, six days after he was shot to death in New York City. Hundreds of silent vigils were held at 2 p.m. Eastern time for 10 minutes at the request of Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono.
- In 1984, Madonna had her first No. 1 hit when "Like a Virgin" hit the top of the "Billboard" singles chart.
- In 1998, actress Linda Hamilton filed for divorce from director James Cameron. They were married a year and a half.
Today's birthdays:
- Jazz trumpeter Clark Terry is 92.
- Actor Hal Williams ("227," ''Sanford and Son") is 74.
- Singer Joyce Vincent-Wilson of Tony Orlando and Dawn is 66.
- Actress Patty Duke is 66.
- Actress Dee Wallace is 64.
- Bassist Cliff Williams of AC/DC is 63.
- Singer-guitarist Mike Scott of The Waterboys is 54.
- Singer-whistle player Peter "Spider" Stacy of The Pogues is 54.
- Actress Cynthia Gibb ("Fame") is 49.
- Singer Brian Dalyrimple of Soul for Real is 37.
- Actress KaDee Strickland is 37.
- Actress Tammy Blanchard is 36.
- Actress Sophie Monk is 33.
- Actress Vanessa Hudgens ("High School Musical") is 24.
