It happened on a… February 17

2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon premieres on NBC.

Libyan protests begin.

Canadian and Quebec delegations attend the first Francophone Summit – la francophonie.

Beatles release “Penny Lane” & “Strawberry Fields”

Detroit right wing Gordie Howe scores his 100th career NHL goal and adds an assist in a 2-1 Red Wings’ victory away to the Montreal Canadiens.

The world’s first superhero, The Phantom, a cartoon strip by Lee Falk, makes his first appearance in comics.

Geronimo dies in custody at about age 79; last Apache chief to surrender to US forces.

Madama Butterfly receives its première at La Scala in Milan.

First ship passes through the Suez Canal.

Giuseppe Verdi’s opera “Un Ballo in maschera” premieres in Naples.