On this day: January 31
The first Social Security check is issued, America launches its first satellite into orbit, McDonald's comes to Moscow, and "Avatar" hits the $2 billion mark, all on this day.
1974: Polish-born film producer Samuel Goldwyn, best known for being the founding contributor and executive of several motion picture studios in Hollywood, dies at the probable age of 94 in Los Angeles, Calif. Born Schmuel Gelbfisz, Goldwyn used the name Samuel Goldfish before joining with Edgar Selwyn to form Goldwyn Pictures in 1916. He then legally changed his last name to Goldwyn, a combination of his and his partner's last names. Goldwyn Pictures proved successful, but it's most famous for its "Leo the Lion" trademark, which would be sold with the company in 1924 to Metro Pictures Corporation, soon to be renamed Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer or MGM.
