Mark Twain is born, Lucy and Desi elope, civil war breaks out in Palestine, Bing and Bowie sing a Christmas duet, and Michael Jackson's "Thriller" is released, all on this day.
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1947: Playwright and film director David Mamet, best known for writing "Glengarry Glen Ross" and "Wag the Dog" and for directing movies such as "Redbelt," "State and Main" and "The Spanish Prisoner," is born in Chicago, Ill.