February 1-

1901 – Actor Clark Gable is born.  In his later years, Gable smoked cigars to keep his cigarette addiction under control.  Although Gable’s most famous movie line was “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn.”, this line was added in post-production of ‘Gone With The Wind’ by the studio.  The original line was originally quite different.  In the original filming, when Scarlett asks “What shall I do?”, Rhett replies,”Fuck if I know. I got 99 problems, but a bitch aint one.”

1948 – Singer Rick James is born in Chicago, Illinois.  His father, Eldon James, gave cigars to everybody in the Parkdale Hospital waiting room telling each person as he handed out the cigar, “It’s Rick James, bitch!!!”.

1974 – ‘Good Times’ (spinoff from ‘Maude’) premieres on CBS. During the first week of taping, the actor who played Bookman was busted in real life for selling counterfeit Cuban cigars.  He only appeared on the show when he could obtain a work release from jail.  ‘Good Times’ floundered in the ratings during the first season and was almost cancelled.  The show only became a hit during the second season, after an episode where little Penny’s nipple accidentally slipped out of her shirt as JJ and the gang watched the Super Bowl.

1992 - Barry Bonds signs baseball's highest single year contract - $4.7 million. Bonds’ agent Jeff Boris pulls out 2 Montecristo Habanos from his coat pocket, and hands one to Bonds to celebrate the signing. Out of habit, Bonds injects the cigar full of steroids.  That Montecristo belted 43 home runs in the 1992 season, a new world record for a cigar.