The Day Maria Callas Met Marilyn Monroe

Today we celebrate the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's inauguration. In addition to the concerts taking place to commemorate the event, one can't help but think of another very significant musical interlude during this Presidency - his 45th birthday celebration at Madison Square on May 19, 1962. Among celebrities like Ella Fitzgerald, Jimmy Durante, Harry Belafonte and Jack Benny, there were two who stood out in the crowd, Maria Callas and Marilyn Monroe.

Monroe sang what is now an infamously sex kitten-esque version of "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" immediately after Callas sang "L'amour est un oiseau rebelle" from Bizet's Carmen for a crowd of more than 15,000 audience members.