The Columbus Day riot: Frank Sinatra is pop's first star

12 October 1944: Number 1 in our series of the 50 key events in the history of pop musicOn 12 October 1944, Frank Sinatra opened his third season at New York's Paramount theatre. It was Columbus Day, a public holiday, and the bobby-soxers turned out in force. The famed New York photographer Weegee (Arthur Fellig) was there with his camera and notebook, capturing the scene in hyperventilated prose."Oh! Oh! Frankie," he began, mimicking the girls' ululations. "The line in front of the Paramount th...

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