August 9

Scott Winters, Realtor

A quick look at Today in History, check out some Celebrity Birthdays, and find out what Days of the Year to celebrate.

 

TODAY IN HISTORY:

1173 – Construction of the campanile of the Cathedral of Pisa (now known as the Leaning Tower of Pisa) began. It would take two centuries to complete.

1790 – The first ship to carry the American Flag around the world, The Columbia, returned to Boston Harbor after a three-year voyage.

1831 – The first steam locomotive began its first trip between Schenectady and Albany, NY.

1859 – The escalator was patented by Nathan Ames.

1892 – Thomas Edison received a patent for a two-way telegraph.

1910 – A.J. Fisher received a patent for the electric washing machine.

1930 – Betty Boop made her cartoon debut in “Dizzy Dishes”, created by Max Fleischer.

1936 – At the Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, Jesse Owens won his fourth gold medal, becoming the first American to win four medals in one Olympic Games.

1944 – The United States Forest Service and the Wartime Advertising Council released posters featuring “Smokey the Bear” for the first time.

1945 – The U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki. The bombing came three days after the bombing of Hiroshima. About 74,000 people were killed. Japan surrendered August 14.

1945 – The first network television broadcast occurred in Washington, DC. The program announced the bombing of Nagasaki, Japan.

1947 – An earthquake damaged chimneys and cracked plaster in Michigan. Damage reached as far north as Muskegon and Saginaw.

1969 – In the early morning hours of August 9th, pregnant actress Sharon Tate was stabbed to death and four others were killed (knives and gunshots) in a home in the Hollywood Hills, CA. Charles Manson and his cult are later convicted of the crime.

1974 – President Richard M. Nixon formally resigned. His Vice President, Gerald R. Ford, took his place, and became the 38th President of the United States.

1975 – The New Orleans Superdome was officially opened when the Saints played the Houston Oilers in exhibition football. The new Superdome cost $163 million to build.

1981 – Major league baseball teams resumed play at the conclusion of the first mid-season players’ strike.

1985 – The movie “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure” debuted in theaters.

1989 – Director James Cameron’s undersea movie, “The Abyss”, premiered in theaters.

2000 – Bridgestone/Firestone announced the recall of 6.5 million tires implicated in hundreds of accidents and at least 46 deaths.

2001 – President George W. Bush announced he would support federal funding for limited medical research on embryonic stem cells.

2004 – Donald Duck received the 2,257th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

2004 – Trump Hotel and Casion Resorts announced plans to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

2009 – The TV show “Shark Tank” premiered on ABC.

2012 – Usain Bolt became the first person to win the 100 meter and 200 meter sprint in back to back Olympics.

2014 – Michael Brown, an unarmed 18 year old African American male in the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson, MO, was shot and killed by a Ferguson police officer. It sparked protests and unrest in the city.

 

BIRTHDAYS:

David Steinberg – 82 years old (1942) – Canadian comedian (Appeared on TV’s “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” more than 130 times)

Sam Elliott – 80 years old (1944) – Actor (“Up in the Air”, “The Lifeguard”, “The Contender”, TV’s “Buffalo Girls”)

Rinus Gerritsen – 78 years old (1946) – Bassist (Golden Earring)

Melanie Griffith – 67 years old (1957) – Actress (“Working Girl”, “Body Double”, “Something Wild”, “Born Yesterday”, “Lolita”)

Amanda Bearse – 66 years old (1958) – Actress (Played Marcy on TV’s “Married With Children”)

Hoda Kotb – 60 years old (1964) – TV Personality (TV’s “Today” co-host)

Deion Sanders – 57 years old (1967) – Football/Baseball Player

Gillian Anderson – 56 years old (1968) – Actress (TV’s “X-Files”)

Eric Bana – 56 years old (1968) – Actor (“The Time Traveler’s Wife”, “Funny People”, “Star Trek”, “Troy”, “Hulk”, “Black Hawk Down”)

Kevin McKidd – 51 years old (1973) – Actor (TV’s “Grey’s Anatomy”, “Rome”, movie “Trainspotting”)

Anna Kendrick – 39 years old (1985) – Actress (“Up in the Air”, “Twilight”, “Pitch Perfect”, “Into the Woods”)

 

TODAY IS:

International Coworking Day

International Day of the World’s Indigenous People

Melon Day

National Book Lovers Day

National Rice Pudding Day

National Veep Day

National Women’s Day

 

For additional information check out websites like: www.on-this-day.comwww.born-today.com, www.famousbirthdays.com, www.daysoftheyear.com, and www.nationaldaycalendar.com.

My goal is to keep you informed and/or entertained on a regular basis. Maybe you'll learn something new, or just get that much needed laugh. My topics will include a wide range of subjects....from what's going on in the world, to places I've been, things I've seen, or even just a fun video that I've found online. Check back often to see what I've posted.

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