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:
1507 – Leonardo DaVinci was commissioned by the husband of Lisa Gherardini to paint her. The work is known as the Mona Lisa.
1796 – John Adams was elected the 2nd President of the United States.
1892 – The first automatic telephone went into service at LaPorte, IN. The device was invented by Almon Strowger.
1900 – The first automobile show in the United States opened at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY.
1906 – “S.O.S.” was officially adopted as the international Morse Code distress signal after being established at the International Radiotelegraph Convention in Berlin
1908 – William Howard Taft was elected as the 27th President of the United States.
1926 – Ty Cobb retired from baseball.
1930 – The Detroit Windsor Tunnel opened to motor vehicle traffic. It was the first International underwater roadway tunnel.
1936 – Franklin D. Roosevelt was re-elected President of the United States.
1911 – Louis Chevrolet and William C. Durant founded the Chevrolet Motor Car Company in competition with the Ford Model T.
1952 – Frozen bread was offered for sale for the first time in a supermarket in Chester, NY.
1953 – The Rules Committee of organized baseball restored the sacrifice fly. The rule had not been used since 1939.
1954 – The first “Godzilla” film was released and marked the first appearance of the character.
1956 – The movie “The Wizard of Oz” was first broadcast on television.
1957 – Sputnik II was launched by the Soviet Union. It was the second man-made satellite to be put into orbit. On board was the first animal to enter orbit — a dog named Laika.
1964 – Lyndon B. Johnson was elected to a full term, winning 61% of the vote and 44 states.
1964 – Washington, DC, residents were able to vote in a Presidential election for the first time.
1969 – Mary Stiles and two companions tried to stop the further demolition of the old Grand Rapids City Hall building. Mary’s two friends climbed the tower of the abandoned building and rang the old city fire bell and Mary chained herself to the wrecking ball. She was later cut off and arrested, and the demolition when on as scheduled.
1969 – PBS started airing educational programming with TV shows like “Sesame Street”.
1973 – NASA launched the Mariner 10 spacecraft toward Mercury. On March 29, 1974 it became the first space probe to reach that planet.
1975 – The television show “Good Morning America” premiered on ABC with original hosts David Hartman and Nancy Dussault.
1976 – The Stephen King movie, “Carrie”, was released in theaters.
1978 – The TV show “Diff’rent Strokes” premiered on NBC, which made Gary Coleman a huge star. The show ran until 1986.
1983 – Reverend Jesse Jackson launched his first campaign for President.
1992 – Carol Moseley-Braun became the first African-American woman U.S. Senator.
1992 – The song “I Will Always Love You”, recorded by Whitney Houston, was released. The song went on to become the best selling single in history created by a woman. The song was originally written and recorded by Dolly Parton.
1992 – Bill Clinton was elected 42nd President of the United States, defeating George Bush.
1994 – Susan Smith of Union, SC, was arrested for drowning her two sons. Nine days earlier she claimed that the children had been abducted by a black carjacker.
1995 – President Bill Clinton dedicated a memorial at Arlington National Cemetery to the 270 victims of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103.
1998 – Minnesota elected Jesse “The Body” Ventura, a former pro wrestler, as its governor.
2005 – Walt Disney Pictures released “Chicken Little.” It was the first Disney film completely created with computer animation.
2006 – The mockumentary film “Borat” premiered in theaters.
2014 – In New York, NY, One World Trade Center officially opened.
2016 – The Chicago Cubs defeated the Cleveland Indians in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series to earn their first title in 108 years, ending the longest title drought in U.S. sports history.
2020 – The U.S. Presidential Election took place between Democratic Joe Biden and Republican incumbent President Donald Trump. On November 7th, Biden was declared the winner.
BIRTHDAYS:
Lois Smith – 94 years old (1930) – Actress (“East of Eden”, “Five Easy Pieces”, “Resurrection”, “Fatal Attraction”, “Fried Green Tomatoes”, “Dead Man Walking”, “Tumbleweeds”, “Twister”, “Please Give”, TV’s “The Americans”, “True Blood”, “Desperate Housewives”)
Michael Dukakis – 91 years old (1933) – Politician, Democratic Presidential nominee (1988)
Shadoe Stevens – 77 years old (1947) – Radio host, voiceover actor, television personality (TV’s “Hollywood Squares”)
Lulu – 76 years old (1948) – Singer, actress (“To Sir, With Love”)
Larry Holmes – 75 years old (1949) – Boxer (Heavyweight boxing champion from 1978-1985)
Roseanne Barr – 72 years old (1952) – Actress, comedian (TV’s “Roseanne”)
Kate Capshaw – 71 years old (1953) – Actress (“Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom”, “Black Rain”, “How to Make an American Quilt”)
Dennis Miller – 71 years old (1953) – Actor, comedian (TV’s “Saturday Night Live”, “The Dennis Miller Show”, “Monday Night Football”)
Adam Ant – 70 years old (1954) – Singer (Adam & the Ants)
Kathy Kinney – 70 years old (1954) – Actress (Played Mimi Bobeck on TV’s “The Drew Carey Show”)
Dolph Lundgren – 67 years old (1957) – Actor (“Rocky IV”, “Masters of the Universe”, “The Punisher”, “Dark Angel”, “Universal Soldier”, “Joshua Tree”, “Johnny Mnemonic”, “Blackjack”)
Lee Montgomery – 63 years old (1961) – Actor (“Ben”, “Willard”, “The Million Dollar Duck”)
Sticky Fingaz – 51 years old (1973) – Actor, rapper (“Flight of the Phoenix”, “Ride”, “Clockers”)
Kendall Jenner – 29 years old (1995) – TV personality, model (TV’s “Keeping Up with the Kardashians”)
TODAY IS:
For additional information check out websites like: www.on-this-day.com, www.born-today.com, www.famousbirthdays.com, www.daysoftheyear.com, and www.nationaldaycalendar.com.
