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:
1732 – Benjamin Franklin’s “The Pennsylvania Gazette” ran an ad for the first issue of “Poor Richard’s Almanack”.
1832 – John C. Calhoun became the first Vice President of the United States to resign, stepping down over differences with President Andrew Jackson.
1846 – Iowa became the 29th state to be admitted to the Union.
1849 – Dry cleaning was invented.
1869 – William E. Semple, of Mt. Vernon, OH, patented chewing gum.
1877 – John Stevens applied for a patent for his flour-rolling mill. This equipment would boost production by 70%.
1895 – In Paris, the first commercial public screening of cinematographic films took place.
1902 – The first professional indoor football game was played at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. Syracuse defeated the Philadelphia Nationals 6-0.
1912 – The first municipally-owned street cars were used on the streets of San Francisco, CA.
1945 – Congress officially recognized the “Pledge of Allegiance”.
1948 – Maurice Richard became the first NHL player to score eight points in one game of ice hockey.
1952 – Doak Walker’s 67 yard touchdown in the third quarter led the Detroit Lions to a 17-7 victory over the Cleveland Browns to secure the NFL championship.
1958 – The Baltimore Colts defeated the New York Giants 23-17 in the first ever National Football League sudden death overtime game at New York’s Yankee Stadium.
1973 – The Endangered Species Act was passed in the United States.
1973 – The Chamber of Commerce of Akron, OH, terminated its association with the All-American Soap Box Derby. The Chamber felt that the race had become “a victim of cheating and fraud.”
1981 – Warner-Elektra-Atlantic (WEA Records) raised the price of its 45 rpm records from $1.68 to $1.98.
1981 – The first American test-tube baby, Elizabeth Jordan Carr, was born in Norfolk, VA.
1981 – Pat Sajak started hosting “Wheel of Fortune”. He replaced Chuck Woolery.
1987 – The “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” pilot aired on television.
1992 – NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana played his final game as a San Francisco 49er.
2000 – U.S. District Court Judge Matsch held a hearing to ensure that confessed Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh understood that he was dropping his appeals. McVeigh said that he wanted an execution date set, but wanted to reserve the right to seek presidential clemency.
2000 – Retail giant Montgomery Ward announced that it was going out of business after 128 years.
2008 – The Detroit Lions completed an 0-16 season, the NFL’s worst ever, with a 31-21 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
2015 – President Barack Obama signed a bill that banned “microbeads”. The tiny plastic beads cause many problems in the Great Lakes.
BIRTHDAYS:
Lawrence Schiller – 89 years old (1936) – Journalist, director, and producer
Philip Anschutz – 86 years old (1939) – Businessman, founded Anschutz Entertainment Group
Don Francisco – 85 years old (1940) – Chilean-American journalist and talk show host
Sandra Faber – 81 years old (1944) – Astronomer and academic
Mike Beebe – 79 years old (1946) – Lawyer and politician, 45th Governor of Arkansas
Bill Lee – 79 years old (1946) – Baseball player and author
Edgar Winter – 79 years old (1946) – Singer-songwriter, keyboard player, and producer
Ziggy Modeliste – 77 years old (1948) – Drummer
Rainer Maria Latzke – 75 years old (1950) – German-American painter and academic
Charlie Pierce – 72 years old (1953) – Journalist and author
Martha Wash – 72 years old (1953) – Singer-songwriter
Tony Ables – 71 years old (1954) – Serial killer
Gayle King – 71 years old (1954) – Television journalist
Denzel Washington – 71 years old (1954) – Actor, director, and producer
Curt Byrum – 67 years old (1958) – Golfer
Daniel Léo Simpson – 66 years old (1959) – Composer
Chris Ware – 58 years old (1967) – Illustrator
Linus Torvalds – 56 years old (1969) – Finnish-American computer programmer, developed Linux kernel
Elaine Hendrix – 55 years old (1970) – Actress
James Jett – 55 years old (1970) – Sprinter and football player
Benny Agbayani – 54 years old (1971) – Baseball player
William Gates – 54 years old (1971) – Basketball player
Adam Vinatieri – 53 years old (1972) – Football player
Seth Meyers – 52 years old (1973) – Actor, producer, screenwriter, and talk show host
Jocelyn Enriquez – 51 years old (1974) – Singer
B. J. Ryan – 50 years old (1975) – Baseball player
Brendan Hines – 49 years old (1976) – Actor and singer
Joe Manganiello – 49 years old (1976) – Actor
Derrick Brew – 48 years old (1977) – Sprinter
Vanessa Ferlito – 48 years old (1977) – Actress
John Legend – 47 years old (1978) – Singer-songwriter, pianist, and actor
James Blake – 46 years old (1979) – Tennis player
Bill Hall – 46 years old (1979) – Baseball player
Zach Hill – 46 years old (1979) – Musician and artist
André Holland – 46 years old (1979) – Actor
Elizabeth Jordan Carr – 44 years old (1981) – Journalist
Sienna Miller – 44 years old (1981) – American-British actress and fashion designer
David Moss – 44 years old (1981) – Ice hockey player
Beau Garrett – 43 years old (1982) – Actress and model
Duane Solomon – 41 years old (1984) – Runner
Thomas Dekker – 38 years old (1987) – Actor and musician
Austin Barnes – 36 years old (1989) – Baseball player
Mackenzie Rosman – 36 years old (1989) – Actress
David Archuleta – 35 years old (1990) – Singer
John Henson – 35 years old (1990) – Basketball player
Dylan Cease – 30 years old (1995) – Baseball player
TODAY IS:
- National Card Playing Day: Shuffle a beautiful new deck or venture online to play some well-loved classics and learn new games, from solitaire and poker to Magic: The Gathering.
- National Call a Friend Day: A friendly voice; a friendly ear—share your stories with someone who cares. Connect with loved ones and feel the warmth of human connection.
- Proclamation Day: Proclamation Day is a vibrant celebration in South Australia, honoring the day the colony was officially established. The event marks a significant moment when the region was declared a British province, creating a unique identity for South Australia. The festivities bring communities together to remember and appreciate their rich history...
- National Short Film Day: While the public has often become accustomed to viewing a film in a theater that lasts for an hour or two, short films defy expectations and bring about all sorts of unique opportunities that feature films can’t compete with. Often more artistically motivated, short films may be more aesthetically appealing...
- Holy Innocents Day: Holy Innocents Day, observed annually, remembers the tragic deaths of children at the order of King Herod. This day, rooted in a poignant biblical story, highlights Herod's attempt to eliminate Jesus by killing male infants in Bethlehem. Herod feared losing his throne to a prophesied new king. This event not only...
- Pledge of Allegiance Day: On this day, the calendar lights up with Pledge of Allegiance Day. It's a special time to reflect on the powerful words that bind the country's ideals of freedom and unity. Celebrated across the United States, this day reminds folks of their shared patriotism and the rich history of the Pledge...
- National Download Day: National Download Day invites everyone to dive into the world of apps on their electronic devices. It's a day set aside to appreciate how downloads of all sorts can make life simpler and more fun. This celebration falls after the holiday season, a time when many receive new gadgets as gifts...
- National Chocolate Candy Day: A rich, decadent treat that melts in the mouth and satisfies cravings. Perfect for any occasion, whether as a gift or just for yourself.
- Zagreb Advent: Zagreb Advent is a magical celebration that transforms Croatia's capital into a winter wonderland. The streets light up with festive decorations, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Wooden stalls filled with handmade crafts and delicious treats line the squares, and the air is filled with the scent of mulled wine and...
- Kwanzaa: Uniting in cultural richness, illuminating principles like unity, purpose, and creativity through vibrant rituals and meaningful gatherings.
- Christmas Bird Count Week: Christmas Bird Count Week is exciting for bird enthusiasts and nature lovers. During this week, thousands of volunteers across multiple countries joined forces to count and document bird species. This event is fun and crucial for gathering important data about bird populations. The observations help scientists track bird numbers and...
- Blue Christmas: While most people are at home opening presents, emergency workers are on duty, ensuring the safety of their communities over the holidays.
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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.
