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:
1790 – The first successful cotton mill in the United States began operating in Pawtucket, RI.
1803 – The United States Senate ratified a treaty that included the Louisiana Territories from France for $15 million. The transfer was completed with formal ceremonies in New Orleans.
1812 – Many of the fairy tales we all learned were first published as “Grimm’s Fairy Tales” in Germany. The first edition included 86 stories. Some of the stories had some pretty dark themes, despite being written for children. Through “Grimm’s Fairy Tales” were introduced to many characters including Snow white, Rapunzel, Rumpelstiltskin, and Hansel and Gretel.
1820 – The state of Missouri enacted legislation to tax bachelors between the ages of 21-50 for being unmarried. The tax was $1 a year.
1860 – South Carolina became the first state to secede from the American Union.
1879 – Thomas A. Edison privately demonstrated his incandescent light in Menlo Park, NJ.
1880 – New York’s Broadway became known as the “Great White Way” when it was lighted by electricity.
1892 – Alexander T. Brown and George Stillman patented the pneumatic tire.
1920 – The first automatic tri-colored traffic signal is installed in Detroit, MI
1928 – Mail delivery by dog sled began in Lewiston, ME.
1946 – The Frank Capra film. “It’s A Wonderful Life”. had a preview showing for charity at New York City’s Globe Theatre, a day before its “official” world premiere. James Stewart and Donna Reed starred in the film.
1951 – The EBR-1 in Arco, ID became the first nuclear power plant to generate electricity. The electricity powered four light bulbs.
1954 – Buick Motor Company signed Jackie Gleason to one of the largest contracts ever entered into with an entertainer. Gleason agreed to produce 78 half-hour shows over a two-year period for $6,142,500.
1957 – Elvis Presley received his Army draft notice.
1957 – The initial production version of the Boeing 707 made it’s first flight.
1962 – The Osmond Brothers appeared on NBC-TV’s “Andy Williams Show” for the first time.
1962 – A world indoor pole-vault record was set by Don Meyers when he cleared 16 feet, 1-1/4 inches.
1963 – The Berlin Wall was opened for the first time to West Berliners. It was only for the holiday season. It closed again on January 6, 1964.
1965 – The TV show “The Dating Game”, with host Jim Lange, aired for the first time on ABC.
1967 – A Pennsylvania Railroad Budd Metroliner exceeded 155 miles per hour on their New York Division.
1971 – Al Kaline signed a new Detroit Tiger contract that made him the first Detroit player to top $100,000 a year.
1990 – The world’s first website and server go live at CERN. The first website was http://info.cern.ch/hypertext/WWW/TheProject.html.
1991 – The movie “Father of the Bride”, starring Steve Martin, premiered in theaters.
1991 – Oliver Stone’s film, “JFK”, opened in the U.S.
1996 – NeXT merged with Apple Computer, starting the path to Mac OS X.
1996 – The first “Scream” movie opened in theaters.
1998 – In Houston, TX, a 27-year-old woman gave birth to the only known living set of octuplets. Seven of the eight octuplets are currently alive, one died one week after birth.
1999 – The Vermont Supreme Court ruled that homosexual couples were entitled to the same benefits and protections as wedded couples of the opposite sex.
2007 – Queen Elizabeth II became the oldest monarch of the United Kingdom, surpassing Queen Victoria, who lived for 81 years and 243 days.
2019 – The United States Space Force became the first new branch of the United States Armed Forces since 1947.
BIRTHDAYS:
Kim Weston – 86 years old (1939) – Soul singer
Peter Criss – 80 years old (1945) – Singer-songwriter, drummer, and producer
Bill Hosket Jr. – 79 years old (1946) – Basketball player
Sonny Perdue – 79 years old (1946) – Politician, 31st United States Secretary of Agriculture , 81st Governor of Georgia
Dick Wolf – 79 years old (1946) – Director, producer, and screenwriter
Cecil Cooper – 76 years old (1949) – Baseball player and manager
Arturo Márquez – 75 years old (1950) – Mexican-American composer
Michael Badalucco – 71 years old (1954) – Actor
Sandra Cisneros – 71 years old (1954) – Author and poet
Blanche Baker – 69 years old (1956) – Actress and screenwriter
Anita Ward – 69 years old (1956) – Disco/R&B singer
Mike Watt – 68 years old (1957) – Singer-songwriter and bass player
Doug Nordquist – 67 years old (1958) – High jumper
James Thomson – 67 years old (1958) – Biologist and academic
Joel Gretsch – 62 years old (1963) – Actor
Veronica Pershina – 59 years old (1966) – Russian-American figure skater and coach
Chris Robinson – 59 years old (1966) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Royal Ivey – 44 years old (1981) – Basketball player and coach
James Shields – 44 years old (1981) – Baseball player
David Cook – 43 years old (1982) – Singer-songwriter
David Wright – 43 years old (1982) – Baseball player
Jonah Hill – 42 years old (1983) – Actor, producer, and screenwriter
Malcolm Jenkins – 38 years old (1987) – Football player
JoJo – 35 years old (1990) – Singer and actress
Jillian Rose Reed – 34 years old (1991) – Actress
Ksenia Makarova – 33 years old (1992) – Russian-American figure skater
Calvin Ridley – 31 years old (1994) – Football player
Christian Wilkins – 30 years old (1995) – Football player
De'Aaron Fox – 28 years old (1997) – Basketball player
TODAY IS:
- Go Caroling Day: Strolling through the neighborhood, singing cheerful tunes, and spreading holiday joy with friends and family — a heartwarming tradition.
- National Sangria Day: Take a siesta to sip Spanish and Portuguese punch made with wine and sweeteners and flavored with fruits like berries, oranges and mangos.
- Games Day: Enter a world of endless fun and adventure where strategy, skill, and luck come together in thrilling challenges and exciting competition.
- Sacagawea Day: Sacagawea Day honors a remarkable Shoshone woman who played a key role in the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Born around 1788, the Hidatsa tribe captured Sacagawea and later sold it to a French-Canadian trapper, Toussaint Charbonneau. Despite these challenges, she became an invaluable member of the Corps of Discovery. Her...
- Cathode-Ray Tube Day: Cathode-Ray Tube Day is a fascinating celebration that honors a piece of technology that once played a pivotal role in our daily lives. Mark your calendars for December 20th because that's when this special day is observed. It's a time to remember and appreciate the cathode-ray tube (CRT), a device...
- Dot Your I’s Day: Dot Your I’s Day celebrates the art of paying close attention. It’s a playful reminder to slow down and give every task the care it deserves. Whether you're writing a note or organizing your desk, this day nudges you to focus on the little things that often go unnoticed. The phrase...
- International Human Solidarity Day: Imagine a world where people lift each other up instead of turning away. That’s the heart of International Human Solidarity Day. It highlights the power of standing together, even when we come from different walks of life. This isn’t just about kindness—it's about action. The day pushes us to support...
- Mudd Day: Mudd Day, observed annually, commemorates the birthday of Dr. Samuel Alexander Mudd, a physician who played a controversial role in American history. Known for treating John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of President Abraham Lincoln, Mudd splinted Booth's broken leg the day after the assassination. This act led to his arrest and...
- 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...
- 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...
- Advent: Advent marks a period of eager anticipation and preparation for Christmas, which celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. Each year, Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, which can fall anywhere between November 27 and December 3, ending on Christmas Eve, December 24. This timing reminds us that the holiday...
- Saturnalia: Saturnalia, celebrated from December 17 to 23, is a vibrant festival from ancient Rome. It originally honored Saturn, the god of agriculture. Initially a one-day affair, the jubilation soon spread across an entire week due to its immense popularity. The festivity marked the end of the autumn planting season 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.
