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:
1832 – The first Grand Rapids, MI post office opened.
1882 – Edward Johnson was the first person to string light bulbs together to decorate his Christmas tree.
1894 – The United States Golf Association was formed in New York, NY.
1895 – German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen made the first X-ray. It was an x-ray of his wife’s hand.
1910 – U.S. Postal savings stamps were issued for the first time. They were discontinued in 1914.
1937 – The Lincoln Tunnel opened to traffic in New York, NY.
1939 – Gloria Jacobs became the first girl to hold a world pistol record when she shot 299 out of a possible 300 points. She was 17 years old at the time.
1943 – Sporting goods manufacturers received permission to use synthetic rubber for the core of baseballs.
1954 – WMAX radio in Grand Rapids, MI began broadcasting.
1956 – Colo, the first gorilla to be born in captivity, was born at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio.
1958 – “The Chipmunk Song” hit #1 on the charts.
1968 – President-elect Richard Nixon’s daughter Julie married David Eisenhower, son of the former President.
1976 – Isaac Hayes declared bankruptcy, five years after topping the charts and winning both an Oscar and a Grammy for “Theme from Shaft”.
1976 – The last episode of the original “Let’s Make A Deal” TV game show aired. It was hosted by Monty Hall.
1978 – Michigan’s drinking age was raised to 21.
1984 – New York City resident Bernhard Goetz shot four black youths on a Manhattan subway. Goetz claimed they were about to rob him. He was later convicted on a charge of illegal weapons possession and spent eight months in prison.
1998 – Comerica Bank spent $66 million for the naming rights on Comerica Park in Detroit, MI.
2000 – The movie “Castaway”, starring Tom Hanks, premiered in theaters.
2001 – A terrorist dubbed the “shoe bomber” was foiled in the air. Londoner Richard Reid, 28, was subdued on an American Airlines flight from Paris to Miami as he attempted to detonate an explosive device hidden in his sneaker.
2006 – The movie, “A Night at the Museum”, starring Ben Stiller, premiered in theaters.
2010 – The repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. The 17 year old policy banning homosexuals serving openly in the U.S. military was signed into law by President Barack Obama.
2018 – The government was partially shut down after the House and Senate failed to pass a spending bill. President Donald Trump insisted he would not sign any spending bill that did not include $5 billion for a border wall.
BIRTHDAYS:
Héctor Elizondo – 89 years old (1936) – Actor and director
Red Steagall – 87 years old (1938) – Singer-songwriter, guitarist, actor, and poet
Jerry Koosman – 83 years old (1942) – Baseball player
Paul Wolfowitz – 82 years old (1943) – Banker and politician, 25th United States Deputy Secretary of Defense
Steve Carlton – 81 years old (1944) – Baseball player
Diane Sawyer – 80 years old (1945) – Journalist
C. Eugene Steuerle – 79 years old (1946) – Economist and author
Steve Garvey – 77 years old (1948) – Baseball player and sportscaster
Don Kardong – 77 years old (1948) – Runner, journalist, and author
Rick Nielsen – 77 years old (1948) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist
Tony Isabella – 74 years old (1951) – Comic book writer, editor, actor, artist and critic
Lonnie Smith – 70 years old (1955) – Baseball player
Thomas C. Südhof – 70 years old (1955) – German-American biochemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate
David Heavener – 67 years old (1958) – Singer-songwriter, producer, actor, and director
Luther Campbell – 65 years old (1960) – Rapper and actor
Luna H. Mitani – 62 years old (1963) – Japanese-American painter and illustrator
Mike Jackson – 61 years old (1964) – Baseball player
David S. Goyer – 60 years old (1965) – Screenwriter
Lori McKenna – 57 years old (1968) – Singer-songwriter
Dina Meyer – 57 years old (1968) – Actress
Ted Cruz – 55 years old (1970) – Canadian-American lawyer and politician
Rei Hance – 51 years old (1974) – Actress
Jason Lane – 49 years old (1976) – Baseball player and coach
Chris Carmack – 45 years old (1980) – Actor, singer, and model
Marcus Haislip – 45 years old (1980) – Basketball player
Doc Gallows – 42 years old (1983) – Wrestler
Greg Finley – 41 years old (1984) – Actor
Zack Britton – 38 years old (1987) – Baseball player
Scott Darling – 37 years old (1988) – Ice hockey player
Jordin Sparks – 36 years old (1989) – Singer-songwriter and actress
Jacob Stallings – 36 years old (1989) – Baseball player
DaBaby – 34 years old (1991) – Rapper
Nick Johnson – 33 years old (1992) – Basketball player
Meghan Trainor – 32 years old (1993) – Singer-songwriter and producer
G Hannelius – 27 years old (1998) – Actress and singer
Latto – 27 years old (1998) – Rapper and singer
Joshua Bassett – 25 years old (2000) – Actor and singer
Joe Anders – 22 years old (2003) – American-British actor
TODAY IS:
- National Short Person Day: Small stature, big personality! Short people are full of energy, creativity, and determination—always standing tall, no matter their height!
- Mathematics Day: Exploring patterns, solving puzzles, and understanding the world through numbers – it's a journey of discovery that's endlessly fascinating.
- Forefathers’ Day: The first Thanksgiving wasn't complete without it. An historic journey by sea to discover a new world and newfound freedom.
- National Date Nut Bread Day: Spread a fruity, nutty bake with butter or cream cheese, host a bread eating contest or simply reap the health benefits of delicious dates.
- National Cookie Exchange Day: Nothing says "holiday cheer" like a plate of freshly-baked treats! Gather friends and family and create delicious memories together.
- Anne & Samantha Day: Anne & Samantha Day shines a light on two young girls whose voices continue to echo through time. Anne Frank, a Jewish teenager, documented her life in hiding during World War II in a diary that has touched millions. Samantha Smith, an American schoolgirl, reached out to Soviet leader Yuri...
- 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.
