Fun On this date in history...

If I may...

ON SEPTEMBER 8th:

In 1157, Richard the Lionheart, later King Richard I of England, was born in Oxford.

In 1504, Michelangelo's “David” was unveiled in Piazza della Signoria in Florence.

In 1636, Harvard College, the oldest institution of higher learning in the U.S., was founded in Cambridge, MA.

In 1761, Britain's King George III married Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz a few hours after meeting her for the first time.

In 1883, The Northern Pacific Railway was completed in a ceremony at Gold Creek, Montana. Former president Ulysses S. Grant drove in the final "golden spike" in an event attended by rail and political luminaries.

In 1892, an early version of "The Pledge of Allegiance," written by Francis Bellamy, appeared in "The Youth's Companion."

In 1900, Galveston, TX was struck by a hurricane that killed an estimated 8,000 people.

In 1921, Margaret Gorman, age 16, of Washington, D.C., was crowned the first "Miss America" in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

In 1922, actor/comedian/writer/musician Sid Caesar was born in Yonkers, NY.

In 1925, actor/comedian/singer Peter Sellers was born in Southsea, England.

In 1930, 3M began marketing Scotch transparent tape.

In 1932, singer/songwriter Patsy Cline was born in Winchester, VA.

In 1934, more than 130 people lost their lives in a fire aboard the liner SS Morro Castle off the New Jersey coast.

In 1935, Sen. Huey P. Long was shot and mortally wounded inside the Louisiana State Capitol. (The assailant was identified as Dr. Carl Weiss, who was gunned down by Long's bodyguards.)

In 1941, German forces began a siege against the Soviet Union’s second-largest city, Leningrad.

In 1944, London was hit by a V-2 rocket for the first time.

In 1945, Bess Myerson of New York was crowned Miss America in Atlantic City, NJ, becoming the first Jewish contestant to win the title.

In 1954, the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) was founded in Manila by the United States, France, Britain, New Zealand, Australia, the Philippines, Thailand and Pakistan.

In 1954, the film version of the musical “Brigadoon” was released in the U.S. It starred Gene Kelly, Van Johnson and Cyd Charisse, and was directed by Vincente Minelli.

In 1965, the television trade publications "Daily Variety" and "The Hollywood Reporter" ran an ad seeking "Folk & Roll Musicians-Singers for acting roles in new TV series." The final four choices became the group The Monkees.

In 1966, the situation comedy "That Girl," starring Marlo Thomas, premiered on ABC-TV.

Also in 1966, the original series “Star Trek” had its United States premiere on NBC-TV.

In 1968, the LWT program “Frost on Sunday”, hosted by David Frost, featured a filmed performance by the Beatles of their new single “Hey Jude”. (The film would be shown in the U.S. on the CBS-TV series “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” on October 6th.)

In 1971, actor Martin Freeman, the cinematic Arthur Dent, was born in Aldershot, Hampsire, England.

In 1973, the continuation “Star Trek: The Animated Series” premiered on NBC-TV.

In 1974, President Gerald R. Ford granted a "full, free, and absolute pardon" to former President Richard Nixon covering his entire term in office.

In 1980, the sci-fi movie “Battle Beyond the Stars” premiered in New York City.

In 1985, Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds tied Ty Cobb's career record for hits, singling for hit number 4,191 during a game against the Cubs in Chicago.

In 1994, USAir Flight 427, a Boeing 737, crashed into a ravine as it was approaching Pittsburgh International Airport, killing all 132 people on board.

In 2004, animator Frank Thomas, one of the “Nine Old Men” at Walt Disney Studios, died in La Canada Flintridge, CA at age 92.

In 2015, “William Shakespeare’s ‘Tragedy of the Sith’s Revenge: Star Wars, Part the Third’” by Ian Doescher was published by Quirk Books.

In 2022, H.M. Queen Eliabeth II died in Balmoral, Aberdeenshire, Scotland at age 96. She was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for nearly 71years, the longest-serving monarch in British history.

Also in 2022, journalist Bernard Shaw died in Washington, D.C. at age 82. He is best-known for his work as an anchorman and program host for CNN from 1980 until 2001.

 

If I may...

ON SEPTEMBER 9th:

In 1543, Mary Stuart was crowned Queen of Scots at Stirling Castle, nine months after she was born.

In 1585, French clergyman/noble/statesman Cardinal Richelieu was born in Paris.

In 1776, the second Continental Congress made the term "United States" official, replacing "United Colonies."

In 1850, California became the 31st state of the union.

In 1893, Frances Cleveland, wife of President Grover Cleveland, gave birth to a daughter, Esther, in the White House; it was the first (and, to date, only) time a president's child was born in the executive mansion.

In 1919, some 1,100 members of Boston's 1,500-man police force went on strike. (The strike was broken by Massachusetts Gov. Calvin Coolidge with replacement officers.)

In 1922, composer Hoyt Curtin, best-known for his work on Hanna-Barbera productions, was born in Downey, CA.

In 1926, the National Broadcasting Co. (NBC) was incorporated by the Radio Corp. of America.

In 1939, the first public preview of the epic “Gone With the Wind” took place at the Fox Theater in Riverside, CA. Attendees were not told what movie they’d be seeing until it had begun. (The final version of the film would premiere in Atlanta on December 15th.)

In 1941, singer/songwriter/producer Otis Redding was born in Dawson, GA.

In 1942, a Japanese floatplane dropped incendiary bombs near Brookings, OR. It was the first time the continental U.S. was aerially bombed during wartime, but the attack caused only minor damage.

In 1948, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) was declared.

In 1952, actress Angela Cartwright was born in Altrincham, Cheshire, England. Her travels aboard the Jupiter II came along some time later.

In 1953, actress/agent Janet Fielding was born in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The ill-fated attempts to get back to Heathrow would come along later.

In 1955, animator/writer/director/voice artist John Kricfalusi, best-known for creating “Ren and Stimpy”, was born in Chicoutimi, Quebec, Canada.

In 1956, Elvis Presley made the first of three appearances on "The Ed Sullivan Show."

In 1965, Sandy Koufax of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitched a perfect game against the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium. Final score: 1-0.

In 1971, prisoners seized control of the maximum-security Attica Correctional Facility near Buffalo, NY, beginning a siege that ended up claiming 43 lives.

In 1976, Communist Chinese leader Mao Zedong died in Beijing at age 82.

In 1986, Frank Reed, director of a private school in Lebanon, was taken hostage; he was released 44 months later.

In 1994, after 1 ½ days of filming the pilot episode for “Star Trek: Voyager”, actress Genevieve Bujold, who played Capt. Janeway, left the series. She would be replaced by Kate Mulgrew.

In 1995, the animated series “Pinky and the Brain” premiered on the WB Network.

In 1997, Sinn Fein, the IRA's political ally, formally renounced violence as it took its place in talks on Northern Ireland's future.

In 2001, the mini-series “Band of Brothers”, based on Stephen Ambrose’s book about Easy Company, 506th PIR, 101st Airborne, premiered on HBO.

In 2015, Elizabeth II became the longest reigning monarch of the United Kingdom.

In 2016, North Korea completed its fifth nuclear weapons test.

In 2022, King Charles III delivered his first address as sovereign of the United Kingdom, one day after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, his mother and the preceding monarch. He also had his first meeting as sovereign with recently-appointed Prime Minister Liz Truss.

In 2024, actor James Earl Jones died in Pawling, NY at age 93.

 

If I (belatedly) may...

ON SEPTEMBER 10th:

In 1608, John Smith was elected president of the Jamestown colony council in Virginia.

In 1813, an American naval force commanded by Oliver H. Perry defeated the British in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. (Afterward, Perry sent out the message, "We have met the enemy and they are ours.")

In 1846, Elias Howe received a patent for his sewing machine.

In 1908, composer/musician/producer/inventor Raymond Scott was born in Brooklyn. His music will be very familiar to fans of “Looney Tunes”.

In 1914, director/producer/editor Robert Wise was born in Winchester, IN.

In 1919, New York City welcomed home Gen. John J. Pershing and 25,000 soldiers who'd served in the U.S. First Division during World War I.

In 1935, Sen. Huey P. Long died in Baton Rouge at age 42, two days after being shot in the Louisiana state Capitol, allegedly by Dr. Carl Weiss.

In 1939, Canada declared war on Germany.

In 1945, Vidkun Quisling was sentenced to death in Norway for collaborating with the Nazis (he was executed by firing squad in October 1945).

Also In 1945, the fact-based espionage drama “The House on 92nd Street” was released in the U.S.

In 1955, "Gunsmoke" premiered on CBS-TV, after running on CBS radio since 1952. Starring James Arness as Matt Dillon, the program ran for nearly 20 years on TV.

In 1960, at the Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy, Abebe Bikila became the first sub-Saharan African to win a gold medal, winning the marathon in bare feet.

In 1961, at the Italian Grand Prix, a crash caused the death of German Formula One driver Wolfgang von Trips and 13 spectators who were hit by his Ferrari.

In 1963, 20 black students entered Alabama public schools following a standoff between federal authorities and Gov. George C. Wallace.

Also in 1963, actor/singer Jay Laga’aia was born in Auckland, New Zealand. Years later, he’d be tasked with guarding an adventurous senator from Naboo.

In 1967, on “Mission: Impossible”, the episode “The Widow” was broadcast over CBS-TV. It was the first episode to feature Peter Graves as Jim Phelps.

In 1972, The United States suffered its first loss of an international basketball game in a disputed match against the Soviet Union at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany.

In 1979, four Puerto Rican nationalists imprisoned for a 1954 attack on the U.S. House of Representatives and a 1950 attempt on the life of President Harry S. Truman were freed from prison after being granted clemency by President Jimmy Carter.

Also in 1979, the mini-series “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”, starring Alec Guinness as George Smiley, premiered on BBC 2.

In 1987, Pope John Paul II arrived in Miami, where he was welcomed by President Ronald Reagan and first lady Nancy Reagan as he began a 10-day tour of the United States.

In 1991, the Senate Judiciary Committee opened hearings on the nomination of Clarence Thomas to the U.S. Supreme Court.

In 1993, the TV series "The X-Files" premiered on the Fox Network.

In 2002, Switzerland, traditionally a neutral country, joined the United Nations.

In 2008, The Large Hadron Collider at CERN, described as the biggest scientific experiment in history, was powered up in Geneva, Switzerland.

In 2014, actor Richard Kiel died in Fresno, CA at age 74.

In 2017, Hurricane Irma made landfall in Florida as a category 4 hurricane, killing at least three people and knocking out power to over one million households.

In 2020, actress Dame Diana Rigg, DBE died in London at age 82.

 

If I may...

ON SEPTEMBER 11th:

In 1297, at the Battle of Stirling Bridge, Scots jointly-led by William Wallace and Andrew Moray defeated the English.

In 1609, Henry Hudson discovered Manhattan Island and the indigenous people living there.

In 1714, the forces of King Philip V of Spain overcame Catalan defenders to end the 13-month-long Siege of Barcelona during the War of the Spanish Succession.

In 1789, Alexander Hamilton was appointed the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury.

In 1814, an American fleet scored a decisive victory over the British in the Battle of Lake Champlain in the War of 1812.

In 1857, the Mountain Meadows Massacre took place in present-day southern Utah as a 120-member Arkansas immigrant party was slaughtered by Mormon militiamen aided by Paiute Indians.

In 1892, actor/voice artist/animator Pinto Colvig was born in Jacksonville, OR. In addition to being the original Bozo the Clown, he was also the original voice of Goofy in Walt Disney cartoons.

In 1916, filmmaker Ed Sabol, co-founder of NFL Films, was born in Atlantic City, NJ.

In 1917, actor Herbert Lom, best-known as Dreyfus in the “Pink Panther” movies, was born in Prague, Austria-Hungary.

In 1936, Boulder Dam (now Hoover Dam) began operation as President Franklin D. Roosevelt pressed a key in Washington to signal the startup of the dam's first hydroelectric generator.

In 1937, pilot/engineer/astronaut Robert Crippen was born in Beaumont, TX. He was pilot for the first NASA Space Shuttle flight, and served as Mission Commander in three other Shuttle flights.

In 1939, Canada declared war on Germany, the country's first independent declaration of war

In 1941, groundbreaking took place for the Pentagon.

Also in 1941, in a speech that drew accusations of anti-Semitism, Charles A. Lindbergh told an America First rally in Des Moines, IA that "the British, the Jewish and the Roosevelt administration" were pushing the United States toward war.

In 1945, Australian 9th Division forces liberated the Japanese-run Batu Lintang camp, a POW and civilian internment camp on the island of Borneo.

In 1954, the Miss America pageant made its network TV debut on ABC; Miss California, Lee Meriwether, was crowned the winner.

In 1962, The Beatles completed their first single for EMI, "Love Me Do" and "P.S. I Love You," at EMI studios in London.

In 1967, "The Carol Burnett Show" made its debut on CBS-TV. It ran until 1978.

In 1973, a coup in Chile headed by General Augusto Pinochet toppled the democratically elected president Salvador Allende. Pinochet exercised dictatorial power until he was ousted in a referendum in 1988, staying in power until 1990.

In 1974, Eastern Airlines Flight 212, a DC-9, crashed while attempting to land in Charlotte, NC, killing 72 of the 82 people on board.

Also in 1974, the family drama "Little House on the Prairie", starring Michael Landon, premiered on NBC-TV.

In 1976, a group of Croatian nationalists planted a bomb in a coin locker at Grand Central Terminal. After stating political demands, they revealed the location and provided instructions for disarming the bomb. The disarming operation was not executed properly and the bomb exploded, killing one NYPD bomb squad specialist.

In 1983, Harry Sullivan’s War, a “Doctor Who” spin-off novel written by Ian Marter, who played Harry in the series, was published by Target Books.

In 1997, Scots voted to create their own Parliament after 290 years of union with England.

Also in 1997, NASA’s unmanned Mars Global Surveyer spacecraft arrived at its destination.

In 2001, nineteen al-Qaida members hijacked four passenger jetliners, sending two of the planes smashing into New York's World Trade Center, one into the Pentagon and the fourth into a field in western Pennsylvania, resulting in nearly 3,000 deaths.

In 2008, a major Channel Tunnel fire broke out on a freight train, closing part of the tunnel for six months.

In 2011, The National September 11 Memorial & Museum opened on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

In 2012, The U.S. embassy in Benghazi, Libya was attacked by Islamic terrorists, resulting in four deaths and ten people injured.

In 2015, a crane collapsed onto the Masjid al-Haram mosque in Saudi Arabia, killing 111 people and injuring 394 others.

 

If I may...

ON SEPTEMBER 13th:

In 1788, the Congress of the Confederation authorized the first national election, and declared New York City the temporary national capital.

In 1814, during the War of 1812, British naval forces began bombarding Fort McHenry in Baltimore but were driven back by American defenders in a battle that lasted until the following morning. (During the battle, Francis Scott Key wrote the poem “Defense of Fort McHenry”, later used as the lyrics to “The Star-Spangled Banner”.)

In 1899, in New York City, Henry Bliss was the first person in the United States to be killed in an automobile accident.

In 1908, actress/voice artist/singer Mae Questel was born in the Bronx. She’s best-known for her work for Fleischer Studios, providing the voices of Betty Boop and Olive Oyl.

In 1914, Max J. Rosenberg, co-founder of Amicus Productions, was born in the Bronx. He’s best-known for producing, with partner Milton J. Subotsky, Amicus’ slate of horror and fantasy films in the 60’s and 70’s.

In 1931, actress Barbara Bain was born in Chicago, IL. Her alleged activities on behalf of the IMF have been disavowed by the Secretary.

In 1939, actor Richard Kiel was born in Detroit, MI. His eye-catching dental work would come along later.

In 1948, Republican Margaret Chase Smith of Maine was elected to the U.S. Senate; she became the first woman to serve in both houses of Congress.

In 1959, Elvis Presley first met his future wife, 14-year-old Priscilla Beaulieu, while stationed in West Germany with the U.S. Army. (They married in 1967, but divorced in 1973.)

In 1965, the kaiju movie “Ghidora, the Three-Headed Monster” was released in the U.S., nearly a year after its original Japanese release. In addition to presenting Ghidora’s debut, the movie also featured Special Guest Stars Godzilla, Rodan and Mothra.

In 1970, the first New York City Marathon took place. Fireman Gary Muhrucke won the race. The race was run entirely inside Central Park.

In 1971, a four-day inmates' rebellion at the Attica Correctional Facility in western New York ended as police and guards stormed the prison; the ordeal and final assault claimed the lives of 32 inmates and 11 employees.

In 1974, the private-eye series “The Rockford Files”, starring James Garner, premiered on NBC-TV.

Also in 1974, the horror series “Kolchak: The Night Stalker”, starring Darren McGavin, premiered on ABC-TV.

In 1977, the short-lived comedy series “The Richard Pryor Show” premiered over NBC-TV. The opening sketch, showing Pryor running “The Star Wars Bar”, remains a favorite of your humble correspondent.

In 1985, “Super Mario Bros.” was released in Japan for the NES, which started the “Super Mario” series of platforming games.

In 1989, Fay Vincent was elected commissioner of Major League Baseball, succeeding the late A. Bartlett Giamatti.

In 1990, the crime drama series "Law & Order" premiered on NBC-TV.

In 1993, at the White House, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO chairman Yasser Arafat signed the Oslo Accords, granting limited Palestinian autonomy.

Also in 1993, the comedy/talk show "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" premiered on NBC-TV.

In 1999, following a series of massive nuclear explosions, the Moon was blasted out of Earth’s orbit. The fate of the inhabitants of Moonbase Alpha remains uncertain, and theories regarding alien involvement in the incident are unconfirmed.

In 2007, The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted by the U.N. General Assembly.

In 2010, the Hammer Horror film “Let Me In” premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.

In 2013, terrorists affiliated with the Taliban attacked the U.S. consulate in Herat, Afghanistan. Two members of the Afghan National Police were reported dead, with about 20 civilians injured.

In 2014, Islamic State extremists released a video showing the beheading of British aid worker David Haines, who had been abducted in Syria the previous year; British Prime Minister David Cameron condemned the slaying as "an act of pure evil."

Also in 2014, on “Doctor Who”, the episode “Listen” was broadcast on BBC 1. It would later be nominated for a Hugo Award, and be the first “Doctor Who” episode to be nominated for a Bram Stoker award.

In 2015, Hall of Fame basketball player Moses Malone died in Norfolk, VA at age 60.

In 2018, excessive pressure in natural gas lines owned by Columbia Gas of Massachusetts caused a series of explosions and fires to occur in as many as 40 homes within the Merrimack Valley. One person was killed, with 25 injured.

 

If I may...

ON SEPTEMBER 14th:

In 1715, Benedictine monk Dom Pierre Perignon, credited with advances in the production of champagne, died in Hautvillers, France, at age 76.

In 1741, composer George Frideric Handel completed his oratorio, “The Messiah”.

In 1861, the first naval engagement of the Civil War took place as the USS Colorado attacked and sank the Confederate private schooner Judah off Pensacola, FL.

In 1901, President William McKinley died in Buffalo, NY at age 58 of gunshot wounds inflicted by assassin Leon Czolgosz; Vice-President Theodore Roosevelt succeeded him.

Who was that masked man? He was actor Clayton Moore, born in Chicago, IL in 1914.

In 1916, producer James H. Nicholson, co-founder of American International Pictures, was born in Seattle, WA.

In 1923, George Burns (Boston Red Sox) performed the third unassisted triple play in baseball history.

In 1927, modern dance pioneer Isadora Duncan died in Nice, France, when her scarf became entangled in a wheel of the sports car she was riding in.

Also in 1927, author/screenwriter Martin Caidin was born in New York City. He’s best-known for his novels Marooned (later made into an Oscar-winning movie) and Cyborg (the basis for the TV series “The Six Million Dollar Man”).

In 1936, actor/screenwriter Walter Koenig was born in Chicago, IL. His involvement with Star Fleet and Psi-Corps would come later.

In 1944, the Great Atlantic Hurricane passed close to North Carolina and Virginia before heading up the northeastern U.S. coast; nearly 400 people died, most at sea.

In 1954, the Soviet Union detonated a 40-kiloton atomic test weapon.

In 1959, the unmanned Soviet probe Luna 2 crashed onto the Moon, becoming the first man-made object to reach it.

In 1960, The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was founded.

In 1964, Pope Paul VI opened the third session of the Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, also known as "Vatican II." (The session closed two months later.)

Also in 1964, President Johnson awarded Walt Disney the Medal of Freedom, the U.S.’s highest civilian honor.

In 1965, the notorious situation comedy "My Mother the Car," starring Jerry Van Dyke as a man who acquires an antique automobile that's the reincarnation of his mother (voiced by Ann Sothern), premiered on NBC-TV.

Also in 1965, the Western sit-com “F Troop” premiered on ABC-TV.

In 1967, the crime drama series “Ironside”, starring Raymond Burr, premiered on NBC-TV.

In 1972, the family drama series “The Waltons” premiered on CBS-TV.

In 1975, Pope Paul VI declared Mother Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton the first U.S.-born saint.

In 1982, Princess Grace of Monaco, formerly actress Grace Kelly, died in Monaco at age 52 of injuries from a car crash the day before.

Also in 1982, Lebanon's president-elect, Bashir Gemayel was killed by a bomb.

In 1994, on the 34th day of a strike by players, Acting Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig announced the 1994 season was over.

In 2001, a historic National Prayer Service was held at Washington National Cathedral for victims of the September 11th attacks. A similar service was held in Canada on Parliament Hill, the largest vigil ever held in the nation's capital.

In 2009, actor/singer/dancer Patrick Swayze died in Los Angeles at age 57.

In 2016, it was announced that Turner Entertainment had acquired exclusive basic cable rights to the entire “Star Wars” live action franchise, including upcoming films. (They would later run the series, in its entirety, at least twice a month.)

 

If I may...

ON SEPTEMBER 15th:

In 1789, the U.S. Department of Foreign Affairs was renamed the Department of State.

In 1831, the locomotive John Bull operated for the first time in New Jersey on the Camden and Amboy Railroad.

In 1857, William Howard Taft, the 27th President of the U.S., then the 10th Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, was born in Cincinnati, OH.

In 1890, author/playwright Agatha Christie was born in Torquay, Devon, England.

In 1916, tanks were used for the first time in battle, at the Battle of the Somme.

In 1922, fight choreographer/swordmaster Bob Anderson was born in Gosport, Hampshire, England. Years later, he’d handle the dueling scenes for a certain breath-masked Sith Lord.

In 1935, the Nuremberg Laws deprived German Jews of their citizenship.

In 1940, during the World War II Battle of Britain, the tide turned as the Royal Air Force inflicted heavy losses upon the Luftwaffe during a day-long battle involving around 1,500 aircraft. (The event is now commemorated in the U.K. as Battle of Britain Day.)

In 1942, the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Wasp was sunk by a Japanese torpedo at Guadalcanal.

In 1944, the Battle of Peleliu began as the U.S. Marine Corps’ 1st Marine Div. and the U.S. Army’s 81st Infantry Div. hit White and Orange beaches under heavy fire from Japanese infantry and artillery.

In 1950, during the Korean conflict, United Nations forces landed at Incheon in the south and began their drive toward Seoul.

In 1958, a Central Railroad of New Jersey commuter train ran through an open drawbridge at the Newark Bay, killing 48.

In 1959, Nikita Khrushchev became the first Soviet leader to visit the United States.

In 1963, four African-American girls were killed when a bomb went off during Sunday services at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL. (Three Ku Klux Klansmen were eventually convicted for their roles in the blast.)

In 1964, the thriller “Fail-Safe” premiered at the Second New York Film Festival.

In 1965, the sci-fi series "Lost in Space" and the comedy series "Green Acres" both premiered on CBS-TV.

In 1967, on the original series “Star Trek”, the episode “Amok Time” was broadcast on NBC-TV. It featured the first appearance of Mr. Spock’s home planet, Vulcan.

In 1968, the Soviet Zond 5 unmanned spacecraft was launched, becoming the first spacecraft to fly around the Moon and re-enter the Earth's atmosphere.

In 1969, the fact-based war drama “Battle of Britain” premiered in London.

In 1971, the first regular episode of the detective series "Columbo," starring Peter Falk, debuted on NBC-TV. (Two made-for-TV movies featuring the character had aired, respectively, in 1968 and 1971.)

In 1972, a federal grand jury in Washington indicted seven men in connection with a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate office complex the previous June.

In 1973, on the animated series “Star Trek”, the episode “Yesteryear” was broadcast on NBC-TV. It’s regarded by many Trekkers as the best episode of the animated series, and was reportedly the only animated episode considered to be a part of official series canon by “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry.

In 1978, the comedy “Up in Smoke”, starring Cheech & Chong, was released in the U.S.

Also in 1978, at the New Orleans Superdome, Muhammad Ali beat Leon Spinks by decision in a rematch to become the first boxer to win the world heavyweight title three times.

In 1981, the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved Sandra Day O’Connor to become the first female justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Also in 1981, the John Bull became the oldest operable steam locomotive in the world when the Smithsonian Institution operated it under its own power outside Washington, D.C.

In 2008, Lehman Brothers filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the largest bankruptcy filing in U.S. history.

In 2017 with its mission to study the planet Saturn and its satellites considered completed, the Cassini probe was “retired”, via a controlled fall into Saturn’s atmosphere.

In 2020, the signing of the Bahrain-Israel normalization agreement occurred in Washington, D.C., normalizing relations between Israel and the Arab nations of the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

In 2024, a gunman armed with an AK-47 rifle was fired upon by Secret Service agents at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, FL. It was believed he was targeting former U.S. President Donald Trump, who was playing the course at the time. (The gunman fled the scene, but was arrested shortly afterwards.)

 

Catching up...

ON SEPTEMBER 16th:

In 1810, Mexicans were inspired to begin their successful revolt against Spanish rule by Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla and his "Grito de Dolores (Cry of Dolores)."

In 1893, more than 100,000 settlers swarmed onto a section of land in Oklahoma known as the "Cherokee Strip."

In 1898, author/illustrator H.A. Rey, co-creator of Curious George, was born in Hamburg, Germany.

In 1908, General Motors was founded in Flint, MI by William C. Durant.

In 1911, writer/producer Paul Henning was born in Independence, MO. He’s best-known for developing the “Hooterville Trilogy”.

In 1919, the American Legion received a national charter from Congress.

In 1920, a bomb in a horse wagon exploded in front of the J.P. Morgan building in New York City killing 38 and injuring 400.

In 1924, actress Lauren Bacall was born in the Bronx.

In 1925, the Irving Berlin song "Always" (written for his future wife, Ellin Mackay) was published.

Also in 1925, singer/songwriter/musician B.B. King was born in Berclair, MS.

In 1935, producer/director/author/composer Jules Bass was born in Philadelphia, PA. He’s best-known for co-founding Rankin/Bass Productions, which would produce memorable stop-motion animated movies and TV specials.

In 1940, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Selective Training and Service Act.

In 1943, the Allied invasion of Italy concluded when Heinrich von Vietinghoff, commander of the German Tenth Army, ordered his troops to withdraw from Salerno.

In 1953, the Biblical drama "The Robe," starring Richard Burton, had its world premiere at the Roxy Theater in New York City. It was the first movie released in the CinemaScope widescreen format.

In 1959, the first successful photocopier, the Xerox 914, was introduced in a demonstration on live television from New York City.

There is nothing wrong with your message board. In 1963, the science-fiction anthology series "The Outer Limits" premiered on ABC-TV.

In 1964, the rock and roll TV show "Shindig!" premiered on ABC. The first show opened with Sam Cooke, The Everly Brothers, The Wellingtons, The Righteous Brothers, Bobby Sherman and comedian Alan Sues.

In 1967, the private eye series “Mannix”, starring Mike Connors, premiered on CBS-TV.

In 1968, U.S. Presidential candidate Richard Nixon appeared on "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In". He spoke the show signature line "Sock it to me."

In 1972, the sit-com "The Bob Newhart Show" debuted on CBS-TV.

In 1974, President Gerald R. Ford announced a conditional amnesty program for Vietnam War deserters and draft-evaders.

In 1975, the first prototype of the Mikoyan MiG-31 interceptor made its maiden flight. And it bore little resemblance to the MiG-31 Clint Eastwood would fly in “Firefox”.

In 1982, the massacre of between 1,200 and 1,400 Palestinian men, women and children at the hands of Israeli-allied Christian Phalange militiamen began in west Beirut's Sabra and Shatila refugee camps.

In 1984, the first episode of the crime drama "Miami Vice" aired on NBC-TV.

In 1992, the trial of the deposed Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega ended in the United States with a 40-year sentence for drug trafficking and money laundering.

In 1994, a federal jury in Anchorage, Alaska, ordered Exxon Corp. to pay $5 billion in punitive damages for the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill (the U.S Supreme Court later reduced that amount to $507.5 million).

Also in 1994, the sci-fi/action movie “Timecop”, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, was released in the U.S.

In 2007, O.J. Simpson was arrested in the alleged armed robbery of sports memorabilia collectors in Las Vegas. (Simpson was later convicted of kidnapping and armed robbery and sentenced to nine to 33 years in prison.)

In 2011: the animated movie “LEGO Star Wars: The Padawan Menace” was released on DVD and Blu-Ray.

In 2013, a gunman killed twelve people and injured three others at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. before being killed by police.

In 2016, playwright Edward Albee died in Montauk, NY at age 88.

 

Still belated...

ON SEPTEMBER 17th:

In 1787, the Constitution of the United States was completed and signed by a majority of delegates attending the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.

In 1862, more than 3,600 men were killed in the Civil War Battle of Antietam in Maryland. It remains the bloodiest day in American military history.

In 1928, actor/director/photographer Roddy McDowall was born in Herne Hill, London, England.

In 1930, pilot/astronaut Thomas P. Stafford was born in Weatherford, OK. He was Pilot of Gemini 6A, Command Pilot of Gemini 9A, and Commander of Apollo 10 and the American crew of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project.

In 1931, RCA Victor demonstrated the first 33-and-a-third RPM long-playing record in New York.

In 1939, the Soviet Union invaded Poland during World War II, more than two weeks after Nazi Germany had launched its assault.

In 1943, the mystery “Sherlock Holmes Faces Death”, starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce as Holmes and Watson, was released in the U.S.

In 1944, during World War II, Allied paratroopers launched Operation Market Garden, landing behind German lines in the Netherlands. (After initial success, the Allies were beaten back by the Germans.)

In 1955, Tennessee Ernie Ford recorded "Sixteen Tons" by Merle Travis for Capitol Records in Hollywood.

In 1959, the first powered flight of the rocket-powered X-15 aircraft, piloted by Scott Crossfield, took place near Edwards Air Force Base in California.

In 1961, the sit-com “Car 54, Where Are You?” premiered on NBC-TV.

Also in 1961, the world's first retractable-dome stadium, the Civic Arena, opened in Pittsburgh.

In 1963, the drama series “The Fugitive” premiered on ABC-TV.

In 1964, the James Bond movie "Goldfinger," starring Sean Connery, premiered in London.

Also in 1964, the fantasy sitcom "Bewitched," starring Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick York, premiered on ABC-TV.

In 1965, the sit-com “Hogan’s Heroes” premiered on CBS-TV.

In 1966, the spy-fi series “Mission: Impossible” premiered on CBS-TV.

In 1967, The Who appeared on "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour." Following a live performance of “My Generation”, a gunpowder charge in Keith Moon’s drum kit was set off. However, unknown to the crew, Moon had replaced the original charge with one much stronger. The resulting explosion temporarily overloaded the cameras, knocked Moon backwards, and singed Pete Townshend's hair and damaged his hearing.

In 1972, the sit-com "M*A*S*H" premiered on CBS-TV.

In 1976, the Space Shuttle Enterprise was unveiled by NASA at the Rockwell International plant in Palmdale, CA. “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry and many of the original cast members of the series were present.

In 1978, after meeting at Camp David, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat signed a framework for a peace treaty.

Also In 1978, the original series "Battlestar Galactica" premiered on ABC-TV.

In 1980, after weeks of strikes at the Lenin Shipyard in Gdansk, Poland, the nationwide independent trade union Solidarity was established.

In 1983, Vanessa Williams of New York became the first black contestant to be crowned Miss America. (The following July, she also became the first Miss America to resign in the wake of her "Penthouse" magazine scandal.)

In 1994, Heather Whitestone of Alabama was crowned the first deaf Miss America.

In 2001, The New York Stock Exchange reopened for trading after the September 11 attacks, the longest closure since the Great Depression.

In 2003, principal photography was completed for “Star Wars: Episode III- Revenge of the Sith”.

In 2011, a demonstration calling itself Occupy Wall Street began in New York, prompting similar protests around the U.S. and the world.

In 2016, an explosion occurred in Seaside Park, NJ, shortly before the USMC 5K Run in the area. No injuries or fatalities were reported.

Also in 2016, a bombing occurred in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, injuring 29 people.

In addition in 2016, a mass stabbing at Crossroads Center in St. Cloud, MN left fifteen injured. The attacker was later shot and killed inside the mall by an off-duty police officer.

 

If I may...

ON SEPTEMBER 18th:

In A.D. 14, the Roman Senate officially confirmed Tiberius as the second emperor of the Roman Empire, succeeding the late Augustus.

In 1759, the French formally surrendered Quebec to the British.

In 1793, President George Washington laid the cornerstone of the U.S. Capitol.

In 1810, Chile made its initial declaration of independence from Spain with the forming of a national junta.

In 1850, The U.S. Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, requiring that all escaped slaves were, upon capture, to be returned to their masters, and that officials and citizens of free states had to cooperate in the law.

In 1851, “The New-York Daily Times”, later known as “The New York Times”, was first published.

In 1905, actor/comedian Eddie “Rochester” Anderson was born in Oakland, CA. Years later, he’d play the butler of a certain perpetual 39-year-old.

In 1917, actress/voice artist June Foray was born in Springfield, MA. Limited space prevents a full list of her roles, but she’s probably best-known for providing the voice of Rocket J. Squirrel.

In 1927, the Columbia Phonograph Broadcasting System (later CBS) made its on-air debut with a basic network of 16 radio stations.

In 1939, the Nazi propaganda broadcaster known as Lord Haw-Haw began transmitting.

In 1942, the mystery “Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror”, starring Basil Rathbone & Nigel Bruce as Holmes & Watson, was released in the U.S. It was the first of the Universal Holmes series, and the first to be based in the then-current era of World War II.

In 1947, the National Security Council and the Central Intelligence Agency were established in the United States under the National Security Act.

In 1949, the comedy mystery “Abbott & Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff” premiered in New York City.

Klaatu barada nikto! In 1951, the science fiction movie “The Day the Earth Stood Still” premiered in New York City.

In 1956, actor Tim McInnerny was born in Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire, England. He’d later play both allies and antagonists of several Blackadders.

In 1961, United Nations Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold was killed in a plane crash in northern Rhodesia.

In 1963, the sitcom “The Patty Duke Show” premiered on ABC-TV.

Also in 1963, the horror movie “The Haunting” was released in the U.S.

In addition in 1963, the sci-fi movie “X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes”, starring Ray Milland and directed by Roger Corman, was released in the U.S.

In 1964, the fantasy sitcom “The Addams Family” premiered on ABC-TV.

In 1965, the situation comedies "I Dream of Jeannie" and "Get Smart" both premiered on NBC-TV.

In 1970, singer/songwriter/musician Jimi Hendrix died in Kensington, London, England at age 27.

In 1975, newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst was captured by the FBI in San Francisco, 19 months after being kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army.

In 1978, the sit-com “WKRP in Cincinnati” premiered on CBS-TV.

In 1983, the book Doctor Who: A Celebration by Peter Haining was published by W.H. Allen. The U.S. edition of the book would later be an invaluable resource for your humble correspondent until he could see all of the show’s existing episodes on NJN.

In 1984, retired U.S. Air Force Col. Joe Kittinger became the first person to complete a solo balloon flight across the Atlantic Ocean as he landed in Italy, four days after leaving Maine.

In 1987, the Disney animated series “Duck Tales”, based on the Carl Barks comic book stories, premiered in syndication.

In 2009, the 72-year run, from radio to TV, of the soap opera “The Guiding Light” ended as its final episode was broadcast on CBS.

In 2014, Scotland voted against independence from the United Kingdom.

In 2020, teacher/attorney/U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died in Washington, D.C. at age 87.

 

If I may...

ON SEPTEMBER 19th:

In 1676, Jamestown, in the Virginia colony, was burned to the ground by the forces of Nathaniel Bacon during Bacon’s Rebellion.

In 1777, the first Battle of Saratoga was fought during the Revolutionary War; although British forces succeeded in driving out the American troops, the Americans prevailed in a second battle the following month.

In 1778, the Continental Congress passed the first U.S. federal budget.

In 1796, President George Washington's farewell address was published.

In 1863, during the Civil War, the first day of the Battle of Chickmauga, in northwestern Georgia, took place. It was the bloodiest two-day battle of the conflict, and the only significant Confederate victory in the war's Western Theater.

In 1881, James A. Garfield, the 20th president of the U.S., died 2½ months after being shot by Charles Guiteau; Chester Alan Arthur became president.

In 1915, vaudeville performer W.C. Fields made his movie debut as "Pool Sharks," a one-reel silent comedy, was released.

In 1928, actor Adam West was born in Walla Walla, WA. His residency at Stately Wayne Manor would come later.

In 1931, the Marx Brothers comedy “Monkey Business” was released in the U.S.

In 1933, actor David McCallum was born in Glasgow, Scotland. His later work for NCIS is on the public record, but his tenure with UNCLE is still classified.

In 1934, Bruno Hauptmann was arrested in New York and charged with the kidnap-murder of Charles A. Lindbergh Jr.

In 1940, actress Caroline John was born in York, North Yorkshire, England. It’s still a bit unclear when exactly she worked with UNIT; the dating protocols on the files are a bit variable.

In 1944, the Battle of Hurtgen Forest, between the U.S. and Nazi Germany, began.

In 1945, Nazi radio propagandist William Joyce, known as "Lord Haw-Haw," was convicted of treason and sentenced to death by a British court.

In 1959, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, visiting Los Angeles, reacted angrily upon being told that, for security reasons, he wouldn't get to visit Disneyland.

In 1963, filming began for “An Unearthly Child”, the first episode of “Doctor Who”, consisting of the final moments of the episode.

In 1970, the situation comedy "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" debuted on CBS-TV.

In 1973, the action movie “Doll Squad” was released in the U.S. It would later be one of the last movies (to date) riffed on by Cinematic Titanic.

In1975, the Brit-com “Fawlty Towers”, starring and co-written by John Cleese, premiered on BBC 2.

In 1985, the Mexico City area was struck by a devastating earthquake that killed at least 9,500 people.

Also In 1985, Frank Zappa appeared before a Senate panel to protest a proposal to rate the lyrics of rock music based on sexual and violent content.

In 1989, a Paris-bound DC-10 belonging to French airline UTA was destroyed by a bomb over Niger, killing all 170 people on board. (A French court later convicted six Libyans in absentia for the bombing; Libya agreed in 2004 to pay $170 million in compensation, although it stopped short of acknowledging responsibility.)

Also in 1989, the Library of Congress announced the first 25 of 75 films named to the new national film registry. The registry was established to get high-quality copies of films to make sure they would be preserved. The first group included "Gone With The Wind," "The Maltese Falcon" and "Citizen Kane."

In 1994, during the making of the “Star Trek: Voyager” episode “Caretaker”, Kate Mulgrew filmed her first scenes as Capt. Janeway.

In 1995, The New York Times and The Washington Post published the manifesto of Unabomber Ted Kaczynski, which proved instrumental in identifying and capturing him.

In 2010, the leaking oil well in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill was sealed.

In 2017, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Mexico, causing the collapse of 29 buildings in Mexico City, widespread evacuations and at least 139 deaths. Ironically, it occurred hours after an annual earthquake drill in commemoration of the 1985 Mexico earthquake.

In 2022, the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom was held at Westminster Abbey in London.

 

I apologize for falling behind again. I've had a bunch of distractions lately which are too complicated to go into here. Anyway...

ON SEPTEMBER 20th:

In 1519, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his crew set out from Spain on five ships to find a western passage to the Spice Islands. (Magellan was killed en route, but one of his ships eventually circled the world.)

In 1870, Italian troops took control of the Papal States, leading to the unification of Italy.

In 1881, U.S. President Chester A. Arthur was sworn in, the morning after becoming President upon James A. Garfield’s death.

In 1884, the National Equal Rights Party was formed during a convention of suffragists in San Francisco; the convention nominated Belva Ann Bennett Lockwood for president.

In 1911, the British liner RMS Olympic collided with the Royal Navy cruiser HMS Hawke off the Isle of Wight; although seriously damaged, the Olympic was able to return to Southampton under its own power.

In 1920, writer/animator/producer Jay Ward was born in San Francisco. He’s best-known for creating Frostbite Falls’ favorite sons, Rocket J. Squirrel and Bullwinkle J. Moose, and their many associates.

In 1925, composer James Bernard was born in India. Best-known for his film scores for Hammer Films, he was co-winner of an Oscar for Best Screen Story for “Seven Days to Noon”. During World War II, he also worked with the team assigned to break the German “Enigma” code.

In 1946, the first Cannes Film Festival was held, having been delayed seven years due to World War II.

In 1958, Martin Luther King Jr. was seriously wounded during a book signing at a New York City department store when Izola Curry stabbed him in the chest. (Curry was later found mentally incompetent.)

In 1962, James Meredith, an African-American student, was blocked from enrolling at the University of Mississippi by Democratic Gov. Ross R. Barnett. (Meredith was later admitted.)

In 1968, on the original series “Star Trek”, the show’s third season opened on NBC-TV. The episode “Spock’s Brain” was broadcast; it would later be generally considered one of the worst episodes in the franchise’s history.

In 1973, singer/songwriter/musician Jim Croce died in Natchitoches, LA at age 30.

Also in 1973, in their so-called "battle of the sexes," tennis star Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3, at the Houston Astrodome.

In 1975, on “Doctor Who”, part four of “Terror of the Zygons” was broadcast on BBC 1. It featured the last regular appearances of Ian Marter as Harry Sullivan, and Nicholas Courtney as Brigadier Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart.

Also in 1975, the variety series “Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell” premiered on ABC-TV. The first episode featured the U.S. premiere of the song “Saturday Night” by the Bay City Rollers.

In 1979, the science fiction series “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century” premiered on NBC-TV.

In 1980, Spectacular Bid, ridden by Bill Shoemaker, ran as the only entry in the Woodward Stakes at Belmont Park in New York after three potential challengers dropped out in horse racing's first walkover since 1949.

In 1982, the first episode of the mini-series “Smiley’s People” premiered on BBC2. Based on John LeCarre’s novel, it starred Alec Guinness as George Smiley.

In 1984, a suicide car bomber attacked the U.S. Embassy annex in north Beirut, killing at least 14 people, including two Americans and 12 Lebanese.

In 2000, Independent Counsel Robert Ray announced the end of the Whitewater investigation, saying there was insufficient evidence to warrant charges against President and Mrs. Clinton.

Also in 2000, The UK’s MI6 Secret Intelligence Service building was attacked by unidentified individuals using a Russian-built RPG-22 anti-tank missile.

In addition in 2000, Soviet cosmonaut Gherman Titov, the second man to orbit the Earth, died in Moscow at age 65.

Also in addition in 2000, principal photography was completed for “Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones”.

In 2001, in an address to a joint session of Congress and the American people, President George W. Bush declared a "War on Terror".

In 2003, Alfred H. Perkins passed away in Honesdale, PA at age 82. His career included serving as Wayne County Treasurer, as a Wayne County Commissioner, director of the Wayne County Agricultural Society, and presiding judge for harness racing at Wayne County Fair. And he was very glad I videotaped the first time the two-minute mark was broken at the track.

In 2011, The United States military ended its “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, allowing gay men and women to serve openly for the first time.

In 2015, actor/producer/screenwriter Jack Larson, best-known for playing Jimmy Olsen on the “Adentures of Superman” TV series, died in Los Angeles at age 87.

In 2017, Hurricane Maria made landfall on Puerto Rico as a Category 4 hurricane, knocking out power to the entire island and causing heavy damage. The death toll was later estimated at nearly 3000, though that number has been disputed.

In 2018, at least 161 people died after a ferry capsized close to the pier on Ukara Island in Lake Victoria and part of Tanzania.

 

Working on it...

ON SEPTEMBER 21st:

In 1792, during the French Revolution, the French National Convention voted to abolish the monarchy.

In 1866, novelist/historian H.G. Wells was born in Bromley, Kent, England.

In 1874, composer/educator Gustav Holst was born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.

In 1893, one of America's first horseless carriages was taken for a short test drive in Springfield, MA by Frank Duryea, who had designed the vehicle with his brother, Charles.

In 1897, the New York Sun ran its famous editorial, written anonymously by Francis P. Church, which declared, "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus."

In 1912, magician Harry Houdini first publicly performed his "Water Torture Cell" trick at the Circus Busch in Berlin.

Also in 1912, animator/screenwriter/producer/director Chuck Jones was born in Spokane, WA.

In 1937, J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy story The Hobbit was published by George Allen & Unwin.

In 1938, a hurricane struck parts of New York and New England, causing widespread damage and claiming some 700 lives.

In 1947, author/screenwriter Stephen King was born in Portland, ME.

In 1948, Milton Berle made his debut as permanent host of "The Texaco Star Theater" on NBC-TV.

In 1949, The People’s Republic of China was proclaimed by CCP Chairman Mao Zedong, following the end of major conflict in the Chinese Civil War. (A formal public proclamation would follow on October 1st.)

In 1950, actor/comedian/Not Ready For Prime Time Player/Ghostbuster Bill Murray was born in Evanston, IL.

In 1957, the legal mystery-drama "Perry Mason," starring Raymond Burr, premiered on CBS-TV.

In 1968, the police drama "Adam-12" debuted on NBC-TV.

In 1970, "NFL Monday Night Football" made its debut on ABC-TV as the Cleveland Browns defeated the visiting New York Jets, 31-21. The trio in the booth for the first game were Howard Cosell, Don Meredith and Keith Jackson.

In 1975, the fact-based crime drama "Dog Day Afternoon," starring Al Pacino, opened in New York City.

In 1981, Sandra Day O’Connor was unanimously approved by the U.S. Congress as the first female Supreme Court Justice.

In 1982, National Football League (NFL) players began a 57-day strike. It was their first regular-season walkout.

In 1989, Hurricane Hugo crashed into Charleston, South Carolina. (The storm was blamed for 56 deaths in the Caribbean and 29 in the United States.)

Also in 1989, twenty-one students in Alton, Texas, died when their school bus, hit by a soft-drink delivery truck, careened into a water-filled pit.

In 1993, Russian President Boris Yeltsin suspended parliament and discarded the then-functioning constitution, triggering the Russian Constitutional Crisis of 1993.

In 1996, the U.S. Congress passed the Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibited Federal recognition of same-sex marriages.

In 2001, the telethon “America: A Tribute to Heroes” was broadcast by over 35 network and cable channels, raising over $200 million for the victims of the September 11th attacks.

In 2013, al-Shabaab terrorists attacked the Westgate Shopping Mall in Nairobi, Kenya, killing at least 67 people.

 

Getting there...

ON SEPTEMBER 22nd:

In 1692, the last hanging of those convicted of witchcraft in the Salem witch trials took place. Others convicted were eventually released.

In 1776, Nathan Hale was hanged by British forces in New York City for spying during the American Revolution. His purported last words were, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."

In 1789, the office of U.S. Postmaster General was established.

In 1792, the first French Republic was proclaimed.

In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, declaring all slaves in rebel states should be free as of January 1, 1863.

In 1888, the first issue of “National Geographic Magazine” was published.

In 1902, actor/writer/producer John Houseman was born in Bucharest, Hungary.

In 1911, pitcher Cy Young, age 44, gained his 511th and final career victory as he hurled a 1-0 shutout for the Boston Rustlers against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Forbes Field.

In 1927, Gene Tunney successfully defended his heavyweight boxing title against Jack Dempsey in the famous "long-count" fight in Chicago.

In 1934, an explosion took place at Gresford Colliery in Wales, leading to the deaths of 266 miners and rescuers.

Also in 1934, the mystery movie “The Case of the Howling Dog” was released in the U.S. It was the first movie in the “Perry Mason” series, with Warren William starring as Mason.

In 1941, on the day of the Jewish New Year, the German SS murdered 6,000 Jews in Vinnytsia, Ukraine. The victims were the survivors of the previous killings that took place a few days earlier in which about 24,000 Jews were executed.

Also in 1944, actor Frazer Hines was born in Horsforth, West Riding of Yorkshire, England. His travels with the Second Doctor would come later.

In 1946, Yogi Berra played his first game for the New York Yankees.

In 1949, the Soviet Union exploded its first atomic bomb.

In 1950, Omar N. Bradley was promoted to the rank of five-star general, joining an elite group that included Dwight D. Eisenhower, Douglas MacArthur, George C. Marshall and Henry H. "Hap" Arnold.

In 1955, in the U.K., the television channel ITV began broadcasting.

In 1957, the Western series “Maverick” premiered over ABC-TV. Depending on what week you were watching, the first season starred either James Garner or Jack Kelly.

In 1960, the horror/suspense movie “Tormented”, co-produced and directed by Bert I. Gordon (from his original story), was released in the U.S.

In 1964, the musical "Fiddler on the Roof," starring Zero Mostel, opened on Broadway, beginning a run of 3,242 performances.

Also in 1964, the spy-fi series "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.," starring Robert Vaughn and David McCallum, premiered on NBC-TV.

In 1965, The Indo-Pakistan War of 1965 between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, ended after the United Nations called for a ceasefire.

In 1966, on the original series “Star Trek”, “Where No Man Has Gone Before”, the series’ second pilot, was broadcast on NBC-TV, as the series’ third broadcast episode.

In 1975, Sara Jane Moore attempted to shoot President Gerald R. Ford outside a San Francisco hotel, but missed. (Moore served 32 years in prison before being paroled on December 31, 2007.)

In 1980, Iraq invaded Iran, sparking the nearly eight year Iran-Iraq War.

In 1981, actress/voice artist Ashley Eckstein was born. She’s well-known to “Star Wars” fans for providing the voice of Ahsoka Tano on “The Clone Wars”.

In 1982, actress/singer/dancer Billie Piper was born in Swindon, Wiltshire, England. She’d later play the superweapon’s interface that looked like someone from the Doctor’s past. Or his future; she always got those two confused.

In 1985, rock and country music artists participated in "Farm Aid," a concert staged in Champaign, Illinois, to help the nation's farmers.

In 1990, on MST3K, the series’ second season premiere was broadcast on Comedy Central. Featuring the movie “Rocketship X-M”, it also featured the debut of Frank Conniff as TV’s Frank, and Kevin Murphy as Tom Servo, as well as the first on-screen appearance of head writer Mike Nelson.

In 1995, an AWACS plane carrying U.S. and Canadian military personnel crashed on takeoff from Elmendorf Air Force Base near Anchorage, Alaska, killing all 24 people aboard.

In 2005, Hurricane Rita, weakened to Category 4 status, closed in on the Texas coast, sending hundreds of thousands of people fleeing on a frustratingly slow, bumper-to-bumper exodus.

In 2010, Rutgers University freshman Tyler Clementi committed suicide by jumping off the George Washington Bridge into the Hudson River after an intimate gay encounter in his dormitory room was allegedly captured by a webcam and streamed online by his roommate without his knowledge. (Dharun Ravi was convicted of invasion of privacy, bias intimidation and other counts; the conviction was overturned by the appeals court in 2016.)

In 2015, baseball player/manager/coach Yogi Berra died in West Caldwell, NJ at age 90.

 

Nearly there...

ON SEPTEMBER 23rd:

In 1779, during the Revolutionary War, the American warship Bon Homme Richard, commanded by John Paul Jones, defeated the HMS Serapis in battle off Yorkshire, England; however, the seriously damaged Bon Homme Richard sank two days later.

In 1780, British spy John Andre was captured along with papers revealing Benedict Arnold's plot to surrender West Point to the British.

In 1806, the Lewis and Clark expedition returned to St. Louis more than two years after setting out for the Pacific Northwest.

In 1845, The Knickerbocker Base Ball Club of New York was formed by Alexander Joy Cartwright. It was the first baseball team in America.

In 1846, Neptune was identified as a planet by German astronomer Johann Gottfried Galle.

In 1908, an apparent baserunning error by Fred Merkle of the New York Giants cost his team a victory against the Chicago Cubs and left the game tied 1-1. The Cubs won a rematch and with it, the National League pennant.

In 1930, singer/songwriter/musician Ray Charles was born in Albany, GA.

I am required by Article XXXII, Section I, Paragraph 12b of the New Jersey State Constitution to note that on this date in 1949, singer/songwriter/musician Bruce Springsteen was born in Long Branch, NJ.

In 1950, the radio drama series “Unshackled” premiered. Produced by Pacific Garden Mission of Chicago, it is the longest-running radio drama series in history.

In 1952, in what became known as the "Checkers" speech, Sen. Richard M. Nixon, R-Calif., salvaged his vice-presidential nomination by appearing live on television to refute allegations of improper campaign fundraising.

In 1955, a jury in Sumner, Mississippi, acquitted two white men, Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam, of murdering black teenager Emmett Till. (The two men later admitted to the crime in an interview with Look magazine.)

In 1957, nine black students who'd entered Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas were forced to withdraw because of a white mob outside.

In 1962, New York's Philharmonic Hall (later renamed Avery Fisher Hall) formally opened as the first unit of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

Also in 1962, the Hanna-Barbera cartoon series "The Jetsons," premiered as ABC-TV’s first program in color.

In 1969, the "Paul is Dead" rumor, alleging that Beatle Paul McCartney had been killed in a car accident and replaced by a lookalike, began with a story in the Illinois University newspaper with the headline, "Clues Hint At Beatle Death."

In 1970, the fact-based war drama “Tora Tora Tora” was released in the U.S.

In 1973, former Argentine president Juan Peron won a landslide election victory that returned him to power; his wife, Isabel, was elected vice president.

In 1986, the mystery series "Matlock", starring Andy Griffith, premiered on NBC-TV.

In 1994, the biopic “Ed Wood” premiered at the New York Film Festival.

In 1999, the NASA unmanned probe Mars Climate Orbiter apparently burned up as it attempted to go into orbit around the planet. Speculation that Marvin was involved in the disappearance remains unproven.

In 2002, the crime drama "CSI: Miami" premiered on CBS-TV. And the rest…(sunglasses on)…is history. YEEEEEEAAAAAAH!

In 2003, the crime drama "NCIS" premiered on CBS-TV.

In 2010, the U.S. delegation walked out of a U.N. speech by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad after he said some in the world had speculated that the U.S. staged the September 11, 2001 attacks in an attempt to assure Israel's survival.

In 2011, after a run of 41 years, the soap opera "All My Children" aired its last episode on ABC-TV.

In 2019, the British travel company Thomas Cook Group declared bankruptcy, leaving employees without jobs and 600,000 customers stranded abroad. In addition, hotels throughout the world were stuck with £338 million ($415 million) in unpaid bills.

 

Almost there...

ON SEPTEMBER 24th:

In 1869, thousands of businessmen were ruined in a Wall Street panic known as "Black Friday" after financiers Jay Gould and James Fisk attempted to corner the gold market.

In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed Devil’s Tower in Wyoming as the nation's first National Monument. Its selection as an alien landing site happened decades later.

In 1930, astronaut/aviator/engineer John W. Young was born in San Francisco. He was the first man to make six flights in NASA service (Gemini 3, Gemini 10, Apollo 10, Apollo 16, STS-1 and STS-9), one of two to fly to the Moon twice, and was the only astronaut to fly four classes of spacecraft (Gemini, Apollo CSM, Apollo LM, and the Space Shuttle).

In 1936, writer/producer/director/original Muppeteer Jim Henson was born in Greenville, MS.

In 1945, the motion picture drama "Mildred Pierce," starring Joan Crawford, opened in New York.

In 1948, Mildred Gillars, accused of being Nazi wartime radio propagandist "Axis Sally," pleaded not guilty in Washington D.C. to charges of treason. (Gillars, later convicted, ended up serving 12 years in prison.)

Also in 1948, actor/comedian/screenwriter Phil Hartman was born in Brantford, Ontario, Canada.

In 1951, actor/author/playwright David Banks was born in Hull, England. He’s well-known to Whovians for playing several ill-fated Cyberleaders.

In 1955, President Dwight D. Eisenhower suffered a heart attack while on vacation in Denver.

In 1957, the Los Angeles-bound Brooklyn Dodgers played their last game at Ebbets Field, defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-0.

Also in 1957, the song “Jailhouse Rock” by Elvis Presley was released by RCA Victor.

In 1959, Muppeteer Steve Whitmire was born in Atlanta, GA.

In 1960, the USS Enterprise, the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, was launched at Newport News, VA.

Also in 1960, "The Howdy Doody Show" ended a nearly 13-year run with its final telecast on NBC-TV.

In 1964, the cartoon series "The Bullwinkle Show", a re-titled version of “Rocky & Bullwinkle” (which aired on ABC), premiered on NBC.

Also in 1964, actress/writer/comedienne Bridget Jones Nelson was born in Sauk Rapids, MN. Her visit to the S.O.L. as Nuveena, Woman of the Future came later.

In 1968, the newsmagazine series "60 Minutes" made its debut on CBS-TV, with reporters Harry Reasoner and Mike Wallace.

Also in 1969, the “Chicago Eight” trial began in Chicago. (Facing charges in connection with events surrounding the 1968 Democratic National Convention, the group later became the “Chicago Seven” after defendant Bobby Seale had his trial severed from the others.)

In 1970, the first TV version of “The Odd Couple”, starring Tony Randall and Jack Klugman, premiered on ABC.

In 1976, former hostage Patricia Hearst was sentenced to seven years in prison for her part in a 1974 bank robbery in San Francisco carried out by the Symbionese Liberation Army. (Hearst was released after 22 months after receiving clemency from President Jimmy Carter.)

In 1979, principal photography was completed for “Star Wars: Episode V- The Empire Strikes Back”.

In 1988, Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson won the men's 100-meter dash at the Seoul Summer Olympics — but he was disqualified three days later for using anabolic steroids.

In 1991, author/illustrator Theodor Seuss Geisel, a.k.a. “Dr. Seuss”, died in San Diego at age 87.

In 1995, Israel and the PLO agreed to sign a pact at the White House ending nearly three decades of Israeli occupation of West Bank cities.

In 1996, representatives of 71 nations signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty at the U.N.

In 2007, the first series of the “Doctor Who” spin-off “The Sarah Jane Adventures” was first officially broadcast over CBBC. (The premiere episode was broadcast on BBC 1 on January 1st.)

In 2014, The Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), a Mars orbiter launched into Earth orbit by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), was successfully inserted into orbit of Mars.

In 2015, at least 1,100 people were killed and another 934 wounded after a stampede during the Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

In 2017, “The Woman Who Fell to Earth”, the premiere episode of the eleventh season of the “Doctor Who” revival, premiered at the Light Cinema in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. (Its broadcast premiere would take place on October 7th.)

 

If I may...

ON SEPTEMBER 25th:

In 1513, Spanish explorer Vasco Nunez de Balboa crossed the Isthmus of Panama and sighted the Pacific Ocean.

In 1690, one of the earliest American newspapers, “Publick Occurrences”, published its first — and last — edition in Boston.

In 1775, American Revolutionary War hero Ethan Allen was captured by the British as he led an attack on Montreal. (Allen was released by the British in 1778.)

In 1789, the U.S. Congress passed twelve amendments to the U.S. Constitution, the first ten of which would be known as the Bill of Rights.

In 1890, President Benjamin Harrison signed a measure establishing Sequoia National Park.

In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson collapsed after a speech in Pueblo, CO during a national speaking tour in support of the Treaty of Versailles.

In 1932, the Spanish region of Catalonia received a Charter of Autonomy. (However, the Charter was revoked by Francisco Franco at the end of the Spanish Civil War.)

In 1944, surviving elements of the British 1st Airborne Div. withdrew from Arnhem in the Netherlands, thus ending the Battle of Arnhem and Operation Market Garden.

In 1951, actor/voice artist/writer/producer/director Mark Hamill was born in Oakland, CA.

In 1952, actor/producer/activist Christopher Reeve was born in New York City.

In 1957, nine black students who'd been forced to withdraw from Central High School in Little Rock, AR because of unruly white crowds were escorted to class by members of the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division.

In 1959, the Hammer Horror movie “The Mummy”, starring Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, was released in the UK.

In 1961, the drama “The Hustler”, starring Paul Newman, Piper Laurie, George C. Scott and Jackie Gleason, was released in the U.S. It would premiere in New York City the following day.

In 1964, Beatles manager Brian Epstein turned down an offer from a group of U.S. businessmen to buy out his management contract with The Beatles.

In 1965, the first installment of "In Cold Blood," Truman Capote's account of the 1959 murders of the Clutter family in Holcomb, KS appeared in “The New Yorker”. (The work was published in book form the following year.)

In 1970, the musical sit-com “The Partridge Family” premiered on ABC-TV.

In 1974, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tommy John underwent an experimental graft reconstruction of the ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow of his throwing arm to repair a career-ending injury; the procedure, which proved successful, is now referred to as "Tommy John surgery."

In 1978, PSA Flight 182, a Boeing 727, collided in mid-air with a Cessna 172 and crashed into a residential neighborhood in San Diego, killing 144 people.

In 1981, Sandra Day O'Connor was sworn in as the first female justice on the Supreme Court.

In 1982, Mary A. Morgan died in Taylor, PA, following an illness. She is still missed by her family.

In 1983, thirty-eight republican prisoners, armed with six handguns, hijacked a prison meals lorry and smashed their way out of the Maze prison in Northern Ireland. It was the largest prison escape since World War II and in British history.

In 1992, NASA launched the unmanned Mars Observer space probe. (Eleven months later, it would be lost while preparing for orbital insertion.)

In 1998, it was announced that the upcoming film “Star Wars: Episode I” would be subtitled “The Phantom Menace”.

In 2018, Bill Cosby was sentenced to three to ten years in prison for aggravated sexual assault. (The conviction would be vacated in 2021 by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania on the grounds that his due process rights had been violated.)

 

If I may...

ON SEPTEMBER 26th:

In 1580, Sir Francis Drake finished his circumnavigation of the Earth.

In 1777, British troops occupied Philadelphia during the American Revolution.

In 1789, Thomas Jefferson was confirmed by the Senate to be the first United States secretary of state; John Jay, the first chief justice; Edmund Randolph, the first attorney general.

In 1892, John Philip Sousa and his newly formed band performed publicly for the first time, at the Stillman Music Hall in Plainfield, NJ.

In 1914, the Federal Trade Commission was established.

In 1918, the Meuse-Argonne offensive, resulting in an Allied victory against the Germans, began during World War I.

Also in 1918, TV host/radio personality/voice artist/Cool Ghoul John Zacherle was born in Philadelphia, PA.

In 1937, the revised version of the radio drama “The Shadow”, with the title character now portrayed as a crime fighter, premiered over the Mutual Broadcasting System. It starred Orson Welles in the title role.

In 1941, the cartoon short “Superman” was released in the U.S. It was the first of a series of Superman cartoons released by Paramount, and initially produced by Fleischer Studios.

In 1950, U.N. troops recaptured Seoul from North Korean forces.

In 1957, the original production of "West Side Story" opened on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theater.

In 1960, the first-ever debate between presidential nominees took place as Democrat John F. Kennedy and Republican Richard M. Nixon faced off before a national TV audience from Chicago.

In 1962, "The Beverly Hillbillies", a story about a man named Jed, premiered on CBS-TV.

Also in 1962, the horror movie “Carnival of Souls” premiered in Lawrence, KS.

In 1964, "Gilligan's Island", the story of the longest three-hour tour in history, premiered on CBS-TV.

In 1968, the original series “Hawaii Five-O”, starring Jack Lord, premiered on CBS-TV.

In 1969, “Abbey Road”, the last recorded album by The Beatles, was released in the UK.

In 1984, The UK and China agreed to a transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong, to take place in 1997.

In 1990, the Motion Picture Association of America announced it had created a new rating, NC-17, to replace the X rating. (The first movie to receive the new rating was "Henry & June.")

In 1991, four men and four women began a two-year stay inside a sealed-off structure in Oracle, AZ called Biosphere 2. (They emerged from Biosphere on this date in 1993.)

In 2001, the prequel spin-off “Star Trek: Enterprise” premiered on UPN.

In 2003, the BBC announced that it would produce a revived version of “Doctor Who”.

In 2016, filmmaker Herschell Gordon Lewis died in Fort Lauderdale at age 87.

In 2022, a man killed 17 people and injured 24 others in a mass shooting at a school in Izhevsk, Russia, before committing suicide.

Also in 2022, NASA's DART spacecraft successfully impacted the asteroid Dimorphos, becoming the first spacecraft to impact an asteroid.