Wednesday, September 25, 2013

This Date in History - September 25

Happy birthday, Mark Hamill.  May the Force be with you.

275:  IN ROME, AFTER THE ASSASSINATION OF AURELIAN, THE SENATE PROCLAIMS MARCUS CLAUDIUS TACITUS EMPEROR.

After reading about these ruler changes in Rome week in and week out, I'm beginning to think they have the right idea.

1513:  SPANISH EXPLORER VASCO DE BALBOA REACHES WHAT WOULD BECOME KNOWN AS THE PACIFIC OCEAN.

Hence the beach and the boulevard.

1690:  PUBLICK OCCURRENCES, THE FIRST NEWSPAPER TO APPEAR IN THE AMERICAS, IS PUBLISHED FOR THE FIRST AND ONLY TIME.

Maybe it would have lasted longer if somebody had bothered to run the title through spell check.

1775:  ETHAN ALLEN SURRENDERS TO BRITISH FORCES AFTER ATTEMPTING TO CAPTURE MONTREAL.

And re-design their living rooms.

1789:  THE US CONGRESS PASSES TWELVE AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.

Back in the days where the Constitution was changed according to the country's bylaws.  It's not like that anymore.

1846:  US FORCES LED BY ZACHARY TAYLOR CAPTURE THE MEXICAN CITY OF MONTERREY.

Visiting soldiers, please don't drink the water.

1849:  COMPOSER JOHANN STRAUSS DIES.

Leaving Mr. Levi to sew up those pants all by himself.

1890:  THE US CONGRESS ESTABLISHES SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK.

Solely for those folks who like trees.

1911:  GROUND IS BROKEN FOR FENWAY PARK IN BOSTON.

And, for years, the Boston Red Sox were also broken.

1912:  COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM IS FOUNDED IN NEW YORK CITY.

Back when we actually had journalists.

1915:  DURING WORLD WAR I, THE SECOND BATTLE OF CHAMPAGNE BEGINS.

Or as Curly would say, "champagknee."

1917:  BASEBALL STAR PHIL RIZZUTO IS BORN.

Holy cow!

1917:  BASEBALL STAR JOHNNY SAIN IS BORN.

Move over, Scooter.

1929:  JIMMY DOOLITTLE PERFORMS THE FIRST BLIND FLIGHT FROM MITCHEL FIELD PROVING THAT FULL INSTRUMENT FLYING FROM TAKEOFF TO LANDING IS POSSIBLE.

Tell that to John Kennedy Jr..

1929:  BROADCASTER BARBARA WALTERS IS BORN.

Now 84.  And she looks every day of it.

1944:  ACTOR MICHAEL DOUGLAS IS BORN.

I'm Spartacus Junior.

1951:  ACTOR MARK HAMILL IS BORN.

Now that I've mentioned Star Wars in this blog, I'll get lots of Google hits.

1957:  CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL IN LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS IS INTEGRATED BY THE USE OF US ARMY TROOPS.

Well, that's one way.

1960:  AUTHOR EMILY POST DIES.

The coffin goes on the right, next to the spoon.

1969:  THE CHARTER ESTABLISHING THE ORGANIZATION OF ISLAMIC COOPERATION IS SIGNED.

Now that's funny!!

1974:  THE FIRST ULNAR COLLATERAL LIGAMENT REPLACEMENT SURGERY IS PERFORMED ON BASEBALL PLAYER TOMMY JOHN.  THIS BECOMES WHAT IS NOW KNOWN AS TOMMY JOHN SURGERY.

Gee, how did they think of that??

1977:  ABOUT 4,200 PEOPLE TAKE PART IN THE FIRST RUNNING OF THE CHICAGO MARATHON.

If you're on the south side of Chicago, you're not running.  You're probably being chased.

1981:  BELIZE JOINS THE UNITED NATIONS.

Because what would a Wednesday be without one of these admissions??

1984:  ACTOR WALTER PIDGEON DIES.

Flown the coop.

1987:  ACTRESS MARY ASTOR DIES.

The Maltese Falcon!!!!

1988:  BUSINESSMAN BILLY CARTER DIES.

Drunker brother to the President.  An embarrassment of an embarassment.

1991:  GERMAN SS CAPTAIN KLAUS BARBIE DIES.

Oh, my God.  Please notify Captain Ken and Lieutenant Skipper.

1992:  NASA LAUNCHES THE MARS OBSERVER IN THE FIRST MISSION TO THAT PLANET.

Technical advisor: Ray Walston.

2003:  AUTHOR GEORGE PLIMPTON DIES.

Paper Corpse.

2005:  ACTOR DON ADAMS DIES.

Would you believe....?

2012:  SINGER ANDY WILLIAMS DIES.

Please cancel Christmas.

Dinner last night:  Beef in wine and mushroom sauce, potatoes, and broccoli.




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