Wednesday, December 8, 2021

This Date in History - December 8

 

Yes, it's that December the 8th.  A bad night to linger outside the Dakota Apartments in New York.

1660:  MARGARET HUGHES BECOMES THE FIRST ACTRESS TO APPEAR ON AN ENGLISH PUBLIC STAGE, PLAYING THE ROLE OF DESDEMONA IN A PRODUCTION OF SHAKESPEARE'S OTHELLO.

The role was fairly strenuous so some guy did the part for Wednesday and Saturday matinees.

1854:  POPE PIUS IX PROCLAIMS THE DOGMA OF IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, WHICH HOLDS THAT THE VIRGIN MARY WAS BORN FREE OF ORIGINAL SIN.

Frankly, I've never bought into the notion that Joseph could keep his hands off her.

1894:  POPEYE CARTOONIST/CREATOR E.C. SEGAR IS BORN.

Well, blow me down.

1925:  SAMMY DAVIS JR. IS BORN.

Screw Michael Jackson.  This guy was the bigger talent.  And he never touched a ten-year-old boy.

1933:  COMEDIAN FLIP WILSON IS BORN.

So this is a double hit since we also get Geraldine on the same day.

1937:  ACTOR JAMES MACARTHUR IS BORN.

Book 'em, Dan-o.

1941:  THE DAY AFTER PEARL HARBOR, THE UNITED STATES DECLARES WAR ON JAPAN.

It was about friggin' time.  And we are long overdue to do it again.

1949:  THE CAPITAL OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA IS MOVED FROM NANJING TO TAIPEI, TAIWAN.

Years later, it was moved again to Hartsdale, New York.

1963:  PAN AM FLIGHT 214, A BOEING 707, IS STRUCK BY POSITIVE LIGHTNING AND CRASHES NEAR ELKTON, MARYLAND, KILLING ALL 81 PEOPLE ON BOARD.

When is being struck by lightning ever positive???

1964:  ACTRESS TERI HATCHER IS BORN.

One of those people I've run into about five or six times.  At a restaurant, on the popcorn line at the Arclight, and screaming at her kid in Tower Records.

1972:  UNITED AIRLINES FLIGHT 553 CRASHES AFTER ABORTING ITS LANDING ATTEMPT AT CHICAGO MIDWAY AIRPORT, KILLING 45.

December 8 is obviously not a good day to fly.  

1978:  PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL GOLDA MEIR DIES.

Say what you want, this gal really knew how to wear the hell out of a simple black dress.

1980:  JOHN LENNON IS SHOT BY MARK DAVID CHAPMAN.

Also, December 8 is obviously not a good day to take a taxicab in Manhattan either.

1980:  JOHN LENNON DIES.

For those of you hopelessly incapable of connecting the dots.

1987: THE ALIANZA LIMA AIR DISASTER OCCURS.

Jeez!  Stewardess, I'd like to get off now.

1998:  THE AUSTRALIAN CRICKET BOARD'S COVER-UP OF SHANE WARNE AND MARK WAUGH'S INVOLVEMENT WITH BOOKMAKERS IS REVEALED.

And, just like Pete Rose, Warne and Waugh are not eligible for the Cricket Hall of Fame.

1998:  EIGHTY-ONE PEOPLE ARE KILLED BY ARMED GROUPS IN ALGERIA.

Following the trend of the date, my guess is that this happened at an airport.

2009:  BOMBINGS IN BAGHDAD, IRAQ KILL 127 AND INJURE 448.

One bloody day in history, this December the 8th.

2016:  ASTRONAUT/POLITICIAN JOHN GLENN DIES.

Now orbiting...forever.

2019:  FIRST CONFIRMED CASE OF COVID-19 IN CHINA.

Yes....CHINA!  There!  I said it.

2019:  PUPPETEER CARROLL SPINNEY DIES.

Big Dead Bird.

Dinner last night:  Leftover chili.

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