Wednesday, January 24, 2024

This Date in History - January 24

 

Happy birthday to Mary Lou Retton.   Recently in the news because she almost just died.  

AD 41:  ROMAN EMPEROR CALIGULA, KNOWN FOR HIS SADISTIC DESPOTISM, IS ASSASSINATED BY HIS DISGRUNTLED GUARDS.

If he lived in Hollywood these days, his latest film would be pulled.

1438:  THE COUNCIL OF BASEL SUSPENDS POPE EUGENE IV.

Without pay?

1679:  KING CHARLES II OF ENGLAND DISSOLVES THE CAVALIER PARLIAMENT.

In water.

1758:  DURING THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR, THE LEADING BURGHERS OF KONIGSBERG SUBMIT TO ELIZABETH OF RUSSIA, THUS FORMING PRUSSIA.

Elizabeth always liked a good burgher.

1835:  SLAVES IN BRAZIL STATE A REVOLT, WHICH IS INSTRUMENTAL IN ENDING SLAVERY THERE 50 YEARS LATER.

Which was only 20 years ahead of us.

1848:  JAMES MARSHALL FINDS GOLD AT SUTTER'S MILL NEAR SACRAMENTO.

Thar's gold in dem thar hills.

1857:  THE UNIVERSITY OF CALCUTTA IS FOUNDED IN EAST ASIA.

I bet there's a 7/11 on campus.

1908:  THE FIRST BOY SCOUT TROOP IS ORGANIZED IN ENGLAND BY ROBERT BADEN-POWELL.

And I bet there are some who thought he was a pretty creepy guy.

1916:  IN BRUSHABER VS. UNION PACIFIC, THE US SUPREME COURT DECLARES THE FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSTITUTIONAL.

Bastards.

1917:  ACTOR ERNEST BORGNINE IS BORN.

Let's celebrate.   Whaddaya wanna do, Marty?

1933:  THE 20TH AMENDMENT TO THE US CONSTITUTION IS RATIFIED, CHANGING THE BEGINNING AND END OF TERMS FOR ALL ELECTED FEDERAL OFFICES.

This is a good thing?

1941:  SINGER NEIL DIAMOND IS BORN.

I'd celebrate but he introduced us to the song "Sweet Caroline" so...no.   And, no, I am not retracting that joke because of his admission of Parkinson's.

1943:  ACTRESS SHARON TATE IS BORN.

Poor kid.

1943:  FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT AND WINSTON CHURCHILL CONCLUDE A CONFERENCE IN CASABLANCA.

Play it again, Sam.   Little does Winston know that, on this date 22 years later....well, read on.

1949:  ACTOR JOHN BELUSHI IS BORN.

What a waste of talent.

1960:  ALGERIAN WAR - SOME UNITS OF EUROPEAN VOLUNTEERS IN ALGIERS STAGE AN INSURRECTION KNOWN AS THE "BARRICADES WEEK," DURING WHICH THEY SEIZE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.

So just a regular day.

1965:  WINSTON CHURCHILL DIES.

See!

1968:  GYMNAST MARY LOU RETTON IS BORN.

9.2, 9.3, 9.5.

1972:  JAPANESE SGT. SHOICHI YOKOI IS FOUND HIDING IN A GUAM JUNGLE, WHERE HE HAD BEEN SINCE THE END OF WORLD WAR II.

Gee, I hope he stopped his newspaper.

1975:  STOOGE LARRY FINE DIES.

Why I oughta!

1983:  DIRECTOR GEORGE CUKOR DIES.

In Hollywood, he made a lot of movies.   And a lot of young guys, too.

1984:  APPLE COMPUTER PLACES THE MACINTOSH PC ON SALE IN THE US.

Nobody will buy it.

1986:  RELIGIOUS LEADER L. RON HUBBARD DIES.

L as in Lunatic.

1986:  SINGER GORDON MACRAE DIES.

No liver transplant would save him.

1989:  SERIAL KILLER TED BUNDY DIES.

What goes around...

1993:  LAWYER THURGOOD MARSHALL DIES.

So the black robe is fitting today.

2003:  THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY BEGINS OPERATION.

Please remove your shoes.

2010:  ACTOR PERNELL ROBERTS DIES.

The Cartwright brother nobody liked.

2015:  TV HOST JOE FRANKLIN DIES.

No more memories in that lane.

2021:  TV HOST SONNY FOX DIES.

Deatharama.

2023:  ACTOR LANCE KERWIN DIES.

James at...never mind.

Dinner last night:  Roast beef and German potato salad at the NY abode.

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