This Date in History - January 31

 

Happy birthday to Nolan Ryan.  I had to dig deep to find a photo of him in a Met uniform.   Where he should have stayed.

314:  POPE SYLVESTER I SUCCEEDS POPE MILTIADES.

This is not going to make Tweety happy.

1606:  GUNPOWDER PLOT - GUY FAWKES IS EXECUTED FOR PLOTTING AGAINST PARLIAMENT AND KING JAMES.

What a Guy.

1747:  THE FIRST VENEREAL DISEASE CLINIC OPENS IN LONDON.

Hey now.

1801:  JOHN MARSHALL IS APPOINTED THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE US.

Back when these judges actually were independent thinkers.

1846:  AFTER THE MILWAUKEE BRIDE WAR, JUNEAUTOWN AND KILBOURNTOWN UNIFY AS THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE.

Good, because it would be tough to fit Juneautown and Kilbourntown Brewers on a uniform jersey.

1849:  CORN LAWS ARE ABOLISHED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.

So, no Hee Haw on the BBC?

1862:  ALVAIN GRAHAM CLARK DISCOVERS THE WHITE DWARF STAR SIRIUS B THROUGH A TELESCOPE AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY.

Insert your favorite satellite radio joke here.

1865:  AMERICAN CIVIL WAR - THE US CONGRESS PASSES THE THIRTEENTH AMENDMENT TO THE US CONSTITUTION, ABOLISHING SLAVERY.

So almost 160 years later why the hell are we still arguing about this???

1865:  CONFEDERATE GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE BECOMES GENERAL-IN-CHIEF.

Don't get too comfortable in that saddle.

1902:  ACTRESS TALLULAH BANKHEAD IS BORN.

With a voice like that, you know she had a pack of Pall Malls in her purse.

1915:  TV PERSONALITY GARRY MOORE IS BORN.

King of the Crewcuts.

1917:  WORLD WAR I - GERMANY ANNOUNCES THAT ITS U-BOATS WILL RESUME UNRESTRICTED SUBMARINE WARFARE.

In 2024, this is the set-up for an X-Box game.

1918:  A SERIES OF ACCIDENTAL COLLISIONS ON A MISTY SCOTTISH NIGHT LEADERS TO THE LOSS OF TWO ROYAL NAVY SUBMARINES AND DAMAGE TO ANOTHER FIVE BRITISH WARSHIPS.

Did you get the license plate of that warship?

1921:  ACTRESS CAROL CHANNING IS BORN.

And hung up her big hat in 2019.  Goodbye, Dolly.

1922:  ACTRESS JOANNE DRU IS BORN.

The only thing I know about her is she was Peter Marshall's sister.

1930:  3M BEGINS MARKETING SCOTCH TAPE.

How did they wrap Christmas presents before this?

1931:  BASEBALL STAR ERNIE BANKS IS BORN.

Didn't live to see the Cubs win the World Series.

1937:  ACTRESS SUZANNE PLESHETTE IS BORN.

With that voice, you knew she had three packs of Pall Malls in her purse.

1945:  US ARMY PRIVATE EDDIE SLOVIK IS EXECUTED FOR DESERTION, THE FIRST SUCH EXECUTION OF AN AMERICAN SOLDIER SINCE THE CIVIL WAR.  

Sharing this day with Guy Fawkes.

1946:  THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM INTRODUCES THE DONG.

I have no clue but it sounds funny.

1947:  BASEBALL STAR NOLAN RYAN IS BORN.

I remember his wife was really hot back in the day.

1949:  THESE ARE MY CHILDREN, THE FIRST TELEVISION DAYTIME SOAP OPERA, IS BROADCAST BY NBC.

As opposed to All My Children which debuted on ABC in 1970.

1950:  US PRESIDENT HARRY TRUMAN ANNOUNCES A PROGRAM TO DEVELOP THE HYDROGEN BOMB.

Give 'em hell.

1956:  AUTHOR A.A. MILNE DIES.

No more honey jars for you.

1961:  PROJECT MERCURY SPACE PROGRAM:  HAM THE CHIMP TRAVELS INTO OUTER SPACE.

Do you want cheese with that?

1968:  VIET CONG GUERRILLAS ATTACK THE US EMBASSY IN SAIGON.  THIS IS CALLED THE TET OFFENSIVE.

And pretty offensive at that.

1971:  THE WINTER SOLDIER INVESTIGATION, ORGANIZED BY THE VIETNAM VETERANS AGAINST THE WAR TO PUBLICIZE WAR CRIMES AND ATROCITIES BY AMERICANS IN VIETNAM, BEGINS IN DETROIT.

That war was truly a mess.

1974:  PRODUCER SAMUEL GOLDWYN DIES.

The G between two Ms.

2006:  ACTRESS MOIRA SHEARER DIES.

You don't need those red shoes now.

Dinner last night:   Chicken lo mein.