Wednesday, January 15, 2020

This Date in History - January 15

Happy birthday to Margaret O'Brien.  Whatever Judy tells you, don't take the green pills in her hand.

69:  OTHO SEIZES POWER IN ROME, PROCLAIMING HIMSELF EMPEROR OF ROME, BUT RULES FOR ONLY THREE MONTHS BEFORE COMMITTING SUICIDE.

So, Otho, it wasn't what you thought, heh?

1493:  CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS SETS SAIL FOR SPAIN, ENDING HIS TRIP TO THE NEW WORLD.

That must have racked up some hotel bill.

1559:  ELIZABETH I IS CROWNED QUEEN OF ENGLAND IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY OF LONDON.

Elizabeth the Originator.

1759:  THE BRITISH MUSEUM OPENS.

Finally giving British school children some place to go on a field trip.

1777:  DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, NEW CONNECTICUT DECLARES ITS INDEPENDENCE.   IT LATER BECOMES VERMONT.

And Old Connecticut can now just be regular Connecticut.

1782:  SUPERINTENDENT OF FINANCE ROBERT MORRIS GOES BEFORE THE US CONGRESS TO RECOMMEND ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL MINT AND COINAGE.

So this is the idiot who invented the penny???

1822:  DURING THE GREEK WAR OF INDEPENDENCE, DEMETRIOS YPSILANTIS IS ELECTED PRESIDENT.

And later opens up a diner on Northern Boulevard in Queens.

1844:  THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME RECEIVES ITS CHARTER FROM THE STATE OF INDIANA.

Regis Philbin was there for the signing.

1870:  A POLITICAL CARTOON FOR THE FIRST TIME SYMBOLIZES THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WITH A DONKEY.

And they remain jackasses to this day.

1889:  THE COCA COLA COMPANY IS INCORPORATED IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

The incorporation that refreshes.

1892:  JAMES NAISMITH PUBLISHES THE RULES OF BASKETBALL.

There are rules??

1908:  THE ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY BECOMES THE FIRST GREEK LETTER ORGANIZATION FOUNDED BY AFRICAN AMERICAN COLLEGE WOMEN.

I have five different jokes.   Please e-mail me privately for specifics.

1909:  DRUMMER GENE KRUPA IS BORN.

Hey, knock off that racket!!

1913:  ACTOR LLOYD BRIDGES IS BORN.

I guess I picked the wrong day to come down a birth canal.

1919:  A LARGE MOLASSES TANK IN BOSTON EXPLODES AND A WAVE OF MOLASSES RUSHES THROUGH THE STREET, KILLING 21 PEOPLE.

Who apparently were slower than to get out of the way.

1927:  ACTRESS PHYLLIS COATES IS BORN.

The other Lois Lane.

1929:  ACTIVIST MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. IS BORN.

And now everybody has a Monday off in January.

1937:  ACTRESS MARGARET O'BRIEN IS BORN.

Meet us at the fair.

1943:  THE PENTAGON IS DEDICATED IN ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA.

It was the world's largest office building.  Amazing for a place that is not a skycraper.

1947:  THE BRUTALIZED CORPSE OF ELIZABETH SHORT (THE BLACK DAHLIA) IS FOUND IN LOS ANGELES.

Paging Lt. Columbo....

1962:  THE DERVENI PAPYRUS, EUROPE'S OLDEST SURVIVING MANUSCRIPT, IS FOUND IN NORTHERN GREECE.

Now that's something to sell on E-bay.

1967:  THE FIRST SUPER BOWL IS PLAYED IN LOS ANGELES.  THE GREEN BAY PACKERS DEFEAT THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS, 35-10.

Back then, there was absolutely no pre-game hype.

1970:  MOAMMAR GADHAFI IS PROCLAIMED PREMIER OF LIBYA.

If they insist...

1973:  CITING PROGRESS IN PEACE NEGOTIATIONS, PRESIDENT RICHARD NIXON ANNOUNCES THE SUSPENSION OF OFFENSIVE ACTION IN NORTH VIETNAM.

As if the offense was doing any good.

1976:  GERALD FORD'S WOULD-BE ASSASSIN, SARA JANE MOORE, IS SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON.

That's one off the streets.

1987: ACTOR RAY BOLGER DIES.

The last straw.

2001:  WIKIPEDIA GOES ONLINE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

Thank God.  Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to do these Wednesday historical pieces.

2005:  ACTRESS RUTH WARRICK DIES.

All My Corpses.

2009:  US AIRWAYS FLIGHT 1549 MAKES AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN THE HUDSON RIVER.   EVERYBODY SURVIVES.

To this day, Sully is still the ultimate hero.

2019:  ACTRESS CAROL CHANNING DIES.

Goodbye, Dolly.

Dinner last night:  Leftover meat loaf.

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