On This Day February 1

Click each item below to learn more!

On This Day December 15

Click each item below to learn more!

History Highlights
History Highlights

1791 – Following ratification by the state of Virginia, the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, known collectively as the Bill of Rights, become the law of the land.

1939 – The motion picture classic “Gone With the Wind,” starring Clark Gable and Vivian Leigh, premieres in Atlanta. The film goes on to capture 10 Academy Awards.

1961 – Adolf Eichmann, the Nazi SS officer considered to be the architect of the Holocaust, is condemned to death by an Israeli war crimes tribunal.

1966 – Animation pioneer Walt Disney, who built an entertainment empire around a cartoon mouse, dies at the age of 65. The visionary creator of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck produced some of Hollywood’s greatest hits, conceived Disneyland and Disney World and was one of world’s most beloved storytellers. 

1973 – Jean Paul Getty III, the grandson of American billionaire J. Paul Getty, is found alive near Naples, five months after his kidnapping by an Italian gang.

1993 – “Schindler’s List,” from director Steven Spielberg, opens, starring Liam Neeson as German businessman Oskar Schindler, who saves the lives of over a thousand Jews during the Holocaust. The movie wins seven Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director.

2001 –  Italy’s iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa reopens after a team of experts spends 11 years and $27 million to fortify the historic landmark without eliminating its famous lean.

2011 – The U.S. marks the end of the war in Iraq with a low-key ceremony in Baghdad eight years after the American-led invasion of that nation. Despite the declaration, violence intensifies there over the next several years.

On this Day June 27

Click each item below to learn more!

History Highlights
History Highlights

1939 – One of the most iconic scenes in movie history is filmed. It’s Clark Gable (as Rhett Butler) and Vivien Leigh (as Scarlett O’Hara) parting in “Gone with the Wind.” Director Victor Fleming shoots an extra take of the scene using the alternate line, “Frankly, my dear, I just don’t care,” in case film censors object to the word “damn.” The censors approve the movie but fine producer David O. Selznick $5,000 for including the D-word.

1950 – Two days after communist North Korean forces invade South Korea, the United Nations Security Council approves a U.S.-sponsored resolution calling for military force to defend against the North Korean aggression. President Harry Truman dispatches air and naval troops, leading to three years of U.S. involvement in the Korean War.

1966 – “Dark Shadows,” ABC’s daytime soap opera starring vampires, werewolves and witches, premieres and runs through 1971. It is the first soap to feature the concepts of time travel and a parallel universe.

1976 –  The world’s first recorded Ebola virus epidemic begins spreading across the African nation of Sudan. By the time the epidemic is over, 284 cases are reported, with slightly more than half of the victims dying from the disease.

1976 – Members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) hijack an Air France jet en route from Athens to Paris. They divert the flight to Entebbe, Uganda, and hold the passengers hostage for a week until Israeli elite special forces stage a dramatic rescue mission.

1979 – Boxing champion Muhammad Ali holds a press conference in Los Angeles to announce his retirement, however he returns to the ring two years later.

1988 – Heavyweight champion Mike Tyson knocks out challenger Michael Spinks 91 seconds into the first round. The decisive victory leaves the boxing world wondering if anyone can beat “Iron Mike” Tyson.

Musical Milestones
Musical Milestones

1964 – “A World Without Love,” by Peter and Gordon, begins a week as the No. 1 single. The song was written by Beatles legend Paul McCartney when he was just 16, but is credited as a Lennon-McCartney composition.

1970 – The Jackson 5 kick off two weeks on top of the singles chart with “The Love You Save.” It’s the band’s third of four consecutive chart-topping tracks from the “ABC” album. The others were “I Want You Back,” “ABC” and “I’ll Be There.”

1975 – Entertainers Sonny Bono and Cher finalize their divorce, ending a 10-year marriage. Four days later, Cher weds musician Gregg Allman.

1987 – Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” is the hottest song on the radio. The track remains at No. 1 for two weeks and goes on to capture a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

1992 – “I’ll Be There,” by Mariah Carey featuring Trey Lorenz, begins its second and final week as a No. 1 single. It’s their cover of the 1970 Jackson 5 hit.

1994 – Aerosmith becomes the first major band to let fans download a full new track free from the Internet. More than 10 thousand CompuServe subscribers download the song “Head First” during the first eight days it’s available.

1998 – “The Boy Is Mine,” by Brandy & Monica, is in the middle of a 13-week run on top of the Billboard Hot 100.

2009 – The Black Eyed Peas dominate the pop chart for an 11th week with “Boom Boom Pow.” The single remain at No. 1 for one more week.