| Columbus claimed Hispaniola in 1492, declaring it (Isla Espanola,) "the most beautiful island in the world." It later became the major launching base for the Spanish conquest of the Caribbean, as well as the American mainland. The Spaniards settled first on the island of Hispaniola and later moved on to Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica, forcing the Tainos to mine for gold. |  |
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| After weeks of scouting for a suitable settlement area, the Mayflower's passengers finally landed at Plymouth on Dec. 26, 1620. Although the Mayflower's captain and part-owner, Christopher Jones, had threatened to leave the Pilgrims unless they quickly found a place to land, the ship remained at Plymouth during the first terrible winter of 1620-21, when half of the colonists died. The Mayflower left Plymouth on Apr. 15, 1621, and arrived back in England on May 16. |
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| By the fall of 1848, official reports and samples of the gold submitted by California’s Governor reached Washington, D.C. With this evidence, President James K. Polk announced the discovery in his annual address to Congress, stimulating thousands of Americans to make plans to set out for California to seek their fortunes. Whether by sea (at first around Cape Horn, and later across the Isthmus of Panama) or overland (after spring snow melt and before winter storms made the Sierra impassible), the arduous journeys demanded considerable energy and expense. Most travel would take five or six months. |
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| In 1854, three samples of the first wood pulp paper made in the U.S. was shown to the editor of the Buffalo, New York, newspaper Democrat, by its maker John Beardsley. He used basswood, a tree of the linden family. This quickly replaced the other forms of paper-making materials then in use, including grasses, rag and flax. The process had the advantage of increased speed and productivity. |
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| In 1878, for the first time in America, electric lighting was installed in a store at the Grand Depot, owned by John Wanamaker. Eight dynamos provided the electrical power to run 28 arc lamps. |
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| Determined to break down the United States color barrier that prohibited him from fighting the white heavyweights, Johnson earned an international reputation that eventually led to a match with Australian boxer, Tommy Burns. On December 26, 1908, to the world’s amazement, Johnson won the world heavyweight title. In 1913, Johnson was arrested and convicted under the Mann Act. Before he was sentenced, Johnson left the United States and went to France. He returned to boxing in 1915, when he fought and lost his heavyweight title to white boxer, Jess Willard in Havana, Cuba. |
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| The Interstate Commerce Commission recommended federal control of the railroad industry to ensure efficient operation. The resulting efficiencies were to go beyond simply easing the congestion and expediting the flow of goods; they were to bring all parties, management, labor, investors, and shippers, together in a harmonious whole working on behalf of the national interest. On December 26, 1917, President Wilson used the Federal Possession and Control Act to nationalize the vast majority of US railroads. |
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| In 1919, Ruth pitched in only 17 games. Playing regularly in the outfield, he captured the home run title again with 29 roundtrippers. This set a new season record. Ruth’s pitching and hitting earned him the devotion of Boston fans. After the season Red Sox owner Harry Frazee sold Ruth’s contract to the Yankees to cover financial losses sustained in other business ventures (including a failed Broadway show). The Yankees paid more than $400,000 in cash and loans (much more than the price of a whole franchise at that time). |
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| "Baby" Frances made her stage debut at the age of 2 1/2 years old at her father's movie house/theater "The New Grand Theater." "Baby" sang "Jingle Bells" and was so enthusiastically received that she had to literally be carried off the stage. Judy would later remark that this was the beginning of her love affair with audiences. Judy's parents were small time Vaudevillians who had settled in Grand Rapids to start a family, and they and their daughters would perform almost nightly in between showings of the current films. |
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| Following the 1928 Olympic games, Johnny went to Japan to compete. Through a former rival, Katsuo Takaishi, he and Bachrach learned that the Japanese were planning to increase their chances by using very cold water. Bachrach had Johnny sit in a tub filled with ice water until he was accustomed to it. He subsequently won every event. Later he was invited to become head coach of the Japanese Olympic team, but he declined, partly because of his sense of patriotism, partly because he did not approve of the tactics used by the Japanese towards their swimmers. "Tarzan, the Ape Man" was released in 1932. A big-budgeted film, it made Johnny an overnight film sensation. |
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| By George and Ira Gershwin, "Of Thee I Sing" was the musical centerpiece for the 1931 Pulitzer Prize-winning production of the same name. Scripted by George S. Kaufmanand Morrie Ryskind, “Of Thee I Sing” opened on Broadway's Music Box Theatre on December 26, 1931 and ran for 441 performances. |  |
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| Armstrong found that a single FM carrier wave could transmit two radio programs at once, a telegraph message and a facsimile of the front page of The New York Times. He'd discovered multiplexing. During World War II, Armstrong did important research on long range radar for the War Department and gave his FM patents to the military for no fee, an important gift, once the U.S. commanders realized that the German army traveled on AM, which they could easily jam. FM was unjammable. |
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| Yomiuri Shimbun owner Matsutaro Shoriki founded the Great Japan Tokyo Baseball Club, which he renamed the Tokyo Kyojin (Giants) the following year. Organized in 1936, the Japan Professional League was formed, including the Giants and six new teams: Osaka Tigers, Hankyu, Dai Tokyo, Nagoya Kinko, Nagoya and the Tokyo Senators. Most of these ball clubs were sponsored by either newspapers (Yomiuri) hoping to boost their circulation or train lines (the Tigers and Hankyu) seeking to increase travel on their lines to their team's home ballpark. |
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| The best known 'blues` in the world was initially turned down by every publisher Handy approached. He was finally forced to publish it himself which he did in September of 1914 with the help of his former song writing partner, Harry Pace. In 1939, the song made it to the big screen again when Raoul Walsh directed "St. Louis Blues," a musical set on a Mississippi showboat. The plot did not relate to the song, but "St. Louis Blues" was sung as one of the numbers. Featured artists included jazz singer Maxine Sullivan and composer/singer/actor Hoagy Carmichael. |
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| "My Sister Eileen" is the name of several works based on short stories by Ruth McKenney about her adventures in Greenwich Village with her sister, Eileen McKenney. The stories were adapted by Joseph Fields and Jerome Chodorov into a play, "My Sister Eileen," which ran on Broadway from 1940 - 1943. |  |
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| Less than three weeks after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and as German submarines appeared off the coast of California, Churchill had arrived in Washington to begin coordinating military strategy with the president and leaders of Congress. He grimly predicted that Allied forces would require at least 18 months to turn the tide of war and warned that "many disappointments and unpleasant surprises await us." |
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| In the weeks leading up to the premiere in Chicago, Williams had deep doubts about the production. The theater did not expect the play to last more than a few nights, and the producers prepared a closing notice in response to the weak initial ticket sales. But two critics loved the show, gave the play enthusiastic reviews, and continued to praise it daily in their respective papers. By mid-January, it was selling out. |  |
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| With music by Duke Ellington, what more could you ask for? "Beggar's Holiday" was partly based on a book by John La Touche and "The Beggar's Opera" by John Gay. |  |
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| New York City had its all-time record snow with 25.8 inches at the Battery and 26.8 in Central Park. 32 inches fell in the suburbs. White Plains had 6 inches in one hour with 19 inches in just 6 hours. 27 died and snow removal alone cost $8 million. It became the worst snowstorm in the city’s history, surpassing the snowfall totals from the Blizzard of 1888, which had 22 inches of the white stuff. |  |
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| In July 1955, Hughes sold his RKO holdings to the General Tire and Rubber Company, bringing to a close his sporadic but memorable run as recalcitrant independent producer and eccentric studio tycoon. General Tire, interested primarily in the RKO film library, decided to sell the studio lot in November 1957 to Desilu Productions. The sale reverberated throughout the industry as a symbol of the changing complexion of Hollywood brought by the independent filmmakers of the new television age. |
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| Guy's first number one hit, "Singing The Blues," came in 1956 and was the first of six singles in the rock era to have a nine week run at number one. Elvis Presley's "Too Much" ended the nine week streak. In 1959 Guy had his second number one hit "Heartaches By The Number." |  |
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| "Do re mi" is about a shady, if loveable, character named Hubie who dreams of making it big in the recording industry but is never able. It starred Nancy Walker, Phil Silvers, John Reardon, and Nancy Dussault. |  |
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| These were the first Beatles song to catch on in America. In 1963, the Beatles became stars in England, but couldn't break through in the US. They couldn't get a major label to distribute their singles in America, so songs like "Love Me Do" and "She Loves You" were issued on small labels and flopped, even though they were hits in England. By February 1964, America finally took notice of The Beatles and bought this single in droves, giving them their first US hit. It sold better in first 10 days of release in the US than any other British single. |
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| The Beatles taped this for an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show that aired September 12, 1965. They had returned to America to play their famous Shea stadium concert. It was their last appearance on the show. |  |
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| After countless alterations, a revolving door of writers and directors, crazed tryouts, and an opening night that was delayed five times, Funny Girl turned out to be an unadulterated smash. Composer Jule Styne, at the peak of his brassy powers, custom-fitted the show to its star, Barbra Streisand, and she ran away with it. Streisand's delivery of "People" still sends a chill down the spine. |  |
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| Magical Mystery Tour was sold to the BBC and shown on Boxing Day (26th December) 1967. 15 million viewers tuned in. The Daily Express called it "blatant rubbish", the Los Angeles Times announced "Beatles bomb", other newspapers used phrases like 'contemptuous nonsense' and a million dollar TV deal with NBC was cancelled. In its wake the BBC banned I Am The Walrus for "indecent lyrics." |  |
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| In 1967, a patent was issued to the Wham-O Mfg. Co. for their improvement of the Frisbee - an "aerodynamic toy to be thrown through the air ... in throwing games." The name began when William Russel Frisbie founded the "Frisbie Pie Company" in (1895). In 1948 the innovator Fred Morrison saw the students working there tossing empty pie forms to each other in their lunch break. |  |
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| Harrison claimed he got the idea for this from The Edwin Hawkins Singers' "Oh Happy Day," not The Chiffons' "He's So Fine." This was recorded at Abbey Road studios using the same equipment The Beatles used. There were some familiar faces at the sessions who had contributed to Beatles albums, including John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Billy Preston and Eric Clapton. Bobby Whitlock was friends with Harrison and Clapton, and played keyboards on the album. |
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| "The Exorcist", starring Linda Blair is the sensational, shocking horror story about devil possession and the exorcism of the demonic spirits from a young, innocent girl. The controversial nature of the film's content - exorcism, was supposedly based upon an authentic, nearly two-month long exorcism performed in 1949 on a 14-year old boy in Mt. Rainier, Maryland by the Catholic Church. |  |
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| Tupolev-144, the first passenger supersonic jet (SST) made its first commercial flight in airline service from Moscow to Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan. Although it could carry up to 140 passengers, it was so loud that it was put into service delivering not passengers, but mail between Moscow and Alma-Ata. Passenger service began on Nov, 1, 1977 on the same Moscow to Alma-Ata route. Plagued with chronic mechanical problems, the service ended June 1, 1978 after 102 flights. The first disastrous crash had occurred at the prestigious Paris air show on June 3, 1973 killing all six crew on board, and eight persons on the ground. Aeroflot ceased flying the Tupolev-144 SST airplanes on June 6, 1978. |
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| At the time of Bon Scott's death the band already started working on their next album. They decided to start from scratch with new singer Brian Johnson. In record time the band released "Back In Black", an album titled to reflect Scott's loss. It went on to sell 42 million copies worldwide! For the next few years the band dominated the world and with 1981's "For Those About To Rock We Salute You" they topped the US charts once again. |
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| Songwriters Steve Kipner and Terry Shaddick came up with this song. Instead of writing about the emotions of love, they decided to write this about the physical side, which many listeners found very refreshing in a pop song. It was #1 in the US for 10 weeks. The only song to that point that stayed at #1 longer was Elvis Presley's "Hound Dog." |  |
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| The Man of the Year in Time magazine was a non-human for the first time. A computer received the honour as 1982's "greatest influence for good or evil." The article recognized that, "By itself, the personal computer is a machine with formidable capabilities for tabulating, modeling or recording." |  |
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| House Speaker Tip O’Neill was selected to receive the J. Fred Muggs Award, given by "TV Guide" for TV goofs and blunders. The Speaker of the House earned the uncoveted prize when he ordered cameras from CSPAN to pan the almost empty House of Representatives while Republicans were making rip-roaring speeches. J. Fred Muggs? He was a monkey on the early Today show. |  |
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| “Search for Tomorrow” was a soap opera which started airing on Monday, September 3, 1951. The show was moved from CBS, its original broadcaster, on Friday, March 26, 1982, with NBC picking it up on the following Monday, March 29, 1982. It continued on NBC until the final episode was aired on Friday, December 26, 1986. |  |
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| When he came to Washington, Jarvis brought along a streak of 560 consecutive games played. While he was still with the Canadiens, St. Louis’s Garry Unger established the new league standard at 914 consecutive games played. When he finished his third season in Washington, Jarvis’ streak stood at 800 games. In 10 NHL seasons, he had not missed a single game. Early in the 1985-86 season, the Capitals dealt Jarvis to the Whalers. Early in the 1986-87 campaign, he passed Unger. He earned the Masterton Trophy that season, awarded annually for perseverance and dedication to hockey. He appeared in 964 NHL contests without missing a single game. |
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| This was Michael's first solo album, and second single as a solo artist. He was previously a member of the Pop duo Wham!, and was trying to change his image so he would appeal to a more adult audience and be taken seriously as an artist. The album won the Grammy for Album Of The Year. |  |
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| The Senior Professional Baseball Association was a winter baseball league based in Florida for players age 35 and over (with a minimum age of 32 for catchers). The league began play in 1989 and had eight teams in two divisions and a 72 game schedule. Pitchers Rollie Fingers, Fergie Jenkins, and Vida Blue, outfielder Dave Kingman, and manager Earl Weaver were the league's marquee names, and former big league outfielder Curt Flood was the circuit's first Commissioner. |
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| In 1992, the gun used in the killing was placed on auction in New York City. The .38-caliber Colt Cobra revolver, originally purchased for $62.50 sold for $200,000 to bidder Frank Roman who bought the gun on behalf of a private gun collector. The gun was placed on sale by Earl Ruby, brother of Jack who got possession of the gun after winning a court battle to control his brother's estate in August 1991. |
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| Glickman, a pioneering sports broadcaster in the New York City market, started in radio there in 1939. He was eventually to become New York's foremost sports announcer, covering basketball, wrestling, harness racing and American-style football, among other sports major or esoteric. He is less remembered by the public as an 18-year-old member of the U.S. Olympic track and field squad who was yanked from competing in the 1936 Games in Berlin, for no other reason than that he was a Jew. |
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| The world's most powerful earthquake in 40 years triggered massive tidal waves that slammed into villages and seaside resorts across southern and southeast Asia killed. The initial estimated death toll of 9,000 soon rose to more than 225,000 people in 12 countries. The magnitude 9.0 earthquake was the world's fifth-largest since 1900 and the largest since a 9.2 temblor hit Prince William Sound Alaska in 1964. The epicenter was located 155 miles south-southeast of Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh province on Sumatra, and six miles under the seabed of the Indian Ocean. |
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Boxing Day in the United Kingdom and many other countries, a
day of gift giving when boxes of food, clothing and other gifts are traditionally
given to employees, tradespeople and other service providers.
December 26-January 1 - Kwanzaa, an African American family observance established
in 1966 celebrating traditional African harvest festivals, focusing on family
unity, with a community harvest feast on the seventh day. Kwanzaa means "first
fruit" in Swahili.
1492 First Spanish settlement in New World founded,
by Columbus
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1620 Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth MA
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1799 George Washington is eulogized by Colonel
Henry Lee as "first in war, first in peace & first in the hearts
of his countrymen"
1848 First gold seekers arrive in Panamá
en route to San Francisco
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1854 Wood-pulp paper first exhibited, Buffalo
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1865 James H Mason (Massachusetts) patents first
US coffee percolator
1878 First US store to install electric lights,
Philadelphia
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1892 The opera "Cristoforo Colombo"
is produced (La Scala)
1908 Jack Johnson is 1st black world heavyweight
boxing champion
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1917 Federal government took over operation of
American RR for duration of WWI
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1917 First NHL defensemen to score a goal: Toronto
Maple Leaf Harry Cameron
1919 Yankees & Red Sox reach agreement on
transfer of Babe Ruth
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1924 Judy Garland, age 2 1/2, billed as Baby Frances,
show business debut
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1925 NHL record 141 shots as New York Americans
(73) beat Pittsburgh Pirates (68) 3-1
1928 Johnny Weissmuller announces his retirement
from amateur swimming
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1931 George/Ira Gershwin's "Of Thee I
Sing" premieres on Broadway
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1933 Edwin Armstrong was granted a patent for
a two-path FM radio
More ...
1934 Yomiuri Giants, Japan's first professional
baseball team forms
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1939 W.C. Handy records the classic
"St. Louis Blues"
More ...
1940 JA Fields/J Chodorov's "My Sister Eileen"
premieres in New York NY
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1941 Winston Churchill becomes first British PM
to address a joint meeting of Congress
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1944 Tennessee Williams' play "Glass Menagerie"
premieres in Chicago
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1946 "Beggar's Holiday" opens at Broadway
Theater NYC for 111 performances
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1947 A monster snowstorm hits New York City
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1950 Gillette & Mutual buy All Star &
World Series rights ($6 million for 6 years)
1955 RKO is first to announce sale of its film
library to TV
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1959 "Heartaches by the Number" by Guy
Mitchell topped the charts
More ...
1960 Musical "Do re mi" with Phil Silvers
premieres
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1963 Beatles release "I Want To Hold Your
Hand"/"I Saw Her Standing There"
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1964 Beatles' "I Feel Fine" single goes
#1 & stays #1 for 3 weeks
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1965 "Funny Girl" with Barbra Streisand
closes on Broadway
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1967 The BBC broadcasts "The Magical Mystery
Tour"
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1967 Wham-O Frisbee patented
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1968 Led Zeppelin's concert debut in Boston as
opener for Vanilla Fudge
1970 "My Sweet Lord" by George Harrison
topped the charts
More ...
1973 "The Exorcist", starring Linda
Blair & rated X, premieres
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1975 First supersonic transport service (USSR-Tupolev-144)
More ...
1981 AC/DC’s album, "For Those About
to Rock We Salute You" was #1 in the U.S.
More ...
1981 "Physical" by Olivia Newton-John
topped the charts
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1982 TIME's Man of the Year is a computer
More ...
1984 House Speaker Tip O’Neill recieves an
award from "TV Guide"
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1986 TV soap "Search for Tomorrow" ends
35 year run
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1986 Doug Jarvis, 31, sets NHL record of 916 consecutive
games
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1987 "Faith" by George Michael topped
the charts
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1990 Senior Professional Baseball Association
folds
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1991 Jack Ruby's gun sells for $220,000 in auction
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1992 New York Jet announcer Marty Glickman retires
at 75
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2004 The world's most powerful earthquake strikes
southern and southeast Asia
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