This Day In History: January 19, 1809 The tumultuous life of Edgar Allan Poe, the American writer, editor, and literary critic, began in Boston, MA on January 19, 1809. Poe was one of the early architects of detective fiction and is also considered a major contributor to the birth of science fiction. He was also among the first well-known American […]

This Day In History: January 16, 1547 On January 16, 1547, 16-year-old Ivan Vasilyevich, Grand Prince of Moscow, assumed the Russian throne in the Cathedral of the Dormition, ushering in a new political era for the country – for better or worse. He demanded the title “Tsar of All the Russias” although he was in reality The Duke of Moscow. […]

This Day In History: January 15, 1947 The murder of Elizabeth Short, nicknamed “The Black Dahlia”, was one of the most brutal crimes in Los Angeles history. Her body was found on January 15, 1947, when a mother out walking her baby saw what she thought was a mannequin tossed in the weeds a few feet from the sidewalk. It […]

This Day In History: January 14, 1794 On January 14, 1794, Dr. Jesse Bennett’s wife, Elizabeth, was suffering through a very difficult labor with their first child. Dr. Humphrey, her attending physician, determined the only options left after a forceps delivery failed were a cesarean section on Elizabeth or a craniotomy on the infant (removing part of the skull temporarily). […]

This Day In History: January 13, 1962 “Nothing in moderation – We all loved him.” – Ernie Kovacs epitaph On Jan 13, 1962, the immensely popular, cigar-puffing comedian Ernie Kovacs was killed in a car accident when he crashed into a telephone pole on his way home from a baby shower held for Mr. and Mrs. Milton Berle. Kovacs lost […]

This Day In History: January 12, 1971 When the very first episode of All in the Family aired on January 12, 1971, CBS ran the following disclaimer immediately preceding it: The program you are about to see is All in the Family.  It seeks to throw a humorous spotlight on our frailties, prejudices, and concerns.  By making them a source […]

This Day In History: January 9, 1911 On January 9, 1911, legendary striptease artist Gypsy Rose Lee was born as Rose Louise Hovick in Seattle, Washington. One of the most popular performers of the 1940s and 1950s, Gypsy was much more than a pretty girl who provocatively removed clothing. She was a brainy businesswoman who created a winning persona and […]

This Day In History: January 8, 1941 As the year 1941 dawned, 24-year-old Orson Welles had just finishing making what is largely considered one of the best films of all time – Citizen Kane. But at the time, he was having a difficult time getting his picture released. Why? Because Hollywood’s Boy Genius had stepped on the toes of the […]

This Day In History: January 7, 1990 The Cathedral in Pisa’s free-standing bell tower obviously wasn’t intended to be lopsided. When construction began in August of 1173, everything seemed OK at first. But the builders set the tower on a too-small foundation in unstable, weak soil. By the time construction had reached the third floor in 1178, the structure had […]

This Day In History: January 6, 1941 Equality of opportunity for youth and for others. Jobs for those who can work. Security for those who need it. The ending of special privilege for the few. The preservation of civil liberties for all. – Four Freedoms Speech One of the most famous and influential political speeches on the subject of freedom […]

This Day In History: January 5, 1978 Dame Kathleen Kenyon was a British archaeologist who excavated the city of Jericho to its Stone Age foundation, and proved it was the world’s oldest continuously occupied settlement. She was the most influential female archaeologist of the last century, and instrumental in bringing the profession to the attention of the general public. Born […]

This Day In History: January 2, 1929 On January 2, 1929, the United States and Canada agreed to combine efforts to divert the Niagara River. The two nations were hoping to protect Niagara Falls, a group of massive waterfalls that are one of the biggest tourist attractions in North America. It is actually three separate falls that make up what […]

This Day In History: January 1, 1752 In the summer of 1776, the story goes that General George Washington paid a visit to a newly widowed seamstress regarding the design for their new nation’s flag. A basic lay-out using six-pointed stars had already been devised by the Continental Congress, but the seamstress supposedly pointed out that using five-pointed stars would […]

This Day In History: December 31, 1984 “Perseverance. I guess that would be the biggest thing I learned about myself. But I suppose that had a lot to do with the strength of those around me. They really didn’t give me a choice; I had to stick around and deal with it.” – Rick Allen In one of the more […]

This Day In History: December 30, 1928 “I tell musicians, ‘Don’t trust nobody but your mama, And even then, look at her real good.’” – Bo Diddley Rock and Roll trail blazer Bo Diddley’s signature 4/4 rhythm pattern, unique guitar playing, and larger-than-life personality makes him one of the most memorable founding fathers of modern popular music. He will forever […]

This Day In History: December 29, 1170 “Will no one rid me of this troublesome priest?” –Henry II On the cold winter’s night of December 29, 1170, one of the most notorious murders of the Middle Ages occurred. To please their King, four knights crept into Canterbury Cathedral to assassinate the Archbishop Thomas Becket. This brutal event provoked a wave […]

This Day In History: December 26, 1973 “We were around 14 years old when this came out. My friend started swearing his bed was lifting up in the night after we saw this…. It messed us up for months!” – movie goer Larry K. On December 26, 1973, “The Exorcist” was released in theaters. The film’s dark, disturbing plot is […]

This Day In History: December 25, 1223 For those who celebrate Christmas, a nativity scene is a sure sign that the season is in full swing. The tradition is followed by Christians the world over. Its originator is thought to be St. Francis of Assisi, who according to tradition created the very first nativity scene in a cave outside the […]