On October 11th 1975, the epic single "Born to Run" became Bruce Springsteen's first-ever Top 40 hit, marking the start of his eventual transition from little-known cult figure to international superstar. By 1975, 26-year-old Bruce Springsteen had two heavily promoted major-label albums behind him, but nothing approaching a popular hit. Tapped by Columbia Records as … Continue reading October 11 1975 Bruce Springsteen has first pop hit with “Born to Run”
Tag: History
October 10 2004 Superman star Christopher Reeve dies
On October 10th 2004, the actor Christopher Reeve, who became famous for his starring role in four Superman films, died from heart failure at the age of 52 at a hospital near his home in Westchester County, New York. Reeve, who was paralyzed in a 1995 horse-riding accident, was a leading advocate for spinal cord … Continue reading October 10 2004 Superman star Christopher Reeve dies
October 8 1871 Great Chicago Fire begins
On October 8th 1871, flames sparked in the Chicago barn of Patrick and Catherine O'Leary, igniting a two-day blaze that killed between 200 and 300 people, destroyed 17,450 buildings, left 100,000 homeless and caused an estimated $200 million (in 1871 dollars; over $3 billion in 2012 dollars) in damages. Legend has it that a cow … Continue reading October 8 1871 Great Chicago Fire begins
October 7 1983 Sean Connery plays James Bond in Never Say Never Again
On October 7th 1983, Sean Connery starred in Never Say Never Again as the British secret service agent James Bond, a role he last played in 1971. The film’s title referenced the fact that the Scottish-born actor had previously remarked that he would never play Agent 007 again. Connery, who was born in Edinburgh on … Continue reading October 7 1983 Sean Connery plays James Bond in Never Say Never Again
October 6 1973 Yom Kippur War begins
On October 6th 1973, hoping to win back territory lost to Israel during the third Arab-Israeli war, Egyptian and Syrian forces launched a coordinated attack against Israel on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Taking the Israeli Defence Forces by surprise, Egyptian troops swept deep into the Sinai Peninsula, while Syria struggled … Continue reading October 6 1973 Yom Kippur War begins
October 5 1989 Dalai Lama wins Nobel Peace Prize
On October 5th 1989, the Dalai Lama, the exiled religious and political leader of Tibet, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his nonviolent campaign to end the Chinese domination of Tibet. The 14th Dalai Lama was born as Tenzin Gyatso in Tsinghai Province, China, in 1935. He was of Tibetan parentage, and … Continue reading October 5 1989 Dalai Lama wins Nobel Peace Prize
October 4 1970 Janis Joplin dies of a heroin overdose
On October 4th 1970, Janis Joplin died of an accidental heroin overdose, and was discovered in her Los Angeles hotel room after failing to show for a scheduled recording session. She was 27 years old. In the summer of 1966, Janis Joplin was a drifter; four years later, she was a rock-and-roll legend. She'd gone … Continue reading October 4 1970 Janis Joplin dies of a heroin overdose
October 3 1995 O.J. Simpson acquitted
On October 3rd 1995, at the end of a sensational trial, former football star O.J. Simpson was acquitted of the brutal 1994 double murder of his estranged wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman. In the epic 252-day trial, Simpson's "dream team" of lawyers employed creative and controversial methods to convince jurors that … Continue reading October 3 1995 O.J. Simpson acquitted
October 2 1971 Rod Stewart earns his first #1 hit with “Maggie May”
On October 2nd 1971, one of the greatest rock songs of all time, "Maggie May," became Rod Stewart's first #1 hit. If living well is the best revenge, then Rod Stewart has long since avenged the critical barbs he's suffered through the years. Still active in his fifth decade as a recording star, he can … Continue reading October 2 1971 Rod Stewart earns his first #1 hit with “Maggie May”
October 1 1949 Mao Zedong proclaims People’s Republic of China
On October 1st 1949, naming himself head of state, communist revolutionary Mao Zedong officially proclaimed the existence of the People's Republic of China; Zhou Enlai was named premier. The proclamation was the climax of years of battle between Mao's communist forces and the regime of Nationalist Chinese leader Chiang Kai-Shek, who had been supported with … Continue reading October 1 1949 Mao Zedong proclaims People’s Republic of China
September 30 1955 James Dean dies
On September 30th 1955, movie star James Dean died at age 24 in a car crash on a California highway. Dean was driving his Porsche 550 Spyder, nicknamed "Little Bastard," headed to a car race in Salinas, California, with his mechanic Rolf Wuetherich, when they were involved in a head-on collision with a car driven … Continue reading September 30 1955 James Dean dies
September 29 2005 Reporter Judith Miller released from prison
On September 29th 2005, New York Times reporter Judith Miller was released from a federal detention centre in Alexandria, Virginia, after agreeing to testify in the investigation into the leaking of the identity of covert CIA officer Valerie Plame. Miller had been behind bars since July 6, 2005, for refusing to reveal a confidential source … Continue reading September 29 2005 Reporter Judith Miller released from prison
September 28 1066 William the Conqueror invades England
On September 28th 1066, claiming his right to the English throne, William, duke of Normandy, invaded England at Pevensey on Britain's southeast coast. His subsequent defeat of King Harold II at the Battle of Hastings marked the beginning of a new era in British history. William was the illegitimate son of Robert I, duke of … Continue reading September 28 1066 William the Conqueror invades England
September 27 1854 Ships collide off Newfoundland
On September 27th 1854, sudden and heavy fog caused two ships to collide, killing 322 people off the coast of Newfoundland The Arctic was a luxury ship, built in 1850 to carry passengers across the Atlantic Ocean. It had a wooden hull and could reach speeds of up to 13 knots per hour, an impressive … Continue reading September 27 1854 Ships collide off Newfoundland
September 26 2008 Screen legend Paul Newman dies
On September 26th 2008, Paul Newman, one of the leading movie stars of the 20th century, died at the age of 83 from cancer at his home in Westport, Connecticut. In a career spanning more than five decades, Newman made over 65 movies, including the classics “Cool Hand Luke,” “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” … Continue reading September 26 2008 Screen legend Paul Newman dies
September 25 2005 IRA officially disarms
On September 25th 2005, two months after announcing its intention to disarm, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) gave up its weapons in front of independent weapons inspectors. The decommissioning of the group's substantial arsenal took place in secret locations in the Republic of Ireland. One Protestant and one Catholic priest as well as officials from … Continue reading September 25 2005 IRA officially disarms
September 24 1966 The Monkees get their first real-life pop hit
On September 24th 1966, the made-for-television Monkees smashed into the real world when their first single, "Last Train To Clarksville," entered the Billboard Top 40. When producers Bert Schneider and Bob Rafelson conceived a situation comedy called The Monkees in 1965, they hoped to create a ratings success by blurring the line between pop music … Continue reading September 24 1966 The Monkees get their first real-life pop hit
September 23 1994 The Shawshank Redemption debuts
On September 23rd 1994, The Shawshank Redemption, starring Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins, opened in theatres around the United States. Based on a short story titled “Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption,” by the best-selling author Stephen King, the movie followed the story of a man named Andy Dufresne (Robbins) who is sentenced to life … Continue reading September 23 1994 The Shawshank Redemption debuts
September 22 1828 Shaka Zulu assassinated
On September 22nd 1828, Shaka, founder of the Zulu Kingdom of southern Africa, was murdered by his two half-brothers, Dingane and Mhlangana, after Shaka's mental illness threatened to destroy the Zulu tribe. When Shaka became chief of the Zulus in 1816, the tribe numbered fewer than 1,500 and was among the smaller of the hundreds … Continue reading September 22 1828 Shaka Zulu assassinated
September 21 1949 Mao Zedong outlines the new Chinese government
On September 21st 1949, at the opening of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in Peking, Mao Zedong announced that the new Chinese government would be "under the leadership of the Communist Party of China." The September 1949 conference in Peking was both a celebration of the communist victory in the long civil war against … Continue reading September 21 1949 Mao Zedong outlines the new Chinese government
September 20 1946 First Cannes Film Festival
On September 20th 1946, the first annual Cannes Film Festival opened at the resort city of Cannes on the French Riviera. The festival had intended to make its debut in September 1939, but the outbreak of World War II forced the cancellation of the inaugural Cannes. The world's first annual international film festival was inaugurated … Continue reading September 20 1946 First Cannes Film Festival
September 19 1957 Nevada is site of first ever underground nuclear explosion
On September 19th 1957, the United States detonated a 1.7 kiloton nuclear weapon in an underground tunnel at the Nevada Test Site (NTS), a 1,375 square mile research centre located 65 miles north of Las Vegas. The test, known as Rainier, was the first fully contained underground detonation and produced no radioactive fallout. A modified … Continue reading September 19 1957 Nevada is site of first ever underground nuclear explosion
September 18 1973 Jimmy Carter files report on UFO sighting
On September 18th 1973, future President Jimmy Carter filed a report with the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP), claiming he had seen an Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) in October 1969. During the presidential campaign of 1976, Democratic challenger Carter was forthcoming about his belief that he had seen a UFO. He described waiting … Continue reading September 18 1973 Jimmy Carter files report on UFO sighting
September 17 1916 The Red Baron Manfred von Richthofen shoots down his first plane
On September 17th 1916, the German air ace Manfred von Richthofen, known to history as the "Red Baron,"shot down his first enemy plane over the Western Front during World War I. Richthofen, the son of a Prussian nobleman, switched from the German army to the Imperial Air Service in 1915. He became the star pupil … Continue reading September 17 1916 The Red Baron Manfred von Richthofen shoots down his first plane
September 16 1810 Mexican War of Independence begins
On September 16th 1810, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Catholic priest, launched the Mexican War of Independence with the issuing of his Grito de Dolores, or "Cry of Dolores." The revolutionary tract, so-named because it was publicly read by Hidalgo in the town of Dolores, called for the end of 300 years of Spanish rule … Continue reading September 16 1810 Mexican War of Independence begins
Craig Hill 