The world’s first commercial telephone was installed by Alexander Graham Bell in 1877. Other events include the acquittal of Lizzie Borden, Muhammad Ali’s conviction being overturned, and the release of Jaws. Nicole Kidman and John Goodman were born.
The world’s first commercial telephone is installed. (1877) Alexander Graham Bell installed telephone service in Hamilton, Ontario in Canada. Bell, the inventor of the modern telephone, was granted a patent in 1876. However, he refused to have a telephone in his office, saying it intruded on his work. Bell was also a founding member of the National Geographic Society.
Andrea Yates drowned her children. (2001) Yates drowned her five children in the bathtub at the family home in Houston, Texas. She was ultimately found not guilty by reason of insanity and sentenced to North Texas State Hospital, a maximum security psychiatric hospital.
Lizzie Borden has been found innocent. (1893) Borden was accused of killing her father and stepmother with an ax on August 4, 1892. Her trial is a well-known criminal trial in American culture, perhaps because it was one of the first known criminal trials in which a person was accused of killing her parents. No arrests have been made since her acquittal.
Muhammad Ali was convicted of violating selective service laws. (1967) Ali refused to serve in the US Army, claiming it went against his religious beliefs and his opposition to the Vietnam War. The US Supreme Court later overturned the conviction.
The American cult film Jaws was released in theaters. (1975) The book, based on a novel of the same name, grossed over US$470 million, which was the highest-grossing film of all time until Star Wars was released two years later. Jaws was the first film to be released using the wide release model.
Bugsy Seigel was killed. (1947) Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel, who was an American gangster and deeply involved in the development of Las Vegas, Nevada, was apparently killed on the orders of a mob boss. The shooting was never solved and remains an open case.
Sammy Sosa hits home run number 600. (2007) Playing for the Texas Rangers, Sosa was the fifth major league player to hit 600 career home runs. Speculations of steroid abuse surrounded Sosa.
Oil flowed through the Alaska pipeline for the first time. (1977) The Trans-Alaska Pipeline extended approximately 800 miles (about 1,287 kilometers). In 2008, approximately 700,000 barrels per day passed through the pipeline.
The White House went green by installing a solar energy system. (1979) President Carter and his wife Rosalynn ascend the roof of the White House to celebrate the installation of green energy. The solar heating system costs $28,000 US dollars. President Reagan removed the panels when he became president and placed them in storage.
Samuel Morse obtained the patent for the telegraph. (1840) Morse, who helped invent the telegraph system, also co-invented Morse code.
Race riots have begun in Detroit. (1943) The rioting lasted for three days and 24 people died before control was enforced by federal troops.
Nicole Kidman is born. (1967) Actress Nicole Kidman was born in Australia and is best known for films such as Moulin Rouge, Batman Forever and The Hours, for which she won a Golden Globe, an Academy Award for Best Actress and a BAFTA Award. In 2003, her star was added to the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
John Goodman is born. (1952) American actor, Goodman is known for his role in the American television series Roseanne and in films such as Raising Arizona, Always, Coyote Ugly and O Brother, Where Art Thou? He has won comedy, Emmy, Golden Globe and People’s Choice awards.
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