Today in History - December 1st

1641 - On this day in history, Massachusetts became the first colony to give statutory recognition to slavery.
1835 - Hans Christian Andersen published his first book of fairy tales.
1878- Today in history, the first White House telephone was installed.
1887 - Sherlock Holmes first appeared in print: "Study in Scarlet"
1903 - On this day in history, "The Great Train Robbery," the first Western film, was released.
1913 - Ford Motor Co. began using a new movable assembly line that ushered in the era of mass production.
1913 - Today in history, the first drive-in automobile service station opened, in Pittsburgh, PA.
1919 - Lady Astor was sworn in as the first female member of the British Parliament.
1942 - On this day in history, nationwide gasoline rationing went into effect in the US.
1952 - In Denmark, it was announced that the first successful sex-change operation had been performed.

1955 - Today in history, Rosa Parks, a black seamstress in Montgomery, AL, refused to give up her seat to a white man. Mrs. Parks was arrested, marking a milestone in the civil rights movement in the United States.
1965 - An airlift of refugees from Cuba to the United States began.
1981 - On this day in history, The AIDS virus was officially recognized.
1998 - Exxon announced that it was buying Mobil for $73.7 billion, creating the largest company in the world to date.

MUSIC HISTORY - Today in History, December 1st

1956 - The Leonard Bernstein musical "Candide" opened on Broadway. The work was based on the book by Voltaire.
1957 - Today in history, three rock and roll acts made their debut on the Ed Sullivan Show: Buddy Holly & the Crickets ("That'll Be the Day"), Sam Cooke ("You Send Me"), and the Rays.
1968 - Janis Joplin made her final appearance with Big Brother & the Holding Company.
1971 - On this day in history, John & Yoko released "Happy Xmas (War is Over)" in US.
1972 - Martha & the Vandellas gave their farewell performance in Detroit, MI.
1976 - Today in history, The Sex Pistols use of profanity on TV got them branded as "rotten punks."
1982 - Epic Records released the album "Thriller" by Michael Jackson.
1989 - On this day in history, Sly Stone was sentenced to 55 days in jail for driving under the influence of cocaine.
1995 - An auction of Frank Sinatra's possessions earned him $2,072,000.

1959 - The first color photograph of Earth was taken from outer space.
1783 - Today in history, Jacques Charles & Nicolas Roberts made the first untethered ascension with gas hydrogen balloon in Paris.