Today in History - October 4th

• 1537 - On this day in history, the first complete English-language Bible (the Matthew Bible) was printed, with translations by William Tyndale and Miles Coverdale.
• 1636 - In Massachusetts. The Plymouth Colony's first law was drafted, today in history.
• 1648 - On this day in history, Peter Stuyvesant established America's first volunteer firemen, a tradition that continues to this day.
• 1777 - The Battle of Germantown, a battle in the Philadelphia campaign of the American Revolutionary War, was fought on October 4, 1777, at Germantown, Pennsylvania between the British army led by Sir William Howe and the American army under George Washington
• 1824 - Today in history, Mexico became a republic. The Federal Constitution of the United Mexican States of 1824 was enacted on October 4 of 1824, after the overthrow of the Mexican Empire of Agustin de Iturbide.
• 1854 - Abraham Lincoln made his 1st political speech at Illinois State Fair, on this day in history. Lincoln was to be elected to the Presidency of the USA in 1860, just prior to the onset of the American Civil War.
• 1864 - Today in history, The National Black Convention met in Syracuse, NY.
• 1880 - The University of California was founded in Los Angeles, on this day in history.
• 1883 - The Orient Express' maiden voyage took place, linking Turkey to Europe by rail.
• 1904 - Today in history was the first day of the NYC subway operations, when 350,000 people rode 9.1 miles of tracks. The tradition continues today.....
• 1910 - On this day in history, Portugal became a republic and King Manuel II fled to England.
• 1911- First public elevator opened in London's Earl's Court Metro Station.
• 1921 - Today in history, The League of Nations refused to assist starving Russians.  Joseph Stalin had set in motion events designed to cause a famine in the Ukraine to destroy the people there seeking independence from his rule. As a result, an estimated 7,000,000 persons perished.
• 1940 - Adolf Hitler & Benito Mussolini conferred at Brenner Pass in Alps. Two peas in a pod plotting the demise of Europe, on this day in history.
• 1949 - Today in history, The United Nations' permanent NYC headquarters was dedicated.
• 1958 - Transatlantic jet passenger service began (BOAC); Fifth Republic of France was established. All on this day in history!
• 1959 - Today in history, the USSR's Luna 3 sent back first photographs of the far side of the Moon.
• 1963 - On this day in history, Hurricane Flora killed 6,000 in Cuba & Haiti.
• 1965 - Pope Paul VI becomes 1st Pope to visit Western Hemisphere (UN), today in history.
• 1971 - USSR performs underground nuclear test, a repeat event in the annals of the country's history.
• 1979 - On this day in history, the USSR performs yet another nuclear test.
• 1984 - US government closes down due to budget problems. Today in history, a prelude of things to come leaves all confused, breathless.
• 1991 - On this day in history, The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was opened for signature.
• 1993 - Today in history, the troops of President Yeltsin occupied The Russian White House (parliament). The constitutional crisis of 1993 was a political stand-off between the Russian president and the Russian parliament that was resolved by using military force.
• 2003 - The Maxim restaurant suicide bombing took place in Haifa, Israel: 21 Israelis, Jews and Arabs, were killed, and 51 others wounded.
• 2004 - On this day in history, SpaceShipOne was a spaceflight in the Tier-One program. It was the second competitive flight in the Ansari X Prize competition to demonstrate a non-governmental, reusable, manned spacecraft. It was a successful flight, winning the X PRIZE.

CULTURE, LIFESTYLE - Today in History, October 4th

• 1897 - Today in history, George Bernard Shaw's "Devil's Disciple" premiered in NYC.
• 1918 - The musical "Sometime" with Mae West premiered in NYC. Mae West was an American actress, singer, playwright, screenwriter and sex symbol whose entertainment career spanned seven decades.
• 1931 - On this day in history, the "Dick Tracy" comic strip by Chester Gould debuted.
• 1933 - Esquire magazine was first published. Esquire paved the way for numbers of men's fashion magazines that were to appear on stands decades later.
• 1957 - Today in history, the iconic "Leave It to Beaver" series debuted on CBS TV.
• 1965 - "Pickwick" opened at 46th St Theater NYC for 56 performances, on this day in history.

SPORTS - Today in History, October 4th

• 1906 - Today in history, the Chicago Cubs won their 116th game of the year.
• 1922 - For the first time, the entire World Series was broadcasted over radio (WJZ & WGY).
• 1924 - On this day in history, the NY Giants became the first team to appear in 4 consecutive World Series.
• 1936 - A record 66,669 persons were at Yankee Stadium for the 4th game of World Series.
• 1940 - Today in history, wrestling returned to Madison Square Garden, after a 12-year hiatus.
• 1947 - On this day in history, The Negro League World Series, NY Cubans defeated Cleveland Buckeyes, 6-5.
• 1953 - Mickey Mantle hit a grand slam in World Series, today in history.
• 1959 - On this day in history, The LA Dodgers set World Series attendance record at 92,394.
• 1967 - First World Series since 1948 not to have featured Yankees, Giants or Dodgers. Where did they go?
• 2012 - Today in history, Formula-One legend, Michael Schumacher, retired.

FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS - October 4th

• 1923 - Today in history, Charlton Heston, Ill, was born in Manhattan, Kansas, to become a legendary actor (10 Commandments, Ben Hur, Planet of Apes), (d. 2008).
• 1931 - Dick Tracy, crime-stopper, entered the world of comics, on this day in history.
• 1941 - Today in history, Anne Rice was born in New Orleans LA, to someday become a great author with an equal following (Interview with a Vampire).
• 1944 - Who does not know the leading voice behind Lady Marmalade? On this day in history, Nona Hendryx entered the world at Trenton, NJ. (LaBelle-Lady Marmalade)
• 1946 - Today in history, the great actress Susan Sarandon was born in Jackson Heights, NY (Bull Durham)
• 1949 - Armand Assante, NYC, actor, was born on this day in history (Private Benjamin, Unfaithfully Yours).
• 1976 - "Whatever" was coined by Alicia in Clueless. Since then, we have a adopted the word and shrug our shoulders when we use it. Alicia Silverstone, San Francisco, California, actress (Clueless, Batman Forever)—born on this day in history, to teach us the value of W.