TODAY IN HISTORY: Sadat assassinated
In 1927, the era of sound motion pictures was ushered in when “The Jazz Singer,” starring Al Jolson, opened in New York City. There had been previous experiments with adding sound to movies, but “The Jazz Singer” was the first full-length film to use synchronized dialogue sequences. The film was remade in 1980 with Neil Diamond and Sir Laurence Oliver.
In 1928, Chiang Kai-shek became China’s president.
In 1937, the League of Nations condemned Japan’s aggression in China.
In 1942, Tim Buck and other Canadian Communists won conditional release from internment.
In 1948, a delegation from Newfoundland arrived in Ottawa to discuss the terms of union with Canada. Earlier that year, on July 22, Newfoundlanders had voted in a plebiscite to become Canada’s 10th province. An agreement consummating the union was signed Dec. 11 and became effective March 31, 1949.
In 1949, U.S. president Harry Truman signed the Mutual Defence Assistance Act for military aid to NATO countries.
In 1959, Russia’s rocket “Luna 3” circled the moon. In 1969, Montreal police and firefighters began a strike that led to widespread rioting, looting, arson and vandalism. Members of both unions were ordered back to work by the Quebec legislature on Oct. 8.
In 1969, the New York Mets won the firstever National League Championship Series, beating Atlanta 7-4, in Game 3; Baltimore won the first-ever American League Championship Series, defeating the Minnesota Twins 11-2 in Game 3.
In 1973, Egypt and Syria launched what became known as the Yom Kippur War by attacking Israel.
In 1979, Pope John Paul II became the first pontiff to visit the White House.
In 1981, Egyptian president Anwar Sadat was assassinated by a group of soldiers who attacked his reviewing stand with hand grenades and automatic gunfire as he watched a military parade.
In 1983, B.C. Opposition Leader Dave Barrett became the first leader of a Canadian political party to be forcibly ejected from a legislature when he was dragged from the house for defying a ruling over government restraint bills.
In 2000, NHL player Marty McSorley was found guilty of assault with a weapon (his hockey stick).
In 2007, RCMP Const. Christopher John Worden, 30, was shot and killed in Hay River, N.W.T.