Today In History

Today is Friday, Oct. 6, the 279th day of 2017. There are 86 days left in the year.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

On Oct. 6, 1927, the era of talking pictures arrived with the opening of “The Jazz Singer” starring Al Jolson, a feature containing both silent and sound-synchronized sequences.

ON THIS DATE

In 1683, thirteen families from Krefeld, Germany, arrived in Philadelphia to begin Germantown, one of America’s oldest settlements.

In 1884, the Naval War College was established in Newport, Rhode Island.

In 1958, the nuclear submarine USS Seawolf surfaced after spending 60 days submerged.

In 1960, the historical drama “Spartacus,” starring Kirk Douglas and directed by Stanley Kubrick, had its world premiere in New York.

In 1973, war erupted in the Middle East as Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel during the Yom Kippur holiday. (Israel, initially caught off guard, managed to push back the Arab forces before a cease-fire finally took hold in the nearly threeweek conflict.)

In 1979, Pope John Paul II, on a week-long U.S. tour, became the first pontiff to visit the White House, where he was received by President Jimmy Carter.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS

Broadcaster and writer Melvyn Bragg is 78. Actress Britt Ekland is

75. Singer Millie Small is 71. The president of Sinn Fein (shin fayn), Gerry Adams, is 69. Singer-musician Thomas McClary is 68. Musician Sid McGinnis is 68. CBS chief executive officer Les Moonves is 68. Rock singer Kevin Cronin (REO Speedwagon) is

66. Rock singer-musician David Hidalgo (Los Lobos) is 63. Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Dungy is 62. Actress Elisabeth Shue is 54. Singer Matthew Sweet is 53. Actress Jacqueline Obradors is 51. Country singer Tim Rushlow is 51. Rock musician Tommy Stinson is 51. Actress Amy Jo Johnson is 47. Actress Emily Mortimer is 46. Actor Lamman (la-MAHN’) Rucker is 46. Actor Ioan Gruffudd (YOH’ihn GRIH’-fihth) is 44. Actor Jeremy Sisto is 43. Rhythm-and-blues singer Melinda Doolittle is

40. Actor Wes Ramsey is

40. Singer-musician Will Butler is 35. Actress Stefanie Martini is 27.