On this day, Dec. 29
1170 Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, was slain in Canterbury Cathedral by knights loyal to King Henry II.
1846 Pittsburgh dispatched its first telegraphic message, a report from Gen. Bowman of the Pennsylvania militia notifying President James K. Polk that the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment was ready to leave for Mexico.
1939 “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” starring Charles Laughton and Maureen O’Hara, was released by RKO Radio Pictures.
1967 A report for the Port Authority of Allegheny County stated that Skybus would be cheaper than a conventional “steel-onsteel” mass transit system, spreading over 60 miles, but would be more costly to run. Either could be in operation in 17 years.
1981 The city’s budget for 1982 would be $229 million.
2006 Word reached the United States of the execution of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein (because of the time difference, it was the morning of Dec. 30 in Iraq when the hanging took place). In a statement, President George W. Bush called Saddam’s execution an important milestone on Iraq’s road to democracy. Some items are from Stefan Lorant’s “Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City” (digital.library.pitt.edu/chronology). — Compiled by Rick Nowlin
Today’s birthdays: Country singer Rose Lee Maphis, 97. Actress Inga Swenson, 87. ABC newscaster Tom Jarriel, 85.
Actress Barbara Steele, 82. Actor Jon Voight, 81. Country singer Ed Bruce, 80. Singer Marianne Faithfull, 73. Hall of Fame Jockey Laffit Pincay Jr., 73. Actor Ted Danson, 72. Singer-actress Yvonne Elliman,
68. Actress Patricia Clarkson, 60. Comedian Paula Poundstone, 60. Rock singermusician Jim Reid (The Jesus and Mary Chain), 58. Actor Michael Cudlitz, 55. Rock singer Dexter Holland (The Offspring), 54. News anchor Ashleigh Banfield, 52. Movie director Lilly Wachowski,
52. Actor Jude Law, 47.
Thought for today: “Sin cannot be undone, only forgiven.”
— Igor Stravinsky, Russian-born composer (1882-1971)