On this day, Aug. 26

1910 Thomas Edison demonstrated for reporters an improved version of his Kinetophone, a device for showing a movie with synchronized sound.

1920 The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing American women’s right to vote, was certified in effect by Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby.

1939 The first televised major league baseball games were shown on experimental station W2XBS: a doubleheader between the Cincinnati Reds and the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field. The Reds won the first game, 5-2, the Dodgers the second, 6-1.

1944 French Gen. Charles de Gaulle braved the threat of German snipers as he led a victory march in Paris, which had just been liberated by the Allies from Nazi occupation.

1957 The Soviet Union announced it had successfully tested an intercontinental ballistic missile.

1958 Alaskans went to the polls to overwhelmingly vote in favor of statehood.

1972 The summer Olympics opened in Munich, West Germany.

1978 Cardinal Albino Luciani of Venice was elected pope following the death of Paul VI; the new pontiff took the name Pope John Paul I. (However, he died just over a month later.)

1985 13-year-old AIDS patient Ryan White began “attending” classes at Western Middle School in Kokomo, Ind., via a telephone hook-up at his home — school officials had barred Ryan from attending classes in person.

Today’s birthdays: Pop singer Vic Dana, 83. Former Homeland Security Secretary and Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge, 78. R&B singer Valerie Simpson, 78. Pop singer Bob Cowsill, 74. Broadcast journalist Bill Whitaker, 72. Actor Brett Cullen, 67. Former NBA coach Stan Van Gundy, 64. Jazz musician Branford Marsalis, 63. Country musician Jimmy Olander (Diamond Rio), 62. Actor Chris Burke, 58. Actor-singer Shirley Manson (Garbage), 57. Rock musician Dan Vickrey (Counting Crows), 57. TV writer-actor Riley Weston, 57. Rock musician Adrian Young (No Doubt), 54. Actor Melissa McCarthy, 53. Latin pop singer Thalia, 52. Actor Meredith Eaton, 49. Rock singer-musician Tyler Connolly (Theory of a Deadman), 48. Actor Mike Colter, 47. Actor Macaulay Culkin, 43. Actor Chris Pine, 43. Comedian/actor/writer John Mulaney, 41. Actor Johnny Ray Gill, 39. Country singer Brian Kelley (Florida Georgia Line), 38. R&B singer Cassie (aka Cassie Ventura), 37. Actor Evan Ross, 35. Actor Danielle Savre, 35. Actor Dylan O’Brien, 32. Actor Keke Palmer, 30.