DAY IN HISTORY

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Today is the 260th day of 2020 and the 89th day of summer.

TODAY’S HISTORY:

In 1920, the explosion of a bomb on Wall Street killed more than 30 people and injured hundreds of others.

In 1940, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Selective Training and Service Act, authorizing the military draft.

In 1974, President Gerald Ford announced a conditional amnesty program for Vietnam War deserters and draft evaders.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: Jean Arp (1886-1966), artist; H.A. Rey (1898-1977), children’s author/illustrator; Lauren Bacall (19242014), actress; B.B. King (1925-2015), musician; Peter Falk (1927-2011), actor; Ed Begley Jr. (1949), actor; Henry Louis Gates Jr. (1950- ), author/ academic; Mickey Rourke (1952- ), actor; David Copperfield (1956- ), magician; Marc Anthony (1968), singer-songwriter; Amy Poehler (1971- ), actress; Alexis Bledel (1981- ), actress; Nick Jonas (1992- ), singer/musician.

TODAY’S FACT: German-born Jewish authors Margret and H.A. Rey fled Paris by bicycle in June 1940, the manuscript for what would become “Curious George” in tow, just before the city fell to Nazi

Germany.

TODAY’S SPORTS: In 1981, Sugar Ray Leonard unified boxing’s welterweight title by knocking out Tommy Hearns in the 14th round of a bout in an outdoor arena at the Caesar’s Palace casino in Las Vegas.

TODAY’S QUOTE:

“Conspiracy theories are an irresistible labor-saving device in the face of complexity.” — Henry Louis Gates Jr.

TODAY’S NUMBER: 342 — one-night stand gigs performed by blues legend B.B. King and his band in 1956.

TODAY’S MOON: Between last quarter moon (Sept. 10) and new moon (Sept. 17).