DAY IN HISTORY

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2023

Today is the 304th day of 2023 and the 39th day of autumn.

TODAY'S HISTORY:

In 1517, Martin Luther nailed his “Ninety-five Theses” on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, in protest of the selling of papal indulgences.

In 1926, magician Harry Houdini died of complications from a ruptured appendix.

In 1941, the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in Keystone, South Dakota, was declared complete.

In 1957, Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc. established its first American headquarters in Hollywood, California.

In 1984, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two bodyguards.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS:

John Keats (1795-1821), poet; Juliette Gordon Low (1860-1927), Girl Scouts founder; Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975), Chinese/ Taiwanese leader; Dale Evans (1912-2001), actress/ singer-songwriter; Dan Rather (1931- ), TV journalist; Michael Landon (1936-1991), actor; John Candy (1950-1994), actor; Jane Pauley (1950- ), TV journalist; Nick Saban (1951- ), football coach; Peter Jackson (1961- ), filmmaker; Dermot Mulroney (1963- ), actor; Vanilla Ice (1967- ), rapper; Piper Perabo (1976- ), actress; Willow Smith (2000), actress/singer.

TODAY'S FACT: An outspoken critic of clerical celibacy, Martin Luther married Katharina von Bora, a former nun, in 1525. They had six children together.

TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1950, Earl Lloyd became the first African American to play in an NBA game.

TODAY'S QUOTE: “I am certain of nothing but the holiness of the Heart’s affections and the truth of the Imagination.” -John Keats

TODAY'S NUMBER: 7 billion -- estimated population of the world on Oct. 31, 2011, which was officially designated the “Day of Seven Billion” by the United Nations Population Fund. TODAY'S MOON:

Between full moon (Oct. 28) and last quarter moon (Nov. 5).