Today in history

1846 The American Flag was raised for the first time in Los Angeles, CA.

1867 “Under the Gaslight”, by Augustin Daly, opened in New York City, NY.

1876 The Reciprocity Treaty between the U.S. and Hawaii was ratified.

1889 A patent for a coin-operated telephone was issued to William Gray.

1892 The first issue of the “Afro American” newspaper was published in Baltimore, Maryland.

1899 Alfred Hitchcock (d.1980), movie director, was born in London.

1907 The 1st taxicab began operating in NYC

1912 The first experimental radio license was issued to St. Joseph’s College in Philadelphia, PA.

1923 US Steel Corp. initiated an 8-hour work day.

1931 The first community hospital in the U.S. was dedicated in Elk City, OK.

1934 Al Capp’s comic strip “L’il Abner” made its debut in newspapers.

1942 Henry Ford unveiled his “Soybean Car.” It was a plastic-bodied car that weighed about 1000 lbs. less than a steel car.

1942 Walt Disney’s “Bambi” opened at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, NY.

1959 In New York, ground was broken on the $320 million Verrazano Narrows Bridge.

1960 “Echo I,” a balloon satellite, allowed the first two-way telephone conversation by satellite to take place. 1961 Berlin was divided by a barbed wire fence to halt the flight of refugees. Two days later work on the Berlin Wall began.

1989 The space shuttle Columbia returned from a secret military mission.

1992 Woody Allen began legal action to win custody of his three children. A judge ruled against Allen in 1993.

1994 It was reported that aspirin not only helps reduce the risk of heart disease, but also helps prevent colon cancer. 1995 Baseball Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle died at a Dallas hospital of rapidly spreading liver cancer at the age of 63.