TODAY IN HISTORY
TODAY IS FRIDAY, SEPT. 21, the 265th day of 2012. There are 101 days left in the year.
On this date in 1912, magician Harry Houdini first publicly performed his so-called “Chinese Water Torture Cell” trick at the Circus Busch in Berlin, escaping after being immersed upsidedown in a vertical water tank, his ankles secured in a set of stocks that made up the tank lid, which was locked into place.
In 1792, the French National Convention voted to abolish the monarchy.
In 1893, one of America’s first horseless carriages was taken for a short test drive in Springfield, Mass., by Frank Duryea, who had designed the vehicle with his brother, Charles.
In 1897, the New York Sun ran its famous editorial, written anonymously by Francis P. Church, which declared, “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.”
In 1912, legendary cartoon animator Chuck Jones was born in Spokane, Wash.
In 1937, “The Hobbit,” by J.R.R. Tolkien, was first published by George Allen & Unwin Ltd. of London. In 1938, a hurricane struck parts of New York and New England, causing widespread damage and claiming some 700 lives.
In 1948, Milton Berle made his debut as permanent host of “The Texaco Star Theater” on NBC-TV.
In 1962, “The Jack Paar Program,” a weekly, prime-time show that followed Paar’s stint on “The Tonight Show,” began a three-year run.
In 1970, “NFL Monday Night Football” made its debut on ABC-TV as the Cleveland Browns defeated the visiting New York Jets, 31-21.
In 1982, Amin Gemayel, brother of Lebanon’s assassinated president-elect, Bashir Gemayel, was himself elected president. National Football League players began a 57-day strike, their first regular-season walkout.
In 1987, NFL players called a strike, mainly over the issue of free agency. The 24-day walkout prompted football owners to hire replacement players.
In 1989, Hurricane Hugo crashed into Charleston, S.C. The storm was blamed for 26 directly caused U.S. deaths. Twenty-one students in Alton, Texas, died when their school bus, involved in a collision with a soft-drink delivery truck, careered into a water-filled pit.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: Actor Larry Hagman is 81. Poet-songwriter Leonard Cohen is 78. Author-comedian Fannie Flagg is 71. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer is 69. Musician Don Felder and author Stephen King are 65. Basketball Hall of Famer Artis Gilmore is 63. Actor-comedian Bill Murray is 62. Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Delahoussaye is 61. Movie producer-writer Ethan Coen is 55. Actor-comedian Dave Coulier is 53. Actor David James Elliott is 52. Actresses Serena Scott-Thomas and Nancy Travis are 51. Actor Rob Morrow is 50. Retired MLB All-Star Cecil Fielder is 49. Actress Cheryl Hines is 47. Country singer Faith Hill and rock musician Tyler Stewart (Barenaked Ladies) are 45. Country singer Ronna Reeves and actress-talk show host Ricki Lake are 44. Actor Rob Benedict is 42. Actors James Lesure, Alfonso Ribeiro and Luke Wilson are 41. Actor Paulo Costanzo is 34. Actress Autumn Reeser is 32. TV personality Nicole Richie is 31. Actress Maggie Grace and actor Joseph Mazzello are 29. Actors Nikolas and Lorenzo Brino are 14.