Today In History
Today is Wednesday, Sept. 7, the 251st day of 2016. There are 115 days left in the year.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT
1927: American television pioneer Philo T. Farnsworth, 21, succeeded in transmitting the image of a line through purely electronic means with a device called an “image dissector.”
ON THIS DATE
1812: The Battle of Borodino took place as French troops clashed with Russian forces outside Moscow. (The battle, ultimately won by Russia, was commemorated by composer Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky with his “1812 Overture.”)
1940: Nazi Germany began its eight-month blitz of Britain during World War II with the first air attack on London.
1957: The original animated version of the NBC-TV peacock logo, used to denote programs “brought to you in living color,” made its debut at the beginning of “Your Hit Parade.”
1963: The National Professional Football Hall of Fame was dedicated in Canton, Ohio.
1977: The Panama Canal treaties, calling for the U.S. to eventually turn over control of the waterway to Panama, were signed in Washington by President Jimmy Carter and Panamanian leader Omar Torrijos.
1986: Desmond Tutu was installed as the first black clergyman to lead the Anglican Church in southern Africa.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS
Jazz musician Sonny Rollins is 86. Actor Bruce Gray is 80. Singer Gloria Gaynor is 73. Singer Alfa Anderson (Chic) is 70. Actress Susan Blakely is 68. Rock singer Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders) is 65. Actress Julie Kavner is 65. Rock musician Benmont Tench (Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers) is 63. Actor Corbin Bernsen is 62. Actor Michael Emerson is 62. Pianist Michael Feinstein is 60. Singer Margot Chapman is 59. Actress J. Smith-Cameron is 59. Actor W. Earl Brown is 53. Actor Toby Jones is 50. Actress-comedian Leslie Jones (TV: “Saturday Night Live”) is 49. Model-actress Angie Everhart is 47. Actress Diane Farr is 47. Country singer Butter (Trailer Choir) is 46. Actress Monique Gabriela Curnen is 46. Actress Shannon Elizabeth is 43. Actor Oliver Hudson is 40. Actor Devon Sawa is 38. Actor JD Pardo is 37. Singer-musician Wes Willis (Rush of Fools) is 30. Actress Evan Rachel Wood is 29.