TODAY IN HISTORY

1927

The era of talking pictures arrived with the opening of “The Jazz Singer” starring Al Jolson, a feature containing both silent and soundsynchronized sequences.

1939

In a speech to the Reichstag, German Chancellor Adolf Hitler spoke of his plans to reorder the ethnic layout of Europe — a plan which would entail settling the “Jewish problem.”

1973

War erupted in the Middle East as Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel during the Yom Kippur holiday.

1981

Egyptian President Anwar Sadat was shot to death by extremists while reviewing a military parade.

2010

Social networking app Instagram was launched by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger.

2014

The Supreme Court unexpectedly cleared the way for a dramatic expansion of gay marriage in the U.S. as it rejected appeals from five states seeking to preserve their bans, effectively making such marriages legal in 30 states.