On this day, Sept. 26
1777 British troops occupied Philadelphia during the American Revolution.
1925 Pitt Stadium, with a capacity of 60,000, was formally opened with the University of Pittsburgh Panthers defeating Washington and Lee, 28- 0, before a crowd of 20,000.
1964 The situation comedy “Gilligan’s Island” premiered on CBS- TV.
1985 George A. Ferris, the new CEO of the Wheeling- Pittsburgh Steel Corp., ordered layoffs and pay edits for management and vowed to work without pay until the 69- day labor dispute involving 8,200 workers was settled. 2005 US Airways merged with America West Airlines to become the nation’s largest discount airline. 2016 Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton participated in their first debate of the presidential campaign at Hofstra University in New York. Ms. Clinton emphatically denounced Mr. Trump for keeping his personal tax returns and business dealings secret from voters, while he repeatedly cast her as a “typical politician.” Some items are from Stefan Lorant’s “Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City” ( digital. library. pitt. edu/ chronology).
— Compiled by Rick Nowlin
Today’s birthdays: Retired baseball All- Star Bobby Shantz, 95. Country singer David Frizzell, 79. Actor Kent McCord, 78. Television host Anne Robinson, 76. Singer Bryan Ferry, 75. Actor Mary Beth Hurt, 74. Singer Olivia Newton- John, 72. Actor James Keane, 68. Rock singer- musician Cesar Rosas ( Los Lobos), 66. Country singer Carlene Carter, 65. Actor Linda Hamilton, 64. Country singer Doug Supernaw, 60. Rhythm- and- blues singer Cindy Herron ( En Vogue), 59. Actor Melissa Sue Anderson, 58. Actor Patrick Bristow, 58. Rock musician Al Pitrelli, 58. Singer Tracey Thorn ( Everything But the Girl), 58. TV personality Jillian Barberie, 54. Contemporary Christian guitarist Jody Davis ( Newsboys), 53. Actor Jim Caviezel, 52. Actor Tricia O’Kelley, 52. Actor Ben Shenkman, 52. Actor Melanie Paxon, 48. Singer Shawn Stockman ( Boyz II Men), 48. Music producer Dr. Luke, 47. Jazz musician Nicholas Payton, 47. Actor Mark Famiglietti, 41. Singer- actor Christina Milian, 39. Tennis player Serena Williams, 39. Actor Zoe Perry, 37.
Thought for today: “Sometimes I think we Americans are the loneliest people in the world. To be sure, we hunger for the power of affection, the self- acceptance that gives life. It is the oldest and strongest hunger in the world. But hungering is not enough.”
— Sherwood Anderson, American author and poet ( 1876- 1941)