TODAY IN HISTORY

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

Oct. 6, 2014

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

ON THIS DATE 1927

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

2010

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