October 5th
Today in 1892, the Dalton Gang, notorious for its train robberies,was practically wiped out while attempting to rob a pair of banks in Coffeyville, Kansas simultaneously. As Emmett Dalton, the sole survivor of the crew said when he returned to the site of the crime nearly 40 years later: “The biggest fool on earth is the one who thinks he can beat the law, that crime can be made to pay. It never paid and it never will and that was the one big lesson of the Coffeyville raid.”
Today in 1921, the World Series was broadcast on the radio for the first time. The game was between the New York Giants and the New York Yankees.
Today in 1941, former Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis – the first Jewish member of the nation's highest court –died in Washington D.C. at the age 84.
Today in 1947, Harry Truman became the first President to address the nation on TV, live from the White House. He asked Americans to stop eating meat on Tuesdays and chicken on Thursdays, in an effort to stockpile food for starving people in Europe.
Today in 1950, the game show "You Bet Your Life," starring Groucho Marx,debuted on NBC -TV. It had been a hit on the radio since '47.
Today in 1953,Earl Warren was sworn inas 14th chief justice of US Supreme Court.
Today in 1954,it was reported that Marilyn Monroe had filed for divorce from Joe DiMaggio, whom she had married less than nine months before.
Today in1956,the classic film, "The Ten Commandments," which was directed by Cecil B. DeMille, and starred Charlton Heston and Yul Brynner,opened in theaters nationwide.
Today in1965, Chuck Linsterset a world record by performing 6,006 consecutive push-ups. The record was broken in 1976 when Robert Louis Knecht of the USA pushed out 7,026. Currently, Japan’s Minoru Yoshida holds the record he set in 1980 – of 10,507.
Today in1969, "Monty Python's Flying Circus"debuted on BBC-TV. It featured regulars John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam and Eric Idle. The series began airing on public television stations in the US in 1974.
Today in1970, PBS launched as a network.
Today in1979, the film "10," starring Dudley Moore, Julie Andrews and Bo Derek,opened in theaters nationwide.
Today in1979, the film, "Starting Over," starring Burt Reynolds, Jill Clayburgh and Candice Bergen,opened in theaters nationwide.
Today in 1984, "Places In The Heart," starring Sally Field,opened in theaters nationwide.
Today in1984, the space shuttle Challenger was launched on its sixth mission. The ship held a crew of 7, including Kathryn Sullivan, who became the first woman to walk in space. Challenger safely returned to earth eight days later.
Today in1988, Democrat Lloyd Bentsen lambasted Republican Dan Quayle during their vice-Presidential debate, famously telling Quayle, "Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy."
Today In 1988, "Unsolved Mysteries," debuted on NBC-TV. While many mysteries were solved between then and January 2002,there are still a few that remain.
Today in1989, former PTL evangelist Jim Bakker was convicted of using his TV show to defraud his followers of over $158-million. Sentenced to 45 years in prison, his sentence was later reduced and he was paroled in July 1994. He’s back on the airwaves now…and basically doing the same thing (pushing the so-called “prosperity theology”). Oh…and selling condos.
Today in1994, a total of 53 members of the secretive “Solar Temple” cult were found dead– the victims of murder or suicide – in Switzerland and in Quebec, Canada.
Today in1997, Britain’s “Daily Express” newspaper printed an article claiming that Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman were homosexual and that their marriage was a sham. The couple sued the publication and won. The paper paid damages in a settlement on October 29th, 1998.
Today in1998, the House Judiciary Committee voted along party lines to investigate whether President Clinton should be removed from office.
Today in1999, Kevin Spacey received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which oversees the installations,has said it will not be removed over the accusations against him.
Today in1999, the TV show, "Angel," (starring David Boreanaz)premiered on the WB.
Today in 2005,the vampire novel, "Twilight," by Stephenie Meyer was first published.
Today in 2015,officials confirmed that floods in South Carolina resulting from "1,000-year storm" caused12 deaths and 9 dams to fail.
Today in 2015,Governor Jerry Brown of California signed a bill giving terminally ill patients the "right to die."
Today in 2017,the Spanish constitutional court suspended Catalan parliament to prevent a declaration of independence.
Today in 2017,the “New York Times"first published their investigation into sexual harassment behavior by Hollywood honcho Harvey Weinstein.