On December 28, 1895, the world’s first commercial movie
screening took place at the Grand Cafe in Paris. The film
was made by Louis and Auguste Lumière, two French
brothers who developed a camera-projector called the
Cinematographe.

Auguste (left) and Louis Lumière.

In addition to the Cinematographe, the Lumières also developed
the first practical color photography process, the Autochrome
plate, which debuted in 1907.

Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. is an actor, producer, director,
and Pentecostal minister. Known for his dramatic roles on
stage and screen, he has received numerous accolades
including two Academy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards,
two Silver Bears and one Tony Award as well as nominations
for a Grammy Award and two Emmy Awards.

In 2020, The New York Times named Washington the greatest
actor of the 21st century. He has also been honored with the
Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2016, AFI Life Achievement Award
in 2019, the Honorary Palme d’Or in 2025, and the Presidential
Medal of Freedom in 2025.

Films in which he has appeared have grossed over $5.1 billion worldwide.

      
2007                                                2004

      
2024                                     2010

Denzel Washington is 71 today.

The first photograph taken by humans of Earthrise during
the Apollo 8 mission. 

The prime crew of the Apollo 8 lunar orbit mission pose
for a portrait next to the Apollo Mission Simulator at the
Kennedy Space Center (KSC). Left to right, they are
James A. Lovell Jr., command module pilot; William
A. Anders, lunar module pilot; and Frank Borman,
commander.

Apollo 8, the first manned mission to the moon, returns safely
to Earth after an historic six-day journey.

On December 21, Apollo 8 was launched by a three-stage
Saturn 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, with
astronauts Frank Borman, James Lovell, Jr., and
William Anders aboard.

On Christmas Eve, the astronauts entered into orbit around
the moon, the first manned spacecraft ever to do so.

During Apollo 8‘s 10 lunar orbits, television images were sent
back home and spectacular photos were taken of the Earth
and the moon from the spacecraft.

On Christmas morning, Apollo 8 left its lunar orbit and began
its journey back to Earth, landing safely in the Pacific Ocean
on December 27 (below).

                  
ROSS SIMPSON

On this day in 1862, the US Navy formally commissions its
first hospital ship, the Red Rover. A captured Confederate
side-wheel steamer, it treats 374 patients in its first seven
months of service on the Mississippi, 332 of whom were
discharged; 37 die and five desert.