The film The Graduate opened at two theaters in New York:
the Coronet on Third Avenue and the Lincoln Art Theater
on Broadway.

Anne Bancroft and Dustin Hoffman starred in the film that
received seven nominations at the 40th Academy Awards,
including for Best Picture and Best Director, the latter being
the film’s sole win.

The movie is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most
influential films of all time.
(From Wikipedia)

General George S. Patton, commander of the U.S. 3rd Army,
died in his sleep of pulmonary edema and congestive heart
failure from injuries suffered, not in battle, but in a freak car
accident at the age of 60.         
       

On December 21, 1891, 30-year-old James Naismith (above) 
introduced the first game of basketball. Based on 13 rules
created by Naismith, the game was tested by 18 students at
the International Young Men’s Christian Association Training
School in Springfield, Massachusetts.

On December 21, 1970, rock star Elvis Presley was greeted at
the White House by President Richard M. Nixon. Presley’s visit
was not just a social call: He wanted to meet Nixon in order to
offer his services in the government’s war on drugs.

On December 21, 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 from London to
New York exploded in midair over Lockerbie, Scotland,
killing all 243 passengers and 16 crew members aboard,
as well as 11 Lockerbie residents on the ground.