ROSS SIMPSON

On this day in 1978, Cult leader Jim Jones and hundreds of his
followers died in a mass murder-suicide in Jonestown, Guyana
in South America. It was the largest mass suicide in modern
history and resulted in the largest single loss of American
civilian life in a non-natural disaster until September 11, 2001.

Shown are bodies of members of the Peoples Temple who died
after their leader Jim Jones ordered them to drink Flav-R-Aid
laced with cyanide. 

Congressman Leo Ryan (above) was among five killed by Temple members at the nearby Port Kaituma airstrip (below).

The first successful sound-synchronized animated cartoon premiered
in New York on this day in 1928. It was Walt Disney’s "Steamboat
Willie," starring Mickey Mouse.

Walt Disney drawing “Steamboat Willie”.

ED DONAHUE

On this day in 1777, the Battle of Saratoga was won by American
soldiers during the Revolutionary War.

It was on this day in 1881. A picture from the Police Gazette,
showing a dying President Garfield being comforted by his
wife.

A 1954 Topps trading card depicting Garfield’s assassination
by Charles Guiteau. He was assassinated after only a few
months in office as the 20th president of the United States.

James Abram Garfield
(November 19, 1831 – September 19, 1881)

The sitcom was created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns that
aired on CBS on this day in 1970 and ran until 1977. The show
received high praise from critics during its run with 29 Primetime
Emmy Awards, including the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding 
Comedy Series three years in a row (1975–1977) and earned
Moore the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress 
in a Comedy Series three times (1973, 1974, 1976) and continues
to be honored long after the final episode aired. In 2013, the Writers 
Guild of America ranked The Mary Tyler Moore Show No. 6 in its
list of the 101 Best Written TV Series of All Time.

The set within a set of The Marry Tyler Moore Show.

CAMILLE BOHANNON

It was on this day in 1997.

Diana, Princess of Wales (Diana Frances Spencer)  
(July 1, 1961 – August 31, 1997)

On this day in 1980, Poland’s Solidarity labor movement was born
with an agreement signed in Gdansk that ended a 17-day strike.

Lech Walesa, anti-communist leader of Solidarity in Poland.

Jack the Ripper’s first victim, Mary Ann Nichols was found dead
in London on this day in 1888.

Mary Ann Nichols throat had been slit and her body
horribly mutilated. At the time of her death the East
London Observer guessed her age at 30-35.

It was on this day in 1969.

Undefeated world heavyweight boxing champion Rocky Marciano and two
other men died when their light plane apparently lost power and crashed
in a cow pasture near Newton, Iowa.

Sir George Ivan Morrison is 83 years old today and was born in
Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Irish musician Van Morrison is best known to American audiences for his
hits "Brown-Eyed Girl" and "Moondance." He released his 36th studio
album, Keep Me Singing, in 2016. His father’s impressive record collection
inspired him to pursue music.

ED DANAHUE

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., gave his "I Have a Dream" speech at a
civil rights rally in Washington, DC. on this day in 1963. Over 200,000
people attended.

It was on this day in 1968.

It was on this day in 1955.

J. W. Milam, 36, and half-brother Roy Bryant, 24, confer with one of
their lawyers J.W. Kellum, right, just before pleading innocent, Sept.
6, 1955 at Sumner, MS. They were charged with kidnapping Emmett
Till, a 14-year-old black youth who they claim “made some remarks”
and whistled at Bryant’s wife.

A divorce decree was issued for Britain’s Charles and Princess Diana
on this day in 1996. This was the official end to the 15-year marriage.