Monica Samille Lewinsky turned 45 in July.

On this day in 1896, the Klondike gold rush
was set off by George Carmack (above) 
discovering on Rabbit Creek in Alaska.

Robert Fulton’s "North River Steam Boat" (known as the "Clermont") began heading up New York’s Hudson River on its successful round-
trip to Albany on this day in 1807.

It was on this day in 1987

Rudolf Walter Richard Hess(April 26, 1894 – August 17, 1987)  
                                            
                                             

Actor Robert Anthony De Niro Jr. is 75 today.

Legendary actor Robert De Niro won an Academy Award for
Best Actor for his role as Jake LaMotta in the 1980 boxing film 
Raging Bull and an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
for his role as Vito Corleone in the 1974 classic The Godfather
Part II. His many other celebrated films include Taxi Driver
(1976), Cape Fear (1991), and The Deer Hunter (1979).

Aretha Louise Franklin (March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018)

Aretha Franklin, the “Queen of Soul” has died after a battle with advanced
pancreatic cancer.

Flowers and tributes are placed on the star for Aretha Franklin on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (AFP)

CAMILLE BOHANNON

Madonna Louise Ciccone is 60 years young today.

Pop icon and diva Madonna was one of the most prominent faces in
music during the 1980’s. She has sold over 300 million albums across
the world. Her best known songs include "Like A Virgin," "Papa Don’t
Preach," and "4 Minutes."  

She grew up in an Italian-American household and was a straight A
student, as well as a cheerleader, in high school. After earning a degree
from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, she
moved to New York City to pursue dance.

   
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
 
CAMILLE BOHANNON

On this day in 1945, the Allies proclaimed V-J Day, victory over
Japan, a day after Japan agreed to surrender unconditionally.

Woodstock began on this day in 1969 at Max Yasqur’s
dairy farm in upstate New York.

Napoléon Bonaparte (August 15, 1769 – May 5, 1821)

Napoleon was the Emperor of France who rose to power in the aftermath of
the French Revolution in 1799 and waged war with every major European
power in a series of wars known as the Napoleonic Wars. After a series
of military failures he was finally defeated at the Battle of Waterloo in
1815 and spent the last 6 years of his life in exile on the island of St.
Helena. 

On this day in 1947, India became independent from Britain and was divided into the countries of India and Pakistan. India had been
under British rule for about 200 years.

The Omagh bombing was a car bombing that took place on this day
in 1998 in Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It was carried
out by a group calling themselves the Real Irish Republican Army,
a Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) splinter group who
opposed the IRA’s ceasefire and the Good Friday Agreement.

An aerial view of the devastation caused in Omagh after the bombing.

The Panama Canal was officially opened to commercial traffic on
this day in 1914, as an American ship sailed from the Atlantic to
the Pacific Ocean. The first vessel to pass through the canal was
the American cargo and passenger ship SS Ancon.

A newly expanded Panama Canal in 1016.

"The Wizard of Oz" premiered in Hollywood, CA. on this day
in 1939. Judy Garland became famous for the movie’s song
"Somewhere Over the Rainbow."

Judy Garland (Frances Ethel Gumm) (June 10, 1922 – June 22, 1969)

CAMILLE BOHANNON

It was announced by President Truman on this day in 1945, Japan
had surrendered unconditionally. The surrender ended World War II.

Japanese foreign affairs minister Mamoru Shigemitsu signs the 
their  Instrument of Surrender on board USS Missouri as General
Richard K. Sutherland watches, September 2, 1945.

It was on this day in 2003.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into
law on this day in 1935. The act created unemployment insurance
and pension plans for the elderly.

On this day in 1969, British troops arrived in Northern Ireland to
intervene in sectarian violence between Protestants and Roman
Catholics.

Lech Walesa

Stephen Glenn Martin is 73 years old today. Born in Waco, Texas.

Comedian, actor and musician Steve Martin is best known films include 
The Jerk (1979), Father of the Bride (1991), Roxanne (1987), Three Amigos
(1986), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988) and Planes, Trains, and Automobiles 
(1987). He hosted the Academy Awards in 2001, 2003 and 2010 and he has
hosted NBC’s Saturday Night Live on a number of occasions. 

While he has played banjo since an early age, and included music in his
comedy routines from the beginning of his professional career, he has
increasingly dedicated his career to music since the 2000s, acting less
and spending much of his professional life playing banjo, recording,
and touring with various bluegrass acts, including Earl Scruggs.