GUADALUPE, Calif. (AP) — Archaeologists working in sand dunes on the central California coast have dug up an intact plaster sphinx (above) that was part of an
Egyptian movie set built more than 90 years ago for Cecil B. DeMille’s silent film
epic "The Ten Commandments” (1923).
The 300-pound sphinx is the second recovered from the Guadalupe-Nipomo
Dunes.
Cecil Blount DeMille
(August 12, 1881 – January 21, 1959)
TIM MAGUIRE
On this day in 1963, Dallas nightclub owner Jack Ruby shot and
killed Lee Harvey Oswald live on national television.
On this day in 1859, Charles Darwin, a British naturalist, published
"On the Origin of Species." It was the paper in which he explained
his theory of evolution through the process of natural selection.
Hijacker Dan Cooper, known as D.B. Cooper, parachuted from a Northwest Airlines 727 over Washington state with $200,000
ransom money on this day in 1971.
From left: Northwest Airlines First Officer Bill Rataczak, Captain Bill
Scott and Flight attendant Tina Mucklow talk to the media.
Freddie Mercury of Queen died of AIDS complications at the age
of 45 on this day in 1991.
Farrokh "Freddie" Mercury (Bulsara)
SANDY KOZEL
Martin Luther (left) posted the 95 Theses on the door of the Wittenberg Palace Church on this day in 1517. The event marked the start of the Protestant Reformation in Germany.
Martin Luther
(November 10, 1943 – February 18, 1546)
On this day in 1968, in a televised address to the nation five days before the presidential election, President Lyndon Johnson announced on the basis of developments in the Paris peace negotiations, he has ordered the complete cessation of “all air, naval, and artillery bombardment of North Vietnam.” Accordingly, effective November 1, the U.S. Air Force called a halt to the
air raids on North Vietnam known as Operation Rolling Thunder.
Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated near her residence by
two Sikh security guards on this day in 1984. Her son, Rajiv (below) was
sworn in as prime minister.
Rajiv Gandhi (left) at the funeral of his mother.
Harry Houdini (Erik Weisz) (March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926)
Magician Harry Houdini died of gangrene and peritonitis resulting from a
ruptured appendix on this day in 1926. His appendix had been damaged
twelve days earlier when he had been punched in the stomach by a student unexpectedly. During a lecture Houdini had commented on the strength of
his stomach muscles and their ability to withstand hard blows.
TIM MAGUIRE
On this day in 1859, Abolitionist John Brown led a raid on Harper’s Ferry, VA
(now located in West Virginia).
John Brown
(May 9, 1800 – December 2, 1859)
During the French Revolution on this day in 1793, Queen Marie Antoinette (below) was beheaded after being convicted of treason.
Poland’s Karol Josef Wojtyla was elected Pope John Paul II
on this day in 1978.
On Friday, October 16, 1998, police from Britain’s Scotland
Yard entered a room in a small, private hospital in London
and arrested former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet
Ugarte who was recovering from back surgery.
Spanish Judge Baltasar Garzón had issued a request for
Pinochet’s extradition to stand trial in Spain for crimes
committed in Chile during extradition to stand trial in
Spain for crimes committed in Chile during his brutal
rule from 1973-1990.
On this day in 1987, rescuers freed Jessica McClure from the abandoned
well that she had fallen into in Midland, TX. She was trapped for 58 hours.
Jessica McClure Morales turned 31 in March.
James Albert Michener (February 3, 1907 – October 16, 1997)
Michener was the author of more than 40 books, most of which were
fictional, family sagas. His first book was adapted as the popular
Broadway musical South Pacific by Richard Rodgers and Oscar
Hammerstein.
Michener’s typewriter at the James A. Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.
Camille Bohannon
It was on this day 2002, when former President Jimmy Carter won
the Nobel Peace Prize.
The accusations were made by Anita Hill on this day in 1991.
Anita Hill turned 61 in July.
Clarence Thomas became 69 years old in June.
"Saturday Night Live" was broadcast for the first time on this
day in 1975. George Carlin (below) was the guest host.
Members of the original Saturday Night Live cast during the show’s
1975 season.
