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Oct 6

1927

The Jazz Singer upends the movie industry

On this day in 1927, The Jazz Singer premiered in New York City. When the film’s star, Al Jolson, appeared onscreen, moviegoers were amazed to hear his real singing and speaking voice and see that it lined up perfectly with his projected image. The Jazz Singer became the one film most associated with the transition to sound and a lauded part of Hollywood history. However, it has a complex legacy because of its prominent use of blackface.

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© 1927 Warner Brothers, Inc.; Photo Illustration Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

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Yom Kippur War

On this day in 1973, on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur, Egypt and Syria attacked Israel, which suffered heavy casualties, but Israeli forces successfully fought back, and the war eventually ended inconclusively.

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Thor Heyerdahl

Norwegian ethnologist and adventurer Thor Heyerdahl, born this day in 1914, organized and led transoceanic expeditions in the hope of proving the possibility of ancient contacts between distant civilizations.

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2018

The U.S. Senate confirmed Brett Kavanaugh as a Supreme Court justice by a vote of 50 to 48. [Why are there nine justices on the U.S. Supreme Court?]

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2010

Instagram was released to the public in Apple’s App Store. It reached 25,000 users on its first day.

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1993

Michael Jordan retired from professional basketball, saying “I don’t have anything else to prove,” only to return in March 1995. [Where does Jordan rank among the greatest basketball players of all time?]

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1981

Egyptian President Anwar Sadat was assassinated by members of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad during a military parade in Cairo. [Test your knowledge of Egyptian history.]

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1976

In China the Gang of Four, having lost their influence with the death of Mao Zedong, were arrested. [Sort fact from fiction in our quiz about China.]

© 1960 Universal Pictures Company, Inc.

1960

The film Spartacus, directed by Stanley Kubrick and starring Kirk Douglas, had its world premiere; it won several Academy Awards, including best supporting actor for Peter Ustinov.

© Warner Brothers, Inc.

1927

The Jazz Singer, starring Al Jolson, premiered in New York City, introducing the sound era of motion pictures. [Take our film buff quiz.]

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1892

The English poet widely regarded as the chief representative of the Victorian Age in poetry, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, died at age 83. [Test your knowledge of poetry.]

Image: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

1849

Thirteen Hungarian generals, “the martyrs of Arad,” were executed for their role in the Hungarian Revolution of 1848–49. [Take our plots and revolutions quiz.]

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891

Formosus was elected pope; his posthumous trial in 897 is one of the most bizarre incidents in papal history. [Read about seven unlucky people, including Formosus, who were not allowed to rest in peace.]

Image: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

105 bce

The Roman army was defeated by Germanic tribes in the Battle of Arausio. [How much do you know about the history of warfare?]

Today in History - Britannica.com/on-this-day/

 

OCT 5

1892

The Dalton gang tries to rob two banks at once

On this day in 1892, three Dalton brothers—Grattan, Bob, and Emmett—and two associates rode into Coffeyville, Kansas. Taking inspiration from their cousins—who had been members of the more famous Jesse and Frank James outlaw gang—the Dalton gang decided to rob two banks at once. In broad daylight. On the town square. Things did not end well. Eight people were killed, including all of the robbers except Emmett.

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Battle of the Thames

On this day in 1813, during the War of 1812, a British army with some 1,000 Indian allies under the famed leader Tecumseh was defeated by U.S. troops in the Battle of the Thames in what is now Ontario, Canada.

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Václav Havel

Czech playwright, poet, and political dissident Václav Havel, born this day in 1936, served as president of Czechoslovakia (1989–92) and the Czech Republic (1993–2003).

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2011

American businessman Steve Jobs, a pioneer of the personal computer era who cofounded Apple and transformed it into one of the world’s most successful companies, died at age 56.

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2007

Following years of speculation—and denials—American track star Marion Jones pleaded guilty to steroid use, and several months later she was stripped of her five Olympic medals, three of which were gold. [Read our list of seven athletes behaving badly.]

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2001

Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants broke Mark McGwire’s single-season home-run record when he hit his 71st and 72nd home runs of the season and finished the season with 73. [How much do you know about baseball?]

U.S. Department of Defense

1998

The Judiciary Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives recommended impeachment hearings against President Bill Clinton. [Which U.S. presidents have been impeached?]

United Nations

1983

Lech Wałęsa, leader of Poland’s Solidarity union, received the Nobel Prize for Peace. [Take our quiz about the Nobel Prize.]

© 1997 Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

1975

Actress Kate Winslet, who was known for her sharply drawn portrayals of spirited and unusual women, was born in England. [Sort fact from fiction in our quiz about A-list actors.]

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1970

PBS began broadcasting on American television, and it became known for various programs, notably the children’s shows Sesame Street and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood (starring Fred Rogers).

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1969

The British television series Monty Python’s Flying Circus debuted on the BBC and proved to be a watershed for TV comedy around the world. [Test your knowledge of pop culture.]

© 1962 United Artists Corporation with Eon Productions

1962

The first installment in the James Bond film series, Dr. No, had its world premiere; the British spy film was adapted from Ian Fleming’s novel and starred Sean Connery. [Who are all of the actors who have played James Bond?]

© 1961 Paramount Pictures Corporation; all rights reserved

1961

The American romantic comedy Breakfast at Tiffany’s, an adaptation of Truman Capote’s novella, had its world premiere; it became especially known for Audrey Hepburn’s performance as the free-spirited Holly Golightly. [Take our quiz about women in classic cinema.]

Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (cph 3f03935)

1918

Allied forces broke through the Hindenburg Line in World War I. [Sort fact from fiction in our quiz about World War I.]

Courtesy of Esther C. Goddard

1882

Robert Goddard, generally acknowledged to be the father of modern rocketry, was born in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Edward S. Curtis Collection/Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (neg. no. LC-USZ61-2088)

1877

A small band of Nez Percé warriors, under the leadership of Chief Joseph, who were seeking to escape to Canada surrendered to U.S. forces that had tracked them through Idaho, Yellowstone Park, and Montana.