2009: Day 205
This Day In Disgrace: (1974) The U.S. Supreme Court orders the Nixon Administration to turn over subpoenaed White House Tapes to the Watergate special prosecutor. (2002) Ohio Representative James Traficant is expelled from the House of Representatives for charges of taking bribes, filing false tax returns, racketeering and using government aides to perform chores at his farm and on his houseboat.
The How'd That Work Out For You? Dept.: (1929) The Kellogg-Brand Pact, renouncing war as an instrument of foreign policy, goes into effect. Among the signatory nations were Germany, Italy and Japan.
Good News, Everyone! (1683) Slavery is abolished in Chile by the Spanish crown. (1911) Hiram Bingham III re-discovers the Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu. Of course, it had been "lost" only in the sense that the plundering Spaniards hadn't found it, but the locals knew it was there, buried under jungle growth. Pablito Alvarez, an 11 year-old native, was the one who led Bingham to it. (1948) Haredevil Hare debuts, introducing Marvin the Martian to the people of Earth. (1969) The Apollo 11 capsule splashes down safely in the Pacific Ocean.
Born Today:
(1783) Simon Bolivar, The Liberator.
(1802) Alexandre Dumas, author of The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers.
(1853) American actor, playwright and stage-manager William Gillette, who was both considered to be the definitive Sherlock Holmes of his day (appearing on stage as Holmes for over 30 years, portraying him in a silent-era film and on radio), and whose plays sought to bring more lifelike (as opposed to the overblown and overly-dramatic, which were the stage standards at the time) characters to the stage.
(1878) Author Lord Dunsany (Edward Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany) , whose fantasy pieces have been cited as influences by H.P. Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard, Guillermo Dl Toro, Michael Moorcock and Neil Gaiman, among others.
(1897) Aviatrix and author Amelia Earhart.
(1899) Chief, actor and author Dan George, probably most widely known for his roles in Little Big Man and The Outlaw Josie Wales.
(1916) Novelist John D. MacDonald.
(1934) Pultitzer-winning political cartoonist Pat Oliphant.
(1936) Actress and comedienne Ruth Buzzi.
(1936) Film and tv actor Mark Goddard, who will likely always first be remembered as Major Don West, of the Jupiter 2.
(1940) Character actor Dan Hedaya.
(1942) Actor Chris Sarandon. Probably best remembered as Prince Humperdinck (Princess Bride) and the voice of Jack Skellington (Nightmare Before Christmas.)
(1947) Airplane! star Robert Hays.
(1949) If you feel the n-word fighting to get out, it's probably just because it's Michael Richards' birthday.
(1951) Lynda Carter, who will probably always be best known as tv's Wonder Woman.
(1952) Director and screenwriter Gus Van Sant.
(1964) Currently unwanted major league baseball player Barry Bonds.
(1965) Director and producer Doug Liman.
(1968) Singer, actress and an alum of the late, lamented Pushing Daisies, Kristin Chenoweth. Olive Snook, we miss you.
(1968) American comics book writer and artist Colleen Doran.
(1969) Actress, singer, record & television producer, and fashion designer Jenifer Lopez. Not to be confused with Cartman's hand.
(1979) Australian actress Rose Byrne.
(1981) Actress Summer Glau.
Last Gasps:
(1980) Comedian and actor Peter Sellers. Certainly there were other famous deaths on this date, but Sellers is more than enough.
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