Epic Idiot's what happened
On This Day

March 19

1991
Longest Fingernails:The fingernails of Shridhar Chillal's left hand are measured to have a combined length of 181 inches. (source: Guinness Book of World Records)

1987
Jim Bakker: The televangelist leader of the PTL Club resigns his ministry as a result of accusations of sexual misconduct. He was later convicted of defrauding his followers out of $158 million.

1979
C-SPAN: The United States House of Representatives begins broadcasting its day-to-day business on C-SPAN.  It's first broadcast was a speech by congressman Al Gore.

1954
First color TV broadcast of a prizefight: Joe Giardello knocks out Willie Troy at Madison Square Garden, broadcasts by WNBT. (Source: Famous First Facts)

1953
First TV broadcast of the Academy awards: The Greatest Show on Earth wins the Oscar for Best Picture.

1945
Heaviest casualties sustained by a U.S. ship during World War II: The USS Franklin is hit by a Kamikaze bomber, killing 832 sailors.

1928
Amos and Andy debuts on radio, starring Freeman Gosden and Charles Correl.

1925
First U.S. fractional-denomination postage stamp goes on sale, the 1½¢ light brown Warren Harding.

1918
Daylight savings time is passed by Congress. This version of the law was later repealed.

1916
First U.S. Air Combat Mission: Eight planes take off in pursuit of Pancho Villa.

1831
First U.S. bank robbery: $245,000 is stolen from the City Bank of New York City by Edward Smith. He was arrested and sentenced to five years hard labor.

1787
New York State grants John Fitch the sole right to make steamboats.

1955
Bruce Willis, American Emmy-winning actor. Film: Die Hard (1988). TV: Moonlighting (David Addison).

1947
Glenn Close, American Tony-winning actress. Film: The Big Chill (1983) and Fatal Attraction (1987).

1937
Clarence "Frogman" Henry, American rhythm and blues singer. He opened 18 concerts for The Beatles in 1964.

1936
Ursula Andress, Swiss actress. Film: Dr. No (1962, Honey Ryder).

1933
Philip Roth, American author. Writings: Portnoy's Complaint (1969).

1928
Patrick McGoohan, American-born Irish Emmy-winning actor. In 1962, he turned down the role of James Bond. TV: Secret Agent (secret agent John Drake), The Prisoner (Prisoner Number 6), The Man in the Iron Mask (1977, Fouquet). Film: Escape From Alcatraz (1969).

1920
Tige Andrews (Tiger Androwaous), American actor. TV: The Mod Squad (Capt. Adam Greer).

1916     d. 1990
Irving Wallace, American novelist. His books have sold over 120,000,000 copies.

1906     d. 1962
Adolf Eichmann, German war criminal. As a member of the SS, he organized the transportation of Jews to concentration camps for "the final solution." After the war he was discovered hiding in Argentina. He was then smuggled to Israel where he was hanged for his war crimes.

1894     d. 1975
Jackie "Moms" Mabley (Loretta Mary Aiken), American comedienne.  She was one the most successful entertainers of the black vaudeville stage and was billed as "The Funniest Woman in the World."

1891     d. 1974
Earl Warren, American Chief Justice of the United States. "It would indeed be ironic if, in the name of national defense, we would sanction the subversion of one of those liberties which make the defense of our nation worthwhile."

1883     d. 1957
Dr. Evarts Ambrose Graham, performed the first lung removal operation. He removed the cancerous lung of a fellow physician, curing the patient. He was one of the first to note that almost all lung cancer patients were habitual smokers.

1860     d. 1925
William Jennings Bryan, American orator, called the Great Commoner, made his famous "Cross of Gold" speech at the 1896 Democratic National Convention, and was one of the prosecuting attorneys at the John Scopes Monkey Trial.

1821     d. 1890
Sir Richard Francis Burton, English explorer. He discovered Lake Tanganyika and translated The Arabian Nights into English.

1813     d. 1873
David Livingstone, Scottish explorer, missionary. In 1871 he was found in Africa by reporter Henry Stanley, prompting the famous quote "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?"

1734     d. 1817
Thomas McKean, American politician, member of (1774-83) and 8th president (1781) of the Continental Congress, and signer of the Declaration of Independence. Although present during its drafting, he didn't sign until 1781.

1590     d. 1657
William Bradford, American historian, signer of the Mayflower Compact (1620). He is called "The Father of American History" for his writings of the early Plymouth Colony. He was elected governor of Plymouth Colony 30 times.

2004     b. 1953
Brian Maxwell, Canadian athlete and founder of PowerBar.  He died of a heart attack.

1979     b. 1913
Al Hodge, American actor. Radio: The Green Hornet (title role). TV: Captain Video and His Video Rangers (second person to play the captain).

1950     b. 1875
Edgar Rice Burroughs, American novelist, creator of Tarzan (1914).

1721     b. 1649
Clement XI, Italian religious leader, 243rd Pope (1700-21).

1687     b. 1643
Robert Cavelier de La Salle, French explorer. He explored the Mississippi Basin and established the first settlement in Texas (1685).

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