Epic Idiot's what happened
On This Day

May 15

1993
First newborn to receive gene therapy: 4-day-old Andrew Gobea at Children's Hospital in Los Angeles. His genes were altered to correct ADA enzyme deficiency - an inherited condition known as "bubble boy" disease.

1987
Ishtar is released, at a cost of $40 million, it is called the worst movie ever made.

1984
An undamaged Mayan tomb is discovered.

1981
SCTV Network 90 debuts on NBC.

1972
Alabama Governor George C. Wallace is shot by Arthur Herman Bremer.

1970
First two women U.S. generals are named by Pres. Nixon.

1963
Last of the Mercury flights, Faith 7, is launched.

1941
Baseball: Joe DiMaggio begins his 56-game hitting streak. It ended July 17 after 91 hits for a .408 average.

1940
First successful U.S. helicopter flight: A craft built by the Vought-Sikorsky Corporation.

1940
First nylon stockings go on sale, stronger and cheaper than silk stockings, they were an instant hit.

1930
First airline flight with a stewardess: A United Airlines flight employing Ellen Church, a registered nurse.

1918
First regular airmail service, between Washington D.C. and New York City.

1869
National Woman Suffrage Association formed by Lucy Stone Blackwell.

1862
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is established.

1851
First college sorority formed, the Adelphians of Wesleyan College, becoming Alpha Delta Pi in 1904.

1702
England declares war against France, Queen Anne's War.

1941
Jack Jackson, underground cartoonist, created Comanche Man.

1936
Anna Maria Alberghetti, singer, actress. She made her American debut at Carnegie Hall when she was 14.

1918
Eddy Arnold, American country-western singer. Known as "The Tennessee Plowboy," he is the all-time best-selling country singer. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame (1966). Music: Bouquet of Roses (1948, #1) and I Really Don't Want to Know (1954, #1).

1905     d. 1994
Joseph Cotten, American actor. Film: Citizen Kane (1941), The Magnificent Ambersons (1942), and Journey into Fear (1942).

1905     d. 1970
Abraham Zapruder, American clothing manufacturer. He made the famous film of Pres. Kennedy's assassination in Dallas.

1902     d. 1976
Richard Joseph Daley, American politician, mayor of Chicago (1955-76). After the 1968 race riots he commented "the police aren't here to create disorder, the police are here to preserve disorder." He ordered police to shoot to kill arsonists and to maim looters.

1898     d. 1992
Arletty (Leonie Bathiat), famed French actress.

1859     d. 1906
Pierre Curie, French Nobel-winning physicist, pioneer in the study of radioactivity.

1856     d. 1919
Frank Baum, American author. Writings: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900).

1048     d. 1131
Omar Khayyam, Persian poet and mathematician, first to solve the general cubic equation of the third degree.

2003     b. 1929
June Carter Cash, American Grammy-winning singer, wife of Johnny Cash. TV: Grand Ole Opry.

1989     b. 1908
Johnny Green, American Oscar-winning songwriter. Music: Coquette (1928) and Body and Soul (1930). West Side Story (1961), Bye Bye Birdie (1963), and Oliver! (1968).

1948     b. 1886
Edward Joseph Flanagan, Irish-born American Roman Catholic monsignor, founder of Boys Town (1917). His motto was "There is no such thing as a bad boy."

1866     b. 1830
Emily Dickinson, American poet. Of her over 1,800 poems, only seven were published during her lifetime.

1482     b. 1397
Paolo Toscanelli, Italian mapmaker. His map, which incorrectly showed Asia as 3,000 miles west of Europe, led Columbus to his accidental discovery of America.

884     b. ????
Marinus I, religious leader, 108th Pope (882-884).

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