Epic Idiot's what happened
On This Day

August 18

1973
Texas Chain Saw Massacre: According to the 1974 movie.

1963
First black to graduate from the University of Mississippi: 3,000 troops had been used to put down riots when James Meredith entered 115-year-old university in 1962.

1939
The Wizard of Oz is released, starring Judy Garland as Dorothy.

1920
19th Amendment: Constitutional Amendment granting American women the right to vote is approved by Tennessee, providing the necessary two-thirds majority needed for ratification.

1873
First recorded climb of Mt. Whitney: The second highest peak in the U.S. is reached by John Lucas, Charles Begole, and A.H. Johnson.

1872
First mail-order catalog: A. Montgomery Ward issues his first catalog. It included a money-back guarantee.

1970
Malcolm-Jamal Warner, American actor. TV: The Cosby Show (Theo Huxtable).

1958
Madeleine Stowe, American actress, co-star of The Last of the Mohicans (1992).

1954
Patrick Swayze, American actor. Film: Red Dawn (1984), Dirty Dancing (1987), and Ghost (1990).

1943
Martin Mull, American actor. TV: Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (Garth Gimble) and Fernwood 2-Night (host - Garth Gimble's brother Barth).

1937
Robert Redford, American actor, Oscar-winning director. Film: Barefoot in the Park (1967), Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), The Sting (1973), All The President's Men (1976), and Ordinary People (1980, Best Director Oscar). He was the first man to appear on the cover of Ladies' Home Journal magazine.

1933
Roman Polanski, Polish director. Film: Repulsion (1965), The Fearless Vampire Killers (1967), and Rosemary's Baby (1968). In 1977, he fled the U.S. while awaiting trial for raping a 13-year-old girl.

1927
Rosalynn Carter, American former first lady.

1922     d. 2006
Shelley Winters (Shirley Schrift), American Oscar-Emmy-winning actress. Film: A Place In the Sun (1951), The Diary of Anne Frank (1959, Oscar), A Patch of Blue (1965, Oscar), Bloody Mamma (1970, Ma Barker), and The Poseidon Adventure (1972).  TV: Roseanne's grandmother in Roseanne.

1917     d. 2006
Caspar Weinberger, American politician, secretary of health, education, and welfare (1973-75), secretary of defense under President Ronald Reagan. He was indicted in the Iran-contra affair but pardoned by President George H. Bush.

1774     d. 1809
Meriwether Lewis, American soldier, explorer, governor of Louisiana territory. With Clark he explored the American West (1804-06) establishing a route to the Pacific.

1587     d. circa 1590
Virginia Dare, first child born in North America to English parents. She disappeared with the lost colonists of Roanoke.

1990     b. 1904
B.F. Skinner (Burrhus Frederic Skinner), American psychologist, pioneer in behaviorism.

1981     b. 1893
Anita Loos, American author, playwright. Writings: Gentleman Prefer Blondes (1925) and But Gentleman Marry Brunettes (1928).

1940     b. 1875
Walter Percy Chrysler, American auto executive, founder of the Chrysler Automobile Company.

1559     b. ????
Paul IV, Italian religious leader, 223rd Pope (1555-59).

1503     b. 1431
Alexander VI, Spanish-born religious leader, 214th Pope (1492-1503).

1276     b. ????
Adrian V, Italian religious leader, 186th Pope (July - Aug. 1276). He died before without having been ordained even to the priesthood.

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