Epic Idiot's what happened
On This Day

September 22

1986
Alf debuts on NBC.

1982
The Reader's Digest Bible: The condensed version, only 60% the size of the original, is published.

1982
Family Ties debuts on NBC. This is Pres. Reagan's favorite show.

1980
Toxic Shock Syndrome: The Rely Tampon is recalled by Proctor & Gamble after studies showed it increased the risk of toxic shock syndrome.

1975
Presidential assassination attempt: Sarah Jane Moore is apprehended by an ex-marine bystander who deflected her gun as she fired at Pres. Ford.

1961
Bus Segregation: The Interstate Commerce Commission orders the end to segregation on interstate buses.

1927
Battle of the Long Count: During the world heavyweight boxing championship, Gene Tunney is canvassed in the 7th round by Jack Dempsey, but the count was delayed when Dempsey wouldn't move to a neutral corner. Tunney rose at the count of eight and went on to win by a decision.

1914
First submarine to sink an enemy ship at sea: The German U-9 sinks the HMS Aboukir. A short while later it sank the HMS Hogue and HMS Cressy.

1893
First U.S.-built gas-powered automobile: The Duryea brothers of Springfield take their automobile for a test drive.

1827
Mormons: Joseph Smith is given a set of gold plates by an Angel. Using a pair of magic glasses, he translated these into the Book of Mormon. (Source: An Almanac of the Christian Church)

1789
U.S. Post Office: The post office is established by congress.

1692
Salem Witch Trials: The last eight of the 20 people executed for witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts are hanged. (Source: An Almanac of the Christian Church)

1961
Scott Baio, American actor. TV: Happy Days (Chachi) and Charles in Charge (title role).

1960
Joan Jett, American singer. Music: I Love Rock 'n' Roll (1982, #1).

1956
Debby Boone, American singer.

1954
Shari Belafonte, American actress. TV: Hotel (Julie Gillette).

1927
Tommy Lasorda, American baseball pitcher, manager. Quote: Talking about your troubles is no good. Eighty percent of your friends don't care and the rest are glad. (source: Fifth 637 Best Things Anybody Ever Said)

1914
Martha Scott, American actress. Film: Our Town (1940).

1904     d. 1973
Allan "Rocky" Lane (Harold Albershart), American western actor. TV: Mr. Ed (voice of Mr. Ed).

1902     d. 1988
John Houseman (Jacques Haussmann), American Oscar-winning actor. Film: The Paper Chase (1973, Oscar). TV: He proclaimed in commercials "They make money the old-fashioned way; They earn it."

1885     d. 1957
Erich Von Stroheim (Erich Oswald Stroheim), German-born actor, director. He was billed as "The Man You Love to Hate."

1791     d. 1867
Michael Faraday, English scientist. He discovered electromagnetic induction (1831), the magnetism of light (1845), the compound bencene, and developed the first dynamo.

2003     b. 1932
Gordon Jump, American actor. TV: WKRP In Cincinnati (Mr. Carlson) and the Maytag repairman of the commercials (1989-2003).

1996     b. 1914
Dorothy Lamour (Mary Leta Dorothy Slaton), American actress. Film: The Jungle Princess (1936, as Ulah) and star of numerous Hope-Crosby road films.

1989     b. 1888
Irving Berlin (Israel Bayline), songwriter. Music: God Bless America, and White Christmas. Recordings of White Christmas have sold over 100,000,000 copies.

1987     b. 1922
Dan Rowan, American comedian. TV: Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In.

1956     b. 1877
Frederick Soddy, English chemist, formed the theory of isotopes and won the 1921 Nobel Prize for chemistry.

1776     b. 1755
Nathan Hale, American revolution officer. While being hanged by the British as a spy he proclaimed "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."

1774     b. 1705
Clement XIV, Italian religious leader, 249th Pope (1769-74). He was pressured into issuing a brief abolishing the Jesuits (1773).

530     b. ????
Saint Felix IV, religious leader, 54th Pope (526-530).

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