Epic Idiot's what happened
On This Day

November 21

1980
Who shot J.R.?: 78 million people watch Dallas to find out Kriston shot J.R., making this the highest rated TV episode to date.

1961
Mississippi's segregation laws for buses and public transportation are ruled unconstitutional by a federal court.

1931
Frankenstein The famous film, starring Boris Karloff as the monster, opens.

1922
First woman U.S. Senator: Mrs. Rebecca Latimer Felton of Georgia is seated.

1789
North Carolina becomes the 12th state.

1783
First manned balloon free flight: Jean Pilatre de Rozier and Francois Laurent d'Arlandes in a 25-minute flight over Paris. They covered six miles and reached an altitude of about 300 feet.

1620
The Mayflower: The ship lands at Cape Cod and the Mayflower Compact is signed.

1952
Lorna Luft, American actress. TV: Trapper John, M.D (Libby Kegler). She is the daughter of Judy Garland.

1945
Goldie Hawn, American Oscar-winning actress. Film: Cactus Flower (1969, Oscar) and Private Benjamin (1980). TV: Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In.

1943
Marlo Thomas (Margaret Thomas), American actress. TV: That Girl (Ann Marie).

1940
Dr. John (Malcolm Rebennack), American Grammy-winning musician, Walk on Guilded Splinters (1968), Iko Iko (1972), and Right Place, Wrong Time (1973), Makin' Whoopee (1989, Grammy). As a child, he was pictured on Ivory Soap packages.

1920
Stan Musial, American baseball legend, "Stan the Man." He was the first three-time winner of the Most Valuable Player Award (1943, 46, 48).

1854     d. 1922
Benedict XV, Italian religious leader, 258th Pope (1914-22).

1835     d. 1916
Hetty Green (Henrietta Howland Green), American financial wizard and miser, called the Witch of Wall Street. She wore the same black dress for years (eventually it turned green and then brown), used old newspapers for lingerie and lived in an unheated apartment. Her estate was valued at $100,000,000.

1694     d. 1778
Jean Francois Marie Voltaire, French author, philosopher, to whom the quote "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it" is attributed.

1993     b. 1934
Bill Bixby, American actor. TV: My Favorite Martian (reporter Tim O'Hara), The Courtship of Eddie's Father (Eddie's father), and The Incredible Hulk (David Banner - You don't want to make him mad).

1988     b. 1903
Carl Hubbell, American baseball hall-of-famer. He won 253 games with the N.Y. Giants.

1982     b. 1911
Lee Patrick, American actress. Film: The Maltese Falcon (1941, Sam Spade's secretary).

1963     b. 1890
Robert Stroud, American convicted killer, known as the "Birdman of Alcatraz." He became an expert on bird diseases while spending 44 years in solitary confinement. He was portrayed by Burt Lancaster in the 1962 movie.

1899     b. 1844
Garret Augustus Hobart, 24th U.S. Vice-President (1897-99).

1555     b. 1494
Georgius Agricola, German scholar, the "Father of Mineralogy." His writings served as a guide for metallurgist for over 200 years.

496     b. ????
Saint Gelasius I, African-born religious leader, 49th Pope (492-496).

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