Epic Idiot's what happened
On This Day

December 26

1996
JonBenét Murder Case: The Ramsey's discover their daughter is missing and a three-page ransom note. Her body was later found in the wine cellar.

1967
Magical Mystery Tour by the Beatles is first broadcast, on BBC-TV, later released in the U.S. as a movie.

1931
First musical play to win a Pulitzer: George Gershwin's Of Thee I Sing opens in New York City.

1929
Comics: Sea Hag debuts in the Popeye comic strip.

1908
First black heavyweight boxing champion: Jack Johnson becomes champ when he KO's Tommy Burns.

1865
First coffee percolator is patented, by inventor James H. Nason.

1776
Battle of Trenton, Gen. Washington captures 1,000 Hessian troops during the American Revolution.

1974
Tiffany Brissette, American actress. TV: Small Wonder (Vicki the robot).

1940
Phil Spector, American music producer, "Tycoon of Teen," developed the "Wall of Sound" recording technique.

1927
Alan King (Irwin Kniberg), American comedian, appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show a record 83 times.

1921
Steve Allen, American comedian, songwriter. TV: The Tonight Show (1954, creator and its first host).

1914
Richard Widmark, American actor. Film: Kiss of Death (1947) and Madigan (1968).

1893     d. 1949
Robert LeRoy Ripley, American cartoonist, created Believe-It-or-Not (1918). Note: He claimed his birthday was Dec 25, believe it or not.

1893     d. 1976
Mao Tse-tung, Chinese Communist leader, "Founding Father" of the People's Republic of China.

1891     d. 1980
Henry Miller, American novelist. Writings: Tropic of Cancer (1931) and Tropic of Capricorn (1939).

1837     d. 1917
George Dewey, American naval officer, noted for his spectacular defeat of the Spanish at Manilla Bay during the Spanish-American War (1898). He was the first U.S. admiral (1899).

1792     d. 1871
Charles Babbage, English mathematician. He designed a mechanical digital computer, although it was never built.

1738     d. 1789
Thomas Nelson, American patriot, signer of the Declaration of Independence, governor of Virginia (1781).

2005     b. 1948
Vincent Schiavelli, American actor. Film: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982, Mr. Vargas the biology teacher), Ghost (1990, the sad-eyed subway ghost). TV: The Corner Bar (Peter Panama, the first sustained gay character on network American TV). His distinctive looks were due to Marfan syndrome.

1986     b. 1902
Elsa Lanchester (Elizabeth Sullivan), English singer, actress. Film: The Bride of Frankenstein (1935, the blushing bride).

1974     b. 1894
Jack Benny (Benjamin Kubelsky), American comedian, famed for his violin concertos.

1972     b. 1884
Harry S. Truman, 33rd U.S. President (1945-53) and 34th U.S. Vice-President.

1931     b. 1851
Melvil Dewey, American librarian, creator of the Dewey Decimal System (1876).

1831     b. 1750
Stephen Girard, French philanthropist, founder of Girard College at Philadelphia and for whom Girard, Ohio is named..

418     b. ????
Saint Zozimus, Greek-born religious leader, 41st Pope (417-418).

268     b. ????
Saint Dionysius, religious leader, 25th Pope (259-268).

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