1194 – Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI crowned King of Sicily in Palermo Cathedral
1553 – Battle of Tucapel: Mapuche rebels under Lautaro defeats the Spanish conquistadors and exetutes the governor of Chile Pedro de Valdivia.
1818 – 1st known Christmas carol (“Silent Night, Holy Night” – “Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht) sung (Austria)
1900 – Arthur Schnitzler’s novel “Leutnant Gustl” (“None But The Brave”) banned in Germany due to its unflattering portrait of military protocol
1911 – Edward Knoblock’s “Kismet” premieres in NYC
1923 – Imperial Theater opens at 249 W 45th St NYC
1951 – West Indies wrap up 6 wicket defeat of Australia on first Christmas Day of Test cricket, the 3rd day of 3rd Test at the Adelaide Oval
1973 – Arab oil ministers cancel January 5 percent production cut; Saudi Arabian oil minister promises 10 percent OPEC production rise
1979 – Ballon d’Or: Hamburg’s English forward Kevin Keegan wins his 2nd consecutive trophy as best football player in Europe; beats Bayern Munich forward Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Ajax sweeper Ruud Krol
1994 – “Comedy Tonight” closes at Lunt-Fontanne Theater NYC after 8 performances
Author: gil7
Today in History for 25th December 2023
Historical Events
1776 – American Revolutionary War: George Washington crosses the Delaware River into New Jersey, surprises and defeats 1,400 Hessians
1900 – Arthur Schnitzler’s novel “Leutnant Gustl” (“None But The Brave”) banned in Germany due to its unflattering portrait of military protocol
1931 – Albert Lonergan scores 137 SA v Qld at Adelaide before 5,697
1959 – Bishop Karol Wojtyla (future Pope John Paul II) celebrates outdoor Mass at midnight of Christmas morning to demonstrate the need for a Catholic church in the community of Nowa Huta
1983 – 1st live telecast of Christmas Parade at the EPCOT Centre, Disney World Florida
1987 – Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme, who escaped 2 days earlier, recaptured
Famous Birthdays
1856 – James “Pud” Galvin, American Baseball HOF pitcher (MLB’s first 300-game winner; no-hitters 1880, 84; Buffalo Bisons), born in St. Louis, Missouri (d. 1902)
1893 – Bert Bertram, Australian actor (How to Steal a Million, Shamus), born in Peterborough, Australia (d. 1991)
1928 – Harry Klein, English jazz saxophonist, born in London, United Kingdom (d. 2010)
1928 – Irish McCalla, American actress and artist (Sheena Queen of Jungle), born in Pawnee City, Nebraska (d. 2002)
1941 – Ronald Perera, American contemporary classical composer, born in Boston, Massachusetts
1965 – Dmitri Mironov, Russian ice hockey defenseman (Olympic gold 1992; NHL All Star 1997-98; Stanley Cup 1998 Detroit RWs, Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins), born in Moscow, Russia
Famous Deaths
1249 – Peter Nolascus, Spanish monastery founder/St, dies
1406 – Henry III, King of Castile and León (1390-1406), dies at 27
1765 – Antonio Tonelli, Italian cellist and composer, dies at 79
1954 – Johnny Ace, American rhythm and blues singer, accidentally shoots himself in the head at 25
1992 – Garrison H Davidson, US lt-gen commandant (West Point), dies
2021 – Tifini Hale, American pop singer (Party – “Rodeo”; “That’s Why”), dies of cardiac arrest at 46
Famous Deaths for 24th December 2023
1909 – Nicolaas Pierson, Dutch economist and politician (Prime Minister of the Netherlands 1897-1901), dies at 80
1932 – Eyvind Alnæs, Norwegian pianist, organist, choral director, and composer, dies at 60
1975 – Tilly Losch, Austrian dancer and actress (Duel in the Sun; Garden of Allah), dies at about 71 (birth date disputed)
1976 – Duarte Nuno, Duke of Braganza, unfulfilled claimant to the throne of Portugal, dies at 69
1979 – Rudi [Rudolf] Dutschke, German student leader, dies at 39
1986 – Gardner Fox, American sci-fi author (Atom; Hawkman; Zatanna), dies at 75
1992 – Peyo [Pierre Culliford], Belgian cartoonist (The Smurfs; Johan et Pirlouit), dies of a heart attack at 64
2013 – Frédéric Back, German-born Canadian short film director and screenwriter (The Man Who Planted Trees), dies at 89
2016 – Richard Adams, English author (Watership Down), dies at 96
2021 – Willibert Kremer, German soccer coach (MSV Duisburg, Bayer Leverkusen, 1860 Munich, Fortuna Düsseldorf), dies at 82
Historical Events for 24th December 2023
1777 – James Cook is first European to visit Kiritimati, also called Christmas Island
1798 – Russia and Britain sign Second anti-French Coalition
1921 – Ottawa’s Harry Broadbent scores in 10-0 Senators blowout of the Montreal Canadiens; first in 16-game NHL record goal-scoring streak; Charlie Simmer’s 13 game streak (1979) is considered modern-day record
1943 – US President FDR appoints General Eisenhower Supreme Commander of the Allied forces
1948 – First US completely solar heated house is occupied (Dover, Mass)
1954 – Laos gains its independence
1960 – Dutch bishops question papacy values
1966 – USAF C144 military charter aircraft crashes near Binh Thai, Vietnam, killing 129
1977 – “Ghost to the Post”, Raiders tight end Dave Casper (“The Ghost”) catches a 42-yard reception to set up the Raiders’ tying field goal near the end of regulation (Raiders win in OT)
2000 – The Texas 7 hold up a sports store in Irving, Texas. Police officer Aubrey Hawkins is shot during the robbery
Today in History for 24th December 2023
Historical Events
1515 – Thomas Wolsey appointed Lord Chancellor of England
1914 – German plane drops bombs on Dover, England
1941 – First ships of admiral Nagumo’s Pearl Harbor fleet return to Japan
1953 – Wellington-Auckland (NZ) express train swept away in flood kills 166
1997 – The Dominican Republic becomes a member of the Berne Convention copyright treaty
1999 – Opening of St Peter’s Holy Door by Pope John Paul II in approach of 3rd millennium
Famous Birthdays
1880 – Johnny Gruelle, American cartoonist, children’s book writer and creator of Raggedy Ann, born in Arcola, Illinois (d. 1939)
1910 – William “Bill” Pickering, NASA scientist (JPL), born in Wellington, New Zealand (d. 2004)
1931 – Jill Bennett, British actress (Lady Jane, Concrete Jungle), born in Penang, Straits Settlements (d. 1990)
1946 – Brenda Howard, American bisexual activist, born in The Bronx, New York City (d. 2005)
1967 – Mikhail Shchennikov, Russian race walker, born in Yekaterinburg, Russia
1968 – Joe Scuderi, Australian cricketer (South Australian all-rounder), born in Ingham, Australia
Famous Deaths
1707 – Noel Coypel, French painter, dies at 78
1926 – Johan Castberg, Norwegian politician (Castbergian Child Laws protecting extra-martial children), dies at 64
1941 – Siegfried Alkan, German composer, dies at 83
1955 – Nana Bryant, American stage and screen actress (Ladies of the Chorus; Harvey; Brewster’s Millions), dies at 67
1994 – Buddy Ace, [Jimmie Lee Land] American Texas blues singer, dies of a heart attack while performing at 57
2006 – Braguinha [Carlos Alberto Ferreira Braga], Brazilian songwriter, dies at 99
Famous Deaths for 23rd December 2023
1116 – Ivo van Chartres, French canonist/bishop of Chartres/saint, dies
1236 – Philippus Cancellarius, French theologist/poet (Summa Cum Laude), dies
1891 – Holger Simon Paulli, Danish conductor and composer, dies at 81
1946 – John A. Sampson, American gynecologist (b. 1873)
1950 – Vincenzo Tommasini, Italian composer (Le donne de buon umore), dies at 72
1961 – Kurt Meyer, German SS officer (b. 1910)
1990 – Frank King, West Indian cricketer (WI fast bowler played 14 Tests 1953-56), dies at 64
1995 – Patric Knowles [Reginald Lawrence Knowles], British actor (Chisum, Arnold, Mutiny), dies from a brain hemorrhage at 84
1996 – Krešimir Fribec, Croatian composer, dies at 88
2018 – (Ann) “Honey” Lantree, British rock drummer (The Honeycombs), dies at 75
Historical Events for 23rd December 2023
619 – Boniface V begins his reign as Catholic Pope
1724 – Emperor Charles VI names Archduchess Maria Elisabeth of Austria land guardian of the Austrian Netherlands
1834 – Joseph Hansom of London receives patent for Hansom cabs
1912 – 1st “Keystone Kops” film, entitled “Hoffmeyer’s Legacy”
1921 – Gangster Carlo Gambino enters the United States as an illegal immigrant on the SS Vincenzo Florio
1946 – University of Tennessee refuses to play Duquesne University after they suggested they may use a black player in their basketball game
1952 – Alain Bombard arrives in Barbados after 65 days at sea proving his theory that a shipwrecked person could survive with almost no provisions, despite having lost 25 kg (65 lbs) in weight
1960 – Jan De Quay’s Dutch government falls
1960 – King Saud of Saudi Arabia takes power
1975 – US Congress passes Metric Conversion Act
Today in History for 23rd December 2023
Historical Events
1690 – English astronomer John Flamsteed observes Uranus without realizing it’s undiscovered
1907 – 1st all-steel passengar railroad coach completed, Altoona, Pennsylvania
1921 – Gangster Carlo Gambino enters the United States as an illegal immigrant on the SS Vincenzo Florio
1933 – Dutch communist Marinus van der Lubbe sentenced to death for setting the German Reichstag on fire
1946 – Highest ridership in NYC subway history (8.8 million passengers)
1970 – NYC World Trade Center reaches highest point (411 m)
Famous Birthdays
1897 – Julien Carette, French actor (Sylvia and the Phantom), born in Paris, France (d. 1966)
1935 – Paul Hornung, American College Football Hall of Fame halfback (Heisman Trophy 1956, Notre Dame; Pro Bowl 1959, 60, Green Bay Packers), born in Louisville, Kentucky
1936 – Claude Albert Coppens, Belgian pianist, born in Schaerbeek, Belgium
1951 – Anthony Phillips, English guitarist (Genesis, 1967-70), born in London, England
1962 – Jerry Reynolds, NBA guard/forward (Milwaukee Bucks), born in French Lick, Indiana
1979 – Kenny Miller, Scottish football player, born in Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Famous Deaths
1652 – John Cotton, Puritan clergyman in Massachusetts Bay colony, dies at 68
1962 – George Saiko, Austrian writer, dies at 70
1997 – Keith Bentley, English international racing cyclist, dies at 72
2010 – Fred Hargesheimer, American World War II pilot (b. 1916)
2015 – Alfred G. Gilman, American scientist (1994 Nobel Prize for G-protein discoveries), dies at 74
2022 – Txetxu Rojo, Spanish soccer forward (18 caps; Athletic Bilbao 413 games) and manager (Athletic Bilbao, Celta Vigo, Osasuna, Real Zaragoza), dies at 75
Famous Deaths for 22nd December 2023
1419 – Antipope Pope John XXIII [Baldassare Cossa], Italian Pope (1410-15) who opposed Pope Gregory XII and is considered an antipope by the Catholic Church, dies at 81
1668 – Stephen Day, English-born colonial printer (The Psalms in Meter – 1st book printed in American colonies), dies at about 58
1681 – Richard Alleine, English Puritan clergyman (b. 1611)
1923 – Arthur H. Bird, American composer, dies at 67
1965 – Al Ritz [Albert Joachim], American vaudevillian (The Ritz Brothers), dancer and actor (The Gorilla;, Hi’ya, Chum; Straight, Place and Show), dies of a heart attack at 64
1973 – Domingo Julio Gomez Garcia, composer, dies at 87
1992 – Harry Bluestone, British-American jazz and session violinist, bandleader, and music publisher, dies from Parkinson’s disease at 85
1997 – Johnny Coles, trumpeter, dies at 71
2015 – Carson Van Osten, American power pop-rock bassist (Nazz – “Open My Eyes”, “Hello It’s Me), and comic strip artist (Disney), dies at 70
2016 – Bill Price, British audio engineer (Tom Jones; Wings: Sparks; Elton John), and record producer (The Clash; Sex Pistols; Waterboys), dies of cancer at 72
Historical Events for 22nd December 2023
1135 – Norman nobles recognize Stefanus van Blois as English king
1907 – Saint-Saëns’/Fokine’s ballet “Le Cygne” premieres in St Petersburg
1962 – Kinderman Place in the Bronx named
1962 – 1,000,000th NBA point scored
1963 – Oakland Raider Tom Flores passes for 6 touchdowns vs Houston (52-49)
1970 – Treblinka SS commander Franz Stangl sentenced to life imprisonment
1971 – USSR performs underground nuclear test
1976 – 35 Unification church couples wed in NYC
1978 – Thailand adopts constitution
2022 – “American life expectancy is now at its lowest in nearly two decades” – 76.4 years, according to new report by CDC, biggest factors in the fall among many, COVID-19 and drug overdoses