1538 – King Francois I orders renewed pursuit of Protestants
1767 – Van Ritter von Glucks opera “Alceste” premieres
1912 – 1st US postage stamp picturing an airplane, 20 cent parcel post, issued
1913 – Charlie Chaplin begins his film career at Keystone for $150 a week
1944 – Nazi Germany launches a counteroffensive against the Allies in the Ardennes region of Belgium, beginning the ‘Battle of the Bulge’
1950 – “Let’s Make an Opera” closes at John Golden Theater NYC after 5 performances
1966 – The Beatles release “Everywhere it’s Christmas” in UK
1969 – British House of Commons votes 343-185 to abolish the death penalty
1974 – US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
1979 – QB Roger Staubach’s last regular season game with the Dallas Cowboys