December 24th Today in History

Today’s Important Historical Events

1565 Compromise of the Nobles in Habsburg Netherlands closes against inquisition

1814 Treaty of Ghent signed, ending the War of 1812 between the United States, the United Kingdom and their allies

1936 1st radioactive isotope medicine administered in Berkeley, California

1943 US President FDR appoints General Eisenhower Supreme Commander of the Allied forces

Today’s Historical Events

563 The Byzantine church Hagia Sophia in Constantinople is dedicated for the second time after being destroyed by earthquakes.

640 John IV begins his reign as Catholic Pope

1046 Pope Clement II, [Suitger] elected

1294 Cardinal Benedetto Gaetani chosen as Pope Boniface VIII

1476 400 Burgundian soldiers freeze to death during siege of Nancy

1515 Thomas Wolsey appointed Lord Chancellor of England

1565 Compromise of the Nobles in Habsburg Netherlands closes against inquisition

1568 Uprising of Moriscos in Granada

Today’s Historical Events in Film and TV

1860 Actor Joseph Jefferson’s dramatization of “Rip Van Winkle” premieres in NYC

1922 BBC broadcasts first British radio play “The Truth about Father Christmas”

1951 1st opera commissioned for television – “Amahl and the Night Visitors” by Gian Carlo Menotti premieres on NBC with the NBC Opera Theater

1953 KHOL (now KHGI) TV channel 13 in Kearney, NB (ABC) begins broadcasting

1953 KOA (now KCNC) TV channel 4 in Denver, CO (NBC) begins broadcasting

1968 WATU (now WAGT) TV channel 26 in Augusta, GA (CBS) begins broadcasting

1970 Walt Disney releases animated musical “The Aristocats” featuring voices of Phil Harris, Eva Gabor, Hermione Baddeley, Sterling Holloway, and Scatman Crothers

Today’s Historical Events in Music

1818 Christmas carol “Silent Night” composed by Franz Xaver Gruber is first sung at St Nicholas parish church in Oberndorf, Austria

1871 Giusseppi Verdi’s “Aida” opera premieres in Cairo, Egypt

1906 Reginald Fessenden becoomes 1st to broadcast music over radio (disputed)

1920 Enrico Caruso gives his last public performance, with the Metropolitan Opera in NYC

1966 Oscar Brand and Paul Nassau’s musical “A Joyful Noise”, starring John Raitt, closes at Mark Hellinger Theater, NYC, after 12 performances

Today’s Historical Events in Sports

1889 Daniel Stover & William Hance patent bicycle with back pedal brake

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

1927 Test Cricket debut of Walter Hammond, who scored 51 & took 5-36 v S Af

1950 National Football League Championship, Cleveland Stadium: Cleveland Browns beat LA Rams, 30-28; Cleveland has 5 interceptions, Rams 1

1961 AFL Championship, Balboa Stadium, San Diego: Houston Oilers beat San Diego Chargers 10-3; Billy Cannon scores game’s only TD

1968 Ballon d’Or: Manchester United’s winger George Best wins award for best European football player ahead of teammate Bobby Charlton and Red Star Belgrade winger Dragan Džajić; first Northern Irish national to win the award

1969 Curt Flood writes to baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn refusing to accept the Cardinals’ right to deal him and in favor of free agency [1]

1974 MLB St Louis Cardinals Lou Brock is named Sportsman of the Year