March 19 Today in History

Today’s Important Historical Events

1279 A Mongolian victory at the naval Battle of Yamen ends the Song Dynasty in China

1644 200 members of Peking imperial family and court commit suicide in loyalty to the Emperor

1863 Confederate cruiser SS Georgiana destroyed on her maiden voyage with a cargo of munitions, and medicines then valued over $1,000,000. Wreck discovered exactly 102 years later by teenage diver and pioneer underwater archaeologist E. Lee Spence.

1920 US Senate rejects Treaty of Versailles for 2nd time refusing to ratify League of Nations’ covenant (maintaining isolation policy)

1932 The Sydney Harbour Bridge is opened in Sydney, Australia

2003 Airstrikes by an American and British-led coalition signal the beginning of the Invasion of Iraq, without United Nations support and in defiance of world opinion

Today’s Historical Events

1227 Count Ugolino of Segna elected Pope Gregory IX

1279 A Mongolian victory at the naval Battle of Yamen ends the Song Dynasty in China

1452 Frederick III of Hapsburg crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Nicholas V in Rome

1524 Giovanni de Varrazano, a Florentine explorer in the service of King Francis I of France, lands around area of Carolinas

1540 Court of Holland names Amsterdam sheriff John Hubrechtsz a “heretic”

1563 Peace of Amboise: Rights for Huguenots

1571 Spanish troops occupy Manila

1628 Massachusetts Bay Colony granted land by England

Today’s Historical Events in Flim and TV

1928 “Amos & Andy” debuts on radio (NBC Blue Network-WMAQ Chicago)

1953 25th Academy Awards: “Greatest Show on Earth”, Gary Cooper & Shirley Booth win (1st time televised)

1964 Sean Connery‘s 1st day of shooting on James Bond film “Goldfinger”

1977 Last episode of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” premieres on CBS, with a group hug searching for a box tissues, then singing “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary”

1979 US House of Representatives begins live TV broadcasts via C-SPAN

1981 -21] Emmy 8th Daytime Awards – Susan Lucci loses for 2nd time

1984 American sitcom “Kate & Allie” premieres on CBS TV starring Susan Saint James and Jane Curtin

2016 Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, directed by Zack Synder and starring Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill, first premieres in Mexico City

Today’s Historical Events in Music

1859 Opera “Faust” by Charles Gounod premieres in Paris

1864 Opera “Mireille” premieres in Paris

1870 The opera “Guarany” premieres in Milan

1906 Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari‘s “Quattro Rusteghi” premieres in Munich

1917 Victor Herbert and Harry Blossom’s operetta “Eileen”, loosely based on a novel by Herbert’s grandfather, premieres at Shubert Theater, New York City

1941 Jimmy Dorsey & orchestra record “Green Eyes” & “Maria Elena”

1944 British composer Michael Tippett’s oratorio “A Child of Our Time” premieres at the Adelphi Theatre, London, England

1959 George Weiss, Bo Goldman, and Glenn Paxton musical “First Impressions”, adapted from Jane Austen‘s “Pride and Prejudice”, starring Polly Bergen; Farley Granger, and Hermione Gingold, opens at Alvin Theater, NYC; runs for 84 performances

Today’s Historical Events in Sports

1880 42nd Grand National: Tommy Beasley aboard Irish 8/1 chance Empress wins by 2 lengths from defending champion The Liberator

1892 3 brothers Hearne play in same Test Cricket England v South Africa (Cape Town)

1914 Stanley Cup, Arena Gardens, Toronto ON: Toronto HC (NHA) defeat Victoria Aristocrats (PCHA), 2-1 for a 3-0 series sweep; final series of the “challenge” era

1915 VI Summer (Modern) Olympic Games: IOC President Pierre de Coubertin writes to Associated Press indicating 1916 Berlin Games won’t take place because of WWI

1932 England beats Scotland, 16-3 at Twickenham, London to force a 3-way share with Wales and Ireland of renewed Home Nations Rugby Championship; France expelled, alleged professionalism

1937 96th Grand National: With King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in attendance, aptly-named Royal Mail ridden by jockey Evan Williams wins at odds of 100/6; estimated crowd, 300,000

1938 NHL Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Americans combine to score 8 goals in just under 5 minutes; Toronto wins game 8-5