17 Aug 1944
Remnants of the Nazi-backed Vichy French government fled for Germany as the French Resistance began taking Parisian strongpoints. Pétain and his staff were interned by Hitler, while Laval's government resigned.

17 Aug 1945
The American government drafted plans for the swift conversion of factories from war to commercial production following predictions that five million would be unemployed in six months and nine million within a year.

 

August 18

1492 - The first grammar of the Spanishh language ( grammatica de la language castellano) is presented to Queen Isabella I.


1612 - The trial of the Pendle Witches, one of England's most famous witch trials begins at Lancaster Assizen.

1877 - American astronomer Asaph Hall discovered Phobos, one of Mars's moons.


1920 - The Nineteenth Ammendment to the United States Constitution is ratified guaranteeing women's suffrage.

1956 - Elvis Presley's "Hound Dog" and "Don't Be Cruel" reach umber one on te charts.

1774 - Meriweather Clark is born.


1920 - Shelly Winters is born.


1934 - Roberto Clemente was born.

 

August 18 marks the days, 15 years apart, that two superstar groups made their live debuts with their 'permanent' line-ups.

1962: Once the deal was made for Ringo Starr to join The Beatles, the Fab Four played together publicly for the first time at The Horticultural Society Dance at The Majestic Ballroom in Birkenhead, England. The quartet had only a two-hour rehearsal in preparation. They would play that venue 16 more times in the next 8 months.


That show:


On this date in 1977, The Police made their live debut as a trio when they played at Rebecca's in Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. The Police were originally touted as a punk band, which was refuted by many reviewers. They became globally popular fairly quickly are generally regarded as one of the first New Wave groups to achieve mainstream success, playing a style of rock that was influenced by punk, reggae, and jazz.

 

1920: American women get the right to vote
The US women's suffrage movement has walked an arduous road, from 1848's Seneca Falls Convention, through decades of activism, and some violent resistance, but the journey ends as the Nineteenth Amendment to the US Constitution is ratified 42 years after Congress first introduced it.

 

Gehrig's 1,000 Game Streak

1931 Lou Gehrig hitless in Detroit, his 1,000th consecutively played game.


Lou Gehrig

Full Name: Henry Louis Gehrig
Profession: Baseball Player

Nationality:

American
Biography: American baseball first baseman who played 17 seasons in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees (1923–1939).

A seven-time All-Star and six-time World Series champion, Gehrig won the Triple Crown in 1934 and was twice named the American League's Most Valuable Player. Gehrig was the first MLB player to have his uniform number retired, and he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939.

Born: June 19, 1903
Birthplace: NYC, New York, USA

Generation: Greatest Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Rabbit
Star Sign: Gemini

Died: June 2, 1941 (aged 37)
Cause of Death: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a disorder now commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig's Disease

 

18 Aug 1944
With Allied forces rapidly advancing across France, the German Seventh Army retreated across the Orne River in France, leaving 18,000 men behind to be captured.
In southern France, Germans began evacuating from areas of the Spanish border and the Bay of Biscay.

18 Aug 1945
The last air conflict of WW2 took place over Tokyo, Japan. Two US reconnaissance aircraft were attacked by fighters and flak. One American crewman was killed and two fighters were shot down. Americans began parachuting medical and aid teams into selected prisoners of war camps in the Japanese home islands.

 

On August 19, 1991, Yankel Rosenbaum, a visiting student from Australia, was stabbed by a mob in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, New York. The crowd, consisting of young Black men, had been intent on seeking revenge for the death of seven-year-old Gavin Cato, who had been struck by a car driven by a Hasidic Jew, Yosef Lifsh, three hours earlier. Rosenbaum died the next day. Lifsh was later cleared of any criminal wrongdoing.

This sparked the Crown Heights riot, spurred on by ex-drug pusher turned race-baiter Al Sharpton and Charles Price.

In 1996, a videotape of the Crown Heights incident came to light, showing Charles Price inciting a mob to assault Jewish people in retaliation for Cato’s death. He shouted, “Kill the Jews!” and, “An eye for an eye!” Al Sharpton was not charged due to lack of evidence.

In February 1997, a jury convicted both Lemrick Nelson, Rosenbaum's murderer, and Price for their roles in Rosenbaum’s murder. Nelson was sentenced to 19 years in prison, while Price received 21 years, despite his claim that he had been exercising his right to freedom of speech.





Al Sharpton inciting the riots:

 

Augusr 19

295 BC - The first Temple to Venus{Roman goddess of love,beauty and fertility} is dedicated by Quintus Fabius Maximus Gurges during the Third Samnite War.


1561 - Mary, Queen of Scots, aged 18, returns Scotland after spending 13 years in France.


1892 - Salem Witch Trials: In Salem, Province of Massaccussers Bay, five people{one woman and four men} are executed (dunked) after being convicted of witchcraft.

1812 - War of 1812: American frigate USS Constitution defeats the British frigate HMS Guerriere off the coast of Nova Scotia, earning the nickname "Olld Ironside"


1909 - Indianaapolis Motor Speedway opens in Speedway, IIndiana, home of the Indy 500.

1921 - Gene Rodenberry (Star Trek) was born,


1931 - Legendary jockey Billy Shoemaker is born.8,833 career victories


1977 - Groucho Marx (one the comedic legends) sadly passes away at age 87.

 

1895: John Wesley Hardin, one of the bloodiest killers of the Old West, is murdered by an off-duty policeman in a saloon in El Paso, Texas.

 

On this day in history, August 19, 1812, Old Ironsides legend born in smashing victory over Royal Navy
USS Constitution routed HMS Guerriere in open sea battle, proved might of fledgling US Navy

The USS Constitution is shown firing its cannons off Castle Island in Boston on its annual 4th of July turn around in Boston Harbor. She is the oldest commissioned warship in the world.

The USS Constitution, the pride of the American naval fleet as the young nation fought for its independence yet again, earned its memorable Old Ironsides nickname on this day in history, August 19, 1812.

"Huzzah, her sides are made of iron!" an America sailor shouted joyfully, as the ship's white oak planks and live oak frame, grown in the swamps of Georgia, repelled volleys of direct cannon fire from British warship HMS Guerriere.

The Constitution, under Captain Isaac Hull, destroyed the Guerriere and forced her to surrender in the close-combat sea exchange. The British ship was so badly beaten that Hull scuttled it rather than capture it as a trophy of war.

The legend of Old Ironsides was only beginning.

She proved an invincible force at sea.

"The Constitution went on to defeat or capture seven more British ships in the War of 1812 and ran the British blockade of Boston twice," notes History.com.

 

19 Aug 1944
The liberation of Paris begins as, just outside the city, American troops began to reach the River Seine while the Germans retreat eastward.

In a last ditch effort, German troops in the Falaise pocket in France were ordered to break out.

Field Marshal Günther von Kluge committed suicide by taking cyanide near Metz, France after being relieved of his command and recalled to Berlin.

F6F-5 Hellcat fighters flying from USS Tulagi became the first US Navy Hellcats to score aerial victories in the European Theater when fighters from Squadron VOF-1 shot down three Heinkel He-111 medium bombers south of Lyon in southern France.

 

August 20

1707 - The first Sisge of Pensacola comes to an end with the failure of the British to capture it from the Spanish.

1775 - The Spanish establish the Presidio San Augustin del Tuuson. Later to become Tuscon, Arizona.

1858 - Charles Darwin first publishes his theory of evolution through natural selection in "The Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London" alongside Alfred Russel Wallaces same theory.

1866 - President Andrew Johnson formally declares the American Civil War over.

1938 - Lou Gehrig hits his 23rd carreer grand slam, a record that would stand for 75 years until it was broken by Alex Rodrig
quez(steroids)

1975 - Viking program NASA the Viking 1 planetary probe towards Mars.

1977 - Voyager program: NASA launches the Voyager 2 spacecraft

1912 - Washington Senators future HOF pitcher Walter Johnsonwins AL record 15th straight games


1949 - Led Zeppelin lead singer Robert Plant is born.


2012 Phyllis Diller passes away.


2017 - Jerry Lewis passes away.

 

On August 20, 1968, Dr. David M. Lipscomb, the director of the University of Tennessee's audio lab, reported that a guinea pig subjected over a three month period to 88 hours of Rock music recorded at a Knoxville disco at 120 decibels suffered acute damage to the inner ears.

The shock of this quickly travelled around the world, inciting riots and looting in major cities, while animal activists took control of the U.S. Capitol building, causing a bloody confrontation that resulted in 14 deaths.
Yeah... none of that shit happened...

Steve Paul, the owner of a New York disco replied "Should a major increase in guinea pig attendance occur at The Scene, we'll certainly bear their comfort in mind."



Oh, and in 1940 on this day, Stalin had Leon Trotsky, a Communist Party co-founder and a potential future political rival murdered in Mexico, where he lived in exile.

Reportedly, no Guinea Pigs were harmed.

 

On this day in history, August 20, 2017, legendary comedian Jerry Lewis dies at 91
American comedian and actor was known for his longtime charity work


Born into an entertainment family, Jerry Lewis originally rose to stardom for his mimicking act, which ultimately led him to perform in New York City nightclubs. He famously paired up with singer and actor Dean Martin for years.

On this day in history, Aug. 20, 2017, 91-year-old Jerry Lewis died of natural causes at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada.

One of the most well-known American comedians of the 1950s, '60s and well beyond, Lewis was born as either Jerome or Joseph Levitch in Newark, New Jersey in 1926, according to various sources.

The comedian and actor rose to stardom partly due to his early mimicking talents, which ultimately led to a successful career all over the world.

Lewis was born into an entertainment family. His father, known as Danny Lewis, was a musical arranger, while his mother, Rachel, played piano.

He started performing at age five. When he was just 12 years old, he began miming music that he heard. The unique talent led him to drop out of high school to perform, according to Britannica.

Upon his arrival in New York City, Lewis met singer and actor Dean Martin in 1946.

Martin "would provide the songs and be straight man to Lewis [the] manic comic," noted The Los Angeles Times.

The two soon became a popular team.

The duo successfully performed in theaters, including the famous New York City Copacabana nightclub, and ultimately signed a deal with Paramount Pictures, as IMDb reported.

"They were hits on radio, on TV, especially as hosts of the NBC’s ‘The Colgate Comedy Hour,’ in live appearances and in a series of comedy features for Paramount Pictures, including ‘The Caddy and ’The Stooge,'" The LA Times also said.
They enjoyed massive success and remained a popular comedic team throughout the mid-1950s.

Others memorable films included "My Friend Irma" and "Living It Up."

The partnership did not last, however. Lewis and Martin ended up having a falling out after they did a film called "Pardners" in 1956.

 

1882: 1812 Overture Premiers
Listeners gather under a Moscow tent to get the first public earful of Tchaikovsky's new 'Festival overture.' Blasts of cannon fire finish this feisty 70th anniversary tribute to Russia's rout of Napoleon, and the '1812 Overture' will survive down the ages as everyone's favorite fireworks soundtrack.

 

20 Aug 1944
The Falaise pocket in France began to close around German troops; the Allies captured over 4,000 prisoners of war.

French resistance fighters liberated Toulouse, France.

Charles De Gaulle landed at Cherbourg, France. Meeting Dwight Eisenhower later in the day, he argued with the Allied commander that the French capital of Paris should be a priority objective that should not be bypassed which was Ike's original plan. Motivated politically, Eisenhower agreed.

US 79th Division, XV Corps, Third Army reached Seine River above Paris, France.

 

ugust 21

1770 - James Cook formally claims eastern Australia for Great Britain, naming it New South Wales.

1858 - The first of the Lincoln-Douglas debates is held In Ottawa, Illinois.


1863 - Lawrence, Kansas is destroyed by pro-Confederate guerrillas known as Quantrill's Raiders

1888 - The first successful adding machine in the United States is patented by William Seward Burroughs.


!911 - The Mona Lisa is stolen by Vincenzo Perruggia, a Louvre employee.


1959 - United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs an executive order proclaiming Hawaii the 50th state of the Union.


1904 - Count Basie is born.


1938 - Kenny Rogers was born.


1942 - Walt Disney's animated movie "Bambi"is released based on the book byFelixSalten.


View attachment Captainjamescookportrait.jpg

 

On August 21, 1966, the beatles performed in two cities to make up for a cancellation due to rain the previous day. First they performed at Crosley Field in Cincinnati, Ohio. Then they flew to St. Louis, Missouri, for a concert at Busch Stadium, where they performed under a tarpaulin due to heavy rain.

It was this gig that convinced Paul McCartney that The Beatles should stop performing live. The rest of the band was tired of the grind and wanted to concentrate on their studio work and agreed. After the end of the U.S. tour 8 days later, the band never sold another concert ticket. Their last commercial performance was at Candlestick Park in San Francisco on August 29, 1966.

After that, the only time The Beatles performed live was when they played the famous 42-minute concert on the rooftop of their Apple Corps headquarters on January 30, 1969.



The Busch Stadium show:


Their last live show, 8 days later:

 

1883: Out of tragedy rises a center of healing
A humid summer day turns tragic as an F5 tornado bears down on Rochester, Minnesota. After caring for casualties in an area with no hospital, Dr. William Mayo and his sons will be inspired to team with local nuns and open a medical facility that evolves into the world-renowned Mayo Clinic.

 

Ruth 1st to 600 HRs

1931 Yankees slugger Babe Ruth becomes the first MLB player to hit 600 career home runs as NY defeats St. Louis Browns, 11-7 at Sportsman's Park.


Babe Ruth

Full Name: George Herman Ruth, Jr.
Profession: Baseball Legend

Nationality:

American
Biography: Nicknamed "The Bambino" and "The Sultan of Swat", Ruth is widely considered the greatest baseball player of all time and one of the most significant American sporting icons. One of the first five people chose to be in the Baseball Hall of Fame, Ruth set numerous records in his lifetime.

Originally a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, Ruth achieved his greatest fame as a slugging outfielder for the New York Yankees. In 1927, as part of the Murderer's Row lineup, he scored 60 home runs.

Ruth's larger-than-life persona made him a legendary figure of the 1920s, and his off-field behavior was often controversial. Ruth became ill with cancer in 1946 and died two years later.

Born: February 6, 1895
Birthplace: Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Generation: Lost Generation
Star Sign: Aquarius

Died: August 16, 1948 (aged 53)
Cause of Death: Cancer