This Day in History

[not2big]

On this day in 2003, actor Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected governor of California after a contentious recall election. Schwarzenegger was one of 135 candidates on the ballot, which included career politicians, other actors, and one adult-film star

61168056-00B6-4F3B-A5C4-87FD7A65B669.jpg

At 15 years old, Arnold apparently saw no reason to dream small and laid out a life goal that seems pretty outrageous on paper. According to many of his childhood friends, Arnie’s life plan was to move to America, become a famous actor, and marry a Kennedy. And that’s exactly how that it went down. After starring in Hollywood’s biggest movies, Arnold married Maria Shriver, for twenty-five years, who is, in fact, a niece of John, Robert and Ted Kennedy.

[not2big]

On October 9, 1701, the Collegiate School of Connecticut, later named Yale University, was chartered in New Haven. Known as one of the top schools in the world,

68706E11-41A0-488A-88B0-75E6878DAFBE.jpg

One of the most exclusive and obscure college clubs is Yale’s secret society Skull & Bones. Students chosen for membership are often leaders on the campus, such as team captains, members of the political union, and newspaper editors. Only fifteen male and female juniors are chosen for admission each spring. The society’s most well known members include both George Bush senior and junior, William Howard Taft, and John Kerry. The group also allegedly stole the skulls of Pancho Villa, Geronimo, and Martin Van Buren.

[not2big]

On October 10, 2004, actor Christopher Reeve died at age 52, years after being paralyzed following a devastating accident where he was thrown from his horse.

1E727DEF-ED05-40AF-A402-BAEB7BD77295.jpg

Because he was still relatively unknown, Reeve only earned $250,000 for Superman, and his second film Superman II. The was peanuts compared to some of his co-stars. Gene Hackman was paid $2 million for his role as Lex Luthor and Marlon Brando received an astounding $3.7 million to play Jor-El. This made Brando the highest-paid movie star ever, at the time. The Superman actor didn't publicly complain about this, instead saying that "Superman brought him many opportunities". Brando, by comparison, sued the producers for not paying him enough and eventually took $14 million from them for appearing in just ten minutes of the movie.

[not2big]

On this day in 1870, General Robert E. Lee, the commander of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, died at his home in Lexington, Virginia.

451CCACE-DC96-41D9-8884-969F9D88F536.jpg

Lee was a West Point graduate, made a career out of the Army, and was respected by many. President Abraham Lincoln offered Lee the position of commander for the Union forces. He was also offered a high rank in the Confederate Army. In the end, he chose the latter. When he turned down the Union position, he stated that he could not engage in war against his homeland of Virginia. And, since Virginia had democratically decided to leave, he felt compelled to join their cause.

[not2big]

On October 13, 1775, the Continental Congress authorized the construction of the first American naval force—the precursor to the United States Navy.

A14B94AF-1177-4BCC-9FDA-A9E28010AB78.jpg

After the Revolutionary War, The Navy Was DisbandedThe Americans were down to two warships when France joined the battle against Britain’s Royal Navy. In September 1781, French ships took control of Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay, which led to the British surrender at the Battle of Yorktown on October 19 and the end of the war. With money tight and no clear reason to maintain them, the Continental Navy’s remaining ships were then sold or given away following the war.

Since the Royal Navy was no longer present, Barbary pirates from North Africa began attacking American merchant ships. In 1785 and 1793, American sailors were seized by the pirates and imprisoned, which forced the United States to pay for their release. In 1794, the Navy was revived with the construction of six warships, which included the USS Constitution, better known as Old Ironsides.

[not2big]

On October 15, 1951, I Love Lucy premiered on television, and after its run, it remained one of the most popular reruns in television history. To mark this landmark event in TV history.

25889D56-F603-4C81-8B60-BE8BBCD1771B.jpg

The one-camera format, which had been common in most shows, forced directors to reshoot scenes from different angles and forced audiences to come up with almost-identical reactions to the same scenes over and over again. The three-camera format saved time by allowing the show to be shot from different angles, with the film stitched together. Legend has it that I Love Lucy pioneered the format which has become standard for so many sitcoms (in fact, it was the first to film in front of a live audience). The use of three cameras allowed them to shoot the scenes in sequence three different shots of each scene.

[not2big]

On October 17, 1931, Al Capone was found guilty and sentenced to eleven years in federal prison for tax evasion.

40AA9749-1217-45F1-BBA8-319EC7DBAE33.jpg

When jazz legend Fats Waller was just 21-years-old he was held at gun point and bundled into a limo after finishing a set at a Chicago club. Fearing for his life he was pleasantly surprised to discover that instead of being led to his death, he was in fact being forced to perform at Chicago mafia henchman Al Capone’s 27th birthday party. And what a party it was. It lasted for three days, with Fats sleeping at his piano between sets, and eventually going home with thousands of dollars in tips.

[not2big]

On this day in 1867, the U.S. formally took possession of Alaska after purchasing the territory from Russia

277A3608-7323-494E-BFDA-65E98A5A9A35.jpg


Alaska is home to the country’s best real estate bargain In 1867, the United States bought Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million, which is a lot less than some celebrity homes these days. Some mocked the purchase because the land was considered worthless, so they called it “Seward’s Folly” after William Seward, the Secretary of State who brokered the deal. Those people who mocked it might have changed their minds if they had known gold and oil would be discovered years later, which produces billions in tax revenues each year.

[Physdoc]

On this day in 1867, the U.S. formally took possession of Alaska after purchasing the territory from Russia

Yes, should be called "de Stoeckl's folly"

But my favorite thing about your post is your new avatar! Love it! Hahahaha

[not2big]

On October 20, 1944, Douglas MacArthur returned with troops to the Philippines to wrest the country from its Japanese occupation, keeping his promise of “I shall return.”

13671DF8-A134-41C3-BEBA-61C7FA392A2D.jpg

On April 11, 1951, President Harry Truman relieved General MacArthur from his Korean War command for insubordination after the general publicly criticized the president’s conduct of the war. MacArthur, more popular than the president at the time, received a hero’s welcome upon his arrival back in the United States. On April 20, 1951, he was greeted in New York by a ticker-tape parade complete with cheering crowds, including me, and confetti. A day before, he had addressed Congress in a joint session and closed his speech with “Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.”