Today in History: December 25, 1941 “White Christmas,” one of the most instantly recognizable songs in history, was introduced to the world on Christmas Day 1941. Composed by famed songwriter Irving Berlin, the song was performed on NBC radio during Bing Crosby’s weekly radio program. It went on to become the top-selling single of all time, with an estimated 50 […]

Today in History: December 24, 1923 The first national Christmas tree lighting occurred on Christmas Eve 1923, the result of an idea first put forth by President Woodrow Wilson ten years earlier. In part, the president lighting a national Christmas tree was also a way for the electrical industry trade group The Society for Electrical Development to coax consumers into […]

Today in History: December 23, 1888 Most everyone knows the official story of how Vincent van Gogh, the epitome of the tortured artist, on this day in history, 1888, supposedly cut off his left earlobe during a bout of madness and then presented it to a prostitute as a gift. The recipient promptly fainted, and the heavily bleeding Van Gogh […]

Today in History: December 20, 1962 On this day in 1962, a very young, well-scrubbed barbershop quartet from Ogden, Utah, The Osmand Brothers, made the first of many appearances on Andy Williams’ popular variety show, performing “I’m a Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas” and “Side By Side.” The original singing Osmond Brothers, Alan, Wayne, Merrill and Jay were 9, 7, […]

Today in History: December 19, 1843 Published on this day in history, 1843, Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” was written under intense financial pressure – his wife was pregnant with their fifth child, his parents and siblings were in need of funds, and he had a large mortgage payment looming. Dickens was also angry over how little money he’d made […]

Today in History: December 18, 1878 John “Black Jack” Kehoe, the last of the Molly Maguires, was hanged on this date in 1878 in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, ostensibly for a cold case murder with such flimsy evidence the governor was extremely hesitant to sign the death warrant. In reality, he was to die for encouraging the Irish immigrants working the Pennsylvania […]

Today in History: December 17, 1538 When Pope Paul III excommunicated Henry VIII on December 17, 1538, it hardly came as a surprise. It was simply the inevitable outcome of a political game of cat and mouse between the English throne and the Vatican that dragged on for almost a decade. By the 1520s, Henry was having doubts about his […]

Today in History: December 16, 1960 Park Slope Air Disaster in Brooklyn, NY (1960) was the first of its kind – two airliners trying to make their way through a soupy mess of snow, sleet and fog only to violently collide over New York City, falling to the ground below in a huge fiery explosion of flaming wreckage. The accident […]

This Day In History: December 13, 1545 The Council of Trent, which began on this day in history, 1545, was the Catholic Church taking stock after the drama and challenges presented by Luther and the Protestant Reformation. Despite internal bickering, external dangers and a couple of lengthy interruptions in the proceedings, the council was indispensable in revitalizing – and rehabilitating […]

Today in History: December 12, 1408 The medieval chivalric Order of the Dragon was founded on this day by Sigismund, King of Hungary (who later became Holy Roman Emperor,) and his queen Barbara of Celje. It was similar to other military orders of the time, such as the Order of St. George, that was a distinction granted to those defending […]

Today in History: December 11, 1964 In 1964, Sam Cooke was a rising star in the music world. With hits including “You Send Me” and “Cupid,” Sam was teetering on the brink of superstardom. He had a distinctively smooth, soulful sound that appealed to a wide audience.  Then, quite suddenly, on this day in history, 1964, he was killed. So […]

Today in History: December 10, 1936 On this day in 1936, King Edward VIII became the first British monarch to voluntarily give up the throne. Even more shocking to his subjects, government and family was His Majesty’s reason for doing so – a twice-divorced American woman named Wallis Warfield Simpson. Prince Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David was the […]

Today in History December 9, 1965 One of the most beloved Christmas specials of all time, A Charlie Brown Christmas, debuted on this day in history, 1965. The story begins with a short documentary by producer Lee Mendelson about Peanuts creator Charles Schulz, entitled “A Boy Named Charlie Brown.” The 1963 film featured live, animated Peanuts characters by Bill Melendez, […]

Today in History: December 6, 1921 At the start of the 20th century, Ireland was a part of the United Kingdom, as it had been since the 12th century. And as long as Ireland had been part of the UK, there had always been voices calling for Ireland’s independence. The Anglo-minority in Ireland acted as absentee landlords to the Catholic […]