152 years ago – In 1872, Yellowstone became America’s First National Park.
92 years ago – In 1932, someone crept onto the estate of Charles A. Lindbergh, climbed a homemade ladder, placed a ransom note on the window sill, and Kidnapped the Lindbergh Baby. It was called The Crime of the Century.
A $50,000 ransom was paid, but Charles Jr. was not returned. Seventy-three days later, the remains of the 20-month-old boy were found in the woods near the house . . . dead of a fractured skull.
After a two-year manhunt, police arrested 35-year-old German illegal immigrant Bruno Hauptmann . . . who was convicted and executed. As a direct result of this case, Kidnapping Became a Federal Crime.
75 years ago – In 1949, Joe Louis retired as Heavyweight Boxing Champion. “The Brown Bomber” had held the title longer than any other champ . . . 11 years, eight months and seven days.
63 years ago – In 1961, President Kennedy established the Peace Corps.
56 years ago – In 1968, Johnny Cash married June Carter Cash. June died on May 15, 2003. Johnny died four months later, on September 12, 2003.
55 years ago – In 1969, Mickey Mantle announced his retirement from baseball.
49 years ago – In 1975, Stevie Wonder won five Grammys, including Best Album for “Fulfillingness’ First Finale”.
. . . Olivia Newton John won the Record of the Year for “I Honestly Love You“.
. . . Song of the Year was Barbra Streisand’s “The Way We Were“.
. . . Richard Pryor won Best Comedy Record for “That [N-word’s] Crazy”.
39 years ago – In 1985, “The Sure Thing” was released . . . starring John Cusack, Anthony Edwards and Daphne Zuniga.
36 years ago – In 1988, Joe Besser, one of the lesser-known Three Stooges, died at age 80. In the Stooges, Joe replaced Shemp, who had replaced his brother Curly, who had replaced his brother Shemp.
33 years ago – In 1991, “The Doors” hit theaters . . . starring Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison.
30 years ago – In 1994, Whitney Houston won Album of the Year for “The Bodyguard”, and Record of the Year for “I Will Always Love You“.
. . . Song of the Year was “Aladdin’s” theme song “A Whole New World“.
. . . Best Musical Album was “The Who’s Tommy”.
. . . Toni Braxton won Best New Artist.
29 years ago – In 1995, Sheryl Crow won the Best New Artist Grammy and took Record of the Year for “All I Wanna Do“.
Bruce Springsteen also won four Grammys, including Song of the Year, for his AIDS anthem “Streets of Philadelphia“.
Tony Bennett won Best Album for “MTV Unplugged”.
29 years ago – In 1995, R.E.M. drummer Bill Berry had to leave the stage during a Switzerland concert after collapsing from a ruptured brain aneurysm. He didn’t die.
19 years ago – In 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Death Penalty was Unconstitutional for Juveniles who committed their crimes under the age of 18.
18 years ago – In 2006, Jack Wild . . . who played young Jimmy, the owner of Freddie the Magic Flute, on “H.R. Pufnstuf“. . . died from MOUTH CANCER.
14 years ago – In 2010, Jay Leno returned as host of “The Tonight Show”. His final show was February 6, 2014. Leno hosted 4,610 times. His predecessor, Johnny Carson, hosted “The Tonight Show” 4,531.
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