Associated Press
Today in History: Thursday, October 01, 2015
On Oct. 1, 1949, Mao Zedong proclaimed the People’s Republic of China during a ceremony in Beijing.
On this date in:
1903- The visiting Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Boston Americans 7-3 in the first World Series game.
1908- Henry Ford introduced the Model T automobile to the market; each car cost $825.
1936- General Francisco Franco was proclaimed the head of an insurgent Spanish state.
1939- Winston Churchill described the Soviet Union as “a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma” during a radio broadcast.
1961- Roger Maris of the New York Yankees hit his 61st home run of the season, breaking the record Babe Ruth set in 1927.
1962- Johnny Carson debuted as regular host of NBC’s “Tonight” show.
1964- The Free Speech Movement was launched at the University of California at Berkeley.
1971- Walt Disney World opened in Orlando, Fla.
1982- Sony began selling the first commercial compact disc player in Japan.
1993- Polly Klaas, 12, was abducted from her Petaluma, Calif., home during a slumber party and murdered. (Her case inspired California’s three-strikes law.)
2001- The Supreme Court suspended former President Bill Clinton from practicing before the high court.
2008- A $700 billion financial industry bailout won lopsided passage in the Senate, 74-25, after it was loaded with tax breaks and other sweeteners.
Today’s Birthdays:
Former President Jimmy Carter turns 91 years old today.
Julie Andrews, Actress, singer, 80
Rod Carew, Baseball Hall of Famer, 70
Stephen Collins, Actor (“7th Heaven”), 68
Randy Quaid, Actor, 65
Youssou N’Dour, Singer, 56
Esai Morales, Actor, 53
Mark McGwire, Baseball player, 52
Cindy Margolis, Actress, model, 50
Kevin Griffin, Rock musician (Better Than Ezra), 47
Brie Larson, Actress (“United States of Tara”), 26
Actor Zach Galifianakis turns 46 years old today.