What Happened On
First Mustang built
Photo Credit: Alvintrusty
First Mustang builtPhoto Credit: Alvintrusty
Ford Mustang
April 17, 1964
Ford's new sports car the Mustang officially goes on sale. At a base price of $2,368, it sold an industry record of 417,000 units in its first year. It was originally intended to be a mid-engine two-seater roadster, but that changed when the sales of the Thunderbird increased after adding a back seat.
Douglas A-4 Skyhawks flying sorties over combat areas during the invasion
Douglas A-4 Skyhawks flying sorties over combat areas during the invasion
Bay of Pigs Invasion
April 17, 1961
The Bay of Pigs Invasion is led by Cuban exiles, trained, armed, and directed by the U.S., in an effort to overthrow Cuban Prime Minister Fidel Castro. It failed. The invading force was quickly defeated by the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces under the command of Castro.
Daffy in Porky's Duck Hunt (left) vs. Daffy today
Daffy in Porky's Duck Hunt (left) vs. Daffy today
Daffy Duck
April 17, 1937
The cartoon duck makes his first appearance, in Porky's Duck Hunt. Daffy was voiced by Mel Blanc from 1937 to 1989 (52 years). The original Daffy Duck more resembled an actual duck and had a less pronounced lisp than the modern version. The cartoon was originally going to have Porky Pig harassed by a number of crazy ducks but the film's animator, Bob Clampett, suggested that the crazy ducks be merged into a single duck - and Daffy was born.
Columbus
April 17, 1492
An agreement is signed between Christopher Columbus and the Spanish monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, for a voyage to find a new route to the East Indies.
World Record for Standing on One Foot
April 17, 1982
34 hours, is set by N. Ravi (India). Source: Guinness Book of World Records
Civil War
April 17, 1861
Virginia becomes the 8th state to secede from the Union.
Henry Hudson
April 17, 1610
The famed explorer sets sail on his fateful voyage to find a North-West passage. His crew would mutiny 14 months later, setting him adrift never to be heard from again.
Birthdays
William Holden (William Franklin Beedle Jr.)
Born April 17, 1918 d. 1981
American Oscar-Emmy-winning actor. Film: Stalag 17 (1953), The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), The Wild Bunch (1969), and Network (1976).
According to the coroner's report, he died in his home when he slipped on a rug, fell on an end table lacerating his head, and subsequently bled to death. He was intoxicated at the time. Forensic evidence suggested he was conscious for at least 30 minutes after the fall.
Frank's lynching. Judge Morris (far right in a straw hat), organized the crowd after the lynching.
Frank's lynching. Judge Morris (far right in a straw hat), organized the crowd after the lynching.
Leo M. Frank
Born April 17, 1884 d. 1915
American factory worker. He was convicted of murdering 14-year-old Mary Phagan. Although sentenced to death, after reviewing the evidence the governor commuted his sentence to life in prison. Angered by the change in sentencing, a mob kidnapped Frank from prison and lynched him. The lynch mob was said to include prominent citizens, including former Georgia Governor Joseph Mackey Brown. Nobody was ever charged in the lynching.
His conviction was based largely on the testimony of Jim Conley, but was overturned in 1986 after evidence surfaced implicating Conley.
First African-American Elected Judge in the U.S.
Mifflin Wistar Gibbs
Born April 17, 1823 d. 1915
American judge. First black elected judge in the U.S. (1873, Little Rock, Arkansas). In 1858, angered by California passing discriminatory laws preventing blacks from owning property, not allowing them to give evidence against a white person in court, and requiring them to wear badges showing they had paid for the privilege to live there, he moved to British Columbia. He later moved back to the U.S.
Founding of Santiago by Pedro de Valdivia
Founding of Santiago by Pedro de Valdivia
Executed by Pouring Molten Gold Down His Throat
Pedro de Valdivia
Born April 17, 1497 d. 1553
Spanish conquistador and first Governor of Chile, founder of Santiago, Concepción, and Valdivia. He was killed during a campaign against the Araucanian Indians. Legend has it that the Araucanians captured and executed him by pouring molten gold down his throat to satisfy his thirst for treasures.
Teri Austin
Born April 17, 1957
Canadian actress. TV: Knots Landing (1979, Jill Bennett). Film: Raising Cain (1992, Karen).
Harry Reasoner
Born April 17, 1923 d. 1991
American Emmy-winning newscaster. TV: 60 Minutes (1968-70, 1978–91).
Riddle: What do you get if you cross a gorilla with a computer?
Arthur Lake (Arthur Silverlake)
Born April 17, 1905 d. 1987
American actor. He played Dagwood Bumstead on radio, TV, and the movies.
Thornton Wilder
Born April 17, 1897 d. 1975
American Pulitzer-winning novelist, playwright. Writings: The Bridge of San Luis Rey (1927, Pulitzer), Our Town (1938, Pulitzer), and The Skin of Our Teeth (1942, Pulitzer). Quote: "Marriage is the price men pay for sex; sex is the price women pay for marriage."
Irene and Vernon Castle
Irene and Vernon Castle
Irene Castle
Born April 17, 1893 d. 1969
American dancer. She and her husband Vernon Castle popularized the Fox-trot dance (c1912).
UFO Abductee
George Adamski
Born April 17, 1891 d. 1965
Polish-American extraterrestrial abductee. Some regard him as the first modern abductee and one of the most famous of the 1950s. Others regard him as an elaborate hoaxer. He claimed to have met with friendly aliens, photographed their spaceships, and to have traveled to the Moon and other planets with them.
During prohibition, he founded the "Royal Order of Tibet" and was given a government license to make wine for "religious purposes." Adamski claimed, "I made enough wine for all of Southern California. I was making a fortune."
John Pierpont Morgan
Born April 17, 1837 d. 1913
American financier, co-founder of U.S. Steel (1901).
Samuel Chase
Born April 17, 1741 d. 1811
American Revolutionary leader. Signer of the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Supreme Court justice.
Deaths
Barbara Bush (Barbara Pierce)
Died April 17, 2018 b. 1925
American First Lady (1989-93), American Second Lady (1981-89). Wife of George H. W. Bush 41st U.S. President and mother of George W. Bush 43rd U.S. President. She was a descendant of Franklin Pierce 14th U.S. president (1853-57). Family literacy was Barbara Bush's cause as First Lady and she helped develop the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.
Photo Credit: Healthambit
Photo Credit: Healthambit
Masha and Dasha Krivoshlyapova
Died April 17, 2003 b. 1950
Russian Siamese twins. The only known Siamese twins having 2 heads, 4 arms, and 3 legs. After Masha died of a heart attack, Dasha refused to be separated and died 17 hours later.
Benjamin Franklin
Died April 17, 1790 b. 1706
American founding father. Signer of both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, and for whom the short-lived State of Franklin was named.
Franklin owned two slaves who worked as house servants. In his later years, he came to despise slavery and freed them. In 1787, he became president of a Pennsylvania abolitionist society and in 1790 petitioned Congress to grant liberty "to those unhappy men who alone in this land of freedom are degraded into perpetual bondage."
Doris Roberts (Doris May Green)
Died April 17, 2016 b. 1925
American Emmy-winning actress. TV: Remington Steele (1983-87, secretary Mildred Krebs) and Everybody Loves Raymond (1996-2005, Raymond's mother).
Deanna Durbin (Edna Mae Durbin)
Died April 17, 2013 b. 1921
Canadian Oscar-winning actress, singer. Movies: Three Smart Girls (1936, the success of which helped save Universal Studios from bankruptcy). In 1947, she was the highest-paid woman in the United States. Her fan club was the world's largest during her active years.
Kitty Carlisle (Catherine Conn)
Died April 17, 2007 b. 1910
American actress, singer. TV: To Tell the Truth (panelist). Film: A Night at the Opera (1935) and Six Degrees of Separation (1992).
Linda McCartney (Linda Louise Eastman)
Died April 17, 1998 b. 1941
American photographer, singer, wife of Paul McCartney (1969‑).
Eddie Cochran
Died April 17, 1960 b. 1938
American musician. Music: Summertime Blues (1958).
Samuel Morey
Died April 17, 1843 b. 1762
American inventor. He patented the first U.S. internal combustion engine. It was later used to power the first automobile ride in the U.S. (The second in the world).
St. Kateri Tekakwitha
Died April 17, 1680 b. 1656
Mohawk Indian. She was the first American Indian canonized by the Catholic Church (1980).
Her recommendation was sanctioned by Pope Pius XII in 1939, beatified in 1980 by Pope John Paul II, and canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012.
She was known as the Lily of the Mohawks.
Benedict III
Died April 17, 858 b. ????
Italian religious leader, 104th Pope (855-858).
Proclus
Died April 17, 485 b. 412
Greek mathematician. He discovered that with a given point only one line can be drawn which is parallel to another given line.