What Happened On
Judy Garland Dies of Overdose
June 22, 1969
Famed actress and singer Judy Garland dies due to "an incautious self-overdosage of barbiturates." Her blood contained the equivalent of ten Seconal capsules, however, her autopsy showed no inflammation of the stomach lining and no drug residue in the stomach, which indicated that the drug had been ingested over a long period of time, rather than in a single dose. The official cause of death was ruled an accidental overdose.
She died three months after marrying her fifth husband.
Studebaker and Packard Merge
June 22, 1954
The last two independent U.S. automakers agree to combine forces, forming the Studebaker-Packard Corporation. The Packard models were phased out in 1959 and in 1962 the name reverted to "Studebaker Corporation".
Hollow Nickel Spy Case
June 22, 1953
Microfilm from a Soviet spy is found hidden in a hollow nickel by a newspaper delivery boy. The coin felt funny to the newspaper boy, so he dropped the nickel on the ground and it fell apart revealing the tiny microfilm. He had been given the nickel earlier as change. Years later, it was determined that the nickel belonged to Soviet spy Rudolf Abel, who was exchanged for captured U.S. U2 pilot Gary Powers.
See Hollow Nickel Case
Great Circus Train Wreck
June 22, 1918
A train engineer falls asleep and crashes into the rear of a stopped circus train killing 86 circus personnel in Indiana. The engineer had slept little if at all in the preceding 24 hours. That combined with several heavy meals and kidney pills are thought to have caused him to fall asleep at the controls. He missed at least two automatic signals and warnings posted by a brakeman before plowing into the back of the 26-car circus train, which had made an emergency stop to check a hot box. The engineer and his fireman were criminally charged, but the jury found itself deadlocked, and a mistrial was declared. Prosecutors declined to re-try the case, and charges were dropped.
Galileo Prosecuted for Teaching Earth Revolves Around Sun
June 22, 1633
The astronomer Galileo Galilei is sentenced to prison by the Roman Inquisition for teaching that the Earth revolves around the Sun (heliocentrism). In 1615, The Roman Inquisition had determined that heliocentrism contradicted the Holy Scripture, citing Biblical passages such as:
Psalm 93:1, 96:10, and 1 Chronicles 16:30 - "the world is firmly established, it cannot be moved."
Psalm 104:5 - "the Lord set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved."
Ecclesiastes 1:5 - "And the sun rises and sets and returns to its place."
Galileo's Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems (1632) supported heliocentrism and appeared to attack Pope Urban VIII. For this indiscretion, Pope Urban VIII had him brought before the Roman Inquisition. Under threat of torture, Galileo recanted. He was sentenced to house arrest for life and publication of any of his works was forbidden.
As late as 1990, the Church still showed support for Galileo's prosecution as evidenced in a speech by Cardinal Ratzinger (who later became Pope Benedict XVI) in which he stated, "Her (the Roman Catholic Church) verdict against Galileo was rational and just, and the revision of this verdict can be justified only on the grounds of what is politically opportune."
However, in 1992, the Catholic Church admitted they were wrong in this decision.
Henry Hudson's Crew Mutinies
June 22, 1611
The famed explorer's crew mutinies. Henry Hudson, his son, and seven others are put off his ship and set adrift on a small open boat by his crew during his voyage to find a North-West passage. They were never heard from again.
Hudson had wanted to continue searching for a North-West passing, but much he his crew wanted to go home, and thus mutinied.
Go F*** Yourself
June 22, 2004
U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney gives Sen. Patrick J. Leahy some advice on the Senate floor. Leahy had criticized Cheney about his connections to Halliburton and its sole-source contracts in Iraq.
Size comparison of Charon to Earth and Earth's moon
Size comparison of Charon to Earth and Earth's moon
Youngest Player to Win a Wimbledon Match
June 22, 1977
Traci Austin (age 14) beats Elly Vessies-Appel of the Netherlands.
Watergate
June 22, 1977
John Mitchell begins serving his 30-month sentence for his involvement, making him the first U.S. attorney general to serve time.
GI Bill
June 22, 1944
The Serviceman's Readjustment Act, known as the GI Bill, is signed providing veterans benefits.
World War II - France Surrenders
June 22, 1940
France surrenders to Germany and is divided into German and Italian occupation zones.
Joe Louis
June 22, 1937
Joe Louis wins the world heavyweight boxing championship by knocking out James J. Braddock in the 8th round. Louis, known as "The Brown Bomber", remained the champ until his retirement in 1949.
U.S. Department of Justice
June 22, 1870
U.S. Department of Justice is established. It is headed by the attorney general.
Arkansas Readmitted
June 22, 1868
Arkansas is readmitted to the Union after the Civil War over U.S. President Andrew Johnson's veto.
Chesapeake-Leopard Affair
June 22, 1807
The U.S. frigate Chesapeake is fired upon and surrenders to the British ship Leopard about 40 miles east of Chesapeake Bay. This is one of the events leading to the War of 1812.
Birthdays
Freddie Prinze and on the show Chico and the Man
Freddie Prinze and on the show Chico and the Man
Freddie Prinze (Frederick Karl Pruetzel)
Born June 22, 1954 d. 1977
American actor. Freddie Prinze is best known for his role as Chico in TV's Chico and the Man (1974-78), with his catch phrase, "Looking good!" Early in his career, he roomed with Jay Leno who taught him how to drive.
Prinze suffered from depression and was going through a divorce when he called family and friends to tell them he was going to commit suicide. His business manager came over to help the distraught Prinze, but while he was there Prinze put a gun to his head and shot himself. He was rushed to the hospital, but died the following day. A presumed suicide note was found, stating "I can't go on". His death was initially ruled a suicide. However, in 1983 his mother filed a civil suit and the jury ruled that his death was medication induced and accidental, enabling the family to receive a significant life insurance settlement.
He had a 10-month-old son and just months before his death, Prinze had signed a five-year deal with NBC worth $6 million.
"Pistol" Pete Maravich
Born June 22, 1947 d. 1988
American basketball player, NBA Hall of Famer (1986). He set the record for NCAA career points (3,667).
In high school, he would shoot the ball from his side, as if he were holding a revolver, thus earning the moniker "Pistol" Pete Maravich.
John Dillinger
Born June 22, 1903 d. 1934
American outlaw, bank robber, noted for his daring prison escapes. Although he was supposedly killed outside a Chicago movie house by FBI agents, the autopsy, witnessed by more than 40 doctors, had several notable discrepancies: The wrong eye color, height, weight, and no mention of certain known scars.
Invented Crossword Puzzles
Arthur Wynne
Born June 22, 1871 d. 1945
British-born American puzzle maker. Invented the crossword puzzle (1913). Originally called "Word-Cross Puzzle", but due to a typesetting error it was called a "Cross-Word" and the name stuck. Can You Solve It?
Cyndi Lauper
Born June 22, 1953
American singer. Music: Time After Time (1983) and Girls Just Want To Have Fun (1983).
Meryl Streep (Mary Louise Streep)
Born June 22, 1949
American Oscar-winning actress. Film: The Deer Hunter (1978), Kramer vs. Kramer (1979, Oscar), Sophie's Choice (1982, Oscar), and Postcards From the Edge (1990).
Lindsay Wagner
Born June 22, 1949
American Emmy-winning actress. TV: The Bionic Woman (1976-78, title role).
Alan Osmond
Born June 22, 1949
American singer, with The Osmonds. Music: One Bad Apple (1971, #1) and Go Away Little Girl (1971, #1).
Todd Rundgren
Born June 22, 1948
American singer, producer. Music: Hello It's Me (1972) and Can We Still Be Friends (1978).
Ed Bradley
Born June 22, 1941 d. 2006
American Emmy-winning news correspondent. He was the first black television correspondent to cover the White House. TV: 60 Minutes.
Kris Kristofferson (Kris Carson)
Born June 22, 1936 d. 2024
American Hall of Fame songwriter, singer, actor. Music: Me and Bobby McGee (1969, songwriter). Film: A Star Is Born (1976).
The Waltons (Waite on left)
The Waltons (Waite on left)
Ralph Waite
Born June 22, 1928 d. 2014
American actor. TV: The Waltons (1972-81, patriarch John Walton) and NCIS (2008-15, father of Leroy Jethro Gibbs).
Bill Blass
Born June 22, 1922 d. 2002
American fashion designer.
Joseph Papp
Born June 22, 1921 d. 1991
American Pulitzer-winning Shakespearian theatrical producer, director. Considered one of the most influential producers and directors in American theater. He opened The Public Theater, which was the birthplace of both Hair and A Chorus Line.
Mike Todd (Avram Goldenbogen)
Born June 22, 1909 d. 1958
American producer. He died in a plane crash, in which his wife, Elizabeth Taylor, would have also been a passenger had she not stayed home with a cold. Film: Oklahoma! (1955) and Around the World in 80 Days (1956).
Billy Wilder (Samuel Wilder)
Born June 22, 1906 d. 2002
Austrian-born Oscar-winning author, director. Once directed a cameraman, "Shoot a few scenes out of focus, I want to win the foreign film award." Film: The Lost Weekend (1945, Oscar and U.S. winner of the first Cannes Film Festival), Sunset Boulevard (1950), Stalag 17 (1953), Some Like It Hot (1959), and The Apartment (1960, Oscar).
Carl Hubbell
Born June 22, 1903 d. 1988
American baseball hall-of-famer. Known as "The Meal Ticket," he won 253 games with the N.Y. Giants and was twice voted the National League's Most Valuable Player (1933, 1936).
Erich Maria Remarque
Born June 22, 1898 d. 1970
German-born American author. Writings: All Quiet on the Western Front (1929), the first non-American/English book to top the best seller list. His books were among those found objectionable and burned by the Nazis during World War II.
Hermann Minkowski
Born June 22, 1864 d. 1909
Russian mathematician. In 1907, he laid the mathematical foundation for Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity.
Margaret Sidney (Harriet Lothrop)
Born June 22, 1844 d. 1924
American children's author. Writings: Five Little Peppers and How They Grew (1881).
Paul Charles Morphy
Born June 22, 1837 d. 1884
American chess player. He won the first American Masters tournament (1857) and went on to defeat every European master who would play him.
George Vancouver
Born June 22, 1757 d. 1798
British explorer for whom Vancouver Island is named.
Deaths
George Carlin
Died June 22, 2008 b. 1937
American Grammy-winning comedian. He hosted the first episode of Saturday Night Live (1975). Albums: Class Clown (1972, which contained the classic 
Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television, which he was arrested for performing in Milwaukee).
Pulsar in the Crab Nebula
Pulsar in the Crab Nebula
We Are Extraterrestrial Waste
Thomas Gold
Died June 22, 2004 b. 1920
Austrian-born astronomer. He established the steady-state theory of the universe (1948), which has since been abandoned by most astronomers. He also proposed a "garbage theory" for the origin of life, in which life on Earth spread from a pile of waste products dumped on Earth long ago by extraterrestrials.
Gold's theory that pulsars are rapidly rotating neutron stars was initially rejected by the scientific community, but is now widely accepted.
Ann Landers (Esther Pauline Friedman)
Died June 22, 2002 b. 1918
American advice columnist. She is the twin sister of the original "Dear Abby" columnist.
Garland as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz
Garland as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz
Judy Garland (Frances Gumm)
Died June 22, 1969 b. 1922
American Oscar-Grammy-winning actress. She performed the song Over the Rainbow, from The Wizard of Oz, over 12,000 times.
The coroner attributed her death to "an incautious self-overdosage of barbiturates". Her blood contained the equivalent of ten Seconal capsules, however, her autopsy showed no inflammation of the stomach lining and no drug residue in the stomach, which indicated that the drug had been ingested over a long period of time, rather than in a single dose. The official cause of death was ruled an accidental overdose.
She died three months after marrying her fifth husband. Film: The Wizard of Oz (1939, Dorothy).
Dody Goodman (Dolores Goodman)
Died June 22, 2008 b. 1914
American actress. Her distinctive voice was described as sounding "like a Tweetie Pie cartoon bird strangling on peanut butter." TV: Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (1976-77, Mary's mother) and Diff'rent Strokes (1981-84, Aunt Sophia). Film: Grease (1978, Blanche) and Splash (1984, Mrs. Stimler).
Pat Nixon (Thelma Catherine Ryan)
Died June 22, 1993 b. 1912
American First Lady, wife of U.S. President Richard Nixon.
Fred Astaire (Frederick Austerlitz)
Died June 22, 1987 b. 1899
American dancer. His career spanned six decades.
David O. Selznick
Died June 22, 1965 b. 1902
American Oscar-winning producer. Film: King Kong (1933), Gone with the Wind (1939, Oscar), and Rebecca (1940, Oscar).
Saint John Fisher
Died June 22, 1535 b. circa 1459
English scholar. He was beheaded for opposing the ascension of King Henry VIII to the head of the church in England.
Innocent V
Died June 22, 1276 b. 1225
religious leader, 185th Pope (Jan. - June 1276). He was the first of the Dominican Order to become Pope.