What Happened On
Princess Diana Killed in Car Crash
August 31, 1997
Princess Diana, the Princess of Wales, dies as a result of injuries sustained in a car crash in the Pont de l'Alma road tunnel in Paris, France. Diane's boyfriend Dodi Fayed and the driver Henri Paul were pronounced dead at the scene. Trevor Rees-Jones, the bodyguard, was the only survivor. An 18-month French judicial investigation found that the crash was caused by the driver Paul, who lost control of the car at high speed while drunk and on antidepressants. The investigation concluded that the paparazzi were not near the Mercedes when it crashed. Fayed's father, Mohamed Al-Fayed, has claimed that the couple were executed by MI6 agents because Diana was pregnant with Dodi Fayed's child and were about to announce their engagement.
Froggy Killed by Truck
August 31, 1948
Sixteen-year-old Billy "Froggy" Laughlin of "The Little Rascals" (1940-44, gravelly-voiced Froggy) is hit and killed by a truck while delivering newspapers riding a motor scooter. He had been given the scooter by his parents only two weeks earlier. Laughlin was riding double on the scooter with a friend driving it when his friend made a u-turn in front of a truck. His friend received only minor injuries.
His "froggy" voice was actually his impersonation of Popeye, which he was overheard doing by a talent scout.
First Black to Medal in the Olympics
August 31, 1904
African-American George C. Poage wins bronze in the 400-meter hurdles during the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, becoming the first black person to win a medal in the modern Olympics. He went on to win another bronze medal in the 200-meter hurdle the following day.
Stanley and his wife on Mount Washington
Stanley and his wife on Mount Washington
First Automobile Trip to the Top of Mount Washington
August 31, 1899
As a publicity stunt, Freelan O. Stanley and his wife drive their steam-powered Stanley automobile to the top of Mount Washington in New Hampshire to become the first humans to make this journey by car (1899). Mount Washington is the highest mountain on the eastern seaboard of North America. The climb was approximately 7.6 miles long. When descending, the engine was put in low gear and brakes were used extensively.
Jack the Ripper
August 31, 1888
Serial killer Jack the Ripper claims his first known victim, when he kills Mary Ann Nichols. For three months he murdered and mutilated prostitutes in London's East End, claiming five victims. He was never caught. He got his name from a letter sent to London's Central News Agency by someone claiming to have committed the murders. It was signed "Jack the Ripper."
First U.S. Bank Robbery
August 31, 1798
$162,821 ($3.2 million in today's money) is taken from vaults of the Bank of Pennsylvania at Carpenters' Hall during the night. One of the bank robbers died of yellow fever shortly after being arrested. The other returned the money in exchange for a pardon.
Russia Ends Its Occupation of Lithuania
August 31, 1993
For the first time ever, Russian forces pulled out completely from one of the Soviet republics that had split from Moscow in the 1990s. They had been in Lithuania since 1940.
Barney's Favorites Vol. 1
August 31, 1993
The album, featuring 27 songs by Barney the purple dinosaur, is released. It included the classic song I Love You, which is played at the end of each TV episode.
AIDS In the Military
August 31, 1985
U.S. Department of Defense announces it will not accept recruits carrying the AIDS virus. This restriction was removed in 2024 for asymptomatic carriers of the HIV virus.
Communist Labor Party of the United States of America
August 31, 1919
The Communist Labor Party of the U.S.A. is formed, in Chicago. Their motto: "Workers of the world unite!", which was one of the rallying cries from The Communist Manifesto (1848) by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.
The group merged with a dissident faction of the Communist Party of America in 1921 to form the United Communist Party of America.
First Automobile to Cross the U.S. Under Its Own Power
August 31, 1903
A Packard arrives in New York City, after departing from San Francisco July 10.
Birthdays
Frank Robinson
Born August 31, 1935 d. 2019
American baseball Hall of Famer. He was the first to win the Most Valuable Player award in both major leagues (1961 National, 1966 American), the first black major-league manager (1974, Cleveland Indians), and the only player to hit a home run completely out of Memorial Stadium.
Arthur Godfrey
Born August 31, 1903 d. 1983
American radio and TV personality. He dominated the air waves in the 1950s.
In what is considered one of the worst on-air blunders in entertainment history, during the radio portion of his show, Godfrey fired singer Julius La Rosa. La Rosa had not been told of his impending dismissal and was just as shocked as the audience.
La Rosa had a large following on the show, receiving more fan mail than Godfrey himself. A dispute occurred when La Rosa missed a ballet lesson, as required by all the onstage talent. La Rosa then hired an agent, a practice forbidden by Godfrey. When Godfrey received a letter from the agent informing him that all dealings with La Rosa would be through the agent, Godfrey decided to fire La Rosa.
Godfrey would later state that he fired La Rosa because he "lacked humility". This statement backfired and comedians used this statement to mock Godfrey.
Public opinion about Godfrey took a down turn after this incident and his popularity began to decline.
Radio: Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts (1946-58). TV: Arthur Godfrey and His Friends (1949-57).
Eyser (middle) and his teammates
Eyser (middle) and his teammates
One-Legged Gymnast Wins Olympic Gold
George Eyser
Born August 31, 1870 d. 1919
German-American gymnast. Even though he had a wooden left leg, he earned six medals in a single day in the 1904 Summer Olympics - 3 gold (parallel bars, long horse vault, and 25-foot rope climb), two silver (pommel horse and 4-event all-around), and one bronze (horizontal bar). Eyser lost his leg after being run over by a train in his youth.
Debbie Gibson
Born August 31, 1970
American singer.
Gina Schock (Regina Ann Schock)
Born August 31, 1957
American drummer. With the Go-Go's. Music: We Got the Beat (1981) and Vacation (1982).
Caroline Cossey (Barry Kenneth Cossey)
Born August 31, 1954
British transsexual model. He underwent a sex-change to become a woman (1974) and became a successful model under the name "Tula." She's one of the world's most famous transsexuals and the first to pose for Playboy magazine (September 1991). Film: For Your Eyes Only (1981, a girl by the pool). Music videos: Rio by Duran Duran (1983, star/model), Some Like It Hot by Power Station (1986, featured as the model).
Richard Gere (Richard Tiffany Gere)
Born August 31, 1949
American actor. Film: American Gigolo (1979), An Officer and a Gentleman (1982), and Pretty Woman (1990, he also composed and performed the featured piano solo). He was the first man to appear on the cover of Vogue magazine.
Van Morrison (George Ivan Morrison)
Born August 31, 1945
Irish singer, songwriter, Brown Eyed Girl (1967) and Moondance (1970).
James Coburn
Born August 31, 1928 d. 2002
American actor. Film: The Magnificent Seven (1960) and Our Man Flint (1966).
Buddy Hackett (Leonard Hacker)
Born August 31, 1924 d. 2003
American comedian. He was offered the job of replacing Curly Howard of The Stooges, but turned it down. Film: It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) and The Love Bug (1968).
Quote: "My mother's menu consisted of two choices - Take it or leave it."
Richard Basehart
Born August 31, 1914 d. 1984
American actor. TV: Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1964-68, Admiral Harriman Nelson). Film: La Strada (1954, "The Fool") and Moby Dick (1956, Ishmael).
Maria Montessori
Born August 31, 1870 d. 1952
Italian educator. She created the world-famous Montessori system of teaching children. She was also the first woman in Italy to obtain a medical degree (1894).
Deaths
Princess Diana (Diana Spencer)
Died August 31, 1997 b. 1961
Princess of Wales. First wife (1981-1996) of then Charles, Prince of Wales. She died in a car crash in a Paris tunnel along with her boyfriend Dodi Al-Fayed and driver Henri Paul. It is estimated that 2.5 billion people watched her funeral on TV. An 18-month French judicial investigation found that the crash was caused by the driver, who lost control of the car at a high speed while drunk and on antidepressants. The investigation concluded that the paparazzi were not near the Mercedes when it crashed. Fayed's father, Mohamed Al-Fayed, has claimed that the couple were executed by MI6 agents because Diana was pregnant with Dodi Fayed's child and were about to announce their engagement.
Billy "Froggy" Laughlin (William Robert Laughlin)
Died August 31, 1948 b. 1932
American actor. One of "The Little Rascals" (1940-44, gravelly-voiced Froggy), appearing in 29 Our Gang films. At 16 years old, he was hit and killed by a truck while delivering newspapers riding a motor scooter. He had been given the scooter by his parents only two weeks earlier. Laughlin was riding double on the scooter with a friend driving it when his friend made a u-turn in front of a truck. His friend received only minor injuries.
His "froggy" voice was actually his impersonation of Popeye, which he was overheard doing by a talent scout.
Anderson as Goldman
Anderson as Goldman
Richard Anderson
Died August 31, 2017 b. 1926
American actor. TV: The Six Million Dollar Man (1974-78, Oscar Goldman) and The Bionic Woman (1976-78, Oscar Goldman) and various TV movies based on the Six Million Dollar Man and Bionic Woman.
Sir David Frost OBE
Died August 31, 2013 b. 1939
English author, TV personality. Quote: "Television is an invention that permits you to be entertained in your living room by people you wouldn't have in your home." Frost was the only person to have interviewed all eight British prime ministers serving between 1964 and 2016 and all seven U.S. presidents in office between 1969 and 2008.
Lionel Hampton
Died August 31, 2002 b. 1908
American vibes player, bandleader. Music: On the Sunny Side of the Street (1937) and Twelfth Street Rag (1939)
Apollo Creed
Died August 31, 1985 b. 1942
fictional fighter in the Rocky movies played by Carl Weathers. The character was also known as The King of Sting, The Master of Disaster, and The Count of Montefisto. Creed was killed in an exhibition match with Ivan Drago.
John Ford (John Martin Feeney)
Died August 31, 1973 b. 1895
American Oscar-winning film director of over 130 films. Films: The Grapes of Wrath (1940), My Darling Clementine (1946), and The Quiet Man (1952).
Rocky Marciano (Rocco Francis Marchegiano)
Died August 31, 1969 b. 1923
Italian-American boxer. He was the undefeated (49-0) world heavyweight champion (1952-56). He is the only undefeated heavyweight champion.
Georges Braque
Died August 31, 1963 b. 1882
French painter. In 1907 he and Pablo Picasso founded the cubist movement and in 1962 he became the first living artist to exhibit in the Louvre.
Jack the Ripper's First Known Victim
Mary Ann Nichols
Died August 31, 1888 b. 1845
English crime victim. She is the first known victim of Jack the Ripper.
Arthur St. Clair
Died August 31, 1818 b. 1737
15th president of the Continental Congress (1787-88).
John Bunyan
Died August 31, 1688 b. 1628
English preacher, author of Pilgrim's Progress (1678). This religious work was the most widely read book, except for the Bible, for over 200 years. He was imprisoned from 1660-72 for preaching without a license.
Henry V
Died August 31, 1422 b. 1387
King of England (1413-22). Although greatly outnumbered (13,000 to 50,000), he defeated the French at the Battle of Agincourt (1415).
Leofric
Died August 31, 1057 b. ????
Earl of Mercia, promised his wife, Lady Godiva, he would relieve Coventry of its heavy taxes if she rode through the marketplace naked.