What Happened On
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
August 14, 1975
The cult classic, starring Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, Tim Curry, and Meat Loaf, premieres in the UK. The lyrics and story were written by Richard O'Brien, who also starred as Riff Raff the butler.
Although the film did poorly during its regular theater run, it soon became a cult midnight classic. Schoolteacher Louis Farese, Jr., Theresa Krakauskas, and Amy Lazarus are credited with starting the convention of talking back to the screen, bringing props and making up one-liners. Originally, they were just doing it to amuse each other, not realizing they were starting a long-lasting tradition.
Photo Credit: hard money lender
Record Robbery
August 14, 1962
A mail truck in Massachusetts is robbed of $1.5 million in cash. Known as "The Great Plymouth Mail Truck Robbery," it was up to that time the largest cash heist of all time. Two gunmen, dressed as police officers and brandishing guns, stopped a U.S. Mail truck that was delivering $1.5 million in small bills from Cape Cod to the Federal Reserve Bank in Boston, Massachusetts. They tied up the driver and guard and drove off in the truck, stopping to drop off money in various places. The truck and its two tied-up occupants were later abandoned. Shortly before the 5-year statute of limitations was to expire, four men and one woman were indicted for the robbery. One of the defendants disappeared right before trial and was never found. The other defendants were acquitted at trial. The money has never been recovered.
Boston mobster Vincent "Fat Vinnie" Teresa claimed in his book, My Life in the Mafia, that John "Red" Kelley planned the robbery.
First Photograph of Earth Taken from Space
August 14, 1959
The U.S. satellite Explorer VI takes the first photo of Earth taken from space. It was taken from about 17,000 miles (27359 kilometers) high and showed a sun-lighted area of the Central Pacific ocean and its cloud cover.
World War II - V-J Day
August 14, 1945
Japan surrenders ending the war. "V-J" stands for "Victory over Japan." Japan would sign formal surrender terms two weeks later aboard the USS Missouri.
Social Security Act
August 14, 1935
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act, promising economic security for the elderly, the poor, and the sick.
First Successful National Radio Soap Opera
August 14, 1933
Oxydol's Own Ma Perkins debuts on Cincinnati's WLW. It began airing coast-to-coast on NBC the following December where it ran until 1949 and ran on CBS from 1942 to 1960. It starred Virginia Payne as Ma Perkins, who offered her homespun philosophy to troubled souls in need of advice. Payne began the role at the age of 23 and never missed a performance during the program's 27-year run.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
August 14, 1909
The famous race track opens. It was the second purpose-built, banked oval racing circuit (after Brooklands) and the first to be called a 'speedway'. It is the third-oldest permanent automobile race track in the world (behind Brooklands and the Milwaukee Mile).
Due to a series of crashes in 1909, the track was paved with bricks to give it a safer surface and became known as "The Brickyard".
Springfield Race Riot of 1908
August 14, 1908
About 5,000 whites attack black homes and businesses over a three-day period. Nine blacks died (including five trying to protect their property, two were lynched, and one infant who died from exposure). Seven whites died (five who were killed by the state militia and two who committed suicide). The riots started when a mob tried to lynch two black men who had been arrested and accused of raping two young white women. When the mob found out the sheriff had transferred them out of the city, the mob began attacking black neighborhoods. This event led to the creation of the NAACP.
First Flight - Two Years BEFORE the Wright Brothers
August 14, 1901
Gustave Whitehead makes the first publicized account of a powered-heavier-than-air flight. Reports were published in the New York Herald and the Bridgeport Herald and the event was witnessed by several people, including a reporter for the Bridgeport Herald. Children and youngsters who were present signed affidavits about 30 years later about what they saw. Reports said he started on the wheels from a flat surface, flew 800 meters at a height of 15 meters, and landed softly on the wheels. This was two years before the Wright brothers.
Cologne Cathedral Completed
August 14, 1880
It is the largest Gothic Cathedral in Northern Europe. Its reconstruction had begun 632 years earlier on August 14, 1248.
End of the World?
August 14, 2126
Swift-Tuttle comet approaches Earth. It has a 1 in 10,000 chance of colliding. If this were to occur it would probably end civilization.
U.S. Ban on Private Possession of Gold
August 14, 1974
The ban is lifted when U.S. President Gerald Ford signs a bill to take effect December 31. The 41-year-old ban had allowed only industrial and numismatic purchases.
First Black Page for the U.S. House of Representatives
August 14, 1965
15-year-old Frank Mitchell is appointed by Republican Representative Paul Findley of Illinois.
Royal Air Force UFO sighting
August 14, 1956
A RAF fighter is followed by a UFO traveling at speeds of 600 m.p.h. The object was tracked by three separate ground radars. Source: Above Top Secret
Pakistan
August 14, 1947
Pakistan gains its independence from Britain.
Atlantic Charter
August 14, 1941
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill sign an agreement outlining their hopes for a better future for the world.
First Olympic Basketball Championship
August 14, 1936
The U.S. defeats Canada 19-8 to win the gold in Berlin.
First Airplane Battle
August 14, 1914
A French pilot fires at a German pilot, who escapes.
The Second Seminole War
August 14, 1843
After eight years of fighting the war is declared ended. The Seminole Indians - led by Osceola - were fighting their forced removal from Florida.
Birthdays
Photo Credit: Steve Lipofsky
Magic Johnson (Earvin Johnson Jr.)
Born August 14, 1959
American Hall of Fame basketball player. Often regarded as the greatest point guard of all time, he spent his entire NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers (1979-1991, 1996).
In 1991 he announced he was infected with the AIDS virus.
Photo Credit: Jim Summaria
Steve Martin (Stephen Glenn Martin)
Born August 14, 1945
American Emmy-Grammy-winning comic, a wild and crazy guy. Film: The Jerk (1979, Navin Johnson), Plains Trains & Automobiles (1987), Bowfinger (1999), and The Pink Panther (2006, Inspector Clouseau).
Casey at the Bat
Ernest Thayer
Born August 14, 1863 d. 1940
American journalist. Author of the poem Casey at the Bat (1888), which has become one of the best-known poems in American literature.
The original 1888 version:
The outlook wasn't brilliant for the Mudville nine that day;
the score stood four to two, with but one inning more to play.
And then when Cooney died at first, and Barrows did the same,
a sickly silence fell upon the patrons of the game.
A straggling few got up to go in deep despair. The rest
clung to that hope which springs eternal in the human breast;
they thought, if only Casey could get but a whack at that –
they'd put up even money, now, with Casey at the bat.
But Flynn preceded Casey, as did also Jimmy Blake,
and the former was a lulu and the latter was a cake,
so upon that stricken multitude grim melancholy sat,
for there seemed but little chance of Casey's getting to the bat.
But Flynn let drive a single, to the wonderment of all,
and Blake, the much despised, tore the cover off the ball;
and when the dust had lifted, and the men saw what had occurred,
there was Jimmy safe at second and Flynn a-hugging third.
Then from five thousand throats and more there rose a lusty yell;
it rumbled through the valley, it rattled in the dell;
it knocked upon the mountain and recoiled upon the flat,
for Casey, mighty Casey, was advancing to the bat.
There was ease in Casey's manner as he stepped into his place;
there was pride in Casey's bearing and a smile on Casey's face.
And when, responding to the cheers, he lightly doffed his hat,
no stranger in the crowd could doubt 'twas Casey at the bat.
Ten thousand eyes were on him as he rubbed his hands with dirt;
five thousand tongues applauded when he wiped them on his shirt.
Then while the writhing pitcher ground the ball into his hip,
defiance gleamed in Casey's eye, a sneer curled Casey's lip.
And now the leather-covered sphere came hurtling through the air,
and Casey stood a-watching it in haughty grandeur there.
Close by the sturdy batsman the ball unheeded sped—
"That ain't my style," said Casey. "Strike one," the umpire said.
From the benches, black with people, there went up a muffled roar,
like the beating of the storm-waves on a stern and distant shore.
"Kill him! Kill the umpire!" shouted someone on the stand;
and it's likely they'd have killed him had not Casey raised his hand.
With a smile of Christian charity great Casey's visage shone;
he stilled the rising tumult; he bade the game go on;
he signaled to the pitcher, and once more the spheroid flew;
but Casey still ignored it, and the umpire said: "Strike two."
"Fraud!" cried the maddened thousands, and Echo answered fraud;
but one scornful look from Casey and the audience was awed.
They saw his face grow stern and cold, they saw his muscles strain,
and they knew that Casey wouldn't let that ball go by again.
The sneer is gone from Casey's lip, his teeth are clenched in hate;
he pounds with cruel violence his bat upon the plate.
And now the pitcher holds the ball, and now he lets it go,
and now the air is shattered by the force of Casey's blow.
Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;
the band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,
and somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout;
but there is no joy in Mudville — mighty Casey has struck out.
Gary Larson
Born August 14, 1950
American cartoonist. Creator of The Far Side.
Danielle Steel
Born August 14, 1947
American romance novelist. Writings: Jewels and Heartbeat.
Susan Saint James (Susan Miller)
Born August 14, 1946
American actress. TV: McMillan and Wife (Mrs. McMillan) and Kate & Allie (Kate).
Photo Credit: David Gans
David Crosby (David Van Cortlandt Crosby)
Born August 14, 1941 d. 2023
American singer, with The Byrds and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.
Buddy Greco (Armando Greco)
Born August 14, 1926 d. 2017
American composer, singer. Music: The Lady Is a Tramp (1960) and I Ran All The Way Home (1951).
Alice Ghostley
Born August 14, 1923 d. 2007
American actress. TV: Bewitched (1969-70, 1972, Esmeralda) and Designing Women (1986-93, Bernice Clifton).
I've Fallen, and I Can't Get Up
Dorothy McHugh
Born August 14, 1907 d. 1995
American dancer. An ex-Ziegfeld Follies dancer. She appeared in a medical device commercial proclaiming "I've fallen, and I can't get up", for which she was paid $60.
She also worked as artist's model and posed for illustrations in the Saturday Evening Post. She acted in the film Artists and Models (1937) starring Jack Benny and Ida Lupino and was a model at the 1939 New York World's Fair.
Alexander I
Born August 14, 1876 d. 1903
King of Serbia (1889-1903). An unpopular king, he and Queen Draga were assassinated by a military conspiracy.
John Galsworthy
Born August 14, 1867 d. 1933
British Nobel-winning novelist. Writings: The Forsyte Saga (1922).
Baron Richard von Krafft-Ebing
Born August 14, 1840 d. 1902
German physician, neurologist, pioneer in clinical psychology. His Psychopathia Sexualis (1886) became a standard text and has been translated into seven languages.
Pius VII (Barnaba Niccolò Maria Luigi Chiaramonti)
Born August 14, 1742 d. 1823
Italian religious leader, 251st Pope (1800-23).
Deaths
Enzo Ferrari
Died August 14, 1988 b. 1898
Italian sports car maker, racer. He founded the Ferrari automobile company (1939). His cars established numerous racing records.
Damn the Torpedoes!
David Glasgow Farragut
Died August 14, 1870 b. 1801
American naval officer, made his famous proclamation in 1864 during the Battle of Mobile Bay: "Damn the torpedoes! Four bells. Captain Drayton, go ahead! Jouett, full speed!", (paraphrased as "Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead"). In 1862, he became the first person to achieve the newly created rank of U.S. Navy Admiral.
Ron Palillo
Died August 14, 2012 b. 1949
American actor. TV: Welcome Back Kotter (1975-79, Arnold Dingfilder Horshack, "Oooh! Oooh!").
Peter Roger Hunt
Died August 14, 2002 b. 1925
British editor, director. Film: Goldfinger (1964, editor), Dr. No (1962, editor), and On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969, director).
Earl Anthony
Died August 14, 2001 b. 1938
American Hall of Fame bowler. PBA (Professional Bowlers Association) champion (1973, 74, 75) and was the first $1,000,000 winner of the PBA (1982). He had 25 career 300 games. He and Dick Weber are widely credited for having increased bowling's popularity in the United States.
Roy Buchanan
Died August 14, 1988 b. 1939
American guitarist. A pioneer of the Telecaster sound, he is considered one of the world's greatest rock guitarists.
William Randolph Hearst
Died August 14, 1951 b. 1863
American newspaper publisher, political figure.
Pius II
Died August 14, 1464 b. 1405
Italian poet, religious leader, 210th Pope (1458-64). Wrote The Tale of the Two Lovers (c1442), for which he later apologized.