What Happened On
U.S. Invades Panama
December 20, 1989
The U.S. invades Panama overthrowing Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega. Noriega surrendered two weeks later and was subsequently sentenced to 40 years in prison on drug trafficking, racketeering, and money laundering charges. In 2011, he was extradited to Panama to serve sentences for past crimes.
Noriega had previously been a U.S. ally and CIA informant.
Twenty-three U.S. soldiers, three U.S. civilians, 150 Panamanian soldiers, and 500 Panamanian civilians were killed in the operation with over 20,000 Panamanians displaced from their homes.
Sketch of Zodiac and one of his letters
Sketch of Zodiac and one of his letters
Zodiac Killer
December 20, 1968
David Arthur Faraday, 17, and Betty Lou Jensen, 16 become the first confirmed victims of the Northern California serial killer that became known as the Zodiac Killer. The couple was shot and killed while on their first date and were parked at a local lover's lane.
The following August, the killer would taunt police with letters to newspapers containing cryptograms that he said would reveal his identity. In the letters, he called himself "Zodiac". When the cryptogram was decoded, it stated that those he killed would be his slaves in the afterlife. It did not reveal his name.
His last confirmed attack was in October 1969, in which he shot and killed 29-year-old Paul Lee Stine.
Although he claimed to have killed 37 people, only seven have been confirmed. The identity of the Zodiac killer has never been confirmed.
Elvis Gets Drafted
December 20, 1957
Elvis Presley receives his draft notice for the U.S. Army. He was inducted the following March, taking an approximate $100,000 pay cut. Although offered the opportunity to serve in the Special Services to entertain the troops, Elvis served as a regular soldier for two years. It was during this time while stationed in West Germany, Elvis met his future wife Priscilla Beaulieu and became dependent on stimulants and barbiturates. These addictions eventually led to his divorce, and ultimately his death at age 42 in 1977.
Boeing 707 test flight in 1958
Boeing 707 test flight in 1958
Boeing 707
December 20, 1957
The Boeing 707 makes its first test flight. The long-range, four-engine jet airliner could hold 219 passengers and had a range of 2,500 to 5,750 nautical miles (2,880 to 6,620 mi; 4,630 to 10,650 km). It became the first commercially successful commercial jetliner and dominated passenger air transport in the 1960s. Boeing built the planes from 1958 to 1979.
It's a Wonderful Life
December 20, 1946
Frank Capra's Christmas classic starring James Stewart and Donna Reed premieres and is accused of being a communist plot. Although it did poorly during its initial release, it is now one of the most popular films in American cinema. Earning only $3.3 million against its $3.7 million budget, it caused the collapse of its production company. The only award it won was for its fake snow.
In 1974 the copyright holder failed to renew the copyright allowing TV stations to play it over and over without paying royalties making the film a Christmas television tradition. In 1993, a U.S. Supreme Court ruling restored the film's copyright status to its original owner. NBC has since purchased exclusive rights to air it.
Carl Switzer, who played Alfalfa in The Little Rascals played Freddie Othello, from whom George Bailey steals Mary away from while they were dancing and retaliates by pushing the button that opens the pool that swallows George and Mary up.
Shortly after the movie's release, the FBI issued a memo claiming the film was a potential "Communist infiltration of the motion picture industry," citing its attempts make the banker the most hated man in the picture. "…a common trick used by Communists."
Hitler Released From Prison
December 20, 1924
Adolf Hitler is released from Landsberg Prison after serving almost nine months for high treason in the failed Beer Hall Putsch. During this time he wrote most of the first volume of Mein Kampf, which described how he became anti-Semitic and included Hitler's plans for transforming Germany into a society based on race. Mein Kampf became a best seller and earned Hitler 7.8 million Reichsmarks (about $190 million in current inflation-adjusted US dollars).
Hitler used these earnings to help finance his political ambitions. In 1934, one year after becoming Chancellor and failing to pay a tax bill of 405,494 Reichsmarks, he had himself declared tax-exempt.
Early Bathroom
Early Bathroom
First American Bathtub - Hoax
December 20, 1842
"The first American bathtub was installed on December 20, 1842" is FAKE NEWS. This bit of fake trivia is often repeated, but is completely made up. It was part of a 1917 hoax article by H.L. Mencken published in the New York Evening Mail about the history of the bathtub and has become known as The Great Bathtub Hoax. Even though Mencken repeatedly stated the article was a joke, the fake facts continue to this day to be reprinted in articles and books about bathtubs and hygiene and have even made their way into medical journals.
Other FAKE claims he made in the article include:
• The use of bathtubs was banned by the city of Boston in 1845.
• A bathtub was installed in the White House for Millard Fillmore (which is still cited as fact in many publications).
• In 1843, the Philadelphia Common Council tried to ban bathing between November 1 and March 15.
Grimms' Fairy Tales
December 20, 1812
The collection of German folk tales that became known as Grimms' Fairy Tales is first published by Jakob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm. This included Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Hansel and Gretel, Rumpelstiltskin, and The Pied Piper of Hamlin. Critics of the time considered some of the tales as unsuitable for children. They made changes from the originals in future editions, such as switching the "evil mother" to the "evil stepmother" in the stories of Snow White and Hansel and Gretel.
It was originally titled, Children's and Household Tales (German: Kinder- und Hausmärchen).
First raising of the USA flag with the Louisiana Purchase, by Thure de Thulstrup
First raising of the USA flag with the Louisiana Purchase, by Thure de Thulstrup
Louisiana Purchase
December 20, 1803
France turns over New Orleans with a flag-raising ceremony in the Plaza de Armas (what is now Jackson Square). The U.S. had purchased 828,000 square miles of land from France for $15,000,000.
Marine Ban on Marriage
December 20, 1993
The Defense Department rejects a four-month-old Marine Corps proposal to stop accepting married enlistees after September 30, 1995.
Ferry Disaster
December 20, 1987
The deadliest peacetime maritime disaster in history occurs when Philippine-registered passenger ferry Doña Paz sinks after colliding with the oil tanker Vector. 4,386 people died with only 24 survivors. The oil from the tanker caused fires on both ships and in the water. The life jackets for the Doña Paz were locked up and unavailable for use. Only one apprentice member of the crew of the Doña Paz was monitoring the bridge while the other officers were either drinking beer or watching television in the crew's recreation quarters; the ship's captain was watching a movie in his cabin. The Vector was operating without a license and no lookout.
The Osmonds
December 20, 1962
The Osmond Brothers make their debut on The Andy Williams Show, singing I'm a Ding Dong Daddy from Dumas. At the time they consisted of Alan, Wayne, Merrill, and Jay. They would become regulars on the show adding Donny, Jimmy, and Marie in the years to come.
World War II - Eisenhower Promoted to General of The Army
December 20, 1944
Future U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower is promoted to General of the Army and receives his fifth star.
First U.S. Governor Removed From Office by Impeachment
December 20, 1870
Impeachment proceedings begin against North Carolina governor William Woods Holden. He was removed from office the following year. His impeachment stemmed from attempts to control the Ku Klux Klan using military force.
Civil War - First State to Secede
December 20, 1860
South Carolina becomes the first state to secede from the Union.
Birthdays
Fred Merkle
Born December 20, 1888 d. 1956
American baseball player. Known for losing the pennant race due to a base running error, which has become known as "Merkle's Boner."
Bottom of the 9th of the deciding game of the 1908 National League pennant race; score 1-1. The New York Giants hit to center field, bringing the man on 3rd in for the winning run. Giants player Fred Merkle, who had been on 1st, considered the game won and headed for the dugout without advancing to 2nd. This resulted in a forced out at 2nd, nullifying the run, and therefore ending the game in a tie. This resulted in a playoff game, which Merkle's Giants lost, causing them to lose the National League pennant to the opposing Chicago Cubs.
First Professional Football Player
William Walter "Pudge" Heffelfinger
Born December 20, 1867 d. 1954
American athlete. He became the first professional football player in 1892, when he was paid a $500 bonus (about $13,500 in today's money) after scoring the winning touchdown for the Allegheny Athletic Association against the Pittsburgh Athletic Club (4-0). A touchdown counted for 4 points at the time.
The 6 feet 3 inch, 210-pound Heffelfinger was a three-time All-American and played for Yale College in 1888-91. In his freshman year, the Yale team was undefeated, untied, and unscored upon. Heffelfinger also lettered in rowing, baseball, and track, and won the university heavyweight boxing championship.
Uri Geller
Born December 20, 1946
Israeli-born psychic, clairvoyant. Famous for bending spoons.
Peter Criss (Peter Crisscoula)
Born December 20, 1945
American rock musician, the Catman of the group Kiss. Music: Rock And Roll All Nite (1975).
John Hillerman
Born December 20, 1932 d. 2017
American Emmy-winning actor. TV: Magnum P.I. (1980-88, Emmy, Jonathan Higgins).
Although from Texas, Hillerman played Englishman Jonathan Higgins on the TV show Magnum P.I., learning to speak in a middle/upper class English accent by listening to a recording of Laurence Olivier reciting Hamlet. The show left it undisclosed as to whether or not Hillerman's character was in actuality Robin Masters, the wealthy owner of the estate.
Charita Bauer
Born December 20, 1922 d. 1985
American Emmy-winning actress. TV and radio: The Guiding Light (Bert Bauer, which she played for 35 years).
Morrison in Dogs of War
Morrison in Dogs of War
Sunshine Sammy Morrison (Ernest Fredric Morrison)
Born December 20, 1912 d. 1989
American actor. He was the first African-American child film star and was the first African-American performer signed to a long-term Hollywood contract (1919). Film: The Little Rascals (Booker T.) and the East Side Kids movies (Scruno).
Paul Francis Webster
Born December 20, 1907 d. 1984
American Oscar-winning lyricist. Film: Calamity Jane (1953, Oscar), Love is a Many Splendored Thing (1955, Oscar), and The Sandpiper (1965, Oscar).
Sidney Hook
Born December 20, 1902 d. 1989
American author, political philosopher.
Max Lerner
Born December 20, 1902 d. 1992
Russian-born journalist, educator.
Irene Dunne
Born December 20, 1898 d. 1990
American actress. Film: Show Boat (1936) and I Remember Mama (1948).
Harvey Samuel Firestone
Born December 20, 1868 d. 1938
American rubber manufacturer, founded the Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. (1900).
Samuel A. Mudd
Born December 20, 1833 d. 1883
American physician. He treated (1865) U.S. President Abraham Lincoln's assassin John Wilkes Booth for his broken leg. For this he was sentenced to life in prison, but pardoned by President Andrew Johnson in 1869. Booth broke his leg while fleeing after shooting Lincoln. He then went to Mudd for treatment. Whether or not Mudd was involved in or knew of Booth's plot to assassinate Lincoln before his arrival is still debated among historians, but he certainly found out when he went into town later that day. He did not tell authorities about Booth's treatment until the following day, lied about knowing Booth, and hid from authorities the boot he cut off of Booth's leg.
It's clear that Mudd knew Booth and had met with him several times before the assassination, and that Booth had sent provisions to Mudd. Booth had originally told his other conspirators the plan was to kidnap Lincoln and ransom him for Confederate prisoners; not revealing his true intentions until the night of the assassination. So it's unlikely Mudd knew of the assassination plot, but may have known of the kidnapping plot. Mudd denied knowledge of either.
Deaths
Carl Sagan and Pioneer Plaque
Carl Sagan and Pioneer Plaque
Carl Sagan
Died December 20, 1996 b. 1934
American astronomer. He won the 1977 Pulitzer Prize for The Dragons of Eden and published more than 600 scientific papers and articles.
Sagan assembled the first physical messages sent into space, the Pioneer Plaque and the Voyager Golden Record, which were intended to be messages that could be understood by any extraterrestrial intelligence that found them.
The film Contact (1997) was based on the only novel Sagan wrote.
TV: Cosmos: A Personal Voyage.
Edith La Sylphe (Edith Lambelle Langerfeld)
Died December 20, 1968 b. 1883
American exotic dancer. Unable to perform in the U.S. because of her age, she began dancing in Europe at the age of six where she did two world tours. She returned to the U.S. at age 14, where she introduced her rendition of "The Vision of Salome" dance. Her flexibility was described as, "a young woman who was seemingly made up of muscle but without bones, and who would make an ordinary contortionist turn green with envy at his talk of suppleness."
Photo Credit: Governor Tom Wolf
Photo Credit: Governor Tom Wolf
Franco Harris
Died December 20, 2022 b. 1950
American Football Hall of Famer. Franco Harris was a four-time Super Bowl winner with the Pittsburgh Steelers and was the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of Super Bowl IX. He also scored the "Immaculate Reception" touchdown, one of professional football's most famous plays, which gave the Steelers their first playoff win en route to their first Super Bowl title.
Foster Brooks
Died December 20, 2001 b. 1912
American comic, "The Lovable Lush." TV: The drunk on Dean Martin's celebrity roasts. Quote: "I never drew a sober breath from Friday night to Monday. Eight years ago, I quit. A fellow made me a $10 bet I couldn't quit, and I haven't had a drink since. At the time I needed the $10." - Interview with the Los Angeles Times in 1972.
Max Robinson
Died December 20, 1988 b. 1939
American newscaster, the first U.S. black network news anchor.
Richard Joseph Daley
Died December 20, 1976 b. 1902
American politician, mayor of Chicago (1955-76). Said in response to the 1968 civil disorder during the Democratic National Convention, "the police aren't here to create disorder, the police are here to preserve disorder." He ordered police to shoot to kill arsonists and to maim looters.
William Lundigan
Died December 20, 1975 b. 1914
American radio announcer, actor. He appeared in over 120 films. TV: Climax! (1954-56, host).
Bobby Darin (Walden Robert Cassotto)
Died December 20, 1973 b. 1936
American pop singer. Music: Splish Splash (1958) and Mack the Knife (1959).
Max Lincoln Schuster
Died December 20, 1970 b. 1897
Austrian-born American publisher, co-founder of the publishing house of Simon and Schuster (1924). Their first book was the world's first crossword puzzle book.
John Ernst Steinbeck
Died December 20, 1968 b. 1902
American Nobel-winning novelist. Writings: The Grapes of Wrath.
William Miller
Died December 20, 1849 b. 1782
American religious leader of the Second Adventists in America. He and his followers (Millerites) believed the world would end on October 22, 1844. Many of his followers gave away their earthly possessions in preparation for the event.
Gregory VI
Died December 20, 1046 b. ????
Italian religious leader, 148th Pope (1045-46).