Holidays
Feast Day of Saint Felix of Valois
French Monk, helped found (c1197) the Trinitarians.
What Happened On
Photo Credit: Used with permission from Microsoft
Photo Credit: Used with permission from Microsoft
Microsoft Windows 1.0
November 20, 1985
Microsoft's first Graphical User Interface (GUI) is officially released.
The Day After
November 20, 1983
The ABC TV movie The Day After sets the record as the highest-rated television film in history up to that time - 100 million viewers.
It depicted the aftermath of a nuclear war between Russia and the United States.
Donald Rumsfeld Becomes Youngest U.S. Secretary of Defense
November 20, 1975
42-year-old Donald Rumsfeld becomes the youngest Secretary of Defense in American history, serving under Gerald Ford until 1977. In 2001, he was again appointed Secretary of Defense by George W. Bush, serving until 2006, making him also the oldest in American history at 74 years old.
Adamski's photo of Orthon's ship featured on a Grenada stamp (right)
Adamski's photo of Orthon's ship featured on a Grenada stamp (right)
UFOs
November 20, 1952
George Adamski, who is often referred to as the first abductee, has another of his many encounters with UFOs. This time he claims to have made contact with a Venusian named Orthon. Adamski described Orthon as a medium-height humanoid with long blond hair and tanned skin wearing reddish-brown shoes who communicated with him via telepathy and hand signals. Although Adamski said Orthon would not allow himself to be photographed, Adamski did make plaster casts of his footprints.
Adamski would have another encounter with Orthon the following month when he took a photo of Orthon's ship.
Nuremberg Trials Begin
November 20, 1945
Prosecution begins against 24 former Nazi leaders for war crimes; 12 of which were sentenced to death.
Scene from Moby-Dick
Scene from Moby-Dick
Real-Life Moby Dick
November 20, 1820
The American whaling ship Essex is attacked and sank by a giant sperm whale. The 20-man crew was forced to make for land in the ship's whaleboats. With little provisions for the 2,000 nautical miles (2,301 mi, 3,700 km) to South America, they were forced to resort to cannibalism during the voyage. At first, they consumed the bodies of those who died, then they drew lots for someone to be sacrificed to be consumed by the others. Herman Melville drew from this incident to write his 1851 classic Moby-Dick.
On the morning of November 20, 1820, the crew spotted an unusually large sperm whale. The whale then rammed the ship. At first appearing stunned, the whale eventually swam away from the ship only to return at a high rate of speed, ramming the ship once again. This time it rammed the ship hard enough to shatter the bow. The whale then swam off as the Essex sank. The crew gathered what supplies they could salvage and took to three of the ship's smaller whaling boats.
One month later, they found a small uninhabited island, but within a week had consumed the island's resources and took back to the sea, with three crew members choosing to stay behind.
A few weeks later, after the provisions ran out, the men on the boats began to die. The first two were given burials at sea, but after that the crew began cannibalizing the dead. And on February 1st, after having eaten the other corpses, they drew lots for one man to be sacrificed for food for the others. After he was eaten, the survivors continued consuming the corpses of the men who died.
One of the whaling boats was lost at sea with its members presumed dead. Another boat containing three survivors was spotted on February 18th by another whaling ship and rescued. The remaining boat, containing the captain and another survivor, was rescued on February 23rd just off the coast of South America. The three men on the island were rescued the following April.
Michael Jackson's Balcony Thriller
November 20, 2002
Singer Michael Jackson holds his son out over a 4th floor balcony of a Berlin hotel. Jackson later apologized, saying he had made a "terrible mistake."
Space Station in 2000
Space Station in 2000
International Space Station
November 20, 1998
The first piece of the International Space Station (ISS) is launched. It was the first part of what would become the largest man-made object to orbit the Earth and is expected to operate until 2028.
NAFTA
November 20, 1993
The North American Free Trade Agreement is passed by the U.S. Congress, creating the world's largest free trade zone among the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
Windsor Castle Fire
November 20, 1992
The home of the British royal family for 850 years catches fire causing extensive damage. Repairs to the castle cost £36.5 million and resulted in Buckingham Palace, the Queen's other official residence, being opened to the public to help pay for the restoration work.
Alcatraz - Native American Occupation
November 20, 1969
A group of Native Americans claim ownership and begin occupying the recently-closed Alcatraz prison. Citing the Treaty of Fort Laramie (1868), they claimed abandoned or out-of-use federal land should be returned to the Native people from whom it was acquired. They were forcibly removed in 1971.
Cuban Missile Crisis
November 20, 1962
As the crisis ends, U.S. President John F. Kennedy ends the quarantine of Cuba.
Beethoven's Fidelio
November 20, 1805
First performance of Ludwig van Beethoven's classic opera Fidelio. It was his only opera and it tells the story of how Leonore, disguised as a prison guard named "Fidelio," rescues her husband from death in a political prison.
Bill of Rights
November 20, 1789
New Jersey becomes the first state to ratify the Bill of Rights.
The Bill of Rights comprises the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution. It provides guarantees of personal freedoms and rights, clear limitations on the government's power in judicial and other proceedings, and explicit declarations that all powers not specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution are reserved to the states or the people.
Birthdays
Joe Biden (Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr.)
Born November 20, 1942
American politician. U.S. President (2020‑25), 47th U.S. Vice-President (2009-17), U.S. Senator (1973-2009, Delaware). He was the first Roman Catholic U.S. Vice President.
The Gerber Baby
Ann Turner Cook
Born November 20, 1926 d. 2022
American baby model, The Gerber Baby. When she was five months old, a neighbor did a charcoal sketch of her. When Gerber launched a contest for a baby image for their products, her sketch was chosen.
Robert F. Kennedy (Robert Francis Kennedy)
Born November 20, 1925 d. 1968
American politician, U.S. Senator and brother of John F. Kennedy. He was assassinated by Sirhan Bishara Sirhan.
Kula (left), Ollie (middle) and Fran
Kula (left), Ollie (middle) and Fran
Fran Allison
Born November 20, 1907 d. 1989
American actress. TV: Kukla, Fran, and Ollie (1947-57).
Kukla, Fran, and Ollie started as Junior Jamboree on Chicago's WBKB-TV in 1947. The name was changed to Kukla, Fran, and Ollie when Fran Allison and the Kuklapolitan Players were picked up by NBC the following year. The unscripted show was ad-libbed and was soon watched by more adults than children. Burr Tillstrom was the creator and puppeteer for the show.
In 1953, an episode of Kukla, Fran and Ollie was the first publicly announced NTSC "compatible color" system program, although it was viewable in color only at the network's headquarters.
Creator of Dick Tracy
Chester Gould
Born November 20, 1900 d. 1985
American cartoonist. Creator of Dick Tracy (1931).
Edwin Hubble (Edwin Powell Hubble)
Born November 20, 1889 d. 1953
American astronomer. He is noted for his investigations of nebulae and for creating and developing the concepts of an expanding universe. Hubble proved that nebulae, previously thought to be clouds of dust and gas within our galaxy the Milky Way, were actually their own galaxies far beyond the Milky Way.
The Hubble Space Telescope is named after him.
Sean Young
Born November 20, 1959
American actress. Film: Blade Runner (1982, Rachael the android), No Way Out (1987), and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994).
Bo Derek (Cathleen Collins)
Born November 20, 1956
American actress. Film: "10" (1979), Tarzan, the Ape Man (1981), and Bolero (1984).
Photo Credit: Derek Russell
Photo Credit: Derek Russell
Joe Walsh (Joseph Woodward Fidler)
Born November 20, 1947
American singer, with The Eagles. Music: Hotel California (1976, #1) and Smuggler's Blues (1985).
Photo Credit: Ed Berman
Photo Credit: Ed Berman
Duane Allman
Born November 20, 1946 d. 1971
American slide guitarist, leader of the Allman Brothers Band. In 1969, he and his brother Gregg Allman formed the Allman Brothers Band. Duane also duetted with Eric Clapton for Layla (1970).
Allman died in a motorcycle crash after he crashed into the side of a flatbed truck carrying a crane.
Veronica Hamel
Born November 20, 1943
American actress. TV: Hill Street Blues (1981-87, Joyce Davenport).
Super Dave Osborne
Bob Einstein
Born November 20, 1942 d. 2019
American actor. He created the character Super Dave Osborne, known for his stunts that usually go horribly wrong. Film: The Extreme Adventures Of Super Dave (2000). He is the brother of actor Albert Brooks.
Dick Smothers
Born November 20, 1939
American comedian, one of the Smothers Brothers.
TV: The Smothers Brothers Show (1965-66) and The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1967-69).
Richard Dawson
Born November 20, 1932 d. 2012
British-American actor. TV: Hogan's Heroes (Corporal Newkirk) and Family Feud (1976-85, 1994-95, host).
Estelle Parsons
Born November 20, 1927
American actress. Film: Bonnie and Clyde (1967, Oscar, as Blanche Barrow), Rachel, Rachel (1968, as the lesbian religious fanatic), Dick Tracy (1990, Tess Truehart).
Kaye Ballard (Catherine Gloria Balotta)
Born November 20, 1925 d. 2019
American actress. Her catchphrase was "Good luck with your MOUTH!", a phrase her mother would scold her with as a child.
Jim Garrison (Earling Carothers Garrison)
Born November 20, 1921 d. 1992
American lawyer, New Orleans district attorney. His investigation into the Kennedy assassination was the basis of Oliver Stone's film JFK (1991).
Alistair Cooke (Alfred Alistair)
Born November 20, 1908 d. 2004
English-born journalist, Emmy-winning host of TV's Masterpiece Theatre. His bones were reportedly stolen by body snatchers working for a tissue recovery firm.
James Michael Curley
Born November 20, 1874 d. 1958
American politician, "last of the big city political bosses," four-time mayor of Boston, governor of Massachusetts (1935-37). He served two prison terms (1904, 1947) while mayor. The movie The Last Hurrah (1958) was modeled after his career.
Kenesaw Mountain Landis
Born November 20, 1866 d. 1944
American federal judge. He served as the first baseball commissioner (1921-44), during which he barred eight Chicago players from baseball in the famous "Black Sox Scandal".
Selma Lagerlof
Born November 20, 1858 d. 1940
Swedish author, first woman to receive the Nobel Prize for literature (1909).
Sir Wilfrid Laurier
Born November 20, 1841 d. 1919
Canadian statesman, premier of Canada (1896-1911).
Pius VIII
Born November 20, 1761 d. 1830
Italian religious leader, 253rd Pope (1829-30).
Oliver Wolcott
Born November 20, 1726 d. 1797
American statesman. Signer of the Declaration of Independence and governor of Connecticut (1796-97).
Peregrine White
Born November 20, 1620 d. 1704
New World pioneer. He was the first child born of English parents in New England. He was born aboard the Mayflower while it was anchored just off of Cape Cod.
Deaths
Michael J. Pollard (Michael John Pollack, Jr.)
Died November 20, 2019 b. 1939
American actor. Film: Bonnie and Clyde (1967, C.W. Moss - the duo's dimwitted partner) and Tango & Cash (1989, Owen). Broadway: Bye Bye Birdie (1960, Hugo Peabody).
Robert Altman
Died November 20, 2006 b. 1925
American film director. Known for his use of overlapping dialogue from multiple actors, he is ranked as one of the greatest and most influential filmmakers in American cinema. Film: M*A*S*H (1970) and Nashville (1975).
Generalissimo Francisco Franco (Francisco Franco Bahamonde)
Died November 20, 1975 b. 1892
Spanish dictator (1939-75). With the help of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy he overthrew the democratically elected Second Republic during the Spanish Civil War. However, he declined Adolf Hitler's request to join the Axis. He did provide some support to the Axis powers, but remained mostly neutral during World War II. He banned all religions except Catholicism and claimed to have locked up 26,000 political prisoners.
"This just in, Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead!" (Chevy Chase on SNL).
Alexandra of Denmark
Died November 20, 1925 b. 1844
Queen of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, wife of King Edward VII of England.
Nathaniel Currier
Died November 20, 1888 b. 1813
American lithographer, co-founded (1857) Currier & Ives, which recorded American history in their prints from the mid 1800s to the turn of the century.
Death convoy of John I of France.
Death convoy of John I of France.
Infant King of France
John I
Died November 20, 1316 b. 1316
King of France (1316), posthumous son of King Louis X. Was King of France on his birth, but died five days later. It is rumored that his uncle Philip either killed him or substituted him with a dead infant.