What Happened On
Halloween
October 25, 1978
The movie Halloween premieres. It was directed and scored by John Carpenter and starred Donald Pleasence and Jamie Lee Curtis in her film debut. Made for $300,000, it grossed more than $65 million in its initial release, making it one of the most successful independent films of all time.
Michael Myers' iconic mask was created from a Star Trek Captain Kirk mask purchased for $1.98 from a costume shop. The eye holes were widened and the mask was spray-painted a bluish white.
Rolling Stones First Appearance on Ed Sullivan
October 25, 1964
The Rolling Stones make their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones, Bill Wyman, and Charlie Watts performed Around & Around and Time Is on My Side to screaming fans. Because of the chaos of the screaming fans, Sullivan initially banned them from appearing again. However, they returned the following spring for a series of appearances on the show.
They were banned again in 1967 after their performance of "Let's Spend *Some Time* Together."
Cuban Missile Crisis
October 25, 1962
Adlai Stevenson shows aerial photos of Cuban missiles to the United Nations. U.S. President John F. Kennedy responded to Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, stating that the U.S. was forced into action after receiving repeated assurances that no offensive missiles were being placed in Cuba, and that those assurances proved to be false.
First Mass-Produced Electronic Wristwatch
October 25, 1960
Bulova's Accutron goes on sale.
It was the first watch to use an electronic timing circuit, a tuning fork that vibrated at 360 cycles per second. Most previous watches, even previous electric watches, used a balance wheel.
It was guaranteed accurate to within 60 seconds per month.
Mob Boss Murdered in Barber Chair
October 25, 1957
Notorious gangster and hitman Albert Anastasia is killed by two gunmen while sitting in a barber's chair in a New York barber shop. He was a founder of both the American Mafia and "Murder Incorporated," and was boss of what would become the modern Gambino crime family.
USS Tang Sunk By Its Own Torpedo
October 25, 1944
A torpedo fired from the submarine malfunctioned and went in a circular pattern. The USS Tang tried to outmaneuver the torpedo, but was struck by it and subsequently sank, killing 78 crewmen. Nine survivors were taken prisoner by the Japanese. Some of the men escaped the sinking sub using a mechanical breathing device known as a Momsen lung.
The USS Tang, which had been launched the previous year, had sunk 33 enemy ships.
King Dies From Pet Monkey Bite
October 25, 1920
Alexander I, King of Greece dies at the age of 27 from blood poisoning after being bitten by a pet monkey. Alexander was walking the palace grounds when a pet Barbary macaque belonging to the steward of the palace's grapevines began fighting with his dog. Alexander intervened and was bitten by the monkey. Although, initially thought to be a minor wound, infection set in and he died three weeks later.
The day after Alexander became king in 1919, he created a scandal by marrying a commoner, his childhood friend who was the daughter of his father's Master of the Horse.
Charge of the Light Brigade
October 25, 1854
Lord Alfred Tennyson's poem was inspired by this Crimean War battle. The charge was led by the Seventh Earl of Cardigan.
"Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred."
Battle of Agincourt
October 25, 1415
The English win a major victory in the 100 Years' War (1337-1453) when Henry V of England, outnumbered 13,000 to 50,000, defeats the French and advances to Calais. After a long lull in the war, Henry V, who had assumed the throne two years earlier, renewed the English campaign to reclaim the French crown. This victory against a numerically superior French army crippled France, and started a new period in the war during which the English began enjoying great military successes. However, when Henry V died leaving only his infant son as heir to the throne, the war began to turn. In 1429, a force organized by Joan of Arc forced the English army to lift its siege of Orléans.
Ross Perot
October 25, 1992
The off-again/on-again U.S. Presidential candidate Ross Perot states that he had dropped out the race the previous July because of threats to disrupt his daughter's wedding. He then re-entered the race October 1st, during which time he had spent $10,000,000 maintaining his campaign organization and creating new advertisements.
U.S. Invades Grenada
October 25, 1983
The United States and a coalition of six Caribbean countries invaded the island nation of Grenada. U.S. President Ronald Reagan stated this was done due to "concerns over the 600 U.S. medical students on the island". Later, Reagan's then Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs admitted that the students were a pretext and the prime motivation for the intervention was to "get rid" of the Grenada leader Hudson Austin. Austin had taken power through a coup which overthrew the previous government.
The operation was codenamed "Operation Urgent Fury" by the U.S. military.
First Female FBI Agents
October 25, 1972
The first female FBI agents graduate from the FBI training course.
First African American U.S. Army Brigadier General
October 25, 1940
Benjamin O. Davis, Sr. is appointed Brigadier General.
In 1900, he had become the first Black American officer. He served with the all black "Buffalo Soldiers".
His son, Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., was the first African American U.S. Air Force Brigadier General.
View from Edgewater, New Jersey (1931)
View from Edgewater, New Jersey (1931)
George Washington Bridge
October 25, 1931
The George Washington Bridge opens to the general public. It connected New York and New Jersey.
The opening ceremony, the previous day, was attended by 30,000 guests and included a show from military airplanes, and speeches from politicians, including Franklin D. Roosevelt, the governor of New York at the time.
Tolls were collected in both directions: 50¢ for passenger cars and 10¢ for pedestrians.
Albert B. Fall
Albert B. Fall
First U.S. President's Cabinet Member Convicted of a Crime
October 25, 1929
Warren G. Harding's Secretary of the Interior, Albert Bacon Fall, is convicted of accepting a $100,000 interest-free loan. He served nine months of a one year in prison and was fined $100,000, making him the first U.S. cabinet member to be imprisoned for crimes committed while in office.
The loan was from Edward Doheny who wanted Fall to grant his firm a valuable oil lease in the Elk Hills naval oil reserve in California. Doheny was acquitted on the charge of bribing Fall, but Doheny's corporation foreclosed on Fall's ranch in New Mexico, because of "unpaid loans" which turned out to be that same bribe.
Also, Harry Sinclair, president of Mammoth Oil, had given Fall $300,000 in government bonds and cash in exchange for use of the Teapot Dome oil reserve in Wyoming. These events were part of the Teapot Dome Scandal.
Presidential Power
October 25, 1926
The U.S. Supreme Court rules that the President has the authority to remove executive officers from their positions.
The case was Myers v. United States, in which in 1920, Frank S. Myers, a First-Class Postmaster in Portland, Oregon, was removed from office by President Woodrow Wilson. Myers asserted that his removal violated an 1876 federal law provided that "Postmasters of the first, second, and third classes shall be appointed and may be removed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate." Chief Justice (former President) William Howard Taft noted that the Constitution mentions the appointment of officials but is silent on their dismissal and therefore found that the statute was unconstitutional.
First U.S. Rabbinical School
October 25, 1867
Maimonides College of Philadelphia is founded.
Birthdays
Minnie Pearl (Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon)
Born October 25, 1912 d. 1996
American comedienne. Minnie Pearl was known for her trademark "Howdeeeeee!" and a price tag of $1.98 hanging from her hats. She was the first woman inducted into the National Comedy Hall of Fame (1994), having previously been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame (1975).
In the late 1960s, she lent her name to the Minnie Pearl's Fried Chicken chain, but the chain collapsed amid allegations of accounting irregularities and stock price manipulation. Pearl was cleared of any wrongdoing by the SEC.
Radio: Grand Ole Opry (1940-91). TV: Hee Haw (1969-91).
1958 Exhibit of Tennis Game.
1958 Exhibit of Tennis Game.
Father of the Video Game
William Higinbotham
Born October 25, 1910 d. 1994
American physicist. "Father of the Video Game." In 1958 he rigged up an oscilloscope for the public to play tennis on at New York's Brookhaven National Laboratory.
Tracy Nelson
Born October 25, 1963
American actress. TV: Father Dowling Mysteries (Sister Steve) and Melrose Place (Meredith).
Brian Kerwin
Born October 25, 1949
American actor. TV: Lobo (Deputy Hawkins).
Helen Reddy
Born October 25, 1941 d. 2020
Australian-American singer. In 1966, she won a talent contest on the television program, Bandstand, winning a record audition in New York City, which was unsuccessful.
I Am Woman made Reddy the first Australian singer to top the U.S. charts.
Music: I Am Woman (1972, #1), Delta Dawn (1973, #1), and Angie Baby (1974, #1). Film: Airport 1975 (1974, singing Best Friend) and Pete's Dragon (1977, singing Candle on the Water).
Porky - "O-tay"
Eugene Lee
Born October 25, 1933 d. 2005
American actor. The Little Rascals (Spanky's little brother Porky). He appeared in 42 Our Gang films. "O-tay!"
Marion Ross (Marian Ellen Ross)
Born October 25, 1928
American actress. TV: Happy Days (1974-84, Marion Cunningham AKA Mrs. C.), Joanie Loves Chachi (1982, Marion Cunningham), and Brooklyn Bridge (1991-93).
At the age of 13, she changed the spelling of her name from "Marian" to "Marion".
Anthony Franciosa (Anthony Papaleo)
Born October 25, 1928 d. 2006
American actor. TV: The Name of the Game (Jeff Dillon) and Matt Helm (title role).
Richard E. Byrd
Born October 25, 1888 d. 1957
American naval aviator. He and Floyd Bennett became the first to fly over the North Pole (1926), and he was the first to fly over the South Pole (1929).
Pablo Ruiz Picasso
Born October 25, 1881 d. 1973
Spanish artist. He is considered the greatest artist of the 20th century. His last words were "Drink to me," which Paul McCartney used in a song about his death.
The Waltz King
Johann Strauss II
Born October 25, 1825 d. 1899
Austrian composer, "The Waltz King."
Deaths
Vincent Price
Died October 25, 1993 b. 1911
American horror actor. Film: House of Wax (1953), The Fly (1958), and The Last Man on Earth (1964). TV: Batman (1966-67, Egghead) and Masterpiece Mystery (1981-89, host).
Pinel removing the chains from patients at the Paris Asylum for insane women
Pinel removing the chains from patients at the Paris Asylum for insane women
Father of Modern Psychiatry
Philippe Pinel
Died October 25, 1826 b. 1745
French physician. "Father of Modern Psychiatry." He pioneered the humane treatment of the mentally ill and opposed the commonly-held belief that mental illness was caused by demonic possession.
Jack Bannon (John James Bannon)
Died October 25, 2017 b. 1940
American actor. TV: Lou Grant (1977-82, assistant editor Art Donovan).
Marcia Wallace
Died October 25, 2013 b. 1942
American Emmy-winning actress. TV: The Bob Newhart Show (Carol the receptionist) and The Simpsons (voice of school teacher Mrs. Krabappel).
Viveca Lindfors
Died October 25, 1995 b. 1920
Swedish Emmy-winning actress. Film: Four in a Jeep (1951) and The Sure Thing (1985). TV: Life Goes On (1990, Won an Emmy for a guest appearance as a dance instructor).
Bobby Riggs
Died October 25, 1995 b. 1918
American tennis player. He lost to Billie Jean King in the "Battle of the Sexes" (1973). At the beginning of the match, Riggs presented King with a giant lollipop and she gave him a piglet. He was ranked #1 for three years.
Mildred Natwick
Died October 25, 1994 b. 1905
American Emmy-winning actress. TV: The Snoop Sisters (1973-74, Gwendolyn Snoop). Film: Barefoot in the Park (1967, Ethel Banks).
Roger Miller (Roger Dean Miller, Sr.)
Died October 25, 1992 b. 1936
American Grammy (11 from 1964-65) and Tony-winning Hall of Fame singer-songwriter. He wrote King of the Road (1965, #1), which became the hobo anthem.
Bill Graham (Wulf Wolodia Grajonca)
Died October 25, 1991 b. 1931
German-born American concert promoter. He helped pioneer the mass rock concert as an American cultural event. He died in a helicopter crash.
Forrest Tucker
Died October 25, 1986 b. 1919
American actor. TV: F Troop (1965-67, Sgt. O'Rourke).
Albert Anastasia
Died October 25, 1957 b. 1902
American gangster and hit-man. A founder of both the American Mafia and "Murder Incorporated". He was boss of what would become the modern Gambino crime family. He was killed by two gunmen while sitting in a barber's chair in a New York barber shop.
Oskar Hertwig
Died October 25, 1922 b. 1849
German embryologist. He discovered that a single spermatozoon (sperm cell) could fertilize an egg (1875).
Alexander I
Died October 25, 1920 b. 1893
King of Greece (1917-20). Alexander died at the age of 27 of blood poisoning after being bitten by a pet monkey.
Alexander became king after his father and older brother were forced into exile. The day after Alexander became king in 1919, he created a scandal by marrying a commoner, his childhood friend who was the daughter of his father's Master of the Horse.
Henry Knox
Died October 25, 1806 b. 1750
American Revolutionary War hero. He established the U.S. Military Academy at West Point (1779) and was the second U.S. Secretary of War (1785-94). He was also a witness to the Boston Massacre (1770), in which he claims he attempted to defuse the situation by trying to convince the British soldiers to return to their quarters.
George II
Died October 25, 1760 b. 1683
King of Great Britain and Ireland (1727-60).
Evangelista Torricelli
Died October 25, 1647 b. 1608
Italian physicist. Inventor of the barometer (1643).
Geoffrey Chaucer
Died October 25, 1400 b. 1340
English poet, Canterbury Tales (1387).
Boniface V
Died October 25, 625 b. ????
Italian-born religious leader, 69th Pope (619-625).
Saint Marcellinus
Died October 25, 304 b. ????
Italian religious leader, 29th Pope (296-304).