March 1 – Today In History

We take a look at some of the events that occurred on March 1st.

Today In …

1692 - The witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts began.

1781 - The Articles of Confederation was ratified by the Continental Congress.

1803 - Ohio became the 17th U.S. state.

1845 - President John Tyler signed a resolution that allowed for the annexation of Texas.

1867 - Nebraska became the 37th U.S. state.

1872 - Yellowstone National Park, the first national park in the U.S., was established.

1932 - The infamous Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping occurred today. Charles Augustus Lindbergh III, son of the famed aviator, was kidnapped from his home.

1936 - The Hoover Dam was completed today.

1961 - The Peace Corps was established by President John F. Kennedy.

Sharing A Birthday Today…

Catherine Bach best known as Daisy Duke on TV’s “The Dukes of Hazzard” was born in 1954.

Harry Belafonte the actor/singer who starred in “Island of the Sun” and was the voice behind “The Banana Boat Song” was born in 1927.

Dirk Benedict the actor best known for his work on TV’s “The A-Team” and the original “Battlestar Galactica” was born in 1945.

Frederic Chopin the legendary composer was born in 1810.

Robert Conrad the actor who starred in TV’s “The Wild, Wild West” was born in 1935.

Roger Daltrey the front man for the rock band The Who was born in 1944.

Timothy Daly who starred on TV’s “Wings” was born in 1956.

George Eads who stars on TV’s “C.S.I.” was born in 1967.

Ralph Waldo Ellison the author who penned “The Invisible Man” was born in 1914.

William Gaines who created “MAD Magazine” was born in 1922.

Mark-Paul Gosselaar who starred on TV’s “Saved by the Bell” and “NYPD Blue” was born in 1974.

Ron Howard who starred on TV’s “The Andy Griffith Show” and “Happy Days” as well as the Oscar winning director of “A Beautiful Mind” was born in 1954.

Glenn Miller the infamous bandleader who performed such tunes as “In the Mood” and “Moonlight Serenade” was born in 1904.

David Niven the Oscar winning actor of “Separate Tables” was born in 1910.

Alan Thicke who starred on TV’s “Growing Pains” was born in 1947.

Lana Wood who was a Bond girl in “Diamonds are Forever” was born in 1946.

We Said Goodbye To…

Joe Besser the versatile actor who became one of the Three Stooges after the death of Shemp Howard passed away in 1988 at the age of 80.

Corporal Harlon Block, Sergeant Henry Hanson and Sergeant Michael Strank were killed in action during the battle of Iwo Jima. Hansen (who was 25) was part of the first group of the U.S. military to place a flag atop Mount Suribachi. Block (who was 20) and Strank (who was 25) were part of the second unit that was later immortalized in the photo by Joe Rosenthal.

Jackie Coogan the actor best known as Uncle Fester on TV’s “The Addams Family” passed away in 1984 at the age of 69.

Jack Wild who portrayed the Artful Dodger in the film “Oliver!” and later appeared on TV’s “H.R. Pufnstuf” passed away in 2006 at the age of 53.

Top Of The Charts On This Day In…

1975 - “Best of My Love’ by the Eagles
1986 - “Kyrie” by Mr. Mister

Musical Moments In…

1994 - The band Nirvana played their final concert. The show took place in Munich, Germany.

Memorable Sports Moments In…

1969 - The legendary Mickey Mantle officially retired from baseball.