We take a look at some of the events that occurred on January 24th.

>Today In …

1848 - It’s Gold! Gold is discovered by John Marshall at Sutter’s Mill in California. Once the discovery is announced, the legendary California Gold Rush is underway!

1924 - Leningrad officially becomes the new name of the Russian city St. Petersburg.

Sharing A Birthday Today…

Mischa Barton who played Marissa on TV’s “The O.C.” and appeared in “Notting Hill” and “The Sixth Sense” was born in 1986.

John Belushi, the actor/comedian who starred in TV’s “Saturday Night Live” and the films “Animal House” and “1941” was born in 1949.

Ernest Borgnine, star of “The Poseidon Adventure” and Oscar winner for the film “Marty” was born in 1917.

Neil Diamond, the legendary singer of such songs as “Sweet Caroline” and “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon” was born in 1941.

Robert E. Howard, author of “Conan: The Barbarian” was born in 1906.

Aaron Neville, singer of such hits as “Don’t Know Much” was born in 1941.

Mary Lou Retton, the gymnast who won Olympic gold in 1984 was born in 1968.

Oral Roberts, the television evangelist was born in 1918.

Yakov Smirnoff, the actor/comedian from Russia who appeared in “The Money Pit” and “Brewster’s Millions” was born in 1951.

Ray Stevens, comedian and the voice behind “Santa Claus is Watching You”, “Gitarzan” and “Cannonball” was born in 1939.

Sharon Tate, star of “Valley of the Dolls” and a victim in the infamous Manson murders was born in 1943.

Edith Wharton, Pulitzer Prize winner and author of the novel “Age of Innocence” was born n 1862.

Warren Zevon, the voice behind the hit song “Werewolves of London” was born in 1947.

We Said Goodbye To…

Ted Bundy, the infamous serial killer, was executed today in 1989. He was 42.

Winston Churchill passed away in 1965 at the age of 90. Churchill was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the days of World War II. He later went on to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature for his recounts of the war.

George Cukor passed away at the age of 83 in 1983. He was the man behind the camera of such classics as “Gaslight” and “My Fair Lady”.

Larry Fine is probably best known as the “curly headed one” of the Three Stooges. The actor/comedian passed away in 1975 at the age of 72.

Gaius Germanicus a.k.a. “Caligula”, the emperor of Rome, was assassinated in the year 41. He was 28.

Ira Hayes, a Corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps, he was one of the six men immortalized in the infamous photo taken during the flag raising during the Battle of Iwo Jima. Hayes passed away in 1955 at the age of 32.

L. Ron Hubbard, science fiction author and founder of the Church of Scientology passed away in 1986 at the age of 74.

Thurgood Marshall, the first African American to be appointed to the United States Supreme Court, passed away in 1993 at the age of 84.

Chris Penn, the actor who made notable appearances in “Rumble Fish”, “Reservoir Dogs” and “Corky Romano” passed away in 2006 at the age of 40.

William Wilson was one of the co-founders (with Dr. Bob Smith) of Alcoholics Anonymous. He passed away in 1971 at the age of 75.

Movie Moments In...

1927 - Alfred Hitchcock’s first film debuted today. “The Pleasure Garden” starred Virginia Valli.

Memorable Sports Moments In…

1962 - Jackie Robinson is inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.