Today in History for December 1971

Months in 1971: January February March April May June July August September October November

Historical Events

Events 1 - 55 of 55

1st - "2 Gentlemen of Verona" opens at St James Theater NYC for 613 perfs
1st - Cubs release Ernie Banks & sign him as a coach
1st - Galt MacDermot/John Guare's "2 gentlemen of Verona," premieres in NYC
1st - John & Yoko release "Happy Xmas (War is Over)" in US
1st - People's Republic of South Yemen renames itself People's Democratic Republic of Yemen
1st - Cambodian Civil War: Khmer Rouge rebels intensify assaults on Cambodian government positions, forcing their retreat from Kompong Thmar and nearby Ba Ray.
2nd - Soviet Mars 3 is 1st to soft land on Mars
2nd - United Arab Emirates, (Trucial States) declares independence from UK
2nd - Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujeira, Sharjah & Umm ak Qiwain form United Arab Emirates
2nd - Zayid bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan of Abu Dhabi becomes pres of UAE
3rd - Miss Teenage America Pageant
3rd - Pres Nixon commutes Jimmy Hoffa's jail term
3rd - Indo-Pakistani War of 1971: India invades West Pakistan and a full scale war begins claiming hundreds of lives.
4th - The UN Security Council calls an emergency session to consider the deteriorating situation between India and Pakistan.
4th - The Indian Navy attacks the Pakistan Navy and Karachi.
5th - KCBJ (now KMIZ) TV channel 17 in Columbia, MO (ABC) 1st broadcast
6th - Lewis Franklin Powell confirmed as Supreme Court justice
7th - "Wild & Wonderful" opens/closes at Lyceum Theater NYC
7th - Wings release their 1st album "Wild Life"
Hall of Fame MLB shortstop Ernie Banks 9th - Lewis F Powell Jr appointed to Supreme Court
10th - West German union chancellor W Burns receives Nobel prize of peace
10th - William H Rehnquist confirmed as Supreme Court justice
11th - The Libertarian Party of the United States is formed.
13th - John Sinclair (sentence: 10 yrs, sold 2 marijuana joints) is freed
14th - Golden Gate Bridge lights out all night due to power failure
14th - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
15th - USSR performs nuclear test at Eastern Kazakh/Semipalitinsk USSR
16th - Bangladesh (East Pakistan) declares independence from Pakistan
16th - Don McLean's 8+ minute version of "American Pie" released
16th - India's army occupies Dacca, West Pakistani troops surrenders
17th - "Diamonds are Forever" premieres in US
17th - Cease fire between India & Pakistan in Kashmir
17th - Radio Bangladesh begins transmitting
18th - 1st Candlelight Processional
18th - CBS radio cancels Saturday morning band concerts
18th - People United To Save Humanity (PUSH) forms by Jesse Jackson in Chic
18th - US dollar devalued 7.9% in Holland ($1=Ÿ3,245)
19th - "Inner City" opens at Barrymore Theater NYC for 97 performances
19th - CBS airs "Homecoming A Christmas Story," (introducing the Waltons)
19th - NASA launches Intelsat 4 F-3 for COMSAT Corp
19th - Stanley Kubrick's X-rated "A Clockwork Orange" premieres
20th - Pakistan president Yahya Khan resigns
21st - UN Security Council chooses Kurt Waldheim as 4th secretary General
22nd - KUAC TV channel 9 in Fairbanks/College, AK (PBS) begins broadcasting
22nd - UN General Assembly ratifies Kurt Waldheim as secretary-General
22nd - USSR performs underground nuclear test
24th - Peruvian Airlines Electra crashes at headwaters of Amazon, killing all except Juliane Margaret Koepcke found 10 days later
25th - Longest NFL game (82m40s) as Dolphins beat Chiefs 27-24
25th - Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity) form Jesse Jackson
25th - Worst hotel fire in history kills 163 at Taeyokale Hotel in Seoul
28th - Hasj falls from now on under(neath) the Opiumwet
30th - Long Island NHL franchise purchased (NY Islanders)
30th - USSR performs nuclear test at Eastern Kazakh/Semipalitinsk USSR
31st - KAID TV channel 4 in Boise, ID (PBS) begins broadcasting
31st - Lt Gen Robert E Cushman, Jr, USMC, ends term as deputy director of CIA

Famous Birthdays

Birthdays 1 - 100 of 132

1st - Oscar Sturgis, WLAF DE (Frankfurt Galaxy)
1st - Rob Zatechka, NFL guard (NY Giants)
1st - Tom Robsock, NFL/WLAF guard (Raiders, Barcelona Dragons)
1st - Stephanie Finochio, American professional wrestler
1st - Dolgorsürengiin Serjbüdee, Mongolian professional wrestler
1st - Peter Van de Veire, Belgian radio-presenter
1st - John Schlimm, American author
2nd - Jessie Hicks, WNBA forward/center (Utah Starzz)
2nd - Rachel McQuillan, Merewether NSW Aust, tennis star (1989 Futures ITA)
2nd - Roy van de Hill, soccer player (Roda JC)
2nd - Wilson Jermaine Heredia, American actor
2nd - Francesco Toldo, Italian Football Player (Inter Milan)
3rd - Frank Sinclair, Jamaican footballer
3rd - Keegan Connor Tracy, Canadian actress
3rd - Vernon White, American mixed martial artist
4th - Terrence Wisdom, NFL/WLAF guard/center (NY Jets, London Monarchs)
4th - Shannon Briggs, American boxer
5th - Bryan Schwartz, NFL linebacker (Jacksonville Jaguars)
5th - Joe Fleming, CFL defensive end (BC Lions)
5th - Marrio Grier, fullback (New England Patriots)
5th - Kali Rocha, American actress
6th - Ainsley Robinson, Oshawa Ontario, 62 kg Greco Roman wrestler (Oly-96)
6th - David Defiagbon, Sapele Nigeria, Canadian boxer (Olympics-silver-96)
6th - Matt Maloney, NBA guard (Houston Rockets)
6th - Richard Krajicek, Neth, tennis star (Wimbledon-1996)
6th - Rika Hiraki, Beirut Lebanon, tennis star (1992 Japan doubles)
6th - Thomas Bailey, NFL wide receiver (Cin Bengals)
6th - Naozumi Takahashi, Japanese seiyuu
6th - José Contreras, Cuban baseball player
7th - Ben Atkins, NYC, fencer-epee (Olympics-96)
7th - Mauricio Hadad, Cali Colombia, tennis star (1995 Bermuda)
7th - Vladimir Akopian, Armenian chess player
7th - Chasey Lain, American pornographic actress
8th - Garvin Alston, Mt Vernon NY, pitcher (Colorado Rockies)
8th - James Stewart, NFL running back (Minnesota Vikings)
9th - Chris Boniol, NFL kicker (Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles)
9th - Clifton Abraham, NFL cornerback (Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Bucs)
9th - Petr Nedved, Libercec CZE, NHL center (Team Czech, Pitts Penguins)
9th - Todd Van Poppel, Hinsdale IL, pitcher (Oakland A's)
10th - Amanda Hardy, Altona Australia, badminton player (Olympics-96)
10th - Carla Sacramento, Lisbon, 1.5k runner
10th - Manjula Munasinghe, cricketer (Sri Lankan ODI pace bowler)
10th - Brian Nichols, American spree killer
11th - Cedric Ihalauw, soccer player (Roda JC)
11th - Willie McGinest, NFL outside linebacker (NE Patriots)
12th - Becky Sunshine, [Rebekah Jayne Hunter], Ark, Miss Nude California (1993)
12th - John Sacca, WLAF quarterback (Amsterdam Admirals)
12th - Tito Wooten, NFL safety (NY Giants)
12th - Toni Hodgkinson, Auckland NZ, 800m (Olympics-96)
13th - Johnny Dixon, WLAF safety (Frankfurt Galaxy)
13th - Miguel Angel Martinez Soto, mariachi
13th - Mike Pelton, NFL defensive tackle (Indianapolis Colts)
14th - Chris Therien, Ottawa, NHL defenseman (Phila Flyers)
14th - Lisa-Marie Vizaniari, Australian discus/shot putter (Olympics-96)
14th - Natascha McElhone, English actress
15th - Boudewijk Pahlplatz, soccer player (FC Twente, PSV)
15th - Chris Maumalanga, NFL defensive tackle (Chicago Bears, Az Cardinals)
15th - Eric Bjornson, NFL tight end (Dallas Cowboys)
15th - Ken Alexander, WLAF linebacker (Barcelona Dragons)
16th - Catherine "Cathy" Symon, Wash DC, rower (Olympics-96)
16th - Kristen Kane, Jacksonville Fl, diver (Olympics-96)
16th - Michael S McCary, [Boss], Phila Pa, rapper (Boyz II Men)
16th - Paul van Dyk, German DJ
17th - Alyson Habetz, Crowley LA, female pitcher (Colo Silver Bullets)
17th - Carl Reeves, NFL defensive end (Chic Bears)
17th - Mark Byers, WLAF linebacker (Frankfurt Galaxy)
17th - Nikki McCray, Collierville Tenn, basketball guard (Olympics-gold-96)
17th - Sari Kristiina Fisk, ice hockey defenseman (Finland, Oly-98)
17th - Tony Richardson, NFL fullback (KC Chiefs)
17th - Antoine Rigaudeau, French basketball player
18th - Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, Barcelona, tennis star (Oly-silv/bronze-92)
18th - Frank Pimiskern, CFL safety (BC Lions)
18th - Joe Dziedzic, Minneapolis, NHL left wing (Pitts Penguins)
18th - Markus Finke, WLAF running back (Rhein Fire)
18th - Neil Little, Medicine Hat, NHL goalie (Phila Flyers)
18th - Barkha Dutt, Indian journalist
18th - Noriko Matsueda, Japanese composer
19th - Amy Locane, Trenton NJ, actress (Andrea-Spencer, Sandy-Melrose Place)
19th - Jen[nifer] Dore, Kearny NJ, rower (Olympics-4TH-96)
19th - Mike Groh, WLAF quarterback (Rhein Fire)
19th - Liz Cho, American television reporter
19th - Tiffany Towers, Canadian adult film actress
20th - Jerry Ellison, NFL running back (Tampa Bay Bucs)
21st - Ernest Hunter, NFL running back (Cleveland Browns)
21st - Irena Slavutskay, Israel, athlete (Oly-1996)
21st - Jey Phillips, WLAF DB (Amsterdam Admirals)
21st - Tommie Boyd, NFL/WLAF receiver (Detroit Lions, Rhein Fire)
21st - Mathieu Chedid, French musician
21st - Fenton Keogh, Australian celebrity chef
21st - Brett Scallions, American singer (Fuel, The X's)
22nd - Pat Mastroianni, Canadian actor
23rd - Corey Haim, Toronto, actor (Silver Bullet, Lucas, License to Drive)
23rd - Pete Bercich, NFL linebacker (Minnesota Vikings)
23rd - Steve Stenstrom, quarterback (Chicago Bears)
23rd - Michalis Klokidis, Greek footballer
23rd - Masayoshi Yamazaki, Japanese singer-songwriter
23rd - Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, British socialite
23rd - Wim Vansevenant, Belgian cyclist
Singer/Actor Ricky Martin (24th) 24th - Ricky Martin, San Juan, Puerto Rico, singer (Menudo)/actor (General Hospital)
24th - Tamir Bloom, NYC, fencer-epee (Olympics-96)

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Famous Deaths

Deaths 1 - 36 of 36

1st - Arthur B Springarn, US NAACP chairman (1940-65), dies at 93
4th - Shunryu Suzuki, Zen teacher, founder of SF Zen Center, dies
5th - Hugh Wakefield, actress (Blithe Spirit), dies
6th - Hugo Godron, composer, dies at 71
6th - Jan Altink, Dutch painter/co-founder (Plough), dies at 86
7th - Milton Rosmer, director (Murder in the Red Barn), dies at 90
9th - Ralph Bunche, UN delegate/Nobel Prize winner, dies at 67
9th - Sergey Konenkov, Russian sculptor (b. 1874)
10th - Jozef MLT Cals, Dutch min of Education/premier (1965-66), dies at 57
11th - Maurice "Mac" McDonald, American fast-food pioneer (b. 1902)
12th - David Sarnoff, US TV pioneer (RCA), dies at 80
12th - Frank Wolff, actor (Erotic Illusion, Last Gun), suicide at 43
12th - Jack Barnhill, Northern Ireland senator, assassinated
12th - John A Emmens, art historian/poet (Dog of Pavlov), dies at 47
13th - Max Mell, Austria artillery officer/literary, dies at 88
14th - Dick Tiger, Nigerian-born boxer (b. 1929)
15th - Paul Pierre Lévy, French mathematician (b. 1886)
18th - Aleksandr T Tvardovski, Russ editor in chief (Novyj Mir), dies at 61
18th - Bobby Jones Jr, amateur golfer (Grand Slam 1930), dies at 69
Diplomat and Nobel Laureate Ralph Bunche (9th) 18th - Diana Lynn, actress (Annapolis Story, Easy Come Easy Go), dies at 45
20th - Roy O Disney, Brother of Walt, dies of cerebral hemorrhage at 78
22nd - Godfried Jan Arnold Bomans, Dutch writer (Eric), dies at 58
22nd - Renee Evans, entertainer, dies of heart attack at 63
23rd - Carlo Jachino, composer, dies at 84
24th - Maria Koepcke, ornithologist (b. 1924)
25th - Byron Arnold, composer, dies at 70
26th - Robert Lowery, actor (Circus Boy, Pistols 'n' Petticoats), dies at 57
28th - Maximilian Raoul Walter Steiner, composer, dies at 83
29th - Stuart Holmes, dies of stomach ailment at 87
30th - Dorothy Comingore, actress (Citizen Kane), dies after illness at 58
30th - Jan Mul, composer, dies at 60
30th - Melba Rae, American actress (Search for Tomorrow) (b. 1922)
31st - Peter Deuel, actor (Gidget, Love on a Rooftop), commits suicide at 31
31st - Pete Duel American actor (b. 1940)
31st - Marin Sais, American actress (b. 1890)
31st - Vikram Sarabhai, Indian physicist (b. 1919)