On this day in 1775, “Listen, my children, and you shall hear. Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere.” Actually, Mr. Revere’s famous “midnight ride” was originally scheduled for 9 pm, but he had to battle through a fierce traffic jam on I-93. (Video: The brilliant U.S. historian Sarah Palin shares her version)
On this day in 1934, the first laundromat opened in Fort Worth, Texas. Soon many Americans adopted this strange new custom of washing their clothes instead of just letting them decay and fall apart.
On this day in 1831, the University of Alabama was founded in Tuscaloosa, enabling generations of young Alabamans to get hammered at Sigma Lambda Gamma.
On this day in 1956, Hollywood star Grace Kelly abandoned acting at age 26 to marry the Prince of Monaco, Rainer III. The star of three Alfred Hitchcock movies, she gracefully made the transition from “Dial M for Murder” to “Dial P for Princess.”
Today’s Birthdays:
Clarence Darrow (1857-1938): lawyer; served as defense attorney in the landmark 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial, asserting in closing arguments that the monkeys “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.”
Rick Moranis, 71: actor, starred in “Ghostbusters” and its gruesome Washington D.C. sequel “Ghost Filibusters.”
Kourtney Kardashian, 45: a celebrity VIP for reasons that defy human comprehension; famous for cashin’ in on being a Kardashian.
Conan O’Barbarian, 61: swashbuckling TV talk show host, also known as Conan the Comedian; former writer for “The Simpsons” and “Saturday Night Live” whose pen is mightier than his sword. (Video: Conan shares a moment with Arnold Schrwazenegger)