Today in History

The rebuilt Dresden Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) that was destroyed during the firebombing of Dresden in WWII is rededicated.

BET Holdings Inc., becomes the first African-American company listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Space Shuttle Challenger lifts off for its final successful mission.

Prince Juan Carlos becomes acting head of state in Spain, replacing the ailing dictator Gen. Francisco Franco.

The “Rumble in the Jungle,” a boxing match in Zaire that many regard as the greatest sporting event of the 20th century, saw challenger Muhammad Ali knock out previously undefeated World Heavyweight Champion George Foreman.

The Bosphorus Bridge is completed at Istanbul, Turkey, connecting Europe and Asia over the Bosphorus Strait.

Tory Belleci, filmmaker and model maker known for his work on the Mythbusters TV series; also worked on two Star Wars films.

US Marines repeal multiple-wave attacks by Viet Cong within a few miles of Da Nang where the Marines were based; a sketch of Marine positions was found on the body of a 13-year-old boy who had been selling the Americans drinks the previous day.

The USSR detonates “Tsar Bomba,” a 50-megaton hydrogen bomb; it is still (2013) the largest explosive device of any kind over detonated.

US Pres. Dwight D. Eisenhower formally approves a top secret document to maintain and expand the country’s nuclear arsenal.

The First Marine Division is ordered to replace the entire South Korean I Corps at the Chosin Reservoir area.

Henry Winkler, actor, director, producer; rose to fame as “The Fonz” on Happy Days TV series, a role that twice earned him a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Television Series Musical or Comedy.

The U.S. destroyer Reuben James, on convoy duty off Iceland, is sunk by a German U-boat with the loss of 96 Americans.

Grace Slick, singer, songwriter; lead singer for the bands The Great Society, Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship and Starship.

H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds is broadcast over the radio by Orson Welles’ Mercury Theatre. Many panic believing it is an actual newscast about a Martian invasion.

Dick Vermeil, head coach of the National Football League’s Philadelphia Eagles (1976–1982), St. Louis Rams (1997–1999), and Kansas City Chiefs (2001–2005).

Clifford “Brpwnie” Brown, influential jazz trumpeter and composer (“Joy Spring,” “Daahoud”).

Scotsman John L. Baird performs first TV broadcast of moving objects.

Mussolini sends his black shirts into Rome. The Fascist takeover is almost without bloodshed. The next day, Mussolini is made prime minister. Mussolini centralized all power in himself as leader of the Fascist party and attempted to create an Italian empire, ultimately in alliance with Hitler’s Germany.

Turkey signs an armistice with the Allies, agreeing to end hostilities at noon, October 31.

Fred W. Friendly, president of CBS News and co-creator of the documentary series See It Now, the program largely credited for bringing down Sen. Joe McCarthy.

Hermann Fegelein, SS general of WWII who was brother-in-law to Adolf Hitler’s mistress Eva Braun.

The czar of Russia issues the October Manisfesto, granting civil liberties and elections in an attempt to avert the burgeonng supprot for revolution.

Two battalions of British troops are cut off, surrounded and forced to surrender to General Petrus Joubert’s Boers at Nicholson’s Nek.

Ruth Gordon, Oscar, Emmy and Golden Globe–winning actress (Harold and Maude, Rosemary’s Baby).

Ezra Pound, American poet who promoted Imagism, a poetic movement stressing free phrase rather than forced metric. He was imprisoned for his pro-Fascist radio broadcasts.

William F. “Bull” Halsey, Jr., American admiral who played an instrumental role in the defeat of Japan during World War II. The Japanese surrender was signed on his flagship, the USS Missouri.

Paul Valery, poet and essayist.

Gertrude Atherton, novelist.

Alfred Sisley, landscape painter.

Oberlin Collegiate Institute in Lorian County, Ohio becomes the first college in the U.S. to admit female students.

Richard Sheridan, playwright (The Rivals, The School for Scandal).

John Adams, second president of the United States who helped draft the Declaration of Independence and the Treaty of Paris, ending the American Revolution.

The Treaty of Ryswick ends the war between France and the Grand Alliance.

Henry VII of England crowned.

The Seventh Crusade ends by the Treaty of Barbary.