Author: Buzznews

Panama’s dictator, Manual Noriega, seeks asylum at Vatican embassy.

Soviet troops invaded Afghanistan in support of the country’s Marxist government.

Walt Disney’s “Aristocats” is released.

For the first time ever, a midnight Mass was broadcast on television. It was held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.

Henry Ford completes his first useful petrol / gasoline fuelled engine

Giusseppi Verdi’s “Aida” opera premieres in Cairo.

Several veterans of the Confederate Army formed a private social club in Pulaski, TN, called the Ku Klux Klan.

Franz Gruber of Oberndorf, Germany composed the music for “Silent Night” to words written by Josef Mohr.

Sieur de Maisonneuve climbs Mount Royal and plants a cross on the summit.

16 plane crash survivors rescued from Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 after 72 days on the Andean Mountains, after only surviving through cannibalism

NYC World Trade Center reaches highest point (411 m).

Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and William Anders become the 1st men to orbit the Moon (Apollo 8)

The first human kidney transplant is performed by Dr. Joseph E. Murray at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.

The Walt Disney movie “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” was released.

A National Football League (NFL) championship game was televised nationally for the first time. The Los Angeles Rams beat the Cleveland Browns 24-17.

The Engelbert Humperdinck opera “Hansel und Gretel” was first performed, in Weimar, Germany.

Following a quarrel with Paul Gauguin, Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh cut off part of his own earlobe.

16 plane crash survivors rescued from Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 after 72 days on the Andean Mountains, after only surviving through cannibalism

NYC World Trade Center reaches highest point (411 m).

Quebec government creates Loto-Québec.

Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and William Anders become the 1st men to orbit the Moon (Apollo 8)

The first human kidney transplant is performed by Dr. Joseph E. Murray at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.

The Walt Disney movie “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” was released.

A National Football League (NFL) championship game was televised nationally for the first time. The Los Angeles Rams beat the Cleveland Browns 24-17.

The Engelbert Humperdinck opera “Hansel und Gretel” was first performed, in Weimar, Germany.

Following a quarrel with Paul Gauguin, Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh cut off part of his own earlobe.

Argentine soccer superstar Lionel Messi scores his 644th goal for FC Barcelona during 3-0 win over Real Valladolid to break Pele’s record for most goals for one club; Pele, 643 goals for Santos 1956-74.

Scotty Bowman’s Red Wings beat the Boston Bruins, 4-2 giving him 200 wins with Detroit, and making him the first NHL coach to record 200 wins with 3 different teams; also Montreal and Buffalo

Brett Hull scores his 500 career goals; with father Bobby Hull, first father/son combo to each record 500 goals

Lech Walesa was sworn in as Poland’s first popularly elected president.

Romania’s hard-line Communist ruler, Nicolae Ceausescu, was overthrown in a popular uprising.

Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” single goes #1 for 6 weeks.

Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers 1st joint movie “Flying Down to Rio,” directed by Thornton Freeland, premieres in NYC.

German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen made the first X-ray, of his wife’s hand.

1st string of Christmas tree lights created by Thomas Edison.

Ludwig van Beethoven conducts and performs in concert at the Theater an der Wien, Vienna, with the premiere of his Fifth Symphony, Sixth Symphony, Fourth Piano Concerto (performed by Beethoven himself) and Choral Fantasy (with Beethoven at the piano).

Argentine soccer superstar Lionel Messi scores his 644th goal for FC Barcelona during 3-0 win over Real Valladolid to break Pele’s record for most goals for one club; Pele, 643 goals for Santos 1956-74.

Scotty Bowman’s Red Wings beat the Boston Bruins, 4-2 giving him 200 wins with Detroit, and making him the first NHL coach to record 200 wins with 3 different teams; also Montreal and Buffalo

Brett Hull scores his 500 career goals; with father Bobby Hull, first father/son combo to each record 500 goals

Lech Walesa was sworn in as Poland’s first popularly elected president.

Romania’s hard-line Communist ruler, Nicolae Ceausescu, was overthrown in a popular uprising.

Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” single goes #1 for 6 weeks.

Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers 1st joint movie “Flying Down to Rio,” directed by Thornton Freeland, premieres in NYC.

German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen made the first X-ray, of his wife’s hand.

Claude Debussy’s first orchestral masterpiece “Prélude à l’apres-midi d’un faune” premieres in Paris

1st string of Christmas tree lights created by Thomas Edison.

Formerly a branch of the Université Laval de Québec, the Université de Montréal officially opened its door.

Ludwig van Beethoven conducts and performs in concert at the Theater an der Wien, Vienna, with the premiere of his Fifth Symphony, Sixth Symphony, Fourth Piano Concerto (performed by Beethoven himself) and Choral Fantasy (with Beethoven at the piano).

The French Academy of Sciences, founded by Louis XIV with Jean-Baptiste Colbert first meets in the Kings Library

US begins vaccinating for COVID-19 using the Moderna vaccine.

“Gangnam Style” by Psy becomes the first video to reach one billion views on YouTube.

“The Sign” single released in the US by Ace of Base (Billboard Song of the Year 1994).

270 people were killed when Pan Am Boeing 747 exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland, due to a terrorist attack.

David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash (Crosby, Stills & Nash) premiere together in California.

Walt Disney debuted the first, full-length, animated feature in Hollywood, CA. The movie was “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.”

French film “Zouzou” premieres in Paris, starring Josephine Baker; 1st black woman to star in a major motion picture

French Scientists Pierre and Marie Curie discover radium.

Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House” was first performed in Copenhagen, Denmark, with a revised happy ending.

US begins vaccinating for COVID-19 using the Moderna vaccine.

“Gangnam Style” by Psy becomes the first video to reach one billion views on YouTube.

“The Sign” single released in the US by Ace of Base (Billboard Song of the Year 1994).

Montreal Machine football team play first CFL game.

270 people were killed when Pan Am Boeing 747 exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland, due to a terrorist attack.

David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash (Crosby, Stills & Nash) premiere together in California.

Charles de Gaulle was elected to a seven-year term as the first president of the Fifth Republic of France.

Walt Disney debuted the first, full-length, animated feature in Hollywood, CA. The movie was “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.”

French film “Zouzou” premieres in Paris, starring Josephine Baker; 1st black woman to star in a major motion picture

French Scientists Pierre and Marie Curie discover radium.

Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House” was first performed in Copenhagen, Denmark, with a revised happy ending.

United States Space Force founded, an armed forces branch dedicated to space warfare.

Elizabeth II becomes the oldest monarch of the United Kingdom, surpassing Queen Victoria, who lived for 81 years, 7 months and 29 days.

General Noriega, Panama’s former dictator, was overthrown by a United States invasion force invited by the new civilian government. The project was known as Operation Just Cause.

Guy Lafleur, Montreal, became 10th NHLer to score 500 goals.

“The Godfather Part II”, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, is released (Academy Awards Best Picture 1975).

Henri Richard of the Montreal Canadiens scores his 1,000th point.

Elvis Presley receives his draft notice to join the US Army for National Service.

Canadian National Railways established (N America’s longest, 50,000 KM)

United States Space Force founded, an armed forces branch dedicated to space warfare.

Elizabeth II becomes the oldest monarch of the United Kingdom, surpassing Queen Victoria, who lived for 81 years, 7 months and 29 days.

General Noriega, Panama’s former dictator, was overthrown by a United States invasion force invited by the new civilian government. The project was known as Operation Just Cause.

Guy Lafleur, Montreal, became 10th NHLer to score 500 goals.

“The Godfather Part II”, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, is released (Academy Awards Best Picture 1975).

Henri Richard of the Montreal Canadiens scores his 1,000th point.

Elvis Presley receives his draft notice to join the US Army for National Service.

Canadian National Railways established (N America’s longest, 50,000 KM)

Official opening of the Chateau Frontenac hotel in Quebec City.

Opening of first Montreal Post Office.

US electoral collage votes 304 to 227 to nominate Donald Trump for President over the objections of seven faithless electors.

US House of Representatives votes to impeach President Bill Clinton, forwarding the articles of impeachment to the Senate for a trial.

“Titanic” opened in American movie theaters.

“Platoon” directed by Oliver Stone and starring Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger and Willem Dafoe is released (Academy Awards Best Picture 1987)

Ottawa ends commercial relations with South Africa, to protest Apartheid racial policies.

Ron Wood joined The Rolling Stones.

Stanley Kubrick’s X-rated film “A Clockwork Orange” starring Malcolm McDowell premieres.

Chinese invasion of Tibet forces the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama to flee.

Start of the First Indochina War.

The first games of the new National Hockey League (NHL) were played. Five teams made up the league: Toronto Arenas, Ottawa Senators, Quebec Bulldogs, the Montreal Canadiens and the Montreal Wanderers.

Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” was first published in England.

Robinson Crusoe leaves his island after 28 years (as per Daniel Defoe).