Today in History:

• 1844 – Samuel F.B. Morse gave the first public demonstration of his telegraph by sending a message from the Supreme Court Chamber in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. to the B&O Railroad “outer depot” (now the B&O Railroad Museum) in Baltimore. The famous message was, “What hath God wrought?”
• 1883 – After 14 years of construction, the Brooklyn Bridge opened, connecting the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn by spanning the East River.
• 1956 – At Chess Studios in Chicago, Bo Diddley recorded his composition “Who Do You Love?”
• 1969 – The Guess Who made their U.S. television debut, lip-syncing “These Eyes” and “Laughing,” on ABC’s “American Bandstand.”
• 1969 – The Who peaked at No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with “Pinball Wizard,” their fourth Top 40 single in the U.S.
• 1976 – France and Britain began trans-Atlantic Concorde service to Washington, DC. The supersonic transport also flew from London to New York during its 27 years of commercial operation, flying these routes at record speeds, in less than half the time of other airliners. The Concorde’s last flight was on November 26, 2003.
• 1978 – Van Halen’s self-titled debut album was certified gold by the RIAA. It later went on to sell 10 million copies in the U.S.
• 1986 – Davy Jones, Mickey Dolenz, and Peter Tork reunited as the Monkees and began a successful tour at the Concord Hotel, in the Catskill Mountains of New York state.
• 1989 – “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” starring Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, Alison Doody, John Rhys-Davies, and River Phoenix, opened in U.S. and Canadian movie theaters.
• 1991 – After a limited release in major cities (starting with Los Angeles), Madonna’s concert documentary Truth or Dare opened in theaters.

Today’s Birthdays:

• Queen Victoria was born in 1819. (d. 1901) – Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 1837 until her death; the Victorian era is named after her.
• Tommy Chong is 86 – Born in 1936. Canadian-American comedian, actor, and musician best known as half of the comedy duo Cheech & Chong.
• Bob Dylan is 86 – Born in 1941. Influential American singer-songwriter, Nobel laureate in literature, known for songs like “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “Like a Rolling Stone.”
• Patti LaBelle is 81 – Born in 1944. American singer and actress, often called the “Godmother of Soul.”
• Priscilla Presley is 80 – Born in 1945. American actress and businesswoman, former wife of Elvis Presley, and co-founder of Elvis Presley Enterprises.
• Alfred Molina is 72 – Born in 1953. English actor known for roles in Spider-Man 2, Frida, and Raiders of the Lost Ark.
• Rosanne Cash is 70 – Born in 1955. American singer-songwriter and author, daughter of country legend Johnny Cash.

Happening in Metro Detroit:

District 4 Shred Day at 5th Precinct Parking Lot, Detroit, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM – Safely dispose of confidential documents during this community shredding event. https://detroitmi.gov/events/district-4-shred-day

Community Hours at Mobility Town: Out of Our Cars and Into the World at Newlab at Michigan Central, Detroit, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM – Explore interactive exhibits on urban mobility and technology. https://michigancentral.com/events/

African Liberation Weekend at Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit, All Day – Celebrate African heritage with music, panel discussions, and family activities. https://www.thewright.org/african-liberation-weekend

Kensington Art Fair at Kensington Metropark, Milford, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM – Browse artworks from local artists in a scenic outdoor setting. https://www.kensingtonartfair.com/

Lincoln Street Art Park at 5962 Lincoln Street, Detroit, Open All Day – Visit this outdoor sculpture garden featuring murals and installations made from salvaged materials. https://www.facebook.com/lincolnstreetartpark/

Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) at 5200 Woodward Ave, Detroit, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM – Residents of Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties enjoy free admission; currently featuring the 88th Annual Detroit Public Schools Community District Student Art Exhibition. https://dia.org/events/exhibitions/88th-annual-detroit-public-schools-community-district-student-art-exhibition

Super Smash Bros Tournament at Detroit Public Library Main Branch, Detroit, 2:00 PM – Compete in or watch this gaming tournament open to the public. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/super-smash-bros-tournment-tickets-1273011895849

This Week on Keener in 1970: