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Today in History

Today is the 145th day of 2017. There are 220 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History:

On May 25, 1977, the first “Star Wars” film (later renamed “Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope”) was released by 20th Century Fox.

On this date:

In 1787, the Constitutional Convention began at the Pennsylvania State House (Independence Hall) in Philadelphia after enough delegates had shown up for a quorum.

In 1916, the Chicago Tribune published an interview with Henry Ford in which the automobile industrialist said, “History is more or less bunk.”

In 1935, Babe Ruth hit his last three career home runs — nos. 712, 713 and 714 — for the Boston Braves in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy told Congress: “I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth.”

In 1968, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis was dedicated by Vice President Hubert Humphrey and Interior Secretary Stewart Udall.

In 1979, 273 people died when an American Airlines DC-10 crashed just after takeoff from Chicago’s O’Hare Airport.

In 1981, daredevil Dan Goodwin, wearing a Spiderman costume, scaled the outside of Chicago’s Sears Tower in 7 1/2 hours.

In 1992, Jay Leno made his debut as host of NBC’s “Tonight Show,” succeeding Johnny Carson.

Ten years ago: Tony Award-winning actor Charles Nelson Reilly died in Los Angeles at age 76.

Five years ago: The private company SpaceX made history as its Dragon capsule docked with the International Space Station.

One year ago: Actor Johnny Depp’s wife, actress Amber Heard, filed for divorce in Los Angeles, citing irreconcilable differences after 15 months of marriage.

Today’s Birthdays: Actress Ann Robinson is 88. Country singer-songwriter Tom T. Hall is 81. Actor Sir Ian McKellen is 78. Country singer Jessi Colter is 74. Actress-singer Leslie Uggams is 74. Movie director and Muppeteer Frank Oz is 73. Actress Karen Valentine is 70. Actress Jacki Weaver is 70. Rock singer Klaus Meine (The Scorpions) is 69. Actress Patti D’Arbanville is 66. Actress Connie Sellecca is 62. Actor-comedian Mike Myers is 54. Actor Joseph Reitman is 49. Actress Anne Heche is 48. Actresses Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush (TV: “Little House on the Prairie”) are 47. Actor-comedian Jamie Kennedy is 47. Actress Octavia Spencer is 47. Actor Justin Henry is 46. Actress Molly Sims is 44. Singer Lauryn Hill is 42. Actress Erinn Hayes is 41. Actor Cillian Murphy is 41. Actor Ethan Suplee is 41.

Thought for Today: “A historian is a prophet in reverse.” — Friedrich von Schlegel, German diplomat and writer (1772-1829).

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