|
What happened in history on this day: December 17?
Since 1995, I have been collecting information on a variety of topics,
creating several timelines of history.
Here you will find specific events from those databases
for this day, on the topics of personal computers, video games, the Walt Disney Company,
Chevrolet Corvettes, A&W Root Beer, Sweden, and Canadian coins.
On December 17 in ...
- 1996 - At the Sandia National Laboratory in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the "Option Red" supercomputer is started up, performing one trillion floating-point operations per second, making it the fastest computer in the world. The US$55 million computer uses 9072 Intel Pentium Pro processors with 600 GB memory and 2 terabyte disc storage.
- 2003 - Linus Torvalds announces the release of 2.6.0 of the Linux kernel. New features include ability to run on up to 32-processor multiprocessor servers, improved handling of hard drive input-output requests, improved volume manager, removal of 256 storage system limit, removal of 2-terabyte file system limit.
- 2006 - The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. On seeing an altered photo, a woman says "That PhotoShopping freak!".
- 1931 - The Silly Symphony film The Ugly Duckling is released to theaters. The film is based on the book by Hans Christian Andersen.
- 1932 - The Mickey Mouse film Mickey's Good Deed is released to theaters. Pluto also appears.
- 1943 - RKO Radio Pictures releases the animated film Chicken Little to theaters.
- 1958 - Disney makes a limited release of the live-action short film Grand Canyon to theaters.
- 1961 - The Babes in Toyland exhibit opens at the Opera House on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland. It shows sets from the movie of the same name.
- 1961 - The NBC TV network airs the Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color show, entitled Backstage Party, to promote the Babes in Toyland film.
- 1966 - Roy Disney gives a speech to Disney management and the Imagineering team, making it clear that the company will continue to be run according to Walt's wishes. He also announces that Walt's first name would be added to the title of the Florida theme park project.
- 1967 - The NBC TV network airs the Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color show, featuring A Boy Called Nuthin', part two.
- 1972 - The NBC TV network airs The Wonderful World of Disney show, entitled Salty, the Hijacked Harbor Seal.
- 1976 - Buena Vista premieres the live-action feature film Freaky Friday in Los Angeles. Charlene Tilton has her feature film debut.
- 1990 - Sierra Leone issues thirty postage stamps depicting Disney characters in The Night Before Christmas.
- 1990 - The Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Adventure Zone attraction opens at the Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park at Walt Disney World. Also known as Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure.
- 1990 - The NBC TV network airs the movie A Mom for Christmas.
- 1991 - Guyana issues 26 postage stamps depicting various Walt Disney Company Christmas Cards.
- 1993 - Sierra Leone issues twelve postage stamps depicting Disney characters celebrating Christmas.
- 1994 - The Planet Hollywood restaurant opens in Pleasure Island at Walt Disney World.
- 1999 - Disney releases the Touchstone Pictures / Columbia Pictures live-action feature film Bicentennial Man to theaters in the USA.
- 1999 - The animated feature film Fantasia/2000 debuts at Carnegie Hall in New York city.
- 2002 - Disney releases the film The Country Bears on DVD and videocassette.
- 2003 - Comcast begins making discrete discussions with Disney board member George Mitchell about merging the two companies. Mitchell agrees that "this makes a lot of sense".
- 2008 - The Disneynature film The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos is released to theaters in France.
- 2011 - Disney releases the film TRON: Legacy to theaters in the US.
- 1939 - Germany begins unrestricted air warfare on shipping.
- 1939 - Canada's Prime Minister William King signs the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, providing facilities for airmen in the Commonwealth to train. Price of the plan is $1.281 billion.
- 1939 - (1952 hours) Off the coast of Montevideo, Uruguay, German sailors open seacocks on the pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee, and set off a series of explosions, scuttling the ship. SS Tacoma and two other vessels take 1055 of crew to Buenos Aires.
- 1940 - British Prime Minister Winston Churchill instructs a British delegation of military officers who will meet with American counterparts in Washington that they not request American protection of Singapore, Australia, or India. Only minimum force should be used against Japan, with all efforts directed toward the defeat of Germany.
- 1940 - American President Franklin Roosevelt announces he is determined to maintain Britain as the nation's first line of defence, and proposes the country lend Britain any material it requires.
- 1940 - Fifty British Bomber Command Whitley and Hampden bombers attack German seaplane bases on Sylt.
- 1941 - Japanese forces invade Borneo, landing at Sarawak on the north-west coast.
- 1941 - As part of Mediterranean Convoy HG76, German submarine U131 is sunk by several destroyers.
- 1941 - After artillery and air bombardment of Hong Kong Island, the Japanese again demand the surrender of Hong Kong. It is refused.
- 1941 - Two Australian companies land in Timor under protest of Portuguese governor and government of Portugal.
- 1941 - Japanese submarine I-172 sinks freighter SS Prusa near the Hawaiian Islands.
- 1943 - (0000 hours) In Italy, German troops withdraw from San Pietro. The US 36th Division incurred 1200 casualties, and 2000 non-battle losses. One in ten villagers died.
- 1944 - German forces make a small attack on St. Vith, France.
- 1945 - Canadian Prime Minister William King passes three orders-in-council providing for the deportation of five classes of Japanese Canadians.
- 1993 - Kay-Bee Toy Stores ceases selling the Night Trap video game in the USA.
- 1995 - The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. Two children play a home video game, showing a martial arts fighter fighting a tank. Another game is advertised as "Bonestorm". Another character refers to the games costing up to $70. Animated characters resembling Mario, Luigi, Donkey Kong, and Sonic the Hedgehog appear. Several video game titles in a store are shown, including "Save Hitler's Brain".
- 1999 - Infogrames of France announces it will acquire GT Interactive Software.
- 2006 - The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A boy asks Santa Claus for "one of those video game chairs that vibrate".
- 2009 - Square Enix releases the Final Fantasy XIII video game for the PlayStation 3 in Japan.
- 2011 - Sony Computer Entertainment Japan launches the PlayStation Vita handheld video game system in Japan. Price is 24,980 yen (US$325), or 29,980 ($390) with 3G wireless. 26 launch titles are available.
- 1611 - The Riksdag declares Gustav Adolf to be of age to become King. His title is Elected King and Hereditary Prince of the Swedes, Goths, and Vandals.
- 1918 - The riksdag decides to remove the requirement of property ownership from eligible voters for the Second Chamber. Other decisions include the one man, one vote concept, women voting, no tax restrictions on eligibility, and the voting age is set at 23.
- 2004 - Inheritance tax is completely abolished.
- 1921 - A proclamation describes the design of the new nickel 5c coin. The changes are to be effective January 2.
- 1981 - The Supply and Services Minister announces that the 1982 1c piece will be 12-sided, to aid the blind in distinguishing it from the 5c piece.
- 1987 - The Royal Canadian Mint Act and Currency Act (Bill C-46) receive royal assent. This gives the Mint the ability to retain earnings and float debt, with the approval of the Minster of Finance.
- 1792 - Mint Chief Coiner Henry Voigt strikes a few pieces of copper cents with silver centers, for government to examine.
- 1802 - Representative John Randolph of Virginia introduces a bill to abolish the Mint.
- 1963 - US House of Representatives approves placement of the late President John Kennedy's portrait on the half dollar coin.
- 1981 - The West Point Bullion Depository strikes first 97.5 percent zinc Lincoln cents for circulation.
- 2010 - US Mint Director Edmund Moy submits his resignation, effective January 9, to accept a job in the private sector.
- 1894 - Cricket day three 1T Australia versus England; England 325 all out, 261 behind on first inning.
- 1920 - American League votes to allow pitchers who used the spitball in 1920 to continue using it as long as they are in the league (The National League will do the same - 17 holdover spitballers in all).
- 1927 - Donald Bradman scores 118 on first-class cricket debut, 188 minutes 8 fours.
- 1927 - Victoria scores 793 in cricket against Queensland, Bill Ponsford scores 437.
- 1928 - John McGraw backs Major League Baseball National League president John Heydler's designated hitter idea.
- 1932 - Saint Louis Cardinals trade Jim Bottomley to Cincinnati Reds for Estel Crabtree and Ownie Carroll.
- 1933 - B H Valentine scores 133 on Test Cricket debut, England versus India at Bombay.
- 1933 - Lala Amarnath scores century on Test Cricket debut (went on to 118).
- 1933 - NFL starts keeping official statistics as Western Division champs Chicago Bears beat Eastern Division champs New York Giants 23-21 in first championship game, in front of 25,000 spectators at Wrigley Field, Chicago.
- 1944 - Green Bay Packers win NFL championship.
- 1946 - Donald Bradman and Barnes complete 405 run 5th wicket stand, score 234 each.
- 1975 - First time New York Islanders shut-out New York Rangers, 3-0-Billy Smith's 5th.
- 1977 - Bobby Simpson scores 176 Australia versus India at the WACA, aged 41.
- 1984 - New Jersey Devils' first penalty shot-Rocky Trottier scores against Edmonton Oilers.
- 1984 - New Jersey Devils' first shutout, Glenn Resch makes 42 saves beat Minnesota, 2-0.
- 1988 - 77th Davis Cup: Germany beats Sweden in Gothenburg (4-1).
- 1988 - Bryan Murray becomes the 17th NHL coach to win 300 games (Washington Capitals).
- 1988 - New York Islanders break 12-game losing streak, beat New Jersey Devils 5-2.
- 1989 - 78th Davis Cup: Germany beats Sweden in Stuttgart (3-2).
- 1989 - Michael Bevan scores cricket century on first-class debut (114 South Africa versus Western Australia).
- 1989 - Patti Rizzo/Mike Hill win LPGA Mazda Golf Championship.
- 1991 - Cleveland Cavaliers beat Miami Heat 148-80, by record 68 points.
- 2003 - The New York Yankees and Gary Sheffield finalize a US$39 million, three-year deal.
- 2004 - The Seattle Mariners baseball team sign free-agent third baseman Adrian Beltre to a $64 million, five-year deal.
- 2021 - At Honda Center in Anaheim, California, USA, NHL regular season game: Arizona Coyotes beats Anaheim Ducks by score 6-5.
- 2021 - At United Center in Chicago, Illinois, USA, NHL regular season game: Nashville Predators beats Chicago Blackhawks by score 3-2.
- 2021 - At Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, NHL regular season game: Washington Capitals beats Winnipeg Jets by score 5-2.
- 2021 - At Enterprise Center in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA, NHL regular season game: Saint Louis Blues beats Dallas Stars by score 4-1.
- 2021 - At PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, NHL regular season game: Pittsburgh Penguins beats Buffalo Sabres by score 3-2.
- 2021 - At Madison Square Garden in New York, New York, USA, NHL regular season game: Vegas Golden Knights beats New York Rangers by score 3-2.
- 1900 - First prize of 100,000 francs offered for communications with extraterrestrials. Martians excluded - considered too easy.
- 1965 - David Levy begins his search for comets.
- 1969 - US Air Force closes Project Blue Book, concluding no evidence of extraterrestrial spaceships behind thousands of UFO sightings.
- 1777 - France recognizes independence of English colonies in America.
- 1791 - New York City traffic regulation creates first one-way street in America.
- 1792 - The US Mint strikes first coin patterns, copper cents with silver centers.
- 1803 - Louisiana Purchase formally transferred from France to US for $27 million.
- 1821 - Kentucky abolishes debtors prisons.
- 1860 - Congress authorizes $10 million in interest-bearing Treasury notes.
- 1860 - Anaheim Township created in Los Angeles County.
- 1862 - General Ulysses Grant issues order #11, expelling Jews from Tennessee.
- 1864 - Battle of Franklin, Tennessee.
- 1878 - Gold and paper money exchangeable at par in USA, ending Civil War inflation.
- 1895 - Anti-Saloon League of America formed in Washington DC.
- 1895 - George Brownell patents a machine to make paper twine (Massachusetts, USA).
- 1895 - US President Grover Cleveland warns Great Britain of aggressions to Venezuela over boundary dispute with British Guiana.
- 1900 - New Ellis Island Immigration station completed, at cost of $1.5 million.
- 1903 - At 10:35 AM, the first sustained, controlled, powered aircraft flight is made by Orville Wright of Dayton, Ohio, in 12hp Flyer I at Kill Devil Hills, Kittyhawk, North Carolina. The flight lasts 12 seconds, travelling 120 feet. Brother Wilbur Wright then flies 852 feet for 59 seconds.
- 1924 - First US diesel electric locomotive enters service, in Bronx, New York.
- 1927 - US submarine S-4 sinks after collision, kills all 34 aboard.
- 1936 - Ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and dummy Charlie McCarthy make their radio debut on Rudy Vallee's Royal Gelatin Hour.
- 1944 - US Army announces end of excluding Japanese-Americans from West Coast; Japanese-Americans are released from detention camps.
- 1946 - US V-2 rocket reaches 183 km at White Sands Proving Grounds, New Mexico, USA.
- 1950 - The US Treasury Department bans the purchase and import of North Korea stamps.
- 1953 - US Federal Communications Commission reverses its prior approval of a color television format that favored CBS-TV, instead approving RCA's black and white-compatible color TV specifications, benefitting the RCA-owned National Broadcasting Company.
- 1954 - First fully automated railroad freight yard (Gary, Indiana, USA).
- 1957 - US successfully test-fires Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile.
- 1965 - Astrodome opens, first event is Judy Garland and Supremes concert.
- 1965 - Largest newspaper - Sunday New York Times at 946 pages (50 cents).
- 1969 - US Air Force closes Project Blue Book, concluding no evidence of extraterrestrial spaceships behind thousands of UFO sightings.
- 1970 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site.
- 1975 - Lynette Fromme is sentenced to life for attempt on US President Gerald Ford's life.
- 1976 - Superstation WTBS in Atlanta goes national.
- 1979 - Stanley Barrett in Budweiser rocket car reaches 1190 km/h (739.666 MPH, record for wheeled vehicle).
- 1985 - US President Ronald Reagan signs the Gold Bullion Coin Act of 1985 (Public Law 99-185) directing Treasury to issue 0.9167 fine gold bullion coins: $50 (one ounce), $25 (half ounce), $10 (quarter ounce), $5 (tenth ounce). The gold is to be acquired from natural deposits in the US or territory or possession when possible, and when not, from the US reserves. Profits from sales would be used to pay down the national debt.
- 1986 - US Congress forms "Irangate" committee.
- 1988 - USS Tennessee, first submarine to carry Trident 2 missiles, commissioned.
- 1996 - At the Sandia National Laboratory in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the "Option Red" supercomputer is started up, performing one trillion floating-point operations per second, making it the fastest computer in the world. The US$55 million computer uses 9072 Intel Pentium Pro processors with 600 GB memory and 2 terabyte disc storage.
- 2014 - U.S. President Barack Obama announces the resumption of normal relations between the U.S. and Cuba.
Other history:
- 1526 - Pope Clemens VII publishes degree Cum ad zero - forms Inquisition.
- 1718 - England declares war on Spain.
- 1819 - Congress of Angostura establishes Colombia's independence from Spain.
- 1903 - At 10:35 AM, first sustained motorized aircraft flight (Orville Wright).
- 1925 - Russia and Turkey sign non-aggresion pact.
- 1969 - USAF closes Project Blue Book, concluding no evidence of extraterrestrial spaceships behind thousands of UFO sightings.
- 1979 - Budweiser rocket car reaches 1190 kph (record for wheeled vehicle).
vvv advertisement vvv
^^^ advertisement ^^^
You can pick a particular day to view that day's events in history.
Bookmark this URL: http://kpolsson.com/today/ and revisit each day.
(this URL will automatically re-direct to the file containing the current day's events)
Or, visit my Timelines of History page.
|