In 1732, Benjamin Franklin began publishing "Poor Richard's Almanac." He did so under the name Richard Saunders.
In 1776, Thomas Paine published his first "American Crisis" essay.
In 1843, "A Christmas Carol," by Charles Dickens was first published in England.
In 1903, the Williamsburg Bridge was opened in New York City. It was America's first major suspension bridge.
In 1917, the National Hockey League made its debut. The original members of the league were the Toronto Arenas, Ottawa Senators, Quebec Bulldogs, Montreal Canadiens and the Montreal Wanderers.
In 1918, Robert Ripley began his "Believe It or Not" column in the "New York Globe."
In 1932, the British Broadcasting Corporation began transmitting its "Empire Service" overseas to Australia.
In 1955, Carl Perkins recorded his hit song "Blue Suede Shoes" in Memphis, Tennessee.
In 1957, Meredith Wilson's "The Music Man" opened at the Majestic Theatre in New York City.
In 1958, the first radio voice broadcast from space took place. The U.S. satellite Atlas, which had been launched from Cape Canaveral on December 18th, transmitted a 58-word recorded Christmas greeting from President Eisenhower which said, "to all mankind America's wish for peace and goodwill toward men everywhere."
In 1959, Walter Williams died at the age of 117. He was believed to be the last surviving veteran of the Civil War.
In 1961, "Judgement At Nuremberg" opened in New York City. Actor Maximillian Schell won the best actor Academy Award for his performance in the film.
In 1973, "Tonight Show" host Johnny Carson told his nationwide audience that toilet paper was disappearing from supermarket shelves around the country. The gag caused a scare which made toilet paper a scarce item in many areas of the United States.
In 1975, Ron Wood joined The Rolling Stones.
In 1984, 23-year-old Wayne Gretzky of the Edmonton Oilers became the 18th player in National Hockey League history to score more than one-thousand points. He recorded two goals and four assists in a seven-to-three win over Los Angeles.
In 1985, kicker Jan Stenerud announced his retirement from the National Football League. He holds the record for most career field goals with 373.
In 1985, ABC Sports announced it was releasing announcer Howard Cosell from all television commitments.
In 1986, The war movie "Platoon" opened in theaters across the U.S..
In 1995, Queen Elizabeth asks Prince Charles & Princess Diana to divorce.
In 1996, in a decision that set off a firestorm of controversy, the Oakland, California school board voted to recognize Black English, also known as "Ebonics." The board later reversed its stance.
In 1997, the epic film "Titanic" opened in theaters across the U.S.. The film went on to become the highest grossing film in history.
In 1998, President Clinton was impeached by the Republican-controlled House on perjury and obstruction of justice articles. The 42nd chief executive became only the second in history to be ordered to stand trial in the Senate, where, like Andrew Johnson before him, he was acquitted.
In 1998, two days after his confession of marital infidelity, Republican House Speaker Bob
Livingston told the House he would not serve as its next speaker.
In 1999, British actor Desmond Llewelyn, best known for his role as the eccentric gadget expert "Q" in the James Bond films, died in a car crash in England. He was 85.
In 2000, the U.N. Security Council voted to impose broad sanctions on Afghanistan's Taliban rulers unless they closed "terrorist" training camps and surrender U.S. embassy bombing suspect Osama bin Laden.
In 2001, the blockbuster fantasy film "Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring" opened in theaters around the country. The film was based on J.R.R Tolkien's classic series of novels.
In 2002, a New York State Supreme Court Judge overturned the convictions of five men who imprisoned for seven-to-12 years for the brutal rape of a female jogger in New York City's Central Park in 1989. The convictions were overturned after a serial rapist confessed that he alone attacked the woman.
In 2004, "Time" magazine named President George W. Bush its "Person of Year." "Time" said Bush received the credit for reshaping the rules of politics to, quote, "fit his ten-gallon-hat leadership style."

In 1776, Thomas Paine published his first "American Crisis" essay.
In 1843, "A Christmas Carol," by Charles Dickens was first published in England.
In 1903, the Williamsburg Bridge was opened in New York City. It was America's first major suspension bridge.
In 1917, the National Hockey League made its debut. The original members of the league were the Toronto Arenas, Ottawa Senators, Quebec Bulldogs, Montreal Canadiens and the Montreal Wanderers.
In 1918, Robert Ripley began his "Believe It or Not" column in the "New York Globe."
In 1932, the British Broadcasting Corporation began transmitting its "Empire Service" overseas to Australia.
In 1955, Carl Perkins recorded his hit song "Blue Suede Shoes" in Memphis, Tennessee.
In 1957, Meredith Wilson's "The Music Man" opened at the Majestic Theatre in New York City.
In 1958, the first radio voice broadcast from space took place. The U.S. satellite Atlas, which had been launched from Cape Canaveral on December 18th, transmitted a 58-word recorded Christmas greeting from President Eisenhower which said, "to all mankind America's wish for peace and goodwill toward men everywhere."
In 1959, Walter Williams died at the age of 117. He was believed to be the last surviving veteran of the Civil War.
In 1961, "Judgement At Nuremberg" opened in New York City. Actor Maximillian Schell won the best actor Academy Award for his performance in the film.
In 1973, "Tonight Show" host Johnny Carson told his nationwide audience that toilet paper was disappearing from supermarket shelves around the country. The gag caused a scare which made toilet paper a scarce item in many areas of the United States.
In 1975, Ron Wood joined The Rolling Stones.
In 1984, 23-year-old Wayne Gretzky of the Edmonton Oilers became the 18th player in National Hockey League history to score more than one-thousand points. He recorded two goals and four assists in a seven-to-three win over Los Angeles.
In 1985, kicker Jan Stenerud announced his retirement from the National Football League. He holds the record for most career field goals with 373.
In 1985, ABC Sports announced it was releasing announcer Howard Cosell from all television commitments.
In 1986, The war movie "Platoon" opened in theaters across the U.S..
In 1995, Queen Elizabeth asks Prince Charles & Princess Diana to divorce.
In 1996, in a decision that set off a firestorm of controversy, the Oakland, California school board voted to recognize Black English, also known as "Ebonics." The board later reversed its stance.
In 1997, the epic film "Titanic" opened in theaters across the U.S.. The film went on to become the highest grossing film in history.
In 1998, President Clinton was impeached by the Republican-controlled House on perjury and obstruction of justice articles. The 42nd chief executive became only the second in history to be ordered to stand trial in the Senate, where, like Andrew Johnson before him, he was acquitted.
In 1998, two days after his confession of marital infidelity, Republican House Speaker Bob
Livingston told the House he would not serve as its next speaker.
In 1999, British actor Desmond Llewelyn, best known for his role as the eccentric gadget expert "Q" in the James Bond films, died in a car crash in England. He was 85.
In 2000, the U.N. Security Council voted to impose broad sanctions on Afghanistan's Taliban rulers unless they closed "terrorist" training camps and surrender U.S. embassy bombing suspect Osama bin Laden.
In 2001, the blockbuster fantasy film "Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring" opened in theaters around the country. The film was based on J.R.R Tolkien's classic series of novels.
In 2002, a New York State Supreme Court Judge overturned the convictions of five men who imprisoned for seven-to-12 years for the brutal rape of a female jogger in New York City's Central Park in 1989. The convictions were overturned after a serial rapist confessed that he alone attacked the woman.
In 2004, "Time" magazine named President George W. Bush its "Person of Year." "Time" said Bush received the credit for reshaping the rules of politics to, quote, "fit his ten-gallon-hat leadership style."
