Today is Wednesday, October 17th, the 290th day of the year. There are 75 days until the end of the year.
On this day:
In 1902, the first Cadillac was completed in Detroit, Michigan.
In 1919, the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) was formed.
In 1931, noted mobster Al Capone was convicted of tax evasion and sentenced to eleven years in prison.
In 1933, "News-Week" was published for the first time. The magazine would later change its name to the one word "Newsweek."
In 1933, Dr. Albert Einstein moved from Germany to Princeton, New Jersey.
In 1949, Northwest Airlines became the first airline in the U.S. to serve alcohol in flight.
In 1966, "The Hollywood Squares" debuted on NBC.
In 1967, the musical, "Hair," opened on Broadway. The show ran for more than 17-hundred performances.
In 1979, Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
In 1983, the musical, "Zorba," opened on Broadway. The film version of the musical netted Academy Awards for actor Anthony Quinn and actress Lila Kedrova.
In 1989, a major earthquake hit the San Francisco Bay area during a World Series game between the Oakland Athletics and the San Francisco Giants. The quake measured six-point-nine on the Richter Scale and caused an estimated 270 deaths, three-thousand injuries and more than three-billion dollars in damage.
In 1991, Naomi Judd retired from country music due to chronic hepatitis.
In 2000, Pope John Paul and Britain's Queen Elizabeth met at the Vatican. It was the queen's first visit to the Vatican in 20 years.
In 2001, an anthrax threat prompted congressional leaders to close six House and Senate office buildings.
In 2006, the 300 millionth person was born in the United States. Statistically, it was believed that person was a male child, born somewhere in the southwest region of the country.
In 2006, actor Wesley Snipes was indicted for tax fraud. Snipes and two other men were charged with conspiracy to defraud the IRS and with filing a fraudulent payment claim. The Department of Justice said Snipes was also charged with failing to file his taxes.
In 2007, the Dalai Lama was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal during a White House ceremony. Chinese leaders protested the move calling the religious leader a traitor. The Dalai Lama had lived in exile since leaving China in 1959 following a failed uprising against Communist rule there.
In 2007, comedian Joey Bishop, the last surviving member of the Rat Pack, died at the age of 89. Led by Frank Sinatra, the Rat Pack members also included Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Peter Lawford.
In 2008, Levi Stubbs, the lead singer of Motown's Four Tops, died on this date at the age of 72. The Four Tops' hits included "Baby I Need Your Loving," "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)," "Standing In The Shadows Of Love," and "Reach Out I'll Be There."
In 2015, female Viagra went on sale. Addyi [[ ADD-yee ]] hit the market on this day and became available to women with a doctor's prescription. The pill is pink.
In 2015, Scott Kelly broke the American record for the longest time spent living in space. On this day in history, Kelly marked his 383rd day in space as a NASA astronaut.