Today is Wednesday, October 31st, the 304th day of the year. There are 61 days until the end of the year.
On this day:
In 834 A-D, the first All Hallows Eve was observed by all churches to honor the saints.
In 1517, Martin Luther posted the 95 Theses on the door of the Wittenberg Palace church, marking the beginning of the Protestant Reformation in Germany.
In 1864, Nevada became the 36th state.
In 1922, Benito Mussolini took control of the Italian government.
In 1926, legendary illusionist Harry Houdini died at the age of 52.
In 1941, Mount Rushmore was completed.
In 1942, Bing Crosby's hit song "White Christmas" topped the pop singles chart.
In 1964, "Baby Love" by the Supremes topped the pop singles chart.
In 1970, singer Michelle Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas married actor Dennis Hopper. The couple divorced eight days later.
In 1983, Pro Football Hall-of-Famer, "Papa Bear" George Halas, died at the age of 88.
In 1993, actor River Phoenix died at the age of 23.
In 1999, all 217 people aboard EgyptAir Flight 990 were killed when the plane crashed off the Massachusetts coast.
In 2005, just days after attorney Harriet Miers bowed out of her nomination to replace Sandra Day O'Connor on the U.S. Supreme Court, President Bush announced Federal Judge Samuel Alito as his next pick to fill the vacancy on the bench.
In 2006, after 35 years at the helm, beloved game show host Bob Barker announced he would retire from CBS' "The Price Is Right" at the end of the 2006-2007 TV season.
In 2011, the United Nations announced the world population had reached seven billion people.
In 2015, Triple Crown winner American Pharoah won the Breeders' Cup Classic in the final race of his career. American Pharoah became the first horse to win the Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup.