This Day in History – January 17
1773—Capt James Cook becomes 1st to cross Antarctic Circle.
1863—Civil War skirmish near Newtown, Virginia.
1899—US takes possession of Wake Island in Pacific.
1911—Percy Mackaye’s “Scarecrow” premieres in NYC.
1916—1st PGA Championship: Jim Barnes at Siwanoy CC Bronxville, NY.
1917—US pays Denmark $25 million for Virgin Islands.
1920—First day Prohibition comes into effect in the US as a result of the 18th amendment.
1929—Popeye makes 1st appearance, in comic strip “Thimble Theater”
1934—Carl Hubbell, NL MVP winner, gets $18,000 contract by the NY Giants.
1938—Joseph P. Kennedy becomes the 44th United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom.
1943—Tin Can Drive Day.
1950—The Great Brinks Robbery – 11 men rob $1.2M cash and $1.5M securities from armored car company Brink’s offices in Boston, Massachusetts.
1961—President Dwight D. Eisenhower delivers a televised farewell address to the nation three days before leaving office, in which he warns against the accumulation of power by the “military-industrial complex”
1970—Sporting News names Willie Mays as Player of the Decade for the 1960s.
1972—Section of Memphis’ Highway 51 South renamed Elvis Presley Blvd.
1976—“I Write the Songs” by Barry Manilow hits #1.
1977—Gary Gilmore is executed by firing squad in the Utah state prison, charged with murder.
1982—“Cold Sunday” in the United States would see temperatures fall to their lowest levels in over 100 years in numerous cities.
1984—Supreme Court rules (5-4) oks private use of home VCRs to tape TV programs for later viewing does not violate federal copyright laws.
1987—US President Reagan signs secret order permitting covert sale of arms to Iran.
1989—Gunman opens fire in California schoolyard; 5 students slain, 30 wounded.
1995—“Carousel” closes at Beaumont Theater NYC after 322 performances.
1998—President Clinton faces sexual harassment charges from Paula Jones.
2007—The Doomsday Clock is set to five minutes to midnight in response to North Korea nuclear testing.
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