What Happened on July 31

Historical Events

1905 – Matumbi rebellion at Samanga, German East Africa
1922 – 18-year-old Ralph Samuelson rides world’s 1st water skis (Minnesota)
1934 – International Lawn Tennis Challenge, Wimbledon: Fred Perry beats American Frank Shields 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, 15-13 to give Great Britain unassailable 3-1 lead to retain title; ends 4-1
1966 – Two Alabama radio hosts, Tommy Charles and Doug Layton of WAQY in Birmingham ask listeners to send in Beatles albums and merchandise to burn in response to John Lennon’s anti-Jesus remark that “Christianity will go”
1988 – Pittsburgh Pirates 1st baseman/left fielder and 7-time All Star Willie Stargell becomes 200th man inducted in Baseball’s Hall of Fame
1994 – Netherlands’ warmest July since 1783 – average 21.4°C

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Famous Birthdays

1843 – Peter Rosegger, Austrian poet and Nobel Prize laureate, born in Krieglach, Austria (d. 1918)
1911 – George Liberace, American violinist (Liberace Show), born in Menasha, Wisconsin (d. 1983)
1920 – Rudolf Halaczinsky, German composer, born in Emma-Grube, Upper Silesia (d. 1999)
1950 – Lane Davies, American actor (Mason-Santa Barbara, Impure Thoughts), born in Dalton, Georgia
1967 – Tony Massenburg, American NBA forward who played for 12 different teams, born in Sussex, Virginia
1975 – Randy Flores, American baseball pitcher (World Series 2006, St. Louis Cardinals), executive (American director scouting SL Cardinals) and broadcaster (Pac-12 Network), born in Bellflower, California

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Famous Deaths

1914 – A J Jean Jaurès, French socialist (L’Humanité/Les Preuves), murdered=
1953 – Robert A. Taft, American politician (U.S. Senator from Ohio), dies at 63
1968 – Gertrude Short, actress (Stella Dallas, Blonde Venus), dies at 66
1978 – Enoch Light, American orchestra leader (Gulf Road Show with Bob Smith), dies at 70
1995 – Genevieve Tobin Keighley, actress (Zaza, Great Gambini), dies at 83
2002 – Jerome Beatty Jr., American author of children’s literature (Matthew and Maria Looney books), dies at 85

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