This Day…

1954 – Mass trials of Jonas Salk‘s anti-polio vaccine begin; the first shot is delivered in Fairfax County, Virginia; more than 443,000 children receive shots over three months

1896 – Fight in Central Dance Hall starts fire at Cripple Creek, Colorado

1819 – 1st bicycles (swift walkers) in US introduced in NYC

1906 – San Francisco earthquake and fire kills nearly 4,000 while destroying 75% of the city

1928 – Mae West‘s NYC debut in a daring new play “Diamond Lil”

1959 – Oklahoma ends prohibition, after 51 years

1930 – “The Blue Angel” starring Marlene Dietrich in her breakthrough role premieres in Germany

1881 – “Greatest Show On Earth” formed by P. T. Barnum and James Anthony Bailey

1804 – The Louisiana Purchase was divided into the District of Louisiana and the Territory of Orleans