Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it an event? Is it a birthday? Other than sadly making the rounds of the newspaper syndicates from 1934 to 1936, Superman first sees the light of day in Action Comics #1. Unloved and unwanted, wandering in the publishing desert for years in his trademark red and blue tights - apropriate for a character that was inspired by the Bible story of the baby Moses being put in the river becuase his prospects at home were bleak.

I don't include much "show biz" history, but the first Superman and the birth of Marilyn Monroe are important milestones. I was surprised to see that there were two celebrities born on this day in 1926. Our image of Marilyn is of a young, kittenish sex symbol because she died young. It may help to place her in history to realize that Andy Griffith was born the same day.

Of course we have martyrs and explorers, the end of a monarchy, the beginning of a couple of republics, the execution of a dictator - all that "real" history stuff - and the quotes are fairly serious as well, to balance this brief excursion into entertainment.

Summer is coming, and though I certainly don't want to have you miss a single issue of Twisted History, it would be worse if you unsubscribed completely. Remember that we offer a "Vacation Hold" function. Drop by the website the day before you go on vacation and enter the date on which you want your subscription to resume. If you later want to catch up on what you missed, remember the archives are online. Links are at the end of the issue.

1938 - "Revolution in San Monte part 1" was the feature comic in the first issue of Action Comics. First conceived as a daily newspaper strip in 1934, the Superman concept was rejected by all the syndicates. Jerry Siegel's story drawn by Joe Shuster included a one-page introduction including the birth of Kal-El on Krypton.

1946 - After basically turning the government of Romania over to the Germans from 1939 to 1944, during which at least 350,000 Jews were killed outright or shipped to concentration camps, "Conducator" Ion Antonescu was arrested in August of 1944, found guilty of treason earlier in 1946, and finally executed on this day.

1973 - George Papadopoulos, head of the military junta in Greece, abolished the monarchy (King Constantine II was already in exile in Italy) and was named provisional president. His liberal policies led to a military coup in November, and that government, in turn, collapsed in July 1974.

Madaraka Day, Kenya - After independence was gained on 12 December 1963, the first autonomous government was created on this day in 1964. Also called Responsibility Day or Self-Government Day.

Martyrs of Japan, Starting with Alphonsus Navarrete's beheading at Tacaxima Island on this day in 1617, hundreds of Christians were beheaded, crucified, or burned at the stake between 1617 and 1632. A total of 205 foreign missionaries and Japanese were beatified as "Martyrs of Japan" in 1867.

1637 - Jacques Marquette, French priest, explorer - Born at Laon in north central France in a military family, at 17 joined the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), twelve years in Jesuit colleges in France, sent to Quebec 1666 as a missionary. Studied the Huron language, eventually fluent in six native dialects, spent 18 months at Sault Ste. Marie, sent to start mission at La Pointe on Lake Superior where he first heard of the "Missispi" from the Illinois tribe, who asked Marquette to come teach. Joined by Louis Joliet he set out to and down the Mississippi, turning back at the mouth of the Arkansas to avoid falling into the hands of the Spanish, mapping the river and keeping a detailed diary. Fell ill on return trip, wintered near Chicago, returning to Mackinac via canoe on Lake Michigan he went to shore near the present Ludington, Michigan and died on 19 May 1675.

1926 - Norma Jean Baker, US actress - Born Norma Jean Mortenson in Los Angeles. Abandoned by father, mother in mental hospital, spent youth in foster homes and orphanage. Married 1942, worked in airplane factory, posed for magazine photo, became full-time model 1946. Divorced, went to Hollywood, signed with Twentieth-Century Fox, changed name to Marilyn Monroe. Posed nude for calendar, became star in 1950 with All About Eve, married to Joe diMaggio most of 1954, took acting lessons, married Arthur Miller 1956, more movies, divorced 1961, spate of drug problems ended with her fatal barbiturate overdose at Los Angeles home on 5 August 1962.

The art of translation lies less in knowing the other language than in knowing your own.
     - Ned Rorem

Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge where there is no river.
     - Nikita Khrushchev

Although prepared for martyrdom, I preferred that it be postponed.
     - Winston Churchill

A man's country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers, and woods, but it is a principle; and patriotism is loyalty to that principle.
     - George William Curtis

Twisted History is sent daily, absolutely free, to our subscribers who understand that the events of the past centuries have shaped our lives today - and are probably less depressing than the events on today's TV news. Both an HTML version (which looks just like this) and a text version that is compatible with all mail clients are available.

Manage your subscription
Leave Feedback

Copyright 2000 G. Armour Van Horn, all rights reserved. This document may be distributed freely. Please forward the complete message including this copyright notice.