I Love Lucy (and one of the shrewdest deals in television) October 15, 1951 The I Love Lucy show debuts on CBS TV, starring Lucille Ball. When Ball was offered a TV show she insisted her real-life Cuban husband Desi Arnaz play the part of her husband. The TV executives were reluctant, because they didn't think audience...

President Roosevelt Shot - Gunman Prompted by a Ghost October 14, 1912 Former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt is shot in the chest by John Schrank in Milwaukee. Roosevelt, who served as President from 1901 to 1909, was running for reelection. Schrank claimed that he was told in a dream by the ghost of William McKinle...

Rugby Team Eats Their Dead October 13, 1972 A flight containing members of the Uruguayan Old Christians Rugby team crashes in the Andes. They would have to resort to cannibalism to survive the 72 days until their rescue. Only 16 of the 45 people on board survived. Twelve died in the crash or shortly thereafter; another...

John Denver Killed in Plane Crash October 12, 1997 Singer John Denver is killed when his small aircraft he was piloting crashed off the coast of California. The cause of the accident was Denver's inability to switch fuel tanks while in flight. Denver had purchased the plane from an individual who built it from a kit. T...

Washington Monument October 9, 1888 The Washington Monument is opened to the public. It was the first national monument to honor George Washington.