This day in history

[July 13, 2011]  (AP)  Today is Wednesday, July 13, the 194th day of 2011. There are 171 days left in the year.

Today's highlight in history:

On July 13, 1923, a sign consisting of 50-foot-tall letters spelling out "HOLLYWOODLAND" was dedicated in the Hollywood Hills to promote a subdivision (the last four letters were removed in 1949; the sign itself was replaced in 1978).

On this date:

In 1787, Congress enacted an ordinance governing the Northwest Territory.

In 1793, French revolutionary writer Jean-Paul Marat was stabbed to death in his bath by Charlotte Corday, who was executed four days later.

In 1863, deadly rioting against the Civil War military draft erupted in New York City. (The insurrection was put down three days later.)

In 1886, Father Edward Joseph Flanagan, the founder of Boys Town, was born in County Roscommon, Ireland.

In 1939, Frank Sinatra made his first commercial recording, "From the Bottom of My Heart" and "Melancholy Mood," with Harry James and his Orchestra in New York for the Brunswick label.

In 1960, John F. Kennedy won the Democratic presidential nomination on the first ballot at his party's convention in Los Angeles.

In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Thurgood Marshall to be U.S. Solicitor General.

In 1972, George McGovern claimed the Democratic presidential nomination at the party's convention in Miami Beach.

In 1977, a blackout lasting 25 hours hit the New York City area.

In 1985, "Live Aid," an international rock concert in London, Philadelphia, Moscow and Sydney, took place to raise money for Africa's starving people.

Ten years ago: Beijing was awarded the 2008 Summer Olympics. A judge in San Jose, Calif., sentenced Andrew Burnett, the man who'd tossed a fluffy little bichon frise named Leo to its death in a bout of road rage, to the maximum three years behind bars for animal cruelty.

Five years ago: Israel imposed a naval blockade against Lebanon and blasted the Beirut airport and army air bases; Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets into Israel. Former CIA officer Valerie Plame filed suit against Vice President Dick Cheney, presidential adviser Karl Rove and other White House officials, saying they'd orchestrated a "whispering campaign" to destroy her career. (A federal judge later dismissed the case, and an appeals court refused to revive the lawsuit.) Actor-comedian Red Buttons died in Los Angeles at age 87.

One year ago: New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner died in Tampa, Fla., nine days after turning 80. The National League won the All-Star Game, defeating the American League 3-1 in Anaheim, Calif., to capture its first Midsummer Classic since 1996. Vernon Baker, a black U.S. soldier who belatedly received the Medal of Honor for World War II valor in 1997 after historians concluded he'd been wrongly denied the award because of his race, died at his home near St. Maries, Idaho; he was 90.

Today's birthdays: Actor Patrick Stewart is 71. Actor Robert Forster is 70. Actor Harrison Ford is 69. Singer-guitarist Roger McGuinn (The Byrds) is 69. Actor-comedian Cheech Marin is 65. Actress Daphne Maxwell Reid is 63. Actress Didi Conn is 60. Singer Louise Mandrell is 57. Actor-director Cameron Crowe is 54. Tennis player Anders Jarryd is 50. Rock musician Gonzalo Martinez De La Cotera (Marcy Playground) is 49. Comedian Tom Kenny (TV: "SpongeBob SquarePants") is 49. Country singer-songwriter Victoria Shaw is 49. Bluegrass singer Rhonda Vincent is 49. Actor Kenny Johnson is 48. Actor Michael Jace is 46. Country singer Neil Thrasher is 46. Singer Deborah Cox is 38. Actress Ashley Scott is 34. Rock musician Will Champion (Coldplay) is 33. Actor Steven R. McQueen is 23.

Thought for today: "There are people who want to be everywhere at once, and they get nowhere." -- Carl Sandburg, American writer (1878-1967)

[Associated Press]

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