Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022
1873 The New York Stock Exchange was forced to close for the first time in its history. It reopened 10 days later. The failure of the Jay Cooke bank two days earlier set off a string bank failures and factories began to lay off workers as the U.S. and Europe slipped into a depression that lasted until 1879.
1973 29-year-old Billie Jean King beat 55-year-old Bobby Riggs in three straight sets in this highly-publicized tennis match.
1977 The Fonz jumps a shark in this episode of Happy Days. The phrase “jumping the shark” has become a metaphor for when something has passed its peak and is desperately trying to hang on.
Music History:
1973 On his way to perform his second concert of the day, US singer, songwriter Jim Croce was killed with five others when his chartered aircraft hit a tree on takeoff in Louisiana. He released 5 studio albums and a list of hit singles including: Bad Leroy Brown, You don’t mess around with Jim, I Got a Name, Operator and Time in a Bottle, which went #1 shortly after his death.
Notable Birthdays today:
Actor Charlie Weber 43
Actor Gary Cole 65
Actress Sophia Loren 88
Credit to:
Thisdayinmusic.com and Thisdaytrivia.com
