What Happened On
Anissa Jones Dies of Overdose
August 28, 1976
Former child actress Anissa Jones dies at age 18 of a drug overdose. She was known for her role as Buffy in TV's Family Affair (1966-71).
The overdose was ruled accidental. A toxicology report found cocaine, PCP, Quaalude, and Seconal in her body. The doctor who prescribed her Seconal was charged with second-degree murder, but died before he could go to trial.
After Family Affair ended, feeling typecast as Buffy, she exited the entertainment business. Brian Keith offered her a role on The Brian Keith Show (1972-74) and she was invited to audition for the role of Iris in Taxi Driver, but turned both down.
Martin Luther King, Jr. - I Have a Dream
August 28, 1963
During his famous march on Washington, the civil-rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. proclaims "I have a dream." Delivered to over 250,000 civil rights supporters from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., the speech was a defining moment of the Civil Rights Movement.
I still have a dream, a dream deeply rooted in the American dream - one day this nation will rise up and live up to its creed, "We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men are created equal." I have a dream…
Brannock Device
August 28, 1928
The popular shoe-size measuring device is patented by Charles F. Brannock. It would become the worlds most popular shoe-size measuring device and would be used in thousands of stores. Brannock invented the device in 1925 and managed the company that manufactured the devices until his death at age 89 in 1992.
Brannock was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1992.
Family listening to the radio
Family listening to the radio
First U.S. Radio Commercial
August 28, 1922
AT&T station WEAF of New York City broadcasts a 10-minute spot for an apartment complex.
Civil War - Second Battle of Bull Run
August 28, 1862
Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee lead Confederate troops against Union General John Pope. Although outnumbered 2 to 1, the Confederate troops forced the Union troops to retreat.
Steam Power versus Horse Power
Steam Power versus Horse Power
Horse Versus Machine
August 28, 1830
Tom Thumb, the first steam locomotive built in America, loses its celebrated race against a horse. Although winning, mechanical difficulties prevented it from finishing the race. However, Peter Cooper's Tom Thumb reached speeds of up to 18 mph (29 km/h), proving the value of steam power and the railroads chose steam engines for locomotion. Up to then horses and mules had been used to pull railroad cars. Within a year, steam locomotives had completely replaced horse power.
Photo Credit: Excel23
Photo Credit: Excel23
St. Augustine - Oldest European Settlement Still in Existence in America
August 28, 1565
Spanish settlers arrive at St. Augustine, Florida establishing a settlement there the following month.
Hurricane Katrina at peak intensity in the Gulf of Mexico on August 28, 2005
Hurricane Katrina at peak intensity in the Gulf of Mexico on August 28, 2005
Hurricane Katrina
August 28, 2005
Katrina is upgraded to a Category 5 storm and New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin orders the first ever mandatory evacuation of the city.
St. Louis Man Recovers His '62 Corvette
August 28, 1992
It was stolen in 1971. The car, which he paid $1,300 for in 1969, is now worth $25,000.
Halcion Murders
August 28, 1987
Nila Wacaser kills her two sons and then claimed the sleeping drug Halcion made her do it. She killed her 8 and 11 year-old sons shortly after a judge granted legal custody of them to her ex-husband. She committed suicide after being convicted of first-degree murder (1992).
Mark Spitz
August 28, 1972
Swimmer Mark Spitz wins the first two of his seven 1972 Olympic gold medals. Seven was the most Olympic gold medals ever won by a single athlete in a single Olympiad up to that time. That record was broken by Michael Phelps in 2008.
First U.S. Air Force Ace in Vietnam
August 28, 1972
Capt. Richard Stephen Ritchie earns the distinction by downing his fifth enemy aircraft in North Vietnam.
Strom Thurmond
Strom Thurmond
Longest Filibuster
August 28, 1957
U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond makes a 24 hours and 18 minute filibuster speech, the longest continuous one-person speaking filibuster in U.S. history. The filibuster was in opposition to the Civil Rights Act of 1957. During the filibuster, Thurmond read every U.S. state's election laws, excerpts from the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, Washington's Farewell Address, and even Thurmond's grandmother's biscuit recipe. Despite the filibuster the bill passed two hours after Thurmond's speech.
Thurmond would deny accusations that he was a racist by insisting he was a supporter of states' rights and an opponent of excessive federal authority and asserting that the bill was both unnecessary and unconstitutional.
Bergen with dummy Charlie McCarthy
Bergen with dummy Charlie McCarthy
Dummy Degree
August 28, 1938
Charlie McCarthy, Edgar Bergen's ventriloquist dummy, is awarded the degree of Master of Innuendo and Snappy Comeback by the School of Speech of Northwestern University, Illinois.
First Horse to Run a 2-Minute Mile
August 28, 1897
Star Pointer, a Tennessee-bred light-harness stallion, runs a mile in 1:59.25 minutes on a Maryland track.
Star Pointer had been a big, clumsy-gaited, knee-knocking pacer. But under trainer David McClary's care Star Pointer became the fastest horse of his time.
His record stood until 1903.
First U.S. Territory Outside of the Continental U.S.
August 28, 1867
The Midway Islands in the Pacific ocean are annexed by the U.S. with Captain William Reynolds of USS Lackawanna formally taking possession of the atoll for the United States. The name was later changed from "Middlebrook Islands" to "Midway Islands".
They had been named "Middlebrook Islands" by Captain N.C. Brooks, who claimed them in 1859 for the U.S. under the Guano Islands Act of 1856, which authorized Americans to occupy uninhabited islands temporarily to obtain guano, although there is no record of any attempt to mine guano on the island.
Midway has no indigenous people and was uninhabited until the 19th century.
Lohengrin
August 28, 1850
The first performance of Richard Wagner's famous opera is given by Franz Liszt.
First Passenger Trip on a U.S.-Built Steam Locomotive
August 28, 1830
Peter Cooper's Tom Thumb takes 26 passengers on a ride along the B&O Railroad.
Enceladus Discovered
August 28, 1789
Sir William Herschel discovers one of Saturn's moons. He would discover a seventh moon the following month.
Birthdays
Nancy Kulp
Born August 28, 1921 d. 1991
American actress. TV: The Beverly Hillbillies (1962-71, Jane Hathaway) and The Bob Cummings Show (1955-59, pith-helmeted bird watcher Pamela Livingstone).
In 1984 Kulp ran as a Democrat for the U.S. House of Representatives. Her Beverly Hillbillies co-star Buddy Ebsen did ads for her Republican opponent, calling her too liberal. She lost the election.
Count Leo Tolstoy
Born August 28, 1828 d. 1910
Russian novelist, religious prophet. Writings: War and Peace (1869) and Anna Karenina (1877).
Quote: "The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of doubt, what is laid before him." This has become known as "Tolstoy Syndrome".
Scott Hamilton
Born August 28, 1958
American figure skater. World champion (1981-84) and 1984 Olympic gold medal winner.
Daniel Stern
Born August 28, 1957
American actor. Film: Home Alone (the frizzy-haired burglar). TV: The Wonder Years (the grown-up voice of Kevin).
Wayne Osmond
Born August 28, 1951
American singer, with The Osmonds. Music: One Bad Apple (1971, #1) and Go Away Little Girl (1971, #1).
Soul (left) in Starsky & Hutch
Soul (left) in Starsky & Hutch
David Soul (David Richard Solberg)
Born August 28, 1943 d. 2024
American-British actor, singer. Two of David Soul's five wives were cast members of his TV show Here Comes the Brides.
TV: Starsky & Hutch (1975-79, Hutch), Here Comes the Brides (1968-70, Joshua Bolt),The Merv Griffin Show (1966-67, as the hooded singer known as "The Covered Man"), and Salem's Lot (1979). Music: Don't Give Up On Us (1976 #1 US & UK) and Silver Lady (1977 #1 UK).
Ben Gazzara (Biagio Anthony Gazzarra)
Born August 28, 1930 d. 2012
American Emmy-winning actor. TV: Run for Your Life (1965-68, terminally-ill Paul Bryan).
Donald O'Connor
Born August 28, 1925 d. 2003
American Emmy-winning actor, dancer. Film: Singin' in the Rain (1952, Cosmo Brown) and numerous Francis the Talking Mule films.
Peggy Ryan (Margaret O'Rene Ryan)
Born August 28, 1924 d. 2004
American actress, singer dancer, often teamed with Donald O'Connor. TV: Hawaii Five-O (McGarrett's secretary).
Sam Levene
Born August 28, 1905 d. 1980
American actor. Originated the Broadway roles of crap game operator Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls and Al Lewis of The Sunshine Boys.
Come with me to the Casbah
Charles Boyer
Born August 28, 1899 d. 1978
French-born American actor. Film: Algiers (1938, in which his famous invitation to Hedy Lamarr, "Come with me to the Casbah" was used for the trailers - although it was not in the film itself). The cartoon skunk Pepé Le Pew was based on his Pepe le Moko character in Algiers. He also co-founded Four-Star Television (1951).
Elizabeth Ann Seton
Born August 28, 1774 d. 1821
first American-born Roman Catholic saint (canonized 1975). She founded the U.S. branch of the Sisters of Charity (1809).
See also Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first naturalized American saint.
Deaths
Anissa Jones
Died August 28, 1976 b. 1958
American actress. Anissa Jones is known for her role as Buffy in TV's Family Affair (1966-71). After Family Affair ended, feeling typecast as Buffy, she exited the entertainment business. Brian Keith offered her a role on The Brian Keith Show (1972-74) and she was invited to audition for the role of Iris in Taxi Driver, but turned both down.
She died at age 18 of a drug overdose that was ruled accidental. A toxicology report found cocaine, PCP, Quaalude, and Seconal in her body. The doctor who prescribed her Seconal was charged with second-degree murder, but died before he could go to trial.
Film: The Elvis Presley comedy The Trouble with Girls (1969, Carol Bix).
Inventor of Monopoly
Charles B. Darrow
Died August 28, 1967 b. 1889
American inventor. Creator of the game Monopoly (1933). Parker Brothers initially rejected the game, citing 52 fundamental errors. Now published in 23 languages and a Braille version, more than 200,000,000 games have been sold, making Darrow the first millionaire game designer in history.
Darrow derived Monopoly from The Landlord's Game created by Lizzie Magie in 1903. Magie's game had two sets of rules: an anti-monopolist set in which all were rewarded when wealth was created, and a monopolist set in which the goal was to create monopolies and crush opponents. After Darrow sold the rights to the game to Parker Brothers, they found out he was not the sole inventor and bought the rights from Magie for $500.
The properties are named after streets and properties in Atlantic City.
American children reciting the Pledge of Allegiance with the Bellamy Salute in 1941
American children reciting the Pledge of Allegiance with the Bellamy Salute in 1941
Francis Bellamy
Died August 28, 1931 b. 1855
American Christian socialist minister, author. He wrote the original version of the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance (1892). Bellamy, a devout Christian who believed in the absolute separation of church and state, did not include the phrase "under God" within his original pledge. This was added by Congress in 1954. He also originated the Bellamy Salute, to be used when reciting the pledge. However, due to its resemblance to the Nazi salute, this was replaced with the hand-over-heart salute in 1942.
Bellamy's original pledge: "I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
Glenn Cornick
Died August 28, 2014 b. 1947
British bass player, with Jethro Tull. Music: Aqualung (1971) and Thick as a Brick (1972).
Joseph W. Alsop
Died August 28, 1989 b. 1910
American syndicated political columnist. Co-wrote the columns Capitol Parade (1937-40) and Matter of Fact (1945-58).
John Huston
Died August 28, 1987 b. 1906
American Oscar-winning, director, writer, The Maltese Falcon (1941) and African Queen (1952).
Ruth Gordon in Harold and Maude
Ruth Gordon in Harold and Maude
Ruth Gordon (Ruth Jones)
Died August 28, 1985 b. 1896
American Oscar-Emmy-winning actress. Film: Harold and Maude (1971, Maude), Rosemary's Baby (1968, Oscar), Every Which Way but Loose (1978), and Any Which Way You Can (1980).
Robert Shaw
Died August 28, 1978 b. 1927
British actor, author. Film: From Russia with Love (1963, SPECTRE agent Red Grant), The Sting (1973, conned mobster Doyle Lonnegan), and Jaws (1975, Quint). Shaw co-wrote the famous 
Jaws Indianapolis Speech based on the sinking of the USS Indianapolis.
He also wrote The Man in the Glass Booth (1967), which described the trial of Nazi Adolf Eichmann.
Shaw died of a heart attack at the age of 51.
Robert Walker
Died August 28, 1951 b. 1918
American actor. Film: Bataan (1943), The Clock (1945), Strangers on a Train (1951, the psychopathic killer in Alfred Hitchcock's thriller).
Boris III
Died August 28, 1943 b. 1894
King of Bulgaria (1918-43). In 1935 he established a virtual dictatorship.
Frederick Burr Opper
Died August 28, 1937 b. 1857
American cartoonist. He created Happy Hooligan (1902) and illustrated works for Mark Twain.
Frederick Law Olmsted
Died August 28, 1903 b. 1822
American landscape architect. He designed New York's Central Park and the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.
James Wilson
Died August 28, 1798 b. 1742
Scottish-born American patriot, signer of the Declaration of Independence, member of the Continental Congress and Constitutional Convention of 1787, and associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Afonso V
Died August 28, 1481 b. 1432
King of Portugal (1438-81).
Louis II
Died August 28, 876 b. circa 804
King of Germany (843-876), founder of the German kingdom.
Saint Augustine
Died August 28, 430 b. 354
North African Christian philosopher, bishop of Hippo (396-430).