At 3 pm. local time today in 1881, nine men starting shooting guns at each other from a distance of about six feet in Tombstone, Arizona. History knows it as the “Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.” The shootout has become legend through book and film and made iconic figures of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday. In the end, three bad guys were killed and Earp was the only one who escaped injury free. Earp’s team went on to win the Gold Medal in hockey at the 1980 Olympics.

 

Well, he said he’d be back. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who just announced he’d star in a re-boot of the Conan the Barbarian franchise, hit the big screen today in 1984 in “The Terminator.” The box office smash helped launch the career of director James Cameron, who also wrote the movie. Arnold, of course, went on to star in a sit-com where he was the Governor of California who was constantly flirting with his wacky maid.

Oscar nominations went to both the actors playing father and son in, “The Great Santini,” which opened today in 1979. Robert Duvall starred as the title character, the alpha male who’s a frustrated marine who takes it out at home on his teenage son, played by Danny Noonan, who’s trying to win a caddie scholarship from the local country club. Bob Knight sees absolutely nothing wrong with that scene. (By the way, Michael O’Keefe, who has an even better basketball scene than this in, “The Hot Chick,” had a good swing in “Caddyshack,” and a decent handle here, kudos to him.)

The movie was based on the book of the same name, written by Pat Conroy, who turns 66 today. It was Conroy’s third book and was published when he was 31 years old.

The Pony Express ceased operations today in 1861, two days after the transcontinental telegraph reached Salt Lake City. The trail ran for 1,900 miles and worked about as fast as dial-up internet. It returned briefly in Dallas in the early 1980’s.

The sometimes controversial, sometimes funny, always popular comic strip, “Doonesbury,” made its debut today in 1970.

Today in 1978, Nick Gilder’s, “Hot Child in the City,” made history by finally hitting #1 after hitting the charts 20 weeks earlier. The very same night in Boston, an English trio made their first ever appearance in the States at a bar called the Rat Club.

Today in 1980 Alberto Salazar won his first of three straight New York City Marathons. It was Salazar’s debut in the marathon and his 2:09:41 was the second fastest time ever by an American. Apparently Tom Selleck finished second.

NBC rolled out its newest drama today in 1982. “St. Elsewhere” starred a bevy of fine actors including Mark Harmon, William Daniels, Ed Begley Jr., David Morse, Howie Mandel and this guy:

In World Series history, today in 1985 Don Denkinger blew it, today in 1991, Kirby Puckett did not.

Happy birthday to the elegant angel, Jaclyn Smith, who turns 67 and to Natalie Merchant, who’s 49.

  

Top Five Songs involving Natalie Merchant:

1. These Are Days

2. Gun Shy

3. Noah’s Dove

4. Like the Weather

5. Because the Night

Ok, I included a cover there (5), I just had to, it was one of the best songs ever done on MTV Unplugged. She’s done a ton of great covers and this one knocks it out of the park.

— Bill Hubbell