From the archives
Classic headlineDrunk Gets Nine Months in Violin Case
Source: Classic headline (CJR 'Squad Helps Dog Bite Victim' collections)View clipping source
Monday 12 October 2026
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Two birth milestones share this date — Franklin Pierce born (1804) and Miley Cyrus born (1992), 188 years apart.
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From CurioVault
Today's curiosity
Before dinosaurs existed, dragonflies with 2-foot wings ruled the sky.
Read on CurioVault.co → Today's headlines
- Drunk Gets Nine Months in Violin CaseHall of Fame◆
- 1968MISS VERDY DANCES IN 'HAYDN CONCERTO'The New York Times◆
- 2015Republican senators cite omissions in detainee's 'unanimous' release decisionThe Guardian◆
- 2011Ashmolean museum: the critic's viewThe Guardian◆
- -534Thespis of Icaria becomes the first recorded actor to portray a character on stage.Wikipedia◆
- 1876William "Boss" Tweed, a New York City politician who had been arrested for embezzlement, was handed over to US authorities after having escaped from prison and fled to Spain.Wikipedia◆
- 2007MS Explorer became the first cruise ship to sink in the Southern Ocean.Wikipedia◆
- 1976Jacques Mayol became the first person to freedive to a depth of 100 metres (330 ft).Wikipedia◆
- 1963The first episode of Doctor Who, the world's longest-running science fiction television show, was broadcast on BBC television, starring William Hartnell as the first incarnation of the title role.Wikipedia◆
- 2005Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is elected president of Liberia and becomes the first woman to lead an African country.Wikipedia◆
- 2004The Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi, the largest religious building in Georgia, is consecrated.Wikipedia◆
- 1992The first smartphone, the IBM Simon, is introduced at COMDEX in Las Vegas, Nevada.Wikipedia◆
- 1981Iran–Contra affair: Ronald Reagan signs the top secret National Security Decision Directive 17 (NSDD-17), giving the Central Intelligence Agency the authority to recruit and support Contra rebels in Nicaragua.Wikipedia◆
- 1976Jacques Mayol is the first man to reach a depth of 100 m (330 ft) undersea without breathing equipment.Wikipedia◆
- Drunk Gets Nine Months in Violin CaseHall of Fame◆
- 1968MISS VERDY DANCES IN 'HAYDN CONCERTO'The New York Times◆
- 2015Republican senators cite omissions in detainee's 'unanimous' release decisionThe Guardian◆
- 2011Ashmolean museum: the critic's viewThe Guardian◆
- -534Thespis of Icaria becomes the first recorded actor to portray a character on stage.Wikipedia◆
- 1876William "Boss" Tweed, a New York City politician who had been arrested for embezzlement, was handed over to US authorities after having escaped from prison and fled to Spain.Wikipedia◆
- 2007MS Explorer became the first cruise ship to sink in the Southern Ocean.Wikipedia◆
- 1976Jacques Mayol became the first person to freedive to a depth of 100 metres (330 ft).Wikipedia◆
- 1963The first episode of Doctor Who, the world's longest-running science fiction television show, was broadcast on BBC television, starring William Hartnell as the first incarnation of the title role.Wikipedia◆
- 2005Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is elected president of Liberia and becomes the first woman to lead an African country.Wikipedia◆
- 2004The Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi, the largest religious building in Georgia, is consecrated.Wikipedia◆
- 1992The first smartphone, the IBM Simon, is introduced at COMDEX in Las Vegas, Nevada.Wikipedia◆
- 1981Iran–Contra affair: Ronald Reagan signs the top secret National Security Decision Directive 17 (NSDD-17), giving the Central Intelligence Agency the authority to recruit and support Contra rebels in Nicaragua.Wikipedia◆
- 1976Jacques Mayol is the first man to reach a depth of 100 m (330 ft) undersea without breathing equipment.Wikipedia◆
Birthday twins
You share your birthday with...
Miley Cyrus1992- Asafa Powell1982
- Franklin Pierce1804
23 November in history
0 eventsEvents, inventions, discoveries and releases. Looking for people or sport? See , and below.
We are adding more verified events for this date - more coming soon.
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What happened on this day · Odd history for today
Vintage News — November 23
534 BC First everThespis of Icaria becomes the first recorded actor to portray a character on stage.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1876 Oddly trueWilliam "Boss" Tweed, a New York City politician who had been arrested for embezzlement, was handed over to US authorities after having escaped from prison and fled to Spain.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
2007 First everMS Explorer became the first cruise ship to sink in the Southern Ocean.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1976 First everJacques Mayol became the first person to freedive to a depth of 100 metres (330 ft).
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1963 First everThe first episode of Doctor Who, the world's longest-running science fiction television show, was broadcast on BBC television, starring William Hartnell as the first incarnation of the title role.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
From The Guardian Archives — On This Day
2015The GuardianRepublican senators cite omissions in detainee's 'unanimous' release decisionTen US senators including Marco Rubio write to Pentagon and military chiefs asking why the joint chiefs of staffs wer…
Read on The Guardian →
2011The GuardianAshmolean museum: the critic's viewJonathan Glancey: Historically important and mesmerising, too, the Egyptian galleries have something for everyone
Read on The Guardian →- 1968The New York TimesMISS VERDY DANCES IN 'HAYDN CONCERTO'
There is no plot in John Taras's "Haydn Concerto," performed for the first time this season last night by the New Yor…
Read on NYTimes.com →
Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform · Historic front pages via the NYT Archive API
Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Thumbnails CC BY-SA. Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform and the NYT Archive API. Historic pages via Library of Congress Chronicling America. Curated by OddlyTrue.
Strange but true headlines of the day
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Did you guess the year?
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When was “Thespis of Icaria becomes the first recorded actor to portray a character on stage.” happening? Slide to your guess.
1950
Weird history, same day
- ???? First ever
Thespis of Icaria becomes the first recorded actor to portray a character on stage.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1876 Oddly true
William "Boss" Tweed, a New York City politician who had been arrested for embezzlement, was handed over to US authorities after having escaped from prison and fled to Spain.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2007 First ever
MS Explorer became the first cruise ship to sink in the Southern Ocean.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Hall of Fame headlines are manually verified clippings (source linked); nothing is scraped from Newspapers.com. Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Clippings from the Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers site.
Pick another date or enter your birthday (day + month only)
Viewing 23 November — today is 12 October.
Born on this day
3
1804Birth
Franklin Pierce born
Franklin Pierce was born. 14th US president.
1982Birth
Asafa Powell born
Asafa Powell was born. Jamaican sprinter.
1992Birth
Miley Cyrus born
Miley Cyrus was born. American singer.
Died on this day
17 in the archiveFive infamous ends — executed, assassinated or murdered — drawn at random from the archive. All infamous ends →
Accident
2020Death
Kobe Bryant dies
Kobe Bryant, professional basketball player, died on this day in 2020. Helicopter crash. Remembered as: Five-time NBA champion with the LA Lakers.
Suicide
1890Death
Vincent van Gogh dies
Vincent van Gogh, painter, died on this day in 1890. Suicide by gunshot. Remembered as: Post-Impressionist whose work deeply influenced 20th-century art.
Assassinated
1980Death
John Lennon dies
John Lennon, musician, died on this day in 1980. Assassinated in New York City. Remembered as: Co-lead vocalist and founder of The Beatles.
Suicide
1994Death
Kurt Cobain dies
Kurt Cobain, musician, died on this day in 1994. Suicide by gunshot. Remembered as: Frontman of Nirvana, voice of a generation.
Assassinated
44 BCDeath
Julius Caesar dies
Julius Caesar, roman general/statesman, died on this day in 44 BC. Assassinated by Roman senators. Remembered as: Critical role in the demise of the Roman Republic.
Famous birthdays
23 this weekToday · 23 November
- Miley CyrusAmerican singer and actress (born 1992)Born 1992 · 34 years ago today
- Asafa PowellJamaican sprinter (born 1982)Born 1982 · 44 years ago today
- Franklin PiercePresident of the United States from 1853 to 1857Born 1804 · 222 years ago today
Coming up this week
Katherine HeiglAmerican actress (born 1978)24 November · born 1978
Colin HanksAmerican actor (born 1977)24 November · born 1977
Zachary TaylorPresident of the United States from 1849 to 185024 November · born 1784
Xabi AlonsoSpanish football manager and player (born 1981)25 November · born 1981
Christina ApplegateAmerican actress (born 1971)25 November · born 1971
Andrew CarnegieAmerican industrialist and philanthropist (1835–1919)25 November · born 1835
Celebration23 November
Fibonacci Day
Celebrates the famous mathematical sequence (1, 1, 2, 3...) as the date 11/23 mirrors its first numbers.
Music · No.1 on this day
What was topping the charts
The official No.1 singles and albums in the UK and the USA on this date, decade by decade.
2016 10 yrs ago
2006 20 yrs ago
1996 30 yrs ago
1986 40 yrs ago
1976 50 yrs ago
1966 60 yrs ago
1956 70 yrs ago
Sport on this day
0Finals, medals and records decided on 23 November.
No recorded sporting finals on this date yet.
Sporting almanac
Who was champion, 10, 25 and 50 years ago
World Cups, Olympics, Wimbledon, the Masters, Super Bowl and more — year by year since 1877.
2016 10 yrs ago
- Olympic GamesSummer Olympics in Rio
- WimbledonAndy Murray and Serena Williams win Wimbledon
- Super BowlDenver Broncos win Super Bowl 50
- Tour de FranceChris Froome wins the Tour de France
- The MastersDanny Willett wins the Masters
- World SeriesChicago Cubs win the World Series
2001 25 yrs ago
- WimbledonGoran Ivanisevic and Venus Williams win Wimbledon
- Super BowlBaltimore Ravens win Super Bowl XXXV
- The MastersTiger Woods wins the Masters
- World SeriesArizona Diamondbacks win the World Series
- NBA FinalsLos Angeles Lakers win the NBA Finals
- Stanley CupColorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup
1976 50 yrs ago
- Olympic GamesSummer Olympics in Montreal
- Olympic GamesWinter Olympics in Innsbruck
- WimbledonBjorn Borg and Chris Evert win Wimbledon
- Super BowlPittsburgh Steelers win Super Bowl X
- Tour de FranceLucien Van Impe wins the Tour de France
- The MastersRaymond Floyd wins the Masters
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