ANDREWS MCMEEL ALMANAC
Today is the 259th day of 2017 and the 89th day of summer.
TODAY'S HISTORY: In 1920, the explosion of a bomb on Wall Street killed more than 30 people and injured hundreds of others.
In 1940, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Selective Training and Service Act, authorizing the military draft.
In 1955, Argentine president Juan Peron was ousted by a military coup.
In 1974, President Gerald Ford announced a conditional amnesty program for Vietnam War deserters and draft evaders.
TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS: Jean Arp (1886-1966), artist; H.A. Rey (1898-1977), children's author/illustrator; Lauren Bacall (1924-2014), actress; B.B. King (1925-2015), musician; Peter Falk (1927-2011), actor; Ed Begley Jr. (1949- ), actor; Henry Louis Gates Jr. (1950- ), author/academic; Mickey Rourke (1952- ), actor; David Copperfield (1956- ), magician; Marc Anthony (1968- ), singer-songwriter; Amy Poehler (1971- ), actress; Nick Jonas (1992- ), singer/musician.
TODAY'S FACT: German-born Jewish authors Margret and H.A. Rey fled Paris by bicycle in June 1940, the manuscript for what would become "Curious George" in tow, just before the city fell to Nazi Germany.
TODAY'S SPORTS: In 1981, Sugar Ray Leonard unified boxing's welterweight title by knocking out Tommy Hearns in the 14th round of a bout in an outdoor arena at the Caesar's Palace casino in Las Vegas.
TODAY'S QUOTE: "Sculpture should walk on the tips of its toes, unostentatious, unpretentious and light as the spoor of an animal in snow. Art should melt into and even merge with nature itself." -- Jean Arp
TODAY'S NUMBER: 342 -- one-night stand gigs performed by blues legend B.B. King and his band in 1956.
TODAY'S MOON: Between last quarter moon (Sept. 12) and new moon (Sept. 19).