What Happened on December 24?

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events

births

deaths

holidays

EVENTS ON DECEMBER 24

Italian Hall disaster

Year: 1913

The Italian Hall disaster in Calumet, Michigan results in the deaths of 73 striking workers families at a Christmas party participants (including 59 children) when someone falsely yells "fire".

World War I

Year: 1914

World War I: The "Christmas truce" begins.

Reginald Fessenden

Year: 1906

Reginald Fessenden transmits the first radio broadcast; consisting of a poetry reading, a violin solo, and a speech.

Aida

Year: 1871

The opera Aida premieres in Cairo, Egypt.

Presidential Guard (Greece)

Year: 1868

The Greek Presidential Guard is established as the royal escort by King George I.

1918 occupation of Međimurje

Year: 1918

Region of Međimurje is captured by the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes from Hungary.

Gabriele D'Annunzio

Year: 1920

Gabriele D'Annunzio surrendered the Italian Regency of Carnaro in the city of Fiume to Italian Armed Forces.

World War II

Year: 1939

World War II: Pope Pius XII makes a Christmas Eve appeal for peace.

Benghazi

Year: 1941

World War II: Benghazi is conquered by the British Eighth Army.

Argentina

Year: 1929

Assassination attempt on Argentine President Hipólito Yrigoyen.

BIRTHS ON DECEMBER 24

Fritz Leiber

Year of birth: 1910

Fritz Leiber, American author and poet (died 1992)

Ellen Braumüller

Year of birth: 1910

Ellen Braumüller, German javelin thrower and triathlete (died 1991)

I. F. Stone

Year of birth: 1907

I. F. Stone, American journalist and author (died 1989)

Franz Waxman

Year of birth: 1906

Franz Waxman, German-American composer and conductor (died 1967)

Howard Hughes

Year of birth: 1905

Howard Hughes, American businessman, engineer, and pilot (died 1976)

Ad Reinhardt

Year of birth: 1913

Ad Reinhardt, American painter and academic (died 1967)

Dave Bartholomew

Year of birth: 1918

Dave Bartholomew, American bandleader, composer and arranger (died 2019)

William C. Schneider

Year of birth: 1923

William C. Schneider, American aerospace engineer (died 1999)

Ava Gardner

Year of birth: 1922

Ava Gardner, American actress (died 1990)

Yevgeniya Rudneva

Year of birth: 1920

Yevgeniya Rudneva, Ukrainian-Russian lieutenant and navigator (died 1944)

DEATHS ON DECEMBER 24

Wilhelm Ackermann

Year of death: 1962

Wilhelm Ackermann, German mathematician (born 1896)

Eveline Adelheid von Maydell

Year of death: 1962

Eveline Adelheid von Maydell, German illustrator (born 1890)

Claudia Jones

Year of death: 1964

Claudia Jones, Trinidad-British journalist and activist (born 1915)

William M. Branham

Year of death: 1965

William M. Branham, American minister and theologian (born 1906)

Burt Baskin

Year of death: 1967

Burt Baskin, American businessman, co-founded Baskin-Robbins (born 1913)

John Black (businessman)

Year of death: 1965

John Black, English businessman (born 1895)

Robert Hillyer

Year of death: 1961

Robert Hillyer, American poet and academic (born 1895)

Norma Talmadge

Year of death: 1957

Norma Talmadge, American actress and producer (born 1894)

Siegfried Alkan

Year of death: 1941

Siegfried Alkan, German composer (born 1858)

Bruno Taut

Year of death: 1938

Bruno Taut, German architect and urban planner (born 1880)

HOLIDAYS ON DECEMBER 24

Irmina of Oeren

Christian feast day: Adela and Irmina

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve (Christianity) and its related observances: Nochebuena (Spain and Spanish-speaking countries)

Christmas Peace

Christmas Eve (Christianity) and its related observances: The Declaration of Christmas Peace (Old Great Square of Turku, Finland's official Christmas City)