December 5th, 2008

Today in History

1974:
The last new episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus is broadcast on the BBC.

1955:
The trade unions American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations decide to merge and form the AFL-CIO.

1926:
Sergei Eisenstein's "Battleship Potemkin," debuts

1873:
In Boston, Massachusetts, Warren Avenue Baptist Church sexton Thomas Piper strangles and beats to death his first victim, Bridget Landregan (the press later dubbed the then unknown serial killer "The Boston Belfry Murderer").

1560:
Francis II of France dies and is succeeded by Charles IX of France.