- 1928] I am Leo hear me roar: MGM's Leo the Lion roars for the first time when he's introduced to the big screen for "White Shadows in the South Seas"...
- 1948] Idlewild about Harry: President Harry S. Truman helps dedicate Idlewild International Airport (later changed to JFK) with New York Governor (and soon to be opponent in the presidential election) Thomas E. Dewey and Mayor William O'Dwyer in attendance with live radio and TV coverage...
- 1964] Say "cheese": American space probe Ranger 7 transmits pictures of the moon's surface back to earth...
- 1964] "Happy Trails": Country singer Jim Reeves dies when the single-engine Beechcraft he was piloting goes down during a violent thunderstorm near his home in Nashville. His business partner and manager Dean Manuel is also killed. "Gentleman Jim" was just 40...
- 1972] McGovern picks Eagleton as running mate: Of course the rest of the story involves Sargent Shriver replacing Eagleton because of his fragile mental health...
- 1976] Real Golden Gloves: The U.S. picks up 5 gold medals in boxing at the Montreal Olympics. Sugar Ray Leonard, Michael Spinks, Leon Spinks, Howard Davis and Leo Randolph are the winners of the gold awards. Sugar Ray and Leon Spinks will become pro-boxing champions...
- 1981] Back to work: The 7-week baseball players strike comes to an end when the players and owners agree on the issue of free agent compensation...
- 1990] Joining the 300 club: Nolan Ryan becomes the 20th major league pitcher to win 300 games as his Texas Rangers beat the Milwaukee Brewers 11-3...
- 1995] ABC sprouts mouse ears: The Walt Disney Company agrees to buy Capital Cities-ABC Inc. for $15 billion...
- 1997] Busted: New York City police seize 5 bombs believed bound for terrorists attacks on subways...
For more on July 31st: CLICK: http://melphillipsnowandthen.com
