1862 – Jesse Bright of Madison was expelled from the United States Senate for being a Confederate sympathizer. Before the Civil War, he had served as a state senator and lieutenant governor under Governor James Whitcomb.
1928 – “The silent drama speaks!” proclaimed the advertisement for “The Jazz Singer” opening its run at the Circle Theater in Indianapolis. It was the first feature-length film with synchronized sound and heralded the arrival of “talkies” and the end of the silent-film era.
1943 – The SS Dorchester was sunk in the Labrador Sea by a German U-Boat. The sinking is famous for the four Army chaplains who gave away their life jackets to save others. Two of the chaplains had served in Indiana: Rabbi Alexander D. Goode from Marion and John P. Washington, a Catholic priest from Fort Harrison in Indianapolis.
1962 – William Bruce Rose was born in Lafayette. At age 20, he moved to California, changed his name to Axl Rose, and formed the band known as “Guns N’ Roses.” The group has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide.
1982 – President Ronald Reagan was at the Indiana Statehouse to speak to the General Assembly. In his address in the chamber of the House of Representatives, he spoke about the new federalism policy which would return authority in many areas back to individual states. The President was welcomed to the city by Governor Robert D. Orr and Mayor William Hudnut.
1992 – A fire at the Indianapolis Athletic Club resulted in the deaths of two city firemen and one guest. The cause was determined to be defective wiring in a refrigerator. The tragedy caused the Indianapolis Fire Department to establish new procedures for high-rise fires. The guidelines became a model for other fire departments across the nation.