ON THIS DAY

It was on this date in 1787 that Delaware became the first state to ratify the constitution. You don't think of Delaware as a trend-setter, but there was a time... I'm no history expert, but I believe it was because the states were doing it in alphabetical order. See, I told you I was no history expert.

On this day in 1835, the very first railroad in Germany opened, for those of you keeping tracks.

In 1842, The New York Philharmonic gives its first performance. Afterwards, the conductor was reported to have said, "An audience! That's what we forgot!"

At dawn on Sunday, December 7, 1941, six Japanese carriers launched a first wave of 181 planes composed of torpedo bombers, dive bombers, horizontal bombers and fighters against Pearl Harbor, on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Here's a look back at that terrible day, which spurred the U.S. to enter World War II:

• The attack wasn't just on Pearl Harbor, but included other military installations on the island. Huge losses were also suffered at Hickam, Wheeler and Bellows airfields, Ewa Marine Corps Air Station, Kaneohe Bay Naval Air Station and Schofield Barracks. 
• The attack by 183 Japanese planes began at 8:02 a.m., as most people were waking up for what they thought was a quiet Sunday. 
• Less than two hours later, 2,280 American servicemen and 68 civilians were dead, and 1,109 were wounded. 
• Eight battleships were damaged and five were sunk, while three light cruisers, three destroyers, three smaller vessels and 188 aircrafts were lost. 
• The USS Arizona went down only nine minutes after being hit by a 1,760-pound bomb. Killed in the horrendous explosion were 1,177 crewmen. 
• Things could have been even worse, if not for a goof by Japanese strategists. Their main targets were the U.S. fleet's aircraft carriers -- most of which were out of port that day. 

Pearl Harbor Movie Trivia

• What was the first movie about Pearl Harbor? ("Secret Agent Of Japan, 1942) 
• How many movies about Pearl Harbor were made in 1942? (Five: "Secret Agent Of Japan," "Little Tokyo, USA." "Across The Pacific," "Remember Pearl Harbor" and "Submarine Raider") 
• Why was the movie "December 7, 1941" first released in a 30 minute version, cut down from the original 84 minute version? (Because of its critique of the military's lack of preparation -- Edited by the military before the 1943 release) 
• What 1943 movie about Pearl Harbor was re-released in 1991? (December 7, 1941." The movie has original clips of the actual attack. The full version was re-released in 1991) 
• What was the first Japanese movie about Pearl Harbor? ("I Bombed Pearl Harbor" released in 1961) 

Pearl Harbor Movie List:

• "Secret Agent of Japan," 1942 
• "Little Tokyo, USA," 1942 
• "Across The Pacific," 1942 
• "Remember Pearl Harbor," 1942 
• "Submarine Raider," 1942 
• "December 7, 1941," 1943 
• "Air Force," 1943 
• "Blood on the Sun," 1945 
• "From Here to Eternity," 1953 
• "Hell's Half Acre," 1954 
• "The Revolt of Mamie Stover," 1956 
• "Jungle Heat," 1957 
• "I Bombed Pearl Harbor," (Taiheiyo no Arashi), 1961 
• "In Harms Way," 1965 
• "Admiral Yamamoto," 1968 
• "Tora! Tora! Tora!," 1970 
• "Midway," 1976 
• "Pearl," ABC, 1978-1979, TV Mini-series 
• "From Here to Eternity," NBC, 1979, TV Version 
• "The Final Countdown," 1980 
• "Imperial Navy," 1980 
• "The Winds of War," ABC, 1983, 18-hour TV Series about WWII 
• "War and Remembrance," ABC, 1988, Sequel to "The Winds of War" 
• "Pearl Harbor," 2001 

In 1961 June Carter and Johnny Cash appeared in concert together for the first time in Dallas. Years later, concert goers said it was remarkable how much they looked like Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon.

On this date in 1973, the banana eating record was set at 17 in two minutes. The current record is held by J-Ball (aka Justin) in 2009 by eating 7.5 bananas pealed and eaten in one minute.
The winner was someone with really bad leg cramps, just trying to get them to stop.
So, if you're looking to put yourself in the record books today, there's your challenge.
Sadly, three people were injured by the peels while trying to walk past him.
I'm surprised it took the grocery store two minutes to find him eating bananas before kicking him out.
He never had a leg cramp again.

In 1974, Ricky Fataar quit the Beach Boys, which came as a shock to a lot of people, especially those who had no idea he was even with the Beach Boys.

On this date in 1982, Texas switched from the electric chair to lethal injection. Same results, but at least their power bill did go down.

The trademark for Marshmallow Peeps was registered on this day in 1982. This idea fits right in with our long-running hatred of Peeps. We did "Float Or Flush" where we floated a pink one and a blue one, assigned each one to a listener and got them to predict whether they'd survive flushing. Neither did. Taking it to the next level, we had a web cam in the can and did it live on the web too.

On this date in 1984, South African President Tutu met with our President Reagan. Reagan's first question: so, where's your ballet outfit?

In 1993, the Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders suggested that the government study the impact of drug legalization. Some thought she was high.

TODAY IS

Yasiel Puig of the Los Angeles Dodgers is 27. Still no ring.

Aaron Carter turns the big 3-0 today. His older brother, Nick, was in the Backstreet Boys. He filed for bankruptcy back in 2013. Hey, who didn't? A while back, everyone got to know him a little better on "Dancing with the Stars" until he was voted off.

Terrell Owens turns 44 today and still won't accept he can't play football anymore.

Former Tonight Show announcer, Edd Hall, turns 59 today. These days, he spends most of his time just introducing people who walk into his house.

Former NBA star Larry Bird turns 61 today. Unfortunately, a "Sesame Street" character already had what would have been the perfect nickname for him. I still don't know how he made that shot in the old McDonald's commercial.

Singer Tom Waits turns 68 today, although he's sounded that way since his 20s -- he's got a raspy voice. Back when he was growing, while the other kids were playing in sandboxes, he was eating his.

Johnny Bench turns the big 7-0 today. He was with the Cincinnati Reds back in the days when being a catcher was only known as a baseball position.

Ellen Burstyn who played the mom in the original "Exorcist," turns 85 today. As far as taking that movie role goes, she doesn't know what possessed her.