1534
The English parliament passed the Act of Supremacy, making King Henry VIII head of the English church.

1938
Radio broadcast of The War of the Worlds, starring Orson Welles, caused nationwide panic among listeners.

1944
Martha Graham's ballet Appalachian Spring, with music by Aaron Copland, premiered.

1953
Gen. George C. Marshall won the Nobel Peace Prize for originating the Marshall Plan.

1974
Muhammad Ali knocked out George Foreman in the eighth round of a 15-round bout in Kinshasa, Zaire ("rumble in the jungle") to regain his world heavyweight title.