October 6: Facts & Historical Events On This Day

A gunman killed 38 people in a daycare center in Thailand.

Among the 38 victims were 24 children, with some as young as two years old. Other victims were teachers and workers at the daycare center. The suspect was a former policeman dismissed due to drug abuse allegations. He later shot his wife, son, and himself at their home.

Protestors took to the streets in Hong Kong after the government announced a ban on face masks.

Pope Benedict XVI’s butler, Paolo Gabriele, was convicted and jailed for 18 months for leaking confidential documents.

The verdict was made on the fourth day of hearings after a two-hour debate.

Instagram was launched and gained 25,000 users on its first day.

The 51 Pegasi b planet was discovered. It was the first discovered exoplanet around a sun-like star.

This planet is around half the size of Jupiter and orbits its star every four days. It was discovered by Michael Mayor and Didier Queloz at the Haute-Provence Observatory in France.

Pope John Paul II became the first pope to visit the White House in Washington, D.C.

In his meeting with President Jimmy Carter, the Pope said, "It gives me great joy to be the first pope in history to come to the capital of this nation, and I thank almighty God for this blessing."

The drama romance film “Days of Heaven” by Terrence Malick was released.

The American epic historical drama movie “Spartacus” premiered in New York City.

It was directed by Stanley Cupric and starred Kirk Douglas & Laurence Olivier.

Dr. Albert Sabin announced his oral vaccine against polio was ready to test.

The treatment could make a person immune for life and came in a sugar cube form that was cherry flavored.

“The Jazz Singer” was released. It was the first motion picture with pre-recorded dialogue, revolutionizing the movie industry.

The largest music fraternity in the USA, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, was founded.

Since its founding, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia has initiated over 260,000 members who call themselves Sinfonians. The fraternity's goal is to assist its members in adopting music as a profession and advance the cause of music in the USA. There are 24 Si Mu Alpha Sinfonia chapters across the country, with the fraternity's headquarters in Evansville, Indiana.

The Moulin Rouge cabaret opened its doors in Paris for the first time.

The first American Chess Congress started in New York.

Daniel Willard Fiske organized the event, and it lasted until November 10. The top sixteen chess players in the US were invited to compete to win the first prize of $300.

Thirteen Mennonite families arrived in Philadelphia from Germany.

This marked the beginning of forming Germantown, Philadelphia, and the introduction of the Mennonite community in the United States.

Euridice, the oldest-surviving opera, premiered in Florence, Italy.

Written by Jacopo Peri, Euridice tells the story of the legendary Greek musician Orpheus and his wife, Euridice. At the opera's premiere in the Palazzo Putti, Jacopo Peri performed as Orpheus.