Seventy years ago, The Wizard of Oz made its television debut and 53% of American TV viewers tuned in. CBS paid MGM $225,000 per broadcast and turned the film into an annual holiday event, the kind of shared moment that defined a generation of TV watching.
The same date holds a remarkable range of milestones. Lois Mailou Jones, the Harlem Renaissance painter whose seven-decade career brought African and Caribbean influences to American art, was born 121 years ago. Gerhard“Der Bomber”Müller, whose 68 goals in 62 appearances for West Germany rank among football’s greatest scoring records, was born 81 years ago. November 3 also brought DC residents their first presidential vote after the 23rd Amendment and the creation of the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge after residents fought off an airport plan.
Film nostalgia, art history, sports greatness, voting rights, and conservation all land on one calendar day. Which November 3 story deserves a full deep dive on our next show?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.