Today in History - History - December 23rd

1921Gangster Carlo Gambino enters the United States as an illegal immigrant on the SS Vincenzo Florio

1961Fidel Castro announces Cuba will release 1,113 prisoners from failed 1961 Bay of Pigs Invasion for $62M worth of food & medical supplies

1930Bette Davis arrives in Hollywood under contract to Universal Studios

1994Fearing arrest by the FBI, Whitey Bulger flees Boston, and successfully hides from law enforcement for the next 16 years

1888Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh cuts off his left ear

1997Colorado Avalanche Jari Kurri is 8th NHLer to score 600 career goals

1913President Woodrow Wilson signs Federal Reserve Act into law

1779Benedict Arnold court-martialed for improper conduct

1776Thomas Paine writes "These are the times that try men's souls"

1933Howie Morenz takes over NHL career goal lead at 251

1891Cy Denneny, Farran's Point Ontario, Canadian ice hockey hall of famer

245Zenobia, Palmyra, Syria, Queen of Palmyra, (d. 274)

1805Joseph Smith Jr, Sharon Vermont, founder (Mormon Church), (d. 1844)

1867Madame C. J. Walker, Louisiana, cosmetic mogul (Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company), (d. 1919)

1847Prime Minister of Canada Mackenzie Bowell (24) weds Harriet Moore

1951MLB centerfielder Mickey Mantle (20) weds author Merlyn Mantle (19) in Commerce, Oklahoma

1961Actor Martin Sheen (21) weds Janet Templeton

1981Astronaut Chris Hadfield (22) weds high-school girlfriend Helene Walter

1997Woody Allen, 62 weds Soon-Yi Previn 27, adopted daughter of Mia Farrow

2007"Dr. Izzie Stevens" actress Katherine Heigl (29) weds singer-songwriter Josh Kelley (27) at Stein Eriksen Lodge in Park City, Utah