Celebrating Native American Heritage Month: Ernest Childers, first Creek to win Medal of Honor

Ernest Childers, born February 1, 1918 in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, is the first Creek (Muscogee) to win the Medal of Honor for his actions during WWII.  

He joined the Oklahoma Army National Guard in 1937 and was assigned to the 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division.  In September 1943 in Italy, he single-handedly killed two enemy snipers, attacked two machine gun nests, and captured an artillery observer.  For these actions he was awarded the Medal of Honor in April 1944.  

He attained the rank of lieutenant colonel before retiring from the US Army.  He passed away in March 2005.

Michael Jackson releases "Thriller" 1984

Michael Jackson released his sixth studio album Thriller, November 30, 1982.  It became Jackson's first #1 album on the Billboard Top LPs and Tapes chart, spending a record 37 weeks.  It produced seven singles that reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.  

It won a record eight Grammys in February 1984: Album of the Year; Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male; Best Engineered Recording, Non-classical; Producer of the Year (Non-classical).  

Beat It won Record of the Year. Billie Jean won Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male; and Best Rhythm & Blues Song.

Thriller is the best-selling album of all time, with 66 million copies world-wide and has been certified 33x platinum in the US.  The album has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and into the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant recordings." 

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month: Clarence Tinker, first Native American major general in the US Air Force

Clarence Tinker, born November 21, 1887 in Indian Territory, near Pawhuska, Oklahoma, was a member of the Osage Nation and the first Native American to achieve the rank of major general in the United States Air Force.

He was raised Osage and spoke the language.  Tinker received his commission as a lieutenant in the US Army in 1912 and was transferred to the Army Air Service in 1922. In 1940, he became a brigadier general.  After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he was named Commander of the Seventh Air Force in Hawaii to reorganize the air defenses.  He was promoted to major general in January 1942.

In June 1942, he led a force against the Japanese Naval forces.  His died when his plane crashed into the sea.  

In October 1942, the Oklahoma City Air Depot was renamed Tinker Field in his honor.  It is now known as Tinker Air Force Base.

Godzilla receives his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame 2004

Godzilla, "The King of the Monsters", got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, November 29, 2004, fifty years before he stomped onto movie screens and all over Tokyo.  The unveiling came just before the premiere of Godzilla: Final Wars.  Godzilla was created by nuclear testing and has been protecting the Earth from aliens and King Ghidorah ever since.

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month: Wes Studi, first Native American to win an Academy Award

Wesley Studi, born December 17, 1947 in Nofire Hollow, Oklahoma (near Tahlequah), is the first Native American to be honored with an Academy Award.  He was born into the Cherokee tribe and enlisted in the Oklahoma National Guard at the age of 17.  He volunteered for active service and served in the Vietnam War for a year. 

He has won critical acclaim for his portrayal of Native Americans in film, such as Dances With Wolves and The Last of the Mohicans.  

In 2019, he received an Academy Honorary Award, becoming the first Native American actor to receive an Oscar for acting.  

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month: Ben Reifel, first Native American elected to US Congress

Benjamin Reifel, or "Lone Feather" born September 19, 1906 in a log cabin on the Rosebud Indian Reservation, near Parmelee, South Dakota, was the first Native American  to be elected to the US Congress.  His mother was a Lakota Sioux and he became a public administrator and politician for the Lakota Sioux tribe.

He worked for the Department of the Interior starting in 1933 and served during WWII, achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel.  He retired from the South Dakota area administrator of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in March 1960 and ran for Congress.  He was elected to the 87th Congress and served four more turns, from January 1961-January 1971. 

He passed away from cancer in January 1990.

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut James Wetherbee!

James Wetherbee, born November 27, 1952 in Flushing, New York, has been in space six times.

His first mission was aboard Columbia (STS-32) as pilot in January 1990.  It was the third night landing of the space shuttle program.

His second flight was aboard Columbia (STS-52) as commander in October-November 1992.  The mission involved projects with the Italian Space Agency and National Centre for Space Studies (France).   

His third flight was aboard Discovery (STS-63) as commander in February 1995.  It was the second mission of the Space Shuttle/Mir program.  It was the first rendezvous of NASA's shuttle and the Mir space station.

His fourth flight was aboard Atlantis (STS-86) as commander to Mir in September-October 1997. It was the seventh Mir docking mission.

His fifth flight was aboard Discovery (STS-102) as commander to the International Space Station in March 2001.  The flight rotated Expeditions 1 and 2 and resupplied the ISS.

His sixth and final flight was aboard Endeavour (STS-113) as commander to the ISS in November-December 2002.  The mission rotated Expeditions 5 and 6. 

He left NASA in 2005.

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month: John Herrington, first Native American astronaut

John Herrington, born September 14, 1958 Wetumka, Oklahoma in the Chickasaw Nation, is the first enrolled member of a Native American tribe to fly into space.  He flew aboard Endeavour (STS-113) as mission specialist in November-December 2002.  During the mission, he performed three EVAs with fellow astronaut with fellow astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria for a total of almost 20 hours. 

He was commander of the NEEMO 6 mission of NASA's Aquarius underwater laboratory in July 2004.

On November 21, 2019, he was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month: Jessie Elizabeth Moore, first Native American woman to hold state office in Oklahoma

Jessie Elizabeth Moore, born 1871 in Panola County, Indian Territory in the Chickasaw Nation, in what is now southeastern Oklahoma, is the first Native American woman to hold state office in Oklahoma.  

She was appointed Deputy Supreme Court Clerk in Oklahoma City in 1914, and admitted to the bar in 1923.  In 1924, she was appointed Assistant Commission of Charities and Corrections for Oklahoma.  During the Great Depression, she served as director of the Women's Division of Emergency Relief in Oklahoma County. 

She was elected to serve as a law clerk of the Oklahoma Supreme Court and Criminal Court of Appeals in 1926.

She passed away in 1956.

Happy birthday, Star Trek actors Beverly Washburn, Jeffrey Hunter, John Larroquette, and Ricardo Montalban

 

Four actors, all born on November 25, appeared in Star Trek episodes and movies.  

Beverly Washburn, born in 1943, appeared in the Star Trek episode The Deadly Years. She played Lt. Arlene Galway, who mysteriously ages rapidly, as several other members of the Enterprise crew including Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock and Dr. McCoy.  But not Chekov.

Jeffrey Hunter, born in 1926, appeared in the Star Trek pilot episode The Cage as Captain Christopher Pike.  He is held prisoner by aliens with telepathic powers.  It was the first episode to the original series.

John Larroquette, born 1947, played the Klingon Maltz in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.  He was the lone Klingon left on the Bird-of-Prey when Kirk and his crew commandeer the Klingon's vessel.  

Ricardo Montalban, born 1920, appeared in the Star Trek episode Space Seed in 1967 as Khan, the leader of a group of genetically engineered humans in suspended animation.  He reprised the role in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan in 1982.

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month: Jim Thorpe: the world's greatest athlete

Jim Thorpe, born May 1887 in Prague, Indian Territory (east of Oklahoma City), has been named the world's greatest athlete.  He was a member of the Sac and Fox nations, and became the first Native American to win a gold medal at the Olympics in 1912, for the pentathlon and decathlon.  His Olympic medals were lost when it was found he had been playing semi-professional baseball, which violated the amateur rules in place.  In 1983, the International Olympic Committee restored his medals, thirty years after his death.  

He was a two-time All-American in football.  He played six seasons in the Major League Baseball from 1913-1919.  He played for the Canton Bulldogs in 1915 and helped them win three professional championships.  He played for six teams in the NFL.  

From 1920-1921, he was the first president of the American Professional Football Association, which became the NFL in 1922

He passed away in March 1953. 

"Murder on the Orient Express" released 1974

Agatha Christie's classic novel, Murder on the Orient Express, published in 1934 was brought to the screen November 24, 1974.  It boasted an all-star cast that had 58 Academy Award nominations and 14 wins.  The movie itself won an Oscar.  Ingrid Bergman won for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, beating Madeline Kahn for her performance in Blazing Saddles.  It had been nominated for five other categories.  

Murder on the Orient Express starred Albert Finney (as Hercule Poirot), Sean Connery, Lauren Bacall, Anthony Perkins and Michael York.

It was nominated for a Grammy for Best Original Score.  It was the 11th highest grossing movie of 1974 and received a 90% fresh rating from Rotten Tomatoes. 

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month: Alice Brown Davis, first female Chief of the Seminole tribe

Alice Brown Davis, born September 10, 1852 in Park Hill, Indian Territory, near what is now Tahlequah, Oklahoma, became the first female Principal Chief of the Seminole Tribe of Oklahoma.

She was appointed at 70 in 1922 by President Warren G. Harding.  She served until her death in June 1935 in Wewoka, Oklahoma.  

Happy birthday, Godzilla actor Don Frye!

Don Frye, born November 23, 1965 in Sierra Vista, Arizona, made his film debut in Godzilla: Final Wars in 2004.  He began as a wrestler, wrestling for Arizona State University and Oklahoma State University.  He gained success in Mixed Martial Arts and competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

"Song of the South" released 1946

Disney's movie, Song of the South, released in the US November 20, 1946, has become a subject of controversy for its portrayal of African-Americans.  The film, a mix of live-action and animation, is based on a collection of Uncle Remus stories adapted by Joel Chandler Harris.

James Baskett starred as Uncle Remus and provided the voice of Br'er Fox.  Baskett won an Academy Honorary Award for his performance.

The movie won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah.  It was also nominated for Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture.  It was one of the top-grossing movies of 1946. 

Oklahoma Governor Jack Walton impeached for anti-KKK policies 1923

Jack Walton, the fifth governor of Oklahoma, was the first governor to be impeached and removed from office.  He was elected in January 1923, when the state was still reeling from the Tulsa Race Riots in 1921.  In an effort to crack down on the Ku Klux Klan, he declared martial law in Okmulgee and Tulsa counties.  

Of course, Okies were having none of that, because they love their hate.  The populace voted to have the State Legislature call their own special session.  

Granted, Walton did make a lot of poor decisions, but it was his attempt to subdue the KKK that led to his impeachment.  He was convicted and removed from office November 19, 1923.

Columbia (STS-87) launched 1997

STS-87 crew

Front row (L-R): Kalpana Chawla, Steve Lindsey, Kevin Kregel, Leonid Kadeniuk

Back row (L-R): Winston Scott, Takao Doi

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-87), launched November 19, 1997, was the first EVA conducted by a Japanese astronaut.  Its crew consisted of Commander Kevin Kregel, Pilot Steve Lindsey, Kalpana Chawla, Winston Scott, Takao Doi (JAXA), and Leonid Kadeniuk (first Ukrainian astronaut).  

Scott and Doi conducted two EVAs, which lasted almost 13 hours total.

They returned to Earth December 5.

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Nicole Stott!

Nicole Stott, born November 19, 1962 in Albany, New York, has been in space two times.

Her first trip was aboard Discovery (STS-128) as mission specialist to the International Space Station in August 2009. She performed an EVA with fellow astronaut John Olivas for 6 hours and 35 minutes.

Stott remained on board the ISS as part of Expeditions 20 and 21.  She returned Earth aboard Atlantis (STS-129) in November 2009. 

Her second and final flight was aboard Discovery (STS-133) as mission specialist to the ISS in February-March 2011.  She has stayed more than 103 days in space.

Chief Wilma Mankiller, first female chief of the Cherokee Nation, born 1945

Wilma Mankiller, born November 18, 1945 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was the first woman to serve as Chief of the Cherokee Nation.  When she was 11, her family was relocated to San Francisco by the federal government as part of an "urbanization" of Native Americans.  

She returned to Oklahoma in 1976 and was hired by the Cherokee Nation as an economic stimulus coordinator.  Principal Chief Ross Swimmer invited her to run as his deputy in the 1983 elections.  Despite fierce opposition based on her gender, she and Swimmer won, becoming the first woman elected as Deputy Chief of the Cherokee Nation.  In 1985, Swimmer took a position with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Mankiller became the first woman to serve as Principal Chief, serving until 1995, when health problems led to her retirement.  

She passed away in April 2010.

The Twilight Zone episode "The Midnight Sun" airs 1961

The tenth episode of the third season of The Twilight Zone, The Midnight Sun, aired November 17, 1961.  Norma (Lois Nettleton) and her neighbor Mrs. Bronson (Betty Garde) suffer from an increasingly oppressive heat wave, caused when the Earth falls out of orbit and begins getting nearer to the sun.  

The threat of nuclear apocalypse was a recurring theme in the Twilight Zone, since the Cold War was at its height during this time, but this episode is pure science fiction.  

It also has one of the best twists at the end of any episode.

Soyuz 20 launched 1975

Soyuz 20, an unmanned spacecraft launched by the Soviet Space Program, launched November 17, 1975.  It docked with the Salyut 4 space station.  It carried a biological payload in which living organisms were exposed to three months in space.  

It returned to Earth February 1976. 

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Necessary Evil" airs 1993

The eighth episode of the second season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Necessary Evil, aired November 14, 1993.  

Odo (Rene Auberjonois) has to reopen a murder case that occurred five years earlier on Deep Space Nine, when it was under Cardassian control and known as Terok Nor.  Major Kira (Nana Visitor) was part of the Bajoran resistance and was implicated in the murder.

The episode plays like whodunit or a detective novel.  It is listed as one of "Ten Essential Episodes" of Deep Space Nine. 

Rule of Acquisition #139: "Wives serve, brothers inherit."

"Zero Hour!" released 1957

Zero Hour!, released November 13, 1957, was the inspiration for the movie Airplane!.  David Zucker and Jerry Zucker bought the rights to the film and parodied it in their 1980 classic. They used some of the lines from Zero Hour! directly into Airplane!.  

Zero Hour! starred Dana Andrews and Linda Darnell in a thriller where the flight crew is incapacitated by food poisoning.  A WWII pilot suffering from post traumatic stress disorder has to land the plane.

The X-Files episode "Nothing Important Happened Today" airs 2001

The first episode of the ninth season of the X-Files, Nothing Important Happened Today, aired November 11, 2001.  I had lost touch with the series, but when I saw Lucy Lawless in the promos, I made a point to watch it.  David Duchovny was not in this episode, so Gillian Anderson (Agent Scully) was paired with Robert Patrick (Agent Doggett), as they investigate a beautiful woman (Lucy Lawless) who can breathe underwater.  

Cary Elwes also appears in this episode.  

Donna Summer's "MacArthur Park" reaches #1 1978

The Goddess of Disco Donna Summer's MacArthur Park reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 November 11, 1978 and stayed for 3 weeks.  It was written and composed by Jimmy Webb.  Richard Harris was the first to record it and in 1968 it reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Waylon Jennings recorded it in 1969 and won a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1970. 

Donna's cover of the song garnered her first nomination for a Grammy, for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.  

Western Black Rhino declared extinct 2006

The Western Black Rhinoceros was officially declared extinct November 11, 2006. They were hunted extensively in the early 20th century.  Preservation efforts started in the 1930s but when they declined so did the numbers of the western black rhinos.  Poaching continued and by 2000 only about ten survived, and by 2001, only five survived.

"Uptown Funk" released 2014

Uptown Funk, a song by Mark Ronson, a British record producer, was released November 10, 2014.  It featured American singer Bruno Mars.  It reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 list, as well as Adult Top 40, Dance Club Songs, Dance/Mix Show Airplay, Mainstream Top 40, and Rhythmic list.

It won the British Single of the Year at the 2015 Brit Awards and Record of the Year at the 2016 Grammys. It has been certified 11 x platinum in the US. 

"Red Planet" released 2000

Red Planet, released November 10, 2000, starred Carrie-Anne Moss and Val Kilmer as part of a crew of a manned mission to Mars.  It was directed by Antony Hoffman and featured Terence Stamp and Benjamin Bratt.

The movie was not successful either critically nor commercially.  I enjoy the hell out of it. I watch it whenever it is on TV. 

Happy birthday, Lou Ferrigno!

Actor, bodybuilder and all-around inspiration, Lou Ferrigno was born November 9, 1951 in Brooklyn, New York.  He won his first major title IFBB Mr. America in 1969, and then IFBB Mr. Universe in 1973.  He trained with Arnold Schwarzenegger and came in second in his first Mr. Olympia competition in 1974. 

His other titles include Pro Mr. America-WBBG, Teen 1st, and IFBB Mr. International in 1974.

He appeared as the Incredible Hulk in the television series with Bill Bixby from 1978-1982.  Most recently he has appeared in Star Trek Continues.

Apollo 4 launched 1967

Apollo 4, launched November 9, 1967, was the first unmanned test of the Saturn V rocket, which would eventually carry men to the moon.  The mission lasted about 9 hours and it splashed down in the Pacific Ocean. 

Dale Gardner, Space Shuttle astronaut, born November 9, 1948

Dale Gardner, born November 8, 1948 in Fairmont, Minnesota, was a veteran of two space shuttle flights.

His first mission was aboard Challenger (STS-8) as mission specialist in August-September 1983.  The primary mission was the deployment of an Indian communications and weather observation satellite.

His second trip was aboard Discovery (STS-51-A) as mission specialist in November 1984.  He performed two EVAs during the mission with fellow astronaut Joseph Allen, for almost 12 hours.  

Gardner passed away in February 2014 after suffering a hemorrhagic stroke.  

Happy birthday, ELO co-founder Roy Wood!

Roy Wood, born November 8, 1946 in Birmingham, England, co-founded Electric Light Orchestra with Jeff Lynne, Richard Tandy and Bev Bevan.  

Wood has been involved in a number of other groups, after leaving ELO in 1972, but was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017 as part of ELO.

Mars Global Surveyor launched 1996

The Mars Global Surveyor, launched November 7, 1996, was a successful NASA project that mapped the surface of Mars, helping future missions identify potential landing sites. It traveled about 10 months to Mars, reaching it in September 1997.

It began its primary mapping phase in April 1999, after a series of aerobraking maneuvers to get it into an optimum orbit.

Its mission was extended in February 2001, and it was extended a second time in February 2002.  In October 2006, its mission was extended a third time for another two years, but in November it suffered an error attempting to reorient a solar panel.  A few days later, NASA detected a weak signal that it had gone into 'safe' mode and was waiting for instructions.  Attempts to re-establish contact with the probe failed and NASA officially ended the mission in January 2007.

"The Incredibles" released 2004

The Incredibles, released November 5, 2004, is an award-winning animated film from Pixar and Disney.  It follows a family of superheroes, trying to live incognito in suburbia, but are called back in action to save the world.  It starred Craig T. Nelson, Samuel L. Jackson and Holly Hunter.

It won two Academy Awards: Best Achievement in Sound Editing and Best Animated Feature Film.  It was also nominated for Best Original Screenplay and Best Achievement in Sound Mixing.

The Monkees' "Last Train To Clarksville" reaches #1 1966

The Monkees single Last Train to Clarksville reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, November 5, 1966.  

The song is about a man calling his love to meet him at the train station because he is leaving and might never come home.  Although not specifically referenced, it is a subtle protest of the Vietnam War. 

Micky Dolenz, the drummer for the band, sang the lead vocals.  The rest, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork and Davy Jones provided back up.

Mangalyaan, Mars Orbiter, launched 2013

Mangalyaan, India's Mars Orbiter mission, was launched November 5, 2013.  It was built by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), the first interplanetary mission for India.  The ISRO is the fourth space agency to reach Mars.  Mangalyaan has been orbiting Mars since September 2014.

Alan Poindexter, Space Shuttle astronaut, born 1961

Alan Poindexter, born November 5, 1961 in Pasadena, California went into space twice.

His first trip was aboard Atlantis (STS-122) as pilot to the International Space Station in February 2008. The main objective of the mission was to deliver the European Columbus science laboratory, built by the European Space Agency, to the ISS.

His second and final mission was aboard Discovery (STS-131) as commander to the International Space Station in April 2010.  The mission carried supplies and equipment to the ISS.

Poindexter passed away from injuries he suffered in a water scooter accident in July 2012.

Venera 14 launched 1981

Venera 14, launched November 4, 1981, just 5 days after its identical twin Venera 13, took pictures and audio of Venus.    The descent vehicle separated from the spacecraft and descended into the Venusian atmosphere in March 1982.  A parachute slowed its rate of descent until about 31 miles altitude and then airbraking was used the rest of the way down.  It landed near the eastern flank of Phoebe Regio, about 590 miles southwest of Venera 13.

The lander functioned for at least 57 minutes, although it was planned to last only 32.  It measured the surface temperature of 869° F and 94 Earth atmospheres or 9.5 MPa.

Pop Muzik reaches #1 1979

Pop Muzik, the 1979 hit by English musician Robin Scott or M, reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 November 3, 1979.  It reached #1 in Australia, Canada, Denmark, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland and West Germany.  

Mariner 10 launched 1973

Mariner 10, launched November 3, 1973, was the first spacecraft to to visit two planets.  It was the last spacecraft of the Mariner program.  It made a flyby of Venus in February 1974.  It proceeded to make three flybys of Mercury in March 1974, September 1974 and then March 1975.  

Mariner 10 was decommissioned shortly after.

"Thor: Ragnarok" released 2017

Thor: Ragnarok, the third in the MCU's Thor movies, was released November 3, 2017.  It starred dreamy Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Cate Blanchett as Hela, Idris Elba as Heimdall and Karl Urban as Skurge.  Benedict Cumberbatch appeared as Doctor Strange. 

Jeff Goldblum, Mark Ruffalo and Anthony Hopkins also appeared.

I enjoyed the movie but it did go for a walk on the weird side.

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Kevin Chilton!

Kevin Chilton, born November 3, 1954 in Los Angeles, California, has been in space three times.

His first trip into space was aboard Endeavour (STS-49) as pilot in May 1992.  It was the first time an EVA involved three astronauts.

His second trip was aboard Endeavour (STS-59) as pilot in April 1994.  The Discovery Channel chronicled the launch for a special on the Space Shuttle program.

His third and final trip was aboard Atlantis (STS-76) as commander in March 1996.  It was the third shuttle mission to dock with the space station Mir.

Billy Joel releases single "Piano Man" 1973

My man Billy Joel released the single Piano Man November 2, 1973.  It was the first single from the album of the same name, which he released November 9. It was a moderate hit hit only reaching #25 on the Billboard Hot 100.  After he released his next album The Stranger, his breakthrough album, Piano Man became one of his best-known, most-beloved songs.

In 2015, it was selected to be preserved by the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". 

Chiron, minor planet, discovered 1977

Chiron, a minor planet between Saturn and Uranus, was discovered November 1, 1977, by Charles Kowal.  It was the first of a class of objects known as centaurs, astral bodies orbiting between the asteroid belt and the Kuiper Belt.  

It also has a classification as a comet, 95P/Chiron.

It has a radius of about 107.8 + 5km and rotates about every 6 hours.  It orbits the sun about every 50.5 years.

In February 1988, it brightened by 75%, which is typical of comets but not asteroids.  In April 1989, it developed a cometary coma, and in 1993, it formed a tail.  

Billy Joel releases "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)" 1977

My man Billy Joel released his single Movin' Out (Anthony's Song), November 1, 1977.  It is the first track off of The Stranger, his fifth studio album.

The song was made into a Broadway musical which garnered Billy a Tony!

The Twilight Zone episode "Living Doll" airs 1963

The Twilight Zone episode Living Doll aired November 1, 1963 and is responsible for all the Chucky, Annabelle and the Conjuring movies. 

It starred Telly Savalas as an overbearing, abusive stepfather to his wife and her daughter.  When the wife (played by Annabelle(!) Streator) brings home Talky Tina for her daughter (Tracy Stratford, Lucy in a Charlie Brown Christmas), the doll wages war against Telly, protecting the little girl from her bully of a stepfather.

This episode is often cited as one of the best of the entire series.