It happened on a… August 31

2018

“A Star is Born” film remake directed by and starring Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga premieres at the Venice Film Festival.

2009

The Walt Disney Company announces it will acquire Marvel Entertainment for $4.24 billion

2006

Stolen on August 22, 2004, Edvard Munch’s famous painting “The Scream” is recovered from a raid by Norwegian police. The painting was said to be in a better-than-expected condition.

2005

62nd Venice Film Festival: “Brokeback Mountain” directed by Ang Lee wins Golden Lion.

1997

Diana, Princess of Wales, her companion Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul die in a car crash in Paris.

1994

Pentium computer beats world chess champ Garry Kasparov.

1992

Howard Stern Radio Show premieres in Cleveland, Ohio on WNCX 98.5 FM.

1990

East and West Germany signed a treaty that meant the harmonizing of political and legal systems.

1989

Great Britain’s Princess Anne and Mark Phillips announced that they were separating. The marriage was 16 years old.

1897

Thomas Edison patents the Kinetoscope [kinetographic camera], a device which produces moving pictures.

1895

German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin patents his Navigable Balloon.

1888

Mary Ann Nichols is murdered. She is the first of Jack the Ripper’s confirmed victims.