On October 20, 1994, Burt Lancaster, a former circus performer who rose to fame as a Hollywood leading man with some 70 movies to his credit, including From Here to Eternity and Atlantic City, in a career that spanned more than four decades, dies of a heart attack at the age of 80 in Century City, California.

On October 20, 1977, during a flight from Greenville, South Carolina, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the tour plane for Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd crashes in a heavily wooded area of southwestern Mississippi during a failed emergency landing attempt.

After 15 years of construction, the Sydney Opera House is dedicated by Queen Elizabeth II on October 20, 1973.

On October 20, 1962, the quirky and spooky song “Monster Mash” hits No.

On October 20, 1962, the White House press corps is told that President John F.

After advancing island by island across the Pacific Ocean, U.

On October 20, 1854, Arthur Rimbaud is born in Charleville, France.

On October 20, 1803, the U.

Once regarded as the ‘first gentleman of Europe’, the lifestyle of a former Prince of Wales caused revulsion, starting with a horseracing scandal on this day.

On October 20, 1774, the First Continental Congress creates the Continental Association, which calls for a complete ban on all trade between America and Great Britain of all goods, wares or merchandise.