November 4, 1907: The Chicago City Council Ordinance forbids the showing of “obscene and immoral pictures” and grants police permission to ban a movie’s release.
October 30, 1948: A major shift in the shape of the film industry begins as RKO becomes the first major to split off its theater ownership from its production wing.
November 4, 1948: The treatment of the mentally ill is graphically depicted in The Snake Pit, starring Olivia de Havilland.
November 3, 1956: The Wizard of Oz makes its network broadcast debut on CBS; “Cowardly Lion” Bert Lahr and a 10-year-old Liza Minnelli are the hosts.
October 31, 1962: Screen divas Joan Crawford and Bette Davis‘ feud on (and off) the screen fuels the horrific black comedy What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
November 1, 1962: Shane star Alan Ladd is found lying in a pool of blood with a bullet wound near his heart; he’ll later tell police the self-inflicted shooting was accidental.
November 1, 1967: The popularity of screen “anti-heroes” continues with the arrival of Cool Hand Luke, starring Paul Newman as a prisoner with a “failure to communicate.”
November 1, 1968: George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead, shot in black-and-white for $150,000, opens and sets a new, gorier tone for American horror films.
November 1, 1968: The MPAA’s self-imposed ratings system goes into effect. They are: G (General Audiences), M (Mature Audiences), R (Restricted), X (Over 18 Only).
November 1, 1975: The disfigured body of Italian director Pier Paolo Pasolini, 51, is found on a beach in Italy, the victim of an apparent homicide.
November 4, 1980: America puts its first professional actor in the White House, as Ronald Reagan is elected the 40th President of the United States.
November 2, 1990: Pioneering silent comedy producer Hal Roach, who created Our Gang and teamed Laurel and Hardy, passes away at the age of 100.
November 4, 1994: After winning acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival, Kevin Smith‘s $30,000 convenience-store comedy Clerks goes into general release.