September 18, 1909: The first feature film to be produced in the U.S., Les Miserables, is released in four separate parts between now and Nov. 27.
September 19, 1915: Vaudeville star W.C. Fields brings his famed pool-playing routine to the screen in Pool Sharks, his film debut.
September 21, 1927: MGM’s iconic lion Leo uses up one of his nine lives when he survives the crash of his L.A.-New York publicity flight in Arizona.
September 18, 1932: Despite only one screen credit, Peg Entwhistle will attain legendary status after jumping to her death from the “H” in the “Hollywoodland” sign.
September 16, 1953: To compete with the popularity of television, Fox launches the first successful widescreen process, CinemaScope, with The Robe.
September 19, 1959: During a goodwill visit to Hollywood, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev watches the filming of a scene from Can-Can and later calls it immoral.
September 18, 1968: Barbra Streisand makes her film debut in the musical bio of vaudevillian Fanny Brice, Funny Girl, a role she originated on Broadway.
September 18, 1981: “No more wire hangers!” becomes a catchphrase, as the Joan Crawford biodrama Mommie Dearest becomes an unintentional comedy hit.
September 18, 1987: Spouses contemplating affairs learn about the dangers of infidelity with the opening of Fatal Attraction.
September 19, 1990: Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro reteam with Goodfellas, the hard-hitting biography of Henry Hill’s life in the mob, starring Ray Liotta.