What Happened in September 1997

Historical Events

  • Sep 1 "Doll's House" closes at Belasco Theater in New York
  • Sep 1 Cartoon Channel premieres in Japan

Telethon

Sep 1 Jerry Lewis' 32nd Muscular Dystrophy telethon raises $50,500,000

US Men's Tennis Open

Sep 1 Two-time defending US Open champion Pete Sampras has his 17-match winning streak, the 4th-longest of the Open Era in men’s singles, snapped in a 6-7, 7-5, 7-6, 3-6, 7-6 loss to Petr Korda of Czech Republic

  • Sep 2 Howard Stern Radio Show premieres in Montreal Canada on CHOM 97.7 FM and in Toronto Canada on CILQ 107.1 FM
  • Sep 3 A Vietnam Airlines Tupolev TU-134 crashes on approach into Phnom Penh airport, killing 64.
  • Sep 4 14th MTV Video Music Awards: Jamiroquai, Jewel & Beck win
  • Sep 4 Howard Stern Radio Show premieres in Louisville, Kentucky on WTFX 100.5 FM
  • Sep 5 Athens in Greece, selected to host 2004 Olympics
  • Sep 5 Orioles beat Yankes 13-9 in longest 9 inning game

Event of Interest

Sep 6 Funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales held at Westminster Abbey in London

  • Sep 7 The first test flight of the F-22 Raptor takes place.
  • Sep 7 US Open Men's Tennis: Patrick Rafter of Australia wins his first Grand Slam title; beats Canadian Greg Rusedski 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5

Ally McBeal

Sep 8 TV series "Ally McBeal" starring Calista Flockhart, created by David E. Kelley premieres on Fox in the US

  • Sep 9 Sinn Féin accepts Mitchell Principles on para-military disarmament
  • Sep 10 Discovery buys Travel Channel for $20 million

Baseball Record

Sep 10 Mark McGwire joins Babe Ruth as only the players to hit 50 HRs in 2 consecutive years

  • Sep 11 After a nationwide referendum, Scotland votes to establish a devolved parliament, within the United Kingdom.
  • Sep 12 NY Met John Olerud hits for the cycle
  • Sep 12 The UN passes a resolution allowing Iraq to reach the $2.14 billion oil sales limit under its oil-for-food program
  • Sep 13 22nd Toronto International Film Festival: "The Hanging Garden" directed by Thom Fitzgerald wins the People's Choice Award
  • Sep 13 Carolina Hurricane's 1st exhibition game beat NY Islanders 4-1

Candle in the Wind

Sep 13 Elton John releases single "Candle in the Wind 1997", a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales in the UK

  • Sep 13 Elton John releases single "Something About the Way You Look Tonight" in the UK
  • Sep 13 Katherine Shindle (Ill), 24, crowned 71st Miss America 1998

Event of Interest

Sep 13 Mother Teresa's State Funeral held in India

  • Sep 14 49th Emmy Awards: Law & Order, Frasier, Dennis Franz & Gillian Anderson win
  • Sep 14 Chicago Whites Sox retire Carlton Fisk's #72
  • Sep 15 Edison Intl purchases Anaheim Stadium naming rights for $50M
  • Sep 15 Google.com is registered as a domain name

Film & TV History

Sep 15 Oprah Winfrey announces she will continue her show through 2000

  • Sep 15 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania public radio station WRTI (90.1 FM) switches from all jazz to classical-by-day/jazz-by-night format in response to loss of commercial classical station WLFN (95.7 FM); WFLN's library and several DJ's made the transition
  • Sep 16 ABL MVP Nikki McCray signs with WNBA

Appointment of Interest

Sep 16 Apple Computer Inc names co-founder Steve Jobs interim CEO

  • Sep 16 Mark McGwire signs with the St Louis Cardinals for $26M
  • Sep 17 Dr Sam Sheppard's body (Fugitive) is exhumed for DNA test
  • Sep 18 Controversial art exhibition "Sensation" featuring works by Young British Artists from the collection of Charles Saatchi opens at the Royal Academy in London

United Nations

Sep 18 Ted Turner gives $1 billion to the United Nations, creating the public charity, the United Nations Foundation

  • Sep 18 Voters in Wales vote yes (50.3%) in a referendum on Welsh autonomy
  • Sep 19 Guelb El-Kebir massacre in Algeria; 53 killed.
  • Sep 20 Yanks clinch 37th appearance in post season, 3rd consecutive
  • Sep 21 Mike Piazza is 2nd to hit a HR out of Dodger Stadium
  • Sep 21 NY Yankee Cecil Fielder hits his 300th HR
  • Sep 22 American sportcaster Marv Albert pleads not guilty to sexual assault charges
  • Sep 22 Bentalha massacre in Algeria; over 200 villagers killed
  • Sep 22 Elton John releases "Candle in the Wind 1997", a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales in the US
  • Sep 23 Seattle Mariners break record for most HRs in a year (258)
  • Sep 24 Drug kingpin Ramon Arellano Felix placed on FBI's 10 most-wanted list
  • Sep 25 American sportcaster Marv Albert plea bargains in his sexual assault case
  • Sep 25 Britain's Andy Green sets jet-powered car record (714 mph)
  • Sep 25 Medical drama "ER" is performed live on TV
  • Sep 25 STS 86 (Atlantis 20) launches into orbit
  • Sep 25 WNBA announces it will add Detroit & Washington, D.C. franchises
  • Sep 26 An earthquake strikes the Italian regions of Umbria and the Marche, causing part of the Basilica of St. Francis at Assisi to collapse

Baseball Record

Sep 26 Seattle Mariner Ken Griffey Jr. hits his 56th HR of 1997

Film & TV History

Sep 28 Newscaster David Brinkley, 74, retires after 54 years in broadcasting

  • Sep 28 Ryder Cup Golf, Valderrama GC, Spain: Europe wins 14½-13½ to retain the Cup; first time event contested in continental Europe; first of 6 consecutive victories at home by Europe
  • Sep 28 St Louis Cardinals Mark McGwire hits his 58th HR of 1997 (34 with Oak A's)
  • Sep 29 Jury selection in Terry Nichols Oklahoma bombing trial begins

Life thru a Lens

Sep 29 Robbie Williams releases his first solo album "Life thru a Lens" features single "Angels"

  • Sep 30 "Too Close" single released by Next (Billboard Song of the Year, 1998)
  • Sep 30 Hooters agrees to pay $2 million in discrimination suits

Gun Buy Back Scheme

Sep 30 John Howard's Australian government gun buy back scheme ends with more than 640,000 firearms compulsorily acquired, including many newly illegal semi-automatic rifles and shotguns

  • Sep 30 Microsoft releases Internet Explorer 4

Baseball Record

Sep 30 New York Yankees Tim Raines, Derek Jeter & Paul O'Neill are 1st to hit 3 consecutively homers in post season (Yanks beat Cleveland Indians 8-6)


1997 History

Famous Birthdays

Jungkook (26 years old)

Sep 1 South Korean pop singer-songwriter (BTS - "Euphoria"), born in Busan, South Korea

  • Sep 6 Daniel Dubois, English boxer (WBA heavyweight title 2022-23), born in London, England
  • Sep 7 Dean-Charles Chapman, English actor ( Billy Elliot the Musical, 1917), born in Essex, England
  • Sep 8 Kimberlea Berg, English actress (My Friends Tigger & Pooh), born in London, England
  • Sep 10 Brooke Henderson, Canadian golfer (Women's PGA C'ship 2016; Evian C'ship 2022), born in Smiths Falls, Ontario
  • Sep 12 Sydney Sweeney, American actress (Euphoria, The White Lotus), born in Spokane, Washington
  • Sep 22 Jeremy Peña, Dominican-American baseball shortstop (World Series MVP; ALCS MVP; Gold Glove Award 2022; Houston Astros), born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
  • Sep 25 Suzanne Schulting, Dutch speed skater (Olympic gold 1,000m 2018, 22; 3,000m relay 2022; 7 x World C'ship gold; WR 1000m: 1:26:514 2022), born in Groningen, Netherlands

Max Verstappen (26 years old)

Sep 30 Belgian-Dutch auto racer (F1 World Drivers C'ship 2021, 22, 23; CIK-FIA World C'ship 2013), born in Hasselt, Belgium


Born in 1997

Famous Weddings

Larry King

Sep 5 American TV and radio host Larry King (64) weds (for 7th, and final time) American singer Shawn Southwick (38) in a hospital room in Los Angeles, California; he dies during divorce proceedings in 2021

William H. Macy & Felicity Huffman

Sep 6 "Desperate Housewives" actress Felicity Huffman (34) weds "Fargo" actor William H. Macy (47) in Woody Creek, Colorado

  • Sep 20 "CHiPs" actor Erik Estrada (48) weds Nanette Mirkovich
  • Sep 27 "The Cosby Show" actress Erika Alexander (28) weds screenwriter Tony Puryear (40) on outdoor ceremony in Malibu

Coolio

Sep 27 American singer-rapper Coolio (34) weds Los Angeles radio DJ Josefa Salinas (37) in Las Vegas; divorce in 2000

Hilary Swank

Sep 28 Actor Chad Lowe (29) weds actress Hilary Swank (23)


Famous Deaths

  • Sep 2 Rudolf Bing, Austrian-born opera impresario (NY Metropolitan Opera manager, 1950-72), dies of complication of Alzheimer's disease and respiratory failure at 95
  • Sep 2 Viktor Frankl, Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist (Man's Search for Meaning) and founder of logotherapy, dies at 92
  • Sep 4 Aldo Rossi, Italian architect (b. 1931)
  • Sep 4 Belle Stewart, Scottish traditional singer, dies at 91
  • Sep 4 Hans Eysenck, German-born British psychologist (most frequently cited living psychologist), dies at 81
  • Sep 4 Jeffrey Bernard, British writer (Spectator Magazine - Low Life), dies at 65
  • Sep 4 Natko Devčić, Croatian composer, dies at 83
  • Sep 5 Georg Solti [György Stern], Hungarian-British conductor, winner of 31 Grammy awards (Chicago Symphony, 1969-91), dies at 84
  • Sep 5 Leon Edel, American-Canadian biographer (Henry James), dies at 89

Mother Teresa (1910-1997)

Sep 5 Albanian-born Indian nun and founder of Missionaries of Charity (Nobel Peace Prize, 1979), dies of cardiac arrest at 87

  • Sep 6 P. H. Newby, British author and BBC radio director (b. 1918)
  • Sep 6 Philippe Rossillon, French civil servant and French language advocate, dies at 66
  • Sep 7 Alex Macintosh, British BBC presenter and actor (Hell Fight), dies at 72
  • Sep 7 Bill Strannigan, American all-round athlete and basketball coach (Uni of Wyoming), dies at 78
  • Sep 7 Derek Taylor, Beatles publicist, dies of cancer at 65
  • Sep 7 George Crockett Jr., American attorney (founded 1st racially integrated law firm) and politician (Rep-D-MI, 1980-91), dies at 88

Mobutu Sese Seko (1930-1997)

Sep 7 Dictator and President of Zaire (1965-97), dies at 66

Burgess Meredith (1907-1997)

Sep 9 American actor (Mr Novak, The Penguin in Batman, Rocky), dies at 88

Richie Ashburn (1927-1997)

Sep 9 American Baseball Hall of Fame infielder (6 × MLB All-Star; NL batting champion 1955, 58; Philadelphia Phillies) and sportscaster (Phillies TV 1963-71), dies of a heart attack at 70

  • Sep 10 Jack Adkisson, professional wrestler (b. 1929)
  • Sep 11 Camille Henry, Canadian National Hockey League player, dies at 64
  • Sep 11 Hannah Weiner, American experimental poet, dies at 68
  • Sep 12 (Stig) "Stikkan" Anderson, Swedish actor, music entrepreneur and co-founder of Polar Music (ABBA), dies of a heart attack at 66
  • Sep 12 Janet Leach, American potter, dies at 79
  • Sep 12 Judith Merril [Judith Josephine Grossman], American-Canadian sci-fi writer (edited influential anthologies), dies at 74
  • Sep 16 Antony Kearey, television producer, dies at 77
  • Sep 16 Terence Cooper, British actor (Casino Royale), dies at 64
  • Sep 17 Jan Peder Syse, Prime Minister of Norway (1989-90), dies
  • Sep 17 John Seldon Whale, British theologian and lecturer, dies at 100
  • Sep 17 Red Skelton [Richard], American comedian (Red Skelton Show), dies at 84
  • Sep 18 Harry Boyne, British parliamentary journalist, dies at 87
  • Sep 18 James "Jimmy" Witherspoon, American jump blues singer (Ain't Nobody's Business), dies at 77
  • Sep 19 Kathy Keeton, South African-American magazine publisher (Viva, Longevity), dies of surgical complications at 58
  • Sep 19 Malcolm Hughes, English constructive artist, dies at 77
  • Sep 19 Rich Mullins, American contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter ("Awesome God"), dies in a car accident at 41
  • Sep 21 Eric William Hunter Christie, British lawyer and advocate for the Falkland Islands, dies at 75
  • Sep 21 Jennifer Holt, American actress (b. 1920)
  • Sep 21 Tommy Cecil, Irish ferryman, dies at 51
  • Sep 22 Bryan Ingham, English artist, dies at 61
  • Sep 22 Eric William Hunter Christie, British barrister and Falklands campaigner , dies at 77
  • Sep 22 George Thomas, 1st Viscount Tonypandy, British politician (Speaker of the House of Commons), dies at 97
  • Sep 22 Ruth Picardie, English journalist (Before I Say Goodbye), dies of cancer at 33
  • Sep 22 Shoichi Yokoi, Japanese WW II fighter (surrendered in 1972), dies at 82
  • Sep 23 Abe Gibron, head coach (Chicago Bears), dies at 72
  • Sep 23 Murray Burnett, writer (Everybody Goes to Rick-Casablanca), dies at 86
  • Sep 23 Shirley Clarke, American film director, dies at 78
  • Sep 24 Jonathon Silver, entrepreneur/arts patron, dies at 47
  • Sep 24 Larry Hall, American rocker (Sandy), dies at 57
  • Sep 25 Hélène Baillargeon, Quebec singer and folklorist, dies at 81
  • Sep 25 Jean Françaix, French classical pianist, and composer, dies at 85
  • Sep 25 Sayed ad-Darsh, Egyptian-British Muslim scholar and broadcaster, dies at 66
  • Sep 26 Dorothy Kingsley, American screenwriter (Seven Brides for Seven Brothers), dies at 87
  • Sep 27 Walter Trampler, American violist (Beaux Arts Trio), dies at 82
  • Sep 29 Bobby Campbell, Scottish journalist and musician, dies at 55
  • Sep 29 Milner Gray, British graphic designer, dies at 97
  • Sep 29 Roy Lichtenstein, American pop artist (Drowning Girl), dies of pneumonia at 73
  • Sep 29 Sven-Eric Emanuel Johanson, Swedish composer, dies at 77
  • Sep 30 Al "Jazzbo" Collins, American DJ (Tonight! America After Dark), dies at 78
  • Sep 30 Male alligator, largest in Florida (14 feet), killed at about 65
  • Sep 30 Richard Selwyn Francis Schiling, British professor of occupational health, dies at 86