Gday...

1617  -             The first one-way streets are opened in London.

Long before the invention of the automobile, traffic congestion and chaos was a problem in London, England. On 23 August 1617, an Act of Common Council was passed to regulate the "disorder and rude behaviour of Carmen, Draymen and others using Cartes." Seventeen narrow lanes were identified as requiring regulation to control congestion, and hence created as one-way streets.

1899  -             The first ship-to-shore wireless message is received.

On 23 August 1899, US Lightship no. 70 San Francisco announced the arrival of the US Army troopship Sherman with the words, "Sherman is sighted". The lightship relayed the message via wireless telegraphy, which later came to be known as "radio". It was the first use of wireless by the US Coast Guard, and within a maritime context. The method used sparks to send out intermittent radio waves and code messages. It was a method which remained in use through the World War I, until more modern technology was developed.

1912  -             American actor, dancer and singer, Gene Kelly, is born.

Gene Kelly was born Eugene Curran Kelly on 23 August 1912, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was an actor, singer and dancer, choreographing much of his own and others' performances. Kelly was the first American to choreograph and stage a ballet in the Paris Opera. Two of his more memorable scenes show him singing and dancing in the rain in the film "Singin' in the Rain", and dancing on roller skates in It's Always Fair Weather.

In 1951, Kelly was awarded a special Academy Award in appreciation of his versatility as an actor, singer, director and dancer". In 1985, he was given the Life Achievement Award from the American Film Institute. Gene Kelly died in 1996.

1990  -             Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein provokes outrage when he appears on television with western hostages.

On 2 August 1990, 100,000 Iraqi troops backed by 300 tanks invaded Kuwait, in the Persian Gulf. Iraqi President Saddam Hussein had amassed weaponry which was then deployed for the invasion. The United Nations acted immediately to implement economic sanctions against Iraq, and called for Iraq to withdraw. On 7 August 1990, US troops moved into Saudi Arabia to protect Saudi oil fields.

Hundreds of foreigners were held in Iraq after it invaded Kuwait. On 23 August 1990, Saddam Hussein appeared on television with a group of westerners, mostly British. He informed them they had been detained to prevent war and said that Iraq wanted to see they were safe. The move provoked outrage among western nations. It did not prevent war. In January of the following year, a coalition force of armies from 34 nations, led by the United States, set out to free Kuwait. The Gulf War lasted around 6 weeks, and resulted in a decisive victory for the coalition forces.

Cheers - John