We’re helping you celebrate the most underrated month in the annual calendar with a weekly series of sales devoted to helping you master the art of transitioning from summer to fall with style (look for the next one this coming Wednesday), plus a weekly giveaway for the best #SeptemberSelfie. (Click for more on how to enter.) Meantime, a few highlights from this week in September History
September 9.
1776: The second Continental Congress officially adopts the term “United States,” replacing the “United Colonies,” which, let’s face it, sounds a bit wimpy.
1998: An episode of Judge Judy aired in which Sex Pistol Johnny Rotten appeared as the defendant in a case involving a drummer who sued Rotten for allegedly head-butting him during a contract dispute. The moral of that story? Real punks take matters into their own hands.
1960: Hugh Grant was born.
1966: As was Adam Sandler.
September 10.
1963: Twenty black students entered public schools in Alabama at the end of a standoff between federal authorities and Alabama governor George C. Wallace.
1990: Will Smith made his debut on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Fun fact: Smith learned every character’s lines for the first few scripts — in early episodes, you can actually see him mouthing their words while waiting to say his own.
1968: Guy Ritchie was born.
September 12.
1983: The great thespian Arnold Schwarzenegger became a U.S. citizen.
1984: Michael Jordan signed a seven-year contract with the Chicago Bulls. He was paid $550,000 for his first season, and $33.14 million for his final season with the Bulls in 1997-98.
1967: Jason Statham and Louis C.K. were both born. As if they didn’t have enough in common.
September 13.
1898: Hannibal Williston Goodwin patented celluloid photographic film, which is used to make movies. Good invention, better name.
1939: Richard Kiel (the 7’2″ Bond villain Jaws) was born.
1993: Niall Horan of One Direction fame was born.
September 14.
1814: Francis Scott Key wrote the Star-Spangled Banner, a poem originally known as Defense of Fort McHenry, after witnessing the British bombardment of Fort McHenry, Maryland, during the War of 1812. The song became the official U.S. national anthem on March 3, 1931.
1979: Kenny Rogers received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
1973: Nas was born.
September 15.
1962: The London Daily Mirror called the Beatles”a nothing group.”
1890: Agatha Christie was born. (She wrote mysteries.)
1984: Prince Harry was born.