1895 – German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin patented his Navigable Balloon on the 31st August 1895.

1897 – Thomas Edison patented the Kinetoscope, the 1st movie projector, on the 31st August 1897.

1913 – Helen Levitt the American photographer was born on the 31st August 1913 (died 2009).

1920 – The 1st radio news program was broadcasted on the 31st August 1920, by 8MK in Detroit, Michigan.

1936 – Radio Prague, now known as the official international broadcasting station of the Czech Republic, went on the air on the 31st August 1936.

1939 – Nazi Germany mounted a staged attack on the Gleiwitz radio station on the 31st August 1939, creating an excuse to attack Poland the following day, which started World War II in Europe.

1940 – Jack Thompson the Australian actor was born on the 31st August 1940.

1944 – Roger Dean the English illustrator and publisher was born on the 31st August 1944.

1945 – Van Morrison the Irish singer-songwriter was born on the 31st August 1945.

1945 – The Liberal Party of Australia was founded by Robert Menzies on the 31st August 1945.

1947 – Yumiko Ōshima the Japanese author and illustrator was born on the 31st August 1947.

1948 – Rudolf Schenker the German guitarist and songwriter from the Scorpions was born on the 31st August 1948.

1949 – Richard Gere the American actor was born on the 31st August 1949.

1953 – Pavel Vinogradov the Russian astronaut and engineer was born on the 31st August 1953.

1955 ~ Anthony “Anto” Thistlethwaite the English saxophonist from The Waterboys was born on the 31st August 1955. YouTube video: The Whole of The Moon (1985) by The Waterboys…

1956 – Mária Balážová the Slovak painter was born on the 31st August 1956.

1957 – Gina Schock the American drummer from The Go-Go’s was born on the 31st August 1957.

1957 – Glenn Tilbrook the English singer-songwriter and guitarist and from Squeeze was born on the 31st August 1957.

1962 – Trinidad and Tobago became independent on the 31st August 1962.

1965 – The Aero Spacelines Super Guppy aircraft made its 1st flight on the 31st August 1965.

1969 – Jonathan LaPaglia the Australian actor was born on the 31st August 1969.

1970 – Debbie Gibson the American singer-songwriter, producer, and actress was born on the 31st August 1970.

1977 – Craig Nicholls the Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist from The Vines was born on the 31st August 1977.

1997 – Diana, Princess of Wales and her companion Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul all died in a car crash in Paris on the 31st August 1997..

1998 – North Korea reportedly launched Kwangmyŏngsŏng-1, its 1st satellite on the 31st August 1998.

2006 – Edvard Munch‘s famous painting The Scream that was stolen on the 22nd August 2004, was recovered on the 31st August 2006, in a raid by Norwegian police.

The Scream by Edvard Munch ~ 1895 pastel on board 

2013 ~ David Frost the English journalist and game show host died on the 31st August 2013 aged 74 (born 7th April 1939).

Today in History for August 31st ~ video presented by the Associated Press…