Stephen Kovacevich is an American classical pianist and conductor. He is particularly celebrated for his recordings of works by Beethoven, Bartók, and Schubert, and is known for technical skill, clarity of playing, and an intelligent approach to interpretation.

1940Jim Smith, English footballer and manager (died 2019)^[†]

James Michael Smith was an English footballer and manager. As a player, he made 249 appearances in the Fourth Division of the Football League, representing Aldershot, Halifax Town, Lincoln City and Colchester United, and played for 3+1⁄2 years for Boston United of the Northern Premier League. He began a long managerial career with Boston United, and went on to take charge of top division clubs such as Birmingham City, Newcastle United and Derby County. Smith served as a member of the board of directors of Oxford United for three years from 2006 to 2009. He served as the League Managers' Association's chief executive and was inducted into their Hall of Fame for managing over 1000 matches. He was nicknamed "The Bald Eagle".

1940Peter Stringfellow, English businessman (died 2018)^[†]

Peter James Stringfellow was an English businessman who owned several nightclubs.

Historical Events

1940The body of Communist propagandist Willi Münzenberg is found in South France, starting a never-resolved mystery.^[†]

Wilhelm Münzenberg was a German Communist activist and publisher who served as the first head of the Young Communist International from 1919 to 1921 and as a member of the Reichstag from 1924 to 1933. He also founded the famine relief and propaganda organization Workers International Relief in 1921.

Headlines from October 17, 1940

ARMY CHIEF SITS IN AT ANKARA PARLEY; Inonu Receives Soviet Envoy-- Turkey Is Held Ready to Aid Greece if She Is Attacked

R.A.F. SMASHES AT 40 BASES; RAIDS ON LONDON SLACKEN; TURKS AND RUSSIANS CONFER; NAZI OIL STORE HIT Fuel Plants, Rail Centers and Invasion Ports Are Bombed WARSHIPS FIRE DUNKERQUE Shelling Puts Harbor Out of Use, London Reports, in Growing Offensive

LOTTERY AWAITED BY REGISTRANTS; Arrival of Data in Washington Governs the First Drawing, Possibly in Ten Days

IDLENESS SLAVERY, WILLKIE DECLARES; PLEDGES FREEDOM; Promises in Cincinnati Full Aid to Unemployed, but With States Administering It WPA POLITICS IS CHARGED Private Contracts Advocated for Public Works--Ohio Gives Him Rousing Reception

PROCEDURE SMOOTH; Answering the Registration Call in America's First Peacetime Draft

Notable Births

Historical Events