Television

1604  - John Rainolds presents to King James I the motion ‘…that there might bee a newe translation of the Bible.’ Approved the next day, Rainolds’ motion led to the 1611 publication of the King James version of the Bible.

1740 - English revivalist George Whitefield wrote in a letter: ‘If I see a man who loves the Lord Jesus in sincerity, I am not very solicitous to what…communion he belongs. The Kingdom of God, I think, does not consist in any such thing.’

1749 - Vittorio Alfieri (died 8 October 1803), poet, playwright and philosopher, was born.  Alfieri is often considered the “founder of Italian tragedy.”  A few quotes from him, that I found interesting, follow.

“Ofttimes the test of courage becomes rather to live than to die.”

“To err is human; but contrition felt for the crime distinguishes the virtuous from the wicked.”

“First thoughts are not always the best.”

On this day in 1973, the final episode of the long-running western “Bonanza” aired on NBC.  Featuring the exploits of the Cartwright family (including Little Joe and Hoss) on the Ponderosa, “Bonanza” was one of the longest running Western television series (it ran for 14 seasons) and continues to air in syndication.

Two versions of the Bonanza theme song follow.  The first is the original as seen on the TV series, and the second is one with words sung by the Ponderosa patriarch himself, Lorne Greene.