On this day in history

December 5

American

1876Fire traps hundreds in the Brooklyn Theatre, killing at least 278 in one of the deadliest theater fires ever.

Fire traps hundreds in the Brooklyn Theatre, killing at least 278 in one of the deadliest theater fires ever.

1933Utah ratifies the 21st Amendment, and Prohibition ends after thirteen dry years.

Utah ratifies the 21st Amendment, and Prohibition ends after thirteen dry years.

1945Five Navy bombers vanish over the Bermuda Triangle on a training flight; the rescue plane disappears too.

Five Navy bombers vanish over the Bermuda Triangle on a training flight; the rescue plane disappears too.

1955The AFL and CIO merge into a single labor federation of 15 million workers.

The AFL and CIO merge into a single labor federation of 15 million workers.

1791Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart dies in Vienna at age 35, leaving the Requiem unfinished.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart dies in Vienna at age 35, leaving the Requiem unfinished.

1936Stalin proclaims the new Soviet constitution, promising freedoms the terror state never honors.

Stalin proclaims the new Soviet constitution, promising freedoms the terror state never honors.