October 5, 1969: "Monty Python's Flying Circus" Premieres

Left to right: Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, John Cleese,

Terry Jones, Graham Chapman, Michael Palin

October 5, 1969: Monty Python's Flying Circus premieres on BBC1. It becomes one of the most beloved comedy programs in the history of television on planet Earth.

The Monty Python comedy troupe consisted of John Cleese, about to turn 30, from the Bristol area; Terry Gilliam, about to turn 29, from Minneapolis and thus the only non-British member; Graham Chapman, 28, from Leicester; Terry Jones, 27, from Colwyn Bay, Wales; Eric Idle, 26, from the Newcastle area, and Michael Palin, 26, from Sheffield.

Chapman was considered the leader of the group, and took the lead roles in their films Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975, King Arthur) and Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979, Brian). Cleese is best remembered for his "Ministry of Silly Walks" and "Dead Parrot" sketches. Palin wrote and starred in the "Lumberjack Song" and "Spanish Inquisition" sketches. Gilliam was responsible for most of the show's animated sketches, Idle for composing most of their music.

The show aired 45 episodes over 5 years, ending in 1974. That year, it began airing in America on PBS, with its penchant for showing British programs.

Chapman died in 1989. Jones died in 2020. As of October 5, 2022, Cleese, Gilliam, Idle and Palin are still alive.

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October 5, 1969 was a Sunday. The NHL season started 6 days later; the NBA season, 9 days later; the ABA season, 12 days later.

Baseball was in its 1st-ever League Championship Series, and both were in Game 2. In the National League, the New York Mets beat the Atlanta Braves, 11-6 at Atlanta Stadium. (It was renamed Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in 1975.) Tommie Agee, Ken Boswell and Cleon Jones hit home runs for the Mets; Hank Aaron for the Braves.

In the American League, the Baltimore Orioles beat the Minnesota Twins, 1-0 in 11 innings at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. Curt Motton singled home the winning run, off Dave Boswell. He and Dave McNally both went the distance. The Mets and the Orioles each finished their sweeps the next day, setting up one of the most stunning World Series ever played.

There were 8 games played in the NFL:

* The New York Giants beat the Chicago Bears, 28-24 at Yankee Stadium.

* The Dallas Cowboys beat the Philadelphia Eagles, 38-7 at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.

* The Baltimore Colts beat the Atlanta Falcons, 21-14 at Grant Field in Atlanta, moved there due to the Braves having first choice at Atlanta Stadium.

* The Los Angeles Rams beat the New Orleans Saints, 36-17 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

* The football version of the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, 27-14 at Pitt Stadium in Pittsburgh

* The Detroit Lions beat the Cleveland Browns, 28-21 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium.

* The Minnesota Vikings beat the Green Bay Packers, 19-7 at Memorial Stadium on the campus of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. As with the Braves and Falcons, this game had to be moved because the Twins had first choice on Metropolitan Stadium in suburban Bloomington. This would remain the only game the Vikings would play in Minneapolis proper until the Metrodome opened in 1982.

* And the Washington Redskins and the San Francisco 49ers played to a tie, 17-17 at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco.

There were 3 games played in the American Football League:

* The New York Jets beat the Boston Patriots, 23-14 at Alumni Stadium, on the campus of Boston College, just outside Boston in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.

* The Houston Oilers beat the Buffalo Bills, 28-14 at the Astrodome in Houston.

* And the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Denver Broncos, 26-13 at Mile High Stadium in Denver.

Two other AFL games were played the day before. The Oakland Raiders and the Miami Dolphins played to a tie, 20-20 at the Orange Bowl in Miami. And the San Diego Chargers beat the Cincinnati Bengals, 21-14 at San Diego Stadium.