On this date in...

1971...A film classic, "The French Connection" opens in theaters. The suspense film, shot in New York, is based on a major New York narcotics investigation.

1982...The musical "Cats" opens on Broadway.

1985...Palestinian gunmen seize the Italian cruise ship "Achille Lauro" in the Mediterranean. Leon Klinghoffer, a wheelchair-bound passenger from New York City is among the hostages. He is murdered the next day.

1993...Dozens of passengers are injured when a Manhattan-bound L train slams into another train in the Graham Avenue station in Williamsburgh.

1995...Hordes of New Yorkers turn out in the early morning mist to hear Pope John Paul II celebrate mass on the Great Lawn in Central Park. The pope delights the crowd with a Polish song from his youth. He later recites the Rosary at St. Patrick's Cathedral and meets with religious leaders of various faiths.