Historical milestones of October 17

Historical events occurring on October 17 include several notable milestones in science, crime, and music.

In the field of invention, Thomas Alva Edison patented the optical phonograph on this day. Edison, who established a famous laboratory in Menlo Park in 1876, is credited with numerous inventions including the carbon granule phonograph, the megaphone, the typewriter, and the carbon filament light bulb. Nikola Tesla also worked at Edison's laboratory in 1884.

In criminal history, Al Capone was arrested on this day in 1931 on charges of tax evasion. Before his arrest, Capone led one of the largest mafia families, consisting of over 1,000 members, and maintained a public reputation that allowed him to move among politicians and celebrities.

In Croatian history, October 17 marks the anniversary of a massive concert by the band Prljavo Kazalište in 1989. The event took place at Ban Jelačić Square and drew more than 250,000 attendees, despite initial attempts to ban the performance.