September 12 is the birthday of Ukrainian-Polish science fiction author STANISLAW LEM (1921-2006). CLICK HERE TO WATCH AN EXCERPT FROM LEM’S “FUTUROLOCIAL CONGRESS” DIRECTED BY ARI FOLMAN.

September 12 is the birthday of American track and field athlete JESSE OWENS (1913-1980). Owens was a four-time gold medalist at the 1936 Olympic games. He was the most successful athlete at the Games and, as a black man, was credited with 'single-handedly crushing Hitler's myth of Aryan supremacy,' although he 'wasn't invited to the White House to shake hands with the President, either. CLICK HERE TO WATCH OWENS’ OLYMPIC PERFORMANCE.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY: On September 12, 1940, 18-year-old Marcel Ravidat discovered the cave paintings in Lascaux, France. CLICK HERE TO WATCH A SHORT, FASCINATING DOCUMENTARY ABOUT LASCAUX.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY: On September 12, 1910, the premiere performance of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 8 SYMPHONY OF A THOUSAND took place in Munich with a chorus of 852 singers and an orchestra of 171 players. Mahler's rehearsal assistant conductor was Bruno Walter. CLICK HERE TO SEE YANNICK NEZET-SEGUIN CONDUCT THE ROTTERDAM PHILHARMONIC IN AN EXCERPT OF THE SYMPHONY.