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April 5th
2348BC - Noah's ark was grounded on Mt. Ararat (estimated calculated date). 1242 - Russian troops under Alexander Nevsky of Novgorod, repelled an invasion by Teutonic knights. 1355 - Charles IV was crowned in Rome as Holy Roman Emperor. 1513 - Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian, Henry VIII of England, Ferdinand of Aragon and Pope Leo X signed the Treaty of Mechlin, forming an alliance to invade France. 1531 - Died this day, Richard Roose, boiled to death for trying to poison an archbishop. 1588 - Born this day, Thomas Hobbes, English philosopher (Leviathan). 1614 - In the United States, Pocahontas, daughter of King Powahatan, married the farmer John Rolfe in Jamestown, Virginia. 1614 - The second parliament of King James I began session (no enactments). 1621 - The Mayflower sailed from Plymouth, Massachusetts, on a return trip to England. 1649 - Born this day, Elihu Yale, the English philanthropist for whom Yale University is named, was born. 1649 - Died this day, John Winthrop, first governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony. 1684 - Died this day, William Brouncker, second viscount, first president of Royal Society. 1722 - Easter Island was discovered. 1732 - Born this day, Jean-Honore Fragonard, painter. 1752 - Born this day, Sebastien Erard, piano, harp manufacturer. 1762 - The British took Grenada, West Indies, from the French. 1765 - Died this day, Edward Young, poet. 1784 - Born this day, Ludwig [Louis] Spohr, German violin virtuoso and composer. He is best remembered today for composing the hymn tunes GERALD (I Want a Principle Within) and SPOHR (All Things Bright and Beautiful). (Faust). 1792 - George Washington cast the first presidential veto, rejecting a congressional measure for apportioning representatives among the states. 1794 - Died this day, French revolutionary leader Georges Jacques Danton was guillotined for treason. He tried to temper the Revolutionary Tribunal's severity, which he himself had set up and by which he was ultimately sentenced. 1795 - Born this day, Sir Henry Havelock, British soldier (War in Afghanistan 1838-39). 1802 - Pioneer Methodist bishop Francis Asbury wrote in his journal: 'I am often drawn out in thankfulness to God, who hath saved a mother of mine and, I trust, a father also, who are already in glory, where I hope to meet them both." 1806 - Isaac Quintard of Connecticut patented the apple cider mill. Cider is the expressed juice of apples used as a beverage or for making other products, such as vinegar. While in North America cider may or may not be alcoholic, in most European countries the name refers exclusively to fermented apple juice. 1811 - Died this day, Robert Raikes, aged 76, the English philanthropist regarded by many as the founder (in 1780) of the modern Sunday School movement. 1811 - Born this day, Jules Dupr‚ landscape painter. 1812 - The British stormed the Badajoz fortress, held by French and Spanish troops. 1824 - Born this day, Sydney Thompson Dobell, poet (The Roman). 1827 - James H. Hackett became the first American actor to appear abroad as he performed at Covent Garden in London, England. 1827 - Born this day, Joseph Lister, English physician, founded the idea of using antiseptics during surgery, was born in London. 1830 - Born this day, Alexander Muir, in Lesmahagow, Scotland, poet (The Maple Leaf Forever). 1832 - Born this day, Jules-Francois Camille Ferry, French statesman. 1837 - Born this day, Algernon Charles Swinburne, in England, poet (Atalanta in Calydon). 1838 - Born this day, Alpheus Hyatt, US invertebrate paleontologist. 1839 - Born this day, Robert Smalls, in Beaufort, South Carolina, black congressman, 1875-87. (Rep-South Carolina). 1843 - Queen Victoria proclaimed Hong Kong a British crown colony. 1853 - A. De Gasparis discovered asteroid #24 Themis. This was his 7th asteroid discovery. 1856 - Born this day, Booker T. [Taliaferro] Washington, former slave, educator, founded the Tuskegee Institute, first black commemorated on a US stamp. 1858 - Born this day, Washington Atlee Burpee, founded the world's largest mail-order seed company. 1859 - Charles Darwin sent the first three chapters of The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection to his publisher, John Murray. 1861 - Federals abandoned Ft. Quitman, Texas. 1865 - As the Confederate army approached Appomattox, it skirmished with Union forces at Amelia Springs and Paine's Cross Road. 1869 - Born this day, Albert Roussel, in Tourcoing, France, composer (Rapsodie Flamende). 1869 - Daniel Bakeman, the last surviving soldier of the Revolutionary War, died at the age of 109. 1874 - The opera Die Fledermaus was produced in Vienna. First produced on 5 April 1874, at the Theatre an der Wien, Vienna, with Jani Szika, Marie Geistinger and Karoline Charles-Hirsch. 1881 - The Transvaal regained independence under British sovereignty. 1886 - J. Palisa discovered asteroid #257 Silesia. 1891 - The sixth full British Census took place. 1892 - Walter H. Coe, of Providence, Rhode Island, patented gold leaf in rolls. 1893 - Born this day, Clas Thunberg, in Finland, speed skater (Olympic Gold 1924, 1928). 1894 - 11 strikers were killed in a riot at Connellsville, Pennsylvania. 1895 - Playwright Oscar Wilde lost his criminal libel case against the Marquis of Queensberry, who had accused the writer of homosexual practices. (Another source says - Writer Oscar Wilde is arrested). 1896 - The first modern Olympic Games officially opened in Athens. 1899 - Born this day, William Hornby Steer, barrister, judge. 1900 - Born this day, Spencer Tracy, actor (Adam's Rib, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, Father of the Bride, Inherit the Wind, Father's Little Dividend). In 1937 Spencer Tracy took home the Best Actor Oscar for his role as Father Flanagan in Boys Town. The year before, he won the coveted statue for Captains Courageous. 1900 - An attempted assassination was made on the Prince of Wales in Brussels, it failed. 1901 - Born this day, Chester Bowles, in Massachusetts, ambassador, writer (Conscience of a Liberal). 1901 - Born this day, Melvyn Douglas, in Macon, Georgia, actor (Hud, Ghost Story, As You Desire Me). Picked up two Oscars as Best Supporting Actor in Hud in 1963 and Being There in 1979. 1902 - A stand at Ibrox Park stadium in Glasgow collapsed during an England v Scotland match, killing 20 spectators and injuring more than 200. 1905 - Born this day, Bill Raisch, one armed actor (Fred Johnson-Fugitive). 1906 - St Pius X published his encyclical On the Mariavites or Mystic Priests of Poland. 1907 - A. Kopff discovered asteroid #632 Pyrrha. 1908 - Born this day, Grady Sutton, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, actor (Pruitts of South Hampton). 1908 - Born this day, George Schick, in Prague, Czech republic, conductor (Chicago Symphony). 1908 - Born this day, Mary Hemingway, writer (Ernest Hemmingway Biography). 
1908 - Born this day, Bette Davis, in Lowell, Massachusetts, film actress, famous eyes (Jezebel, All About Eve, Of Human Bondage, Whatever Happened To Baby Jane?). Bette Davis copped the Best Actress Oscar Award in 1935 for her performance in Dangerous and then again in 1938 for Jezebel. 1908 - The Japanese Army reached Yalu River as Russians retreated. 1908 - Born this day, Herbert von Karajan, in Salzburg, Austria, Berlin Philharmonic conductor and Nazi. The most recorded orchestral conductor in musical history. 1909 - Born this day, [Alberto Romero] Cubby Broccoli, film producer. 1911 - W.W. Aster acquired the Daily Observer. 1911 - Born this day, Goddard Lieberson, in Hanley, Staffordshire, England, recording executive. 1911 - Born this day, Gordon Jones, in Alden, Iowa, actor (Mike the Cop-Abbott & Costello). 1913 - S. Belyavskij and G. Neujmin discovered asteroid #749 Malzovia. 1915 - Jess Willard knocked out Jack Johnson in the 26th round to win the heavyweight boxing championship held in Havana, Cuba. 1916 - Born this day, Gregory Peck, in La Jolla, California, actor. (The Guns of Navarone, Gentleman’s Agreement, Roman Holiday, MacArthur, To Kill a Mockingbird, won an Oscar in 1962 for his performance in To Kill a Mockingbird, The Keys of the Kingdom (Academy Awarded)). 1917 - Born this day, Robert Bloch, novelist (Psycho). 1917 - Born this day, Richard Yardumian, in Philadelphia, composer (Come Creator Spirit). 1919 - Born this day, Sir Douglas Henley, British auditor-general. 1919 - The Polish Army executed 35 young Jews. 1919 - Eamon de Valera became president of Ireland. 1920 - Born this day, Arthur Hailey, England born, Canadian author and novelist, (Airport, Hotel). 1921 - Born this day, Lady Fisher, founder of British Women Caring Trust. 1921 - Born this day, Robert Q. Lewis, in New York City, TV host (Masquerade Party, Robert Q Lewis Show). 1922 - Born this day, Gale Storm, in Bloomington, Texas, actress (My Little Margie, Gale Storm Show). 1922 - KOB-AM in Albuquerque, New Mexico began radio transmissions. 1922 - WDZ-AM in Decatur, Illinois began radio transmissions. 1922 - Born this day, Sir Tom Finney, ex-footballer. 1923 - On this date in 1923, Firestone Tire and Rubber Company of Akron, Ohio, began balloon tyre production. The company had previously experimented with large-section, thin-walled tyres with small bead diameters for special purposes, but none had been put on the commercial market. Firestone had become America's largest producer of tyres when it received the contract to supply Henry Ford's Model T's with tyres. The company remained on top of the tyre industry, challenged for supremacy only by Goodyear. Balloon tyres provided better handling and a smoother ride for car drivers. In balloon tyres, an inner tube is fitted inside the tyre and inflated. Firestone's innovation also ushered in the era of the flat tyre. People may have had problems with their cars before 1923, but none had yet enjoyed the pleasure of standing by the roadside watching their hissing tyre deflate-along with their hopes of arriving on time. 1923 - Born this day, Nguyen Van Thieu, president of South Vietnam. 1923 - Born this day, Stanley Orme, chairman (British Labour Party). 1923 - Died this day, George Edward Stanhope Molyneux Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon. 1924 - K. Reinmuth discovered asteroid #2235 Vittore. 1926 - Born this day, Roger Corman, in Detroit, Michigan, film producer, director (Little Shop of Horrors). 1927 - Johnny Weissmuller set a record in the 100 and 200 metre freestyle. 1928 - Born this day, Michael Bryant, actor (Sakharov, Girly). 1928 - Born this day, Tony Williams, The Platters, 1959 UK and US No.1 single Smoke Gets In Your Eyes. Died 14 August 1992. 1928 - Died this day, Jane Ellen Harrison, scholar, archeologist. 1928 - Born this day, Will Gaines, jazz dancer. 1929 - Born this day, Nigel Hawthorne, actor (Tartuffe, Pope John Paul II (Sir Humphrey Appleby in Yes Minister), Richard III). 1929 - C. Jackson discovered asteroid #1116 Catriona. 1929 - Born this day, Joe Meek [Robert George Meek], in Newent, England, record producer. Produced the 1962 UK and US No.1 single Telstar for The Tornados, the first British act to have a No.1 in the US. Died 3 February 1967, shot himself in a recording studio after killing his landlady. Also produced hits for John Leyton and The Honeycombs. 1930 - Mahatma Gandhi defied British law by making salt in India instead of buying it from the British. 1931 - Born this day, Cowboy Jack Clement, country music producer. 1932 - Born this day, Billy Bland, singer (Let The Little Girl Dance). 1933 - The first operation to remove a lung was performed - at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. 1934 - Born this day, Stanley Turrentine, jazz musician, saxophonist. 1934 - Born this day, Tina Maria Stone, runner, holds a 1 year distance record of 15,472 miles. 1935 - Born this day, Frank Gorshin, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, impressionist, actor, comedian (Riddler-Batman). 1935 - Born this day, Donald Lynden-Bell, British astronomer. 1936 - Born this day, John Albert, professor (Master of University College Oxford). 1936 - Tupelo in Mississippi was virtually annihilated by a tornado. Over 200 people died, but one year-old Elvis Presley and his family survived. 1937 - Born this day, Colin Powell, in the Bronx, New York, US Army general, US Secretary of State. 1938 - Anti-Jewish riots broke out in Dabrowa, Poland. 1938 - H. Alikoski discovered asteroid #2714 Matti. 1939 - HMS Illustrious was launched. It was Britain's largest aircraft carrier. 1939 - Born this day, David Winters, in London, England, choreographer (Steve Allen Comedy Hour). 1939 - Born this day, Ronnie White, singer, The Miracles, 1970 UK and US No.1 single with Smokey Robinson, The Tears Of A Clown. 1940 - Born this day, Aliza Kashi, in Israel, actress, singer (Merv Griffin regular). 1940 - Born this day, Tommy Cash, country singer. 1941 - Born this day, Michael Moriarty, in Detroit, Michigan, actor (Bang the Drum Slowly, Q, Stuff). 1941 - German commandos secured docks along the Danube River in preparation for Germany's invasion of the Balkans. 1941 - Born this day, David LaFlamme, musician, electric violinist (It's a Beautiful Day). 1941 - In San Francisco, the Castro and Fillmore streetcars were replaced by buses. 1941 - Born this day, Dave Swarbick, Fairport Convention, UK folk group, 1969 UK No.21 single Si Tu Dois Partir. 1942 - Born this day, Alan Clarke, vocals, The Hollies, over 25 top 40 hits since 1963, including 1972 US No.2 single Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress), 1988 UK No.1 single He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother, first released in 1969, featuring Elton John on piano. 1942 - Born this day, Peter Greenaway, writer-director. 1942 - The Ski Union of America was formed in New York City to become the governing body for amateur skiing in the Western hemisphere. 1943 - Born this day, Max Gail, in Michigan, actor (Barney Miller, Whiz Kids, DC Cab, Normal People) 1943 - The British 8th Army attacked the next blocking position of the retreating Axis forces at Wadi Akarit. 1943 - Born this day, Jonathan Lynn, in Bath, England, actor (Danny-Doctor in the House). 1943 - Poon Lim was found after being adrift 133 days. 1944 - Born this day, Crispian St. Peters, singer, 1966 UK No.2 single You Were On My Mind, 1966 UK No.5 single Pied Piper. 1944 - Born this day, Dave Holland, heavy metal rock musician (Judas Priest-Breakin' the Law). 1944 - Born this day, Nicholas Caldwell, The Whispers, 1980 UK No.2 and US No.19 single And The Beat Goes On. 1945 - Kuniaki Koiso resigned as Prime Minister of Japan. He was replaced by Kantaro Suzuki. 1945 - At Eagles Nest, New Mexico, the temperature plunged to 45 °F below zero (-43 °C) to establish an April record for the United States. 1946 - Born this day, Jane Asher, in London, England, actress, writer. While she established a film and stage career [Alfie], her greatest fame came when she became the longtime girlfriend of Paul McCartney, who wrote songs like And I Love Her, Things We Said Today, We Can Work It Out, and I'm Looking Through You about her. 1946 - Born this day, Jennifer Penney, ballerina. 1946 - Died this day, Vincent Millie Youmans, composer. 1949 - Born this day, Dr Judith Arlene Resnik, in Akron, Ohio, astronaut (STS 41D, 51L-Chal disaster). 1949 - The 60 year old St. Anthony's Hospital in Effingham, Illinois, burned down. 77 people were killed. 1950 - Born this day, Anna Ulvaeus, rock musician (Aha-Take on Me). 1950 - Born this day, Franklin R. Chang-Diaz, in Costa Rica, PhD, astronaut (STS 61C, 34, sk:46). 1950 - Born this day, Agnetha Faltskog, in Stockholm, Sweden, singer, Abba, 1974 UK No.1 single Waterloo, 1975 UK No.6 single S.O.S., 1975 UK No.1 single Mamma Mia, 1976 UK No.1 single Fernando, 1976 UK No.1 single Dancing Queen, 1976 UK No.1 single Money, money, money, 1977 UK No.1 single Knowing Me, knowing you, 1977 UK No.1 single The Name Of The Game, 1978 UK No.1 single Take A Chance On Me. Plus over 15 other top 40 UK entries and 9 UK No.1 albums, and a 1977 US No.1 single Dancing Queen. 1951 - Born this day, Everton Morton, The Beat, 1983 UK No.3 single Can't Get Used To Losing You. 1951 - Born this day, Roosevel Ferguson, in Arkansas, murderer (FBI Most Wanted List). 1951 - Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were sentenced to death following their conviction on charges of conspiring to spy for the Soviet Union. 1952 - Henry Wittenberg won his 8th AAU wrestling title. 1953 - In Washington, DC, President Dwight Eisenhower inaugurated the Presidential Prayer Breakfast. Its name was later changed to the Annual National Prayer Breakfast. 1954 - Born this day, Christopher S. Nelson, in New Orleans, Louisiana, actor (Sons & Daughters). 1954 - Born this day, Michael W. Butler, created TODAY program. 1954 - Born this day, Stan Ridgeway, rock musician, Mosquito - Garage Sale, Wall Of Voodoo, 1986 UK No.4 single Camouflage. 1954 - Elvis Presley recorded his debut single, That's All Right. 1955 - Born this day, Janice Long, Radio 2 DJ, presenter. 
1955 - Sir Winston Churchill, aged 80, resigned as Prime Minister. The following day Anthony Eden took office. 1955 - Richard J. Daley was elected mayor of Chicago, Illinois, starting one of the most colourful political careers not only of the Windy City, but anywhere. 1958 - Johnny Mathis’ album Johnny’s Greatest Hits, on Columbia Records, made it to the pop music charts for the first time. The LP remained on the charts for a record 490 weeks (nearly 9-1/2 years!) The record began its stay at number one (three weeks) on 9 June 1958. Mathis studied opera from age 13 and earned a track and field scholarship at San Francisco State College. He was invited to Olympic try-outs and chose a singing career instead. He was originally a jazz-style singer when Mitch Miller of Columbia switched Mathis to singing pop ballads. Johnny would chart over 60 albums in 30 years. 1958 - Born this day, Cammie Lusko, in Los Angeles, California, Guinness' World Strongest Woman. 1958 - Born this day, Johan Kriek, in South Africa, tennis player (US Indoor 1982). 1959 - Art Wall won the golf Masters Tournament. 1960 - The film Ben Hur won a record 10 Oscars. 1961 - Barbra Striesand appeared on The Jack Paar Show. 1962 - NASA civilian pilot Neil A. Armstrong took an X-15 to 54,600 metres. 1962 - Born this day, Richard Gough, footballer. 1963 - Bye Bye Birdie with Ann-Margret and Janet Leigh was released. 1963 - Born this day, Jimmy Osmond, singer (Donny & Marie Show). 1963 - Beatles received their first silver disc for Please Please Me. 1964 - Died this day, Douglas MacArthur, US general (Pacific theatre- World War II (WW II)), aged 84 in Washington. 1964 - Automatic driverless trains began on London's Underground system. 1964 - The Searchers made their US television debut on CBS' Ed Sullivan Show. 1965 - Born this day, Mike McCready, guitar, Pearl Jam, 1992 UK No.15 single Jeremy, 1993 US No.1 album Vs. 1965 - At the 37th Academy Awards, hosted by Bob Hope, Julie Andrews won the Best Actress Oscar for Mary Poppins; among the other actresses nominated in this category was Sophia Loren for Matrimonio all'italiana. My Fair Lady was named Best Picture. 1966 - Timothy Leary spoke at New York’s Town Hall and compared LSD to a microscope saying that the drug “is to psychology what the microscope is to biology.” 1967 - Born this day, Troy Gentry, country singer. 1967 - Monkees fans walked from London's Marble Arch to the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square to protest at Davy Jone's planned call-up. He was exempted because he was deemed responsible for supporting his father. 1967 - '76er Wilt Chamberlain set an NBA record of 41 rebounds. 1967 - ATS II was launched but failed to reach orbit. 1968 - The first date of a twice nightly UK tour featuring, Amen Corner, Gene Pitney, Status Quo, Simon Dupree & The Big Sound and Don Partridge at The Odeon Theatre, Lewisham, London. 1968 - Born this day, Paula Cole, US singer, 1997 UK No.15 single Where Have All The Cowboys Gone?. 1968 - The Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego opened. 1968 - Born this day, Gianna Amore, in Warwick, Rhode Island, playmate for August 1989. 1968 - James Brown made a national television appeal for calm in the wake of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 1969 - Pope Paul VI abolished the galero (red hat) and red shoes and buckles customarily worn by Roman Catholic cardinals. 1970 - Count Carl von Spreti, West German ambassador to Guatemala, was found murdered six days after his kidnapping by guerrillas. 1971 - Mount Etna erupted in Sicily, Italy. 1972 - Died this day, Brian Donlevy, actor (Steve-Dangerous Assignment), aged 73. 1972 - The baseball season was delayed due to a strike. 1973 - The NFL adopted a jersey numbering system (ie QBs, 1-19). 1974 - Died this day, William Hudson, actor (I Led 3 Lives), aged 49. 1974 - The then tallest building, the World Trade Center, was opened in New York City. It had 110 stories. 1974 - The Guess Who hosted a celebrity tennis tournament in Toronto to benefit Ballet of Canada. 1975 - Soyuz 18A was launched and aborted short of orbit. The cosmonauts returned safely. 1975 - Died this day, Chiang Kai-shek, Chinese military and political leader. Chiang fled to Taiwan after his Nationalist forces lost the Chinese civil war against Mao Zedong in 1949. He was 87. 1975 - Minnie Riperton went to No.1 on the US singles chart with Loving You, it was the singers only US chart hit. She died on 12 July 1979. It made No.2 in the UK. 1976 - British Prime Minister Harold Wilson resigned and was succeeded by James Callaghan. 1976 - The Felix Aguilar Observatory discovered asteroid #2928. 1976 - On this date in 1976, eccentric multi-millionaire Howard Hughes passed away. Hughes's checkered, though certainly profitable, career started at the tender age of 17, when he assumed control of his late father's tool company. A few years later, Hughes headed to Hollywood, where he produced a string of gritty classics, including The Outlaw and Scarface. Hughes was credited for discovering then-unknown Jean Harlow in 1930, when he was reconstructing the film Hell's Angels from a silent picture to sound. He also was a major impetus in the film career of Jane Russell. In 1948, Hughes parlayed his clout and capital into a majority stake in RKO Pictures. Hughes soon sold his shares in RKO, only to buy it outright in 1954; ever the eccentric, Hughes waited but a year to sell the studio. Along the way, the offbeat millionaire indulged his passion for aviation, establishing the Hughes Aircraft Company and later buying a majority stake in Trans World Airlines. During the 1930s, Hughes flew his own custom-made plane into the record books, breaking various speed and flight-time records. Despite his glittery achievements and hefty bankroll, Hughes was never one for publicity; he ultimately retreated from public life in 1950. Hughes eventually sequestered himself away in an ever-rotating series of luxury hotels, where he would toil for days on end, surviving on a diet that leaned more heavily toward drugs than food. Hughes's death in 1976 touched off a well-publicised scrap, as a number of wills, all supposedly in the millionaire's name, were unearthed. The wills were all ultimately dismissed as frauds. Multi-millionaire recluse Howard Hughes died of kidney failure on his way to the hospital in Houston, Texas at the age of 72. 1977 - David Bowie appears on Dinah Shore's NBC-TV special. 1977 - Jackson Browne, John Sebastian and others, raised $150,000 at an environmental charity concert in Tokyo. 1979 - The North London Avengers changed their name to Madness. 1979 - Pioneer 11 was launched towards Jupiter. 1980 - Genesis scored their first UK No.1 album when Duke went to the top of the charts. 1980 - R.E.M. played their first ever gig at St Marys Episcopal Church, in Athens, Georgia. 1981 - Died this day, Bob Hite, singer with Canned Heat, of a heart attack aged 36. 1970 UK No.2 and US No.26 single Let's Work Together. 1981 - Today was census day in Britain. 1981 - E. Bowell discovered asteroids #2383 Bradley and #2433 Sootiyo. 1981 - The Philadelphia Flyers amassed a record 2,621 penalty minutes. 1982 - British foreign secretary Lord Carrington, resigned due to the Falkland Islands war. 1982 - After eight years of publication to the radio and recording industry, Record World magazine ceased publication and filed for bankruptcy protection. 1982 - A British task force set out from Portsmouth to recover the Falkland Islands from their Argentinian occupiers. 1983 - Died this day, Danny Rapp, singer, leader of 50's group Danny And The Juniors, committed suicide. 1984 - A. Markos discovered asteroid #3364. 1984 - Marvin Gaye was buried this day at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Los Angeles. The funeral service was attended by Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Motown's Berry Gordy, Harvey Fuqua, Quincy Jones, Ray Parker Jr, producers Norman Whitfield and Eddie and Brian Holland. Robinson read the 23rd psalm and Wonder sang Lighting up the candle in dedication to Gaye. 1984 - Died this day, Arthur Travors Harris, marshal of RAF. 1984 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, of the Los Angeles Lakers, used his patented 12-foot skyhook in the fourth quarter to become the all-time NBA regular season scoring leader this night. He broke the previous mark held by Wilt Chamberlain who had 31,419 points. Kareem broke the scoring record on a pass play from Magic Johnson and with three Utah Jazz players guarding him. The Lakers won, 129-115. He made 31,421 points. 1985 - At 3:50pm, Greenwich Mean Time, the world listened to one song. Some 5,000 radio stations around the world - North America, Europe, including East Germany, and Asia - simultaneously played We are the World, by USA for Africa. This remarkable effort was organised by American recording artists to raise money to help feed the starving people of Africa and the United States. The artists who participated in the recording were Michael Jackson, Lionel Ritchie, Willie Nelson, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Ray Charles, Bette Midler, Kim Carnes, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, Cyndi Lauper, Kenny Rogers, Lindsey Buckingham, Smokey Robinson, Dan Ackroyd, the Jackson brothers, the Pointer Sisters, and Dionne Warwick. 1985 - Showing on Channel 4, The Tube, a two hour end of series show featuring, UB40, Alison Moyet, Style Council, The Pogues, Spandau Ballet, Frankie Goes To Hollywood and Bronski Beat. 1986 - A bomb exploded in La Bell, a popular discotheque in West Berlin, killing two American soldiers and a Turkish woman. 1986 - A record for a throw-and-return boomerang toss was set at 121 metres. (Anyone know where and by whom?) 1987 - Calling it the first launching of a television network in almost 40 years, the FOX Broadcasting Company, under the direction of media and publishing baron, Rupert Murdoch, started with two Sunday night offerings. Married With Children and The Tracey Ullman Show were the beginnings of the FOX lineup. 1987 - Wayne Gretsky won his 7th straight NHL scoring title. 1988 - The Democratic convention picked Michael Dukakis as their presidential candidate. 1988 - A 15-day hijacking ordeal began as gunmen forced a Kuwait Airways jumbo jet to land in Iran. There were 115 passengers on board. Two Kuwaitis were killed. 1989 - David Letterman became the first network TV series to use dolby stereo. 1989 - Orel Hershiser ended his 59 consecutive scoreless pitched inning streak. 1989 - Solidarity was granted legal status in Poland. 1989 - The Polish government legalised the Solidarity union, and introduced democratic measures into the political system. 1990 - John Stockton reached a 1000-assist mark for an NBA record 3 yrs in a row. 1990 - The New York Rangers beat the New York Islanders 2-1 in the first game of the preliminaries. 1990 - Paul Newman won a court victory over Julius Gold, allowing him to keep giving all profits from Newman foods to charity. 1990 - It was announced that President Bush and Soviet President Gorbachev would hold their first full-scale summit in the US - In 1995: The House of Representatives passed a tax-cut bill, the final major item in the Republicans' Contract with America. 1991 - Died this day, John Tower (Senator-R-Texas), in a plane crash. 1991 - Joe Dumaars (Detroit) ended an NBA free throw streak of 62 games. 1991 - Kitty Kelly published a book knocking Nancy Reagan. 1991 - Space Shuttle STS 37 (Atlantis 8) was launched. 1991 - The US began air drops to Kurdish refugees in Northern Iraq. 1992 - Died this day, Sam Walton, billionaire CEO of Walmart, died of cancer aged 74. 1992 - Comedian Sam Kenison married his live-in girlfriend Maleeka. 1992 - In game 2 of the Mayor Challenge - the New York Yankees swept the New York Mets 6-5 at Shea Stadium. 1992 - In Wrestlemania VIII - Randy 'Macho Man' Savage beat Ric Flair for the title. 1992 - Suada Dilberovic, a 24-year-old Croat medical student who was shot and killed by a sniper on the Vrbania bridge in Sarajevo, became the first woman casualty of the war in Bosnia. 1994 - Kurt Cobain of Nirvana committed suicide at his home in Seattle by shooting himself in the head. 1995 - Jimi Hendrix's one-time girlfriend Monika Dannerman committed suicide, two days after losing a court battle, with another of the guitarist's ex-lovers. 1997 - The Chemical Brothers went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with Block Rockin' Beats. 1997 - Died this day, Allen Ginsberg, poet laureate of the Beat Generation, died in New York City at the age of 70. 1998 - Died this day, Cozy Powell, rock musician, drummer. 1973 UK No.3 single Dance with the Devil, 1974 UK No.10 single Na Na Na. Died when his car smashed into crash barriers on a motorway in Bristol, England. 1998 - The Spice Girls performed their first ever live UK concert when they appeared in- front of an 9,000 strong audience in Glasgow. 1998 - James went to No.1 on the UK album chart with The Best Of James. 1999 - Richard Dunwoody became the most successful jump jockey of all time, when he clocked up his 1,679th win at Wincanton. 1999 - In Laramie, Wyoming, Russell Henderson pleaded guilty to kidnapping and felony murder in the death of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student. 2000 - Scientists discovered the longest comet on record. It had a tail of over 350 million miles long - almost four times the distance from the sun to Earth. 2000 - Two complete strangers who performed sex acts on a transatlantic flight were fined a total of £2,250 for being drunk on board a plane. 2001 - A Dutch lorry driver was sentenced to 14 years in jail after being found guilty of killing 58 Chinese immigrants found in the back of a lorry at Dover. 2002 - People queued for miles beside the Thames to pay their last respects to the Queen Mother, whose body was lying in state in Westminster Hall in London. 2003 - Paul McCartney kicked off the UK leg of his Back In The World Tour at Hallam FM Arena a year after it began in America. The set included 22 Beatles songs. 2003 - US troops entered Baghdad in force as a spokesman declared: 'We are in and we're staying put'. |
Trivia
Trivia - petty details or considerations, matters or things that are very unimportant, inconsequential, or nonessential; trifles; trivialities.
Trivial - of very little importance or value; insignificant: "Don't bother me with trivial matters." Trivially - unimportant, nugatory, slight, immaterial, inconsequential, frivolous, trifling.