On This Day

[bunkerfan]

30th June


In 1859 French acrobat Charles Blondin is 1st to cross Niagara Falls on a tightrope.




In 1948 Transistor as a substitute for valves announced (Bell Labs)




In 1966 The Beatles land in Tokyo, Japan for what becomes their final concert tour there - they perform 5 shows at the Budokan Hall over 3 days.




In 1979 Tubeway Army started a four-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Are 'Friends' Electric'. The song by Gary Numan was the first electronic/synthesizer-based record to become a hit in the post-punk era.

[bunkerfan]

1st July


In 1916 Coca-Cola brings current coke formula to the market.




Born on this day in 1945 - Deborah Harry, American singer, songwriter, and actress with Blondie who scored five UK No.1 singles including the 1979 UK & US No.1 single 'Heart Of Glass' and the 1978 world-wide No.1 album Parallel Lines. As a solo artists she scored the 1986 UK No. 8 single 'French Kissing In The USA'. A former Playboy Bunny, her acting career spans over thirty film roles and numerous television appearances.




In 1963 ZIP (Zone Improvement Plan) Codes are introduced for United States mail.




In 2000 Kylie Minogue was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Spinning Around', the singers fifth No.1 was co-written by Paula Abdul, (it was originally intended for Abdul's "comeback" album). 'Spinning Around' gave Minogue the honour of being one of three artists (the others being Madonna and U2) to have a No.1 in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.

[bunkerfan]

2nd July


In 1921 Warren G. Harding signs a joint congressional resolution declaring the official end of war with Germany.




In 1940 Lake Washington (Seattle) Floating bridge dedicated.




In 1962 Jimi Hendrix was honourably discharged from the 101st Airborne Paratroopers, after breaking his ankle during his 26th and final parachute jump.




In 2005 Live 8 concert at Hyde Park, London, England; performers include Paul McCartney, U2, Coldplay, Elton John, Sting, Madonna, The Who, Pink Floyd, and R.E.M.

[bunkerfan]

3rd July


In 1928 John Logie Baird demonstrates the first colour television transmission in London.




In 1944 "Double Indemnity" film noir directed by Billy Wilder and starring Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck is released in Baltimore, Maryland.




In 1971 American singer, songwriter and poet, Jim Morrison of The Doors was found dead in a bathtub in Paris, France, the cause of death was given as a heart attack. He co-wrote some of the group's biggest hits, including ‘Light My Fire’, ‘Love Me Two Times’, and ‘Love Her Madly.’ On the 25th anniversary of his death an estimated 15,000 fans gathered at Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, France to pay their respects.




In 2006 English singer-songwriter Lily Allen releases her debut single "Smile".

[bunkerfan]

4th July


In 1862 Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) creates Alice in Wonderland for Alice Liddell on a family boat trip on the river Isis (Thames) in Oxford.




In 1954 FIFA World Cup Final, Wankdorf Stadium, Bern, Switzerland: Helmut Rahn scores twice as West Germany beats Hungary 3-2.




In 1976 Israel launches hostage rescue mission of 106 Air France crew and passengers held at Entebbe Airport in Uganda by pro-Palestinian hijackers. Three hostages die along with all the hijackers, numerous Ugandan soldiers and Yonatan Netanyahu, an Israeli soldier.




In 1986 Farm Aid II benefit concert held in Manor, Texas; performers include Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Waylon Jennings, Bob Dylan, The Beach Boys, Nicolette Larson, Los Lobos, and Steve Earle.

[bunkerfan]

5th July


In 1898 Lizzie Arlington becomes first woman to play professional men's baseball when she pitches 9th inning for the Reading Coal Heavers against the Allentown Peanuts.




In 1948 National Health Service established in the UK; Minister of Health Aneurin Bevan attends ceremony at Park Hospital in Davyhulme, Trafford.




In 1969 Rolling Stones play a free concert in London's Hyde Park.




In 2011 "Somebody That I Used to Know" single released by Gotye ft. Kimbra (Grammy Award Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Record of the Year 2013)

[bunkerfan]

6th July


In 1886 Horlicks of Wisconsin offers 1st malted milk to public.




In 1945 Abbott and Costello's film "The Naughty Nineties" released; features longest version of their "Who's on First?" routine.




In 1965 Psychedelic rock band "Jefferson Airplane" forms in San Francisco, California.




In 1972 David Bowie appeared on the UK music show Top Of The Pops playing his new single 'Starman', his first hit since 1969's 'Space Oddity' three years before. The single peaked at No.10 and stayed on the charts for 11 weeks.

[bunkerfan]

7th July


In 1936 American businessman Henry F. Phillips receives patents for a new "cross-recessed" screw, and the new screwdriver needed to make it work.




Born on this day in 1940 - Richard Starkey, ( Ringo Starr, ) drums, vocals, Rory Storm, The Beatles. He sang lead vocals on one track on most Beatles albums, The Beatles scored 21 US No.1 & 17 UK No.1 singles. Starr had the solo 1974 US No.1 & UK No.4 single 'You're Sixteen' plus 9 other US Top 40 hits. Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band have made many tours and has featured; Joe Walsh, Howard Jones, Ian Hunter, Peter Frampton, Todd Rundgren, Edgar Winter, Greg Lake along with other guests.




In 1967 EMI/Parlophone releases The Beatles single "All You Need Is Love" in the UK; it had been introduced to a global audience as part of the BBC's "Our World" television broadcast 12 days earlier.




In 1989 Concert by the Grateful Dead with Bruce Hornsby & the Range becomes final event at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, six days before structure is condemned.

[bunkerfan]

8th July


In 1913 Alfred Carlton Gilbert's patent for the Erector Set is issued, it becomes one of the most popular toys of all time.




In 1954 Producer Sam Phillips took an acetate recording of Elvis Presley singing 'That's All Right' to Memphis radio station WHBQ DJ Dewey Phillips. He played the song just after 9.30 that evening, the phone lines lit up asking the DJ to play the song again.




In 1965 The Dave Clark Five had their movie, Catch Us If You Can, premiere in London. The film was renamed to Having a Wild Weekend for its US release. Songs featured by the group in the movie included 'Catch Us If You Can,' 'Having a Wild Weekend' and 'I Can't Stand It.'




In 1978 Gerry Rafferty's album City To City went to No.1 on the US chart, knocking off 'Saturday Night Fever', which had been at the top of the charts for almost six months.

[bunkerfan]

9th July


In 1877 First ever Wimbledon tennis championship begins - first official lawn tennis tournament - men's singles only.




In 1953 1st helicopter passenger service (NYC)




In 1962 Bob Dylan recorded 'Blowin' In the Wind' at Columbia Recording Studios in New York City during an afternoon session. Dylan originally wrote and performed a two-verse version of the song, as in its first public performance, at Gerde's Folk City on April 16th, 1962. Shortly after this, he added the middle verse.




In 1995 The Grateful Dead gave their last concert with leader Jerry Garcia at Chicago's Soldier Field. Jerry would die of a heart attack a month later while in drug rehab.

[bunkerfan]

10th July


In 1925 Meher Baba begins his silence of 44 years. His followers still observe Silence Day on this date in commemoration.




In 1949 1st practical rectangular TV tube announced in Toledo, Ohio.




In 1964 200,000 Liverpudlians took to the streets to celebrate The Beatles return to Liverpool for the northern premiere of the group's first film 'A Hard Day's Night.'




In 1968 Eric Clapton announced that Cream would break-up after their current tour. The group's third album, Wheels of Fire, was the world's first platinum-selling double album and Cream are widely regarded as being the world's first successful supergroup.

[bunkerfan]

11th July


In 1900 Charlotte Cooper beats Hélène Prévost to become the 1st female Olympic tennis champion and the 1st individual female Olympic champion in any sport.




In 1944 Franklin Roosevelt announces that he will run for a fourth term as President of the United States.




In 1962 1st transatlantic TV transmission via satellite (Telstar I)




In 1970 Three Dog Night started a two-week run at No.1 in the US with their version of the Randy Newman song 'Mama Told Me Not To Come', which was also a No.3 hit in the UK. The song was first covered by Eric Burdon on his first solo album in 1966 and gave Tom Jones & Stereophonics a No.4 hit on the UK Singles Chart in 2000.

[bunkerfan]

12th July


In 1862 US Congress authorizes Medal of Honor.




In 1954 Major League Baseball Players Association founded.




In 1968 Mickey Dolenz from The Monkees married Samantha Juste who he met when working in the UK on the BBC TV show Top Of The Pops.




In 1980 Olivia Newton-John and the Electric Light Orchestra had the UK No.1 single with 'Xanadu', taken from the film of the same name. It gave Olivia Newton-John her third UK No.1 single.

[bunkerfan]

13th July


In 1868 Oscar J Dunn, former slave, installed as Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana.




In 1951 Great Flood: 2.000,000 acres in Kansas and Missouri in central US are flooded from rain swollen Missouri and Kansas Rivers.




In 1963 The Rolling Stones played their first ever gig outside London when they appeared at The Alcove Club, Middlesbrough, Yorkshire supporting The Hollies.




In 1985 "Live Aid" concerts held at both Wembley Stadium (London, England) and JFK Stadium (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) raises over $70 million for African famine relief.

[bunkerfan]

14th July


In 1914 Rolex receives the first wristwatch Class 'A' certificate from Kew Observatory.




In 1952 American ocean liner SS United States crosses Atlantic Ocean, returning to New York in westward record time of 84 hours 12 minutes.




In 1969 "Easy Rider", directed by Dennis Hopper, starring himself, Peter Fonda and Jack Nicholson, is released.




In 1978 Talking Heads released their second studio album More Songs About Buildings And Food. The first of three Talking Heads LPs produced by collaborator Brian Eno, featured the group’s first Top 30 single, a cover of Al Green's 'Take Me to the River.'

[bunkerfan]

15th July


In 1912 British National Health Insurance Act goes into effect.




In 1954 1st commercial jet transport plane built in US tested (Boeing 707)




In 1973 Ray Davies announces his retirement from The Kinks, then attempts suicide; neither effort successful.




In 1989 Simply Red scored their second US No.1 single with 'If You Don't Know Me By Now', a 1973 UK hit for Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes.

[bunkerfan]

16th July


In 1926 National Geographic takes 1st natural-colour undersea photos.




In 1951 Novel "Catcher in Rye" by J. D. Salinger published by Little Brown and Company.




In 1969 Apollo 11 launched, carrying 1st men to land on Moon.




In 2000 Matchbox Twenty went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Bent.' The single was taken from their second album Mad Season.

[bunkerfan]

17th July


In 1858 Recovery of the bell of HMS Lutine from ship's wreck, hung from rostrum in Lloyd's of London's Underwriting Room.




In 1955 Disneyland televises its grand opening in Anaheim, California.




In 1974 The Moody Blues open 1st quadrophonic recording studio in UK.




In 1975 Bob Marley and the Wailers played the first of two nights at The Lyceum, London, and both nights were recorded for the November released 'live' album, featuring the single 'No Woman No Cry.'

[bunkerfan]

18th July


In 1892 First human test of a vaccine against cholera; Ukrainian bacteriologist Waldemar Huffkine risks his life by testing it on himself.




In 1953 Elvis Presley pays $3.98 to make his first demo, at Sun Studio in Memphis, records "My Happiness" and "That's When Your Heartaches Begin". Reportedly gives the record to his mother as a belated birthday present.




In 1976 Nadia Comăneci (14) becomes the first gymnast in Olympic Games history to score a perfect 10 score (doing so 7 times) at Montreal Games.




In 1994 "Kiss From a Rose" released by Seal (Grammy Record of the Year and Song of the Year)

[bunkerfan]

19th July


In 1922 American swimmer Johnny Weissmuller first to break 1 minute barrier for 100m freestyle; swims 58.6s at Alameda, CA.




In 1941 British PM Winston Churchill launches his "V for Victory" campaign.




In 1976 Deep Purple split up at the end of an UK tour. David Coverdale went on to form Whitesnake, Jon Lord and Ian Paice formed a band with Tony Ashton. The classic line up of Blackmore, Gillan, Glover, Lord & Paice reformed in 1984. Glenn Hughes returned to Trapeze and Tommy Bolin put together his own band, (but would die before the end of the year).




In 1987 Bruce Springsteen played his first ever show behind the Iron Curtain when he appeared in East Berlin in front of 180,000 people. The show was broadcast on East German TV.

[bunkerfan]

20th July


In 1932 An injured Babe Ruth entertains the touring Australian cricketers in his private box at Yankee Stadium as his NY Yankees beat Chicago White Sox, 7-2; 'The Babe' meets 'The Don' (Don Bradman)




In 1952 Emile Zatopek runs Olympic Record 10K (29:17.0)




In 1968 Jane Asher breaks her engagement with Beatle bassist, singer, and songwriter Paul McCartney, live on BBC-TV's "Dee Time" programme.




In 1991 British group EMF went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Unbelievable' which had spent 14 weeks on the chart before reaching the top.

[bunkerfan]

21st July


In 1904 Camille Jenatzy sets world auto speed record at 65.79 MPH.




In 1952 "The Quiet Man" film directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara is released in the UK.




In 1964 Last Dutch whaling ship Willem Barents Sea sold to Japan.




In 2005 UK singer Long John Baldry died of a chest infection. He was one of the founding fathers of British Rock 'n' Roll in the 1960s performing with Blues Incorporated and Cyril Davies' R&B All Stars. He later fronted the Hoochie Coochie Men, with Rod Stewart and then Steam Packet with Brian Auger and Julie Driscoll. Also a member of Bluesology with Elton John. He also narrated on Winnie The Pooh recordings for Disney and was the voice for Robotnik on the Sonic The Hedgehog computer game.

[bunkerfan]

22nd July


In 1893 Katharine Lee Bates writes "America the Beautiful" in Colorado.




In 1939 Jane Bolin becomes the 1st African American female judge in New York.




In 1977 Stiff Records released 'My Aim Is True' the debut album from Elvis Costello in the UK. The musicians who were featured on the album were uncredited on the original release (due to contractual difficulties), although the backing band was made up of members of the band Clover.




In 1989 Former actress Martika started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Toy Soldiers', a No.5 hit in the UK.

[bunkerfan]

23rd July


In 1863 Alexandra Park opens in North London.




In 1955 English speed ace Donald Campbell drives Bluebird K7 to new water speed record at Ullswater in English Lakes District; first boat past 200 mph: 202.32 mph (325.60 km/h)




In 1966 Napoleon XIV releases "They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha! Ha!"




In 1989 Ringo Starr's first All-Starr Band debuts in concert; members include Joe Walsh, Nils Lofgren, Rick Danko, Levon Helm, Clarence Clemons, Dr. John, Billy Preston, and Jim Keltner.

[bunkerfan]

24th July


In 1911 American explorer Hiram Bingham rediscovers Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas.




In 1952 "High Noon", American Western film directed by Fred Zinnemann, starring Gary Cooper and Thomas Mitchell, is released.




In 1967 First modern hospice St. Christopher's founded by Dr. Cicely Saunders in London, beginning of modern palliative care and the hospice movement.




In 1993 UB40 started a seven week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Can't Help Falling In Love'. Elvis Presley had the first hit with the song, in 1961.

[bunkerfan]

25th July


In 1871 Carousel patented by Wilhelm Schneider, Davenport, Iowa.




In 1946 Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis stage their first show as a comedy team at 500 Club in Atlantic City, New Jersey.




In 1966 Brian Jones' final performance as a Rolling Stone.




In 1980 Atlantic Records/ and Albert Productions release "Back in Black", the seventh studio album by AC/DC; their first featuring lead singer Brian Johnson is a worldwide smash, selling over 50 million copies.

[bunkerfan]

26th July


In 1896 Vitascope Hall, the first permanent for-profit movie theatre, opens in New Orleans.



In 1945 Declaration of Potsdam: US, Britain and China demand the unconditional surrender of Japan during WWII.




In 1979 Pioneer 11 transmits images of Saturn and its rings.




In 1980 The Rolling Stones started a seven week run at No.1 on the US album chart with 'Emotional Rescue', the group's eighth US No.1. Emotional Rescue was the first Rolling Stones album recorded following Keith Richards' exoneration from a Toronto drugs charge that could have landed him in jail for years.

[bunkerfan]

27th July


In 1909 Orville Wright successfully tests the Wright Military Flyer, the world's first military airplane, making a record flight of 1 hour, 12 minutes, and 40 seconds, flying approximately 64 km (40 mi)




In 1940 Billboard magazine starts publishing bestseller charts.




In 1976 Former Beatle John Lennon is granted a green card for permanent residence in US.




In 1986 Queen became the first western act since Louis Armstrong in 1964 to perform in Easten Europe when they played at Budapest's Nepstadion, Hungary, the gig was filmed and released as 'Queen Magic in Budapest'.

[bunkerfan]

28th July


In 1893 Vizcaya Bridge - largest transporter bridge in the world opens over the River Ibaizabal, designed by Basque architect Alberto de Palacio.




In 1945 "Elevator girl" Betty Lou Oliver survives falling 75 stories after fog causes a US bomber plane to crash into the Empire State Building, breaking the cables supporting the elevator she was operating. This remains a world record for the longest survived elevator fall.




In 1984 23rd modern Olympic Games opens in Los Angeles.




In 1989 Singer Gloria Estefan releases her debut solo album "Cuts Both Ways".

[bunkerfan]

29th July


In 1907 Sir Robert Baden-Powell forms Boy Scouts in England.




In 1938 Olympic National Park established in Washington state.




In 1965 Beatles movie "Help" has Royal World Premiere at the London Pavilion Theatre in the West End of London; of Princess Margaret and the Earl of Snowdon attend.




In 1967 The Doors' single "Light My Fire" hits #1 in the US.