On This Day

[bunkerfan]

8th December


In 1864 The opening of the Clifton Suspension Bridge over the River Avon at Bristol, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel when he was aged just 24.




In 1973, Roxy Music had their first UK No.1 album when 'Stranded' went to the top for one week. The sleeve featured Playboy's Playmate of The Year, model Marilyn Cole, (who was the magazines's first full-frontal nude centerfold).




In 1980, John Lennon was shot five times by 25 year old Mark Chapman outside the Dakota building in New York City where John and Yoko lived. Chapman had been waiting for Lennon outside the Dakota apartments since mid-morning and had asked for an autograph earlier in the day. Lennon was pronounced dead from a massive loss of blood at 11.30pm.

[bunkerfan]

9th December


In 1914 - The Edison Phonograph Works was destroyed by fire.




In 1960 The first episode of Coronation Street was screened on ITV. It is the world's longest-running television soap opera.




In 1966, Supergroup Cream released their debut studio album 'Fresh Cream' in the UK. The three piece of Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker also released their second single 'I Feel Free' on the same day.

[bunkerfan]

10th December


In 1845 The Scottish civil engineer, Robert Thompson, patented pneumatic tyres. He was one of Scotland’s most prolific, but now largely forgotten, inventors. Tyre manufacture had to be by hand and they proved too expensive to be economically viable until Dunlop developed the process in 1888.






In 1964 - In Oslo, Norway, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. received the Nobel Peace Prize. He was the youngest person to receive the award.




In 1966, The Beach Boys went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Good Vibrations', the group's third US No.1. As a child, his mother told him that dogs could pick up "vibrations" from people, so that the dog would bark at "bad vibrations" Wilson turned this into the general idea for the song.




In

[bunkerfan]

11th December


In 1844 - Dr. Horace Wells became the first person to have a tooth extracted after receiving an anesthetic for the dental procedure. Nitrous Oxide, or laughing gas, was the anesthetic.




In 1946 - The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) was established by the U.N. General Assembly. The fund provides relief to children in countries devastated by war.




In 1968, Liverpool folk group The Scaffold were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Lily The Pink', this year's Christmas No.1. 'Lily the Pink' was a new version of an older folk song entitled 'The Ballad of Lydia Pinkham', and a similar version was the unofficial regimental song of the Royal Tank Corps, at the end of World War II.

[bunkerfan]

12th December


In 1925 - The "Motel Inn," the first motel in the world, opened in San Luis Obispo, CA.




In 1955 Christopher Cockerell patented his prototype of the hovercraft. He had tested his theories using a hair-dryer and tin cans and found his work to have potential, but the idea took some years to develop, and he was forced to sell personal possessions in order to finance his research. Hovertravel is the only scheduled passenger hovercraft service in Europe and it operates between Southsea, Portsmouth and Ryde on the Isle of Wight.




In 1963, The Beatles were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'I Want To Hold Your Hand', the group's third No.1 (and first Amercan No.1) and this year's UK Christmas No.1.

[bunkerfan]

13th December


In 1577 Francis Drake set sail from Plymouth with his flagship Pelican, plus 4 other ships and 160 men, on an expedition to the Pacific. His other ships were lost or returned home shortly after the voyage began but the Pelican, renamed the Golden Hind, pushed on alone up the coast of Chile and Peru. Continuing northwards, the California coast was claimed in the name of Queen Elizabeth. He crossed the Indian Ocean, rounded the Cape of Good Hope and eventually returned to Plymouth on September 26th 1580 with treasure worth £500,000. He became the first Englishmen to sail around the world and the Queen knighted him aboard his ship at Deptford, on the river Thames.




In 1847 Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë (under the pseudonym Ellis Bell) was published.




In 1913 - It was announced by authorities in Florence, Italy, that the "Mona Lisa" had been recovered. The work was stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris in 1911.




In 1955, Dickie Valentine was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Christmas Alphabet', the first Christmas song to reach the No.1 position. It was the first Christmas No.1 that was actually about Christmas, a trend that would continue off and on over the next several decades.

[bunkerfan]

14th December


In 1896 The Glasgow Underground Railway was opened by the Glasgow District Subway Company.




In 1911 - Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen became the first man to reach the South Pole. He reached the destination 35 days ahead of Captain Robert F. Scott.




In 1968, Marvin Gaye scored his first US No.1 single when 'I Heard It Through The Grapevine' started a five-week run at the top. It was Marvin's 15th solo hit and also his first UK No.1 single in March 69. Written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong in 1966, the single was first recorded by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles as well as Gladys Knight & the Pips.

[nonrabbit]

Dec 14, 2016 7:39:21 GMT bunkerfan said:

14th December


In 1896 The Glasgow Underground Railway was opened by the Glasgow District Subway Company.

Now known as the Clockwork Orange due to the "newish" trains being a bright garish orange colour.

I have great memories of the old Victorian carriages with leather upholstery and wooden slats on the floor - still the same in the early 1970's!
It was modernised in the mid 70's



Here's an educational and hilarious video of what it looked like in the 70's. Watch if you like wooden acting and Scottish accents.



The old St Enoch's Underground Station is still there however now it's turned into the ubiquitous coffee shop surrounded by even more of them.

[bunkerfan]

Dec 14, 2016 8:31:56 GMT nonrabbit said:

Dec 14, 2016 7:39:21 GMT bunkerfan said:

14th December


In 1896 The Glasgow Underground Railway was opened by the Glasgow District Subway Company.

The old St Enoch's Underground Station is still there however now it's turned into the ubiquitous coffee shop surrounded by even more of them.

Nice to see there's a Greggs nearby. Do they deep fry the sausage rolls?

[bunkerfan]

15th December


In 1906 The opening of the Piccadilly tube line on London's Underground. It was the longest underground line at the time, running from Finsbury Park to Hammersmith.

Another day, another underground.




In 1925 - The third Madison Square Gardens opened.




in 1939 - "Gone With the Wind," produced by David O. Selznick based on the novel by Margaret Mitchell, premiered at Loew's Grand Theater in Atlanta. The movie starred Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable.




In 1984, Do They Know It's Christmas? by Band Aid entered the UK chart at No.1 and stayed at the top for five weeks. It became the biggest selling UK single of all time with sales over 3 and a half million. Band Aid was masterminded by former Boomtown Rats singer Bob Geldof, who had been moved by a TV news story of famine in Ethiopia. Geldof had the idea of raising funds with a one-off charity single featuring the cream of the current pop world. Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Paul Young, Culture Club, George Michael, Sting, Bono, Phil Collins, Paul Weller, Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt of Status Quo and Bananarama all appeared on the recording.

[bunkerfan]

16th December


In 1773 Taxes by Britain on tea and other commodities led Samuel Adams and 150 ‘Sons of Liberty’ disguised as Mohawk Indians to hold what became known as the Boston Tea Party. 342 tea chests worth £18,000 were tossed off Griffin’s Wharf into Boston Harbour. The War of Independence had begun.




In 1901 - "The Tale of Peter Rabbit," by Beatrix Potter, was printed for the first time.




In 1965, Released as a double A side The Beatles 'Day Tripper / We Can Work It Out', became their ninth UK No.1 and their third Christmas chart topper in a row. The single was a US No.1 in January 1966.

[bunkerfan]

17th December


In 1843 A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, was published.




In 1959 - The film "On the Beach" premiered in New York City and in 17 other cities. It was the first motion picture to debut simultaneously in major cities around the world.




In 1969 - Television history was made when Tiny Tim and Miss Vicki Budinger were married on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson.




In 2010, Captain Beefheart died aged 69 from complications from multiple sclerosis. The American musician, singer-songwriter, artist and poet born Don Glen Vliet in Glendale, California recorded 13 studio albums.

[nonrabbit]

Dec 17, 2016 6:57:16 GMT bunkerfan said:

17th December


In 1843 A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, was published.



In 1969 - Television history was made when Tiny Tim and Miss Vicki Budinger were married on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson.

Both magic!

If Dickens had been alive and writing stories in the 1960's ( and I sorely wish he had!) Tiny Tim - the singer would have been one of his characters but named something like Percy Paxman (Peace man) or Wendo Weedman.

[bunkerfan]

18th December


In 1917 The 18th Amendment, authorizing prohibition of alcohol, is approved by the US congress and sent to the states for ratification.




In 1919 Pioneering aviator John Alcock, a Captain in the RAF, died in an aircraft accident whilst flying the new Vickers Viking amphibian to the Paris airshow. Alcock and Lt. Arthur Whitten-Brown were the first to make a non-stop transatlantic flight. A few days after the flight both Alcock and Brown were honoured with a reception at Windsor Castle during which King George V knighted them and invested them with their insignia as Knight Commanders of the Order of the British Empire, but after Alcock's death, Brown never flew again.




In 2000, UK singer, songwriter Kirsty MacColl was killed in a boating accident off the coast of Mexico when a speedboat hit her. MacColl was aged 41. McColl and her sons were diving at the Chankanaab reef, of Cozumel, Mexico in a designated diving area that watercraft were restricted from entering. MacColl saw the boat coming before her sons did; Louis (then 13) was not in the boat's path, but Jamie (then 15) was. She was able to push him out of the way (he sustained minor head and rib injuries) but in doing so, she was hit by the boat and killed instantly.




In 2001, English singer songwriter Clifford T. Ward died aged 57 after suffering from multiple sclerosis since 1984. His first album, Singer Songwriter, was released in 1972 on Dandelion Records (a label formed by the late disc jockey John Peel). He had the 1973 UK No.8 single 'Gaye'. Working as an English teacher in the late 60’s, one of his pupils was the future wife of Sting, Trudie Styler.

[bunkerfan]

19th December


In 1848 Emily Brontë, English author of Wuthering Heights, died of tuberculosis at the tender age of 29. A commemorative plaque is in St Michael and All Angels church - Haworth. Emily is buried in the Bronte family vault in the church and there was a Grave error.





In 1970, Elton John's first US hit, ‘Your Song’ entered the Billboard Hot 100, where it went on to reach number eight. The Hollies had been offered the song and Three Dog Night had already recorded a version which was included on their ‘It Ain't Easy’ album.

[bunkerfan]

20th December


In 1920 An English born comedian named Leslie Townes, who later changed his name to Bob Hope, became an American citizen on this day. He had lived in the United States since 1908 and became one of America's true ambassadors for show business and charity.




In 1928 Harry Ramsden started his fish and chip restaurant in a hut at White Cross - Guiseley, near Bradford in West Yorkshire. It soon became the most famous fish and chip restaurant in the world. In 2012 the restaurant was acquired by the fish and chip chain 'Wetherby Whaler' and they gave this name to the new restaurant.




In 1963 - The Berlin Wall was opened for the first time to West Berliners. It was only for the holiday season. It closed again on January 6, 1964.



1969, Peter Paul and Mary went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Leavin' On A Jet Plane'. John Denver wrote the song in 1966 with the original title of 'Oh Babe I Hate to Go.'

[bunkerfan]

21st December


In 1846 Robert Liston, Scottish surgeon, used anaesthetic (ether) for the first time in a British operation, at University College Hospital, London, to perform an amputation of a leg. Liston was known as 'the fastest knife in the West End' at a time when speed was essential to reduce pain and improve the odds of survival of a patient.




In 1937 - Walt Disney debuted the first, full-length, animated feature in Hollywood, CA. The movie was "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."




In 1988 A Pan American jumbo jet bound for New York was blown out of the sky by a terrorist bomb and crashed onto the Scottish town of Lockerbie, killing all 259 passengers and 11 people on the ground. It remains the deadliest aviation incident, and the deadliest act of terrorism, ever to take place in the United Kingdom.




In 1991, 'Bohemian Rhapsody - These Are The Days Of Our Lives' by Queen started a five week run at No.1 in the UK, the 1975 word-wide hit had been re-released following the death of Freddie Mercury.

[bunkerfan]

22nd December


In 1895 - German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen made the first X-ray, of his wife's hand.




In 1943 The children's writer, Beatrix Potter, died.




In 1949 The birth, in the Isle of Man, of the twin brothers Maurice and Robin Gibb, musicians with The Bee Gees.




In 1962, The Tornadoes started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Telstar'. Produced and written by Joe Meek it was the first major hit from a UK act on the American chart. The record was named after the AT&T communications satellite Telstar, which went into orbit in July 1962.

[nonrabbit]

Dec 22, 2016 7:41:04 GMT bunkerfan said:

22nd December


In 1895 - German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen made the first X-ray, of his wife's hand.

And she was probably saying " For God's sake Wilhelm I haven't got time to sit here while your playing around with your barium platinocyanide and photographic plates I've got Christmas dinner to plan!"

[bunkerfan]

Dec 22, 2016 21:51:16 GMT nonrabbit said:

Dec 22, 2016 7:41:04 GMT bunkerfan said:

22nd December


In 1895 - German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen made the first X-ray, of his wife's hand.

And she was probably saying " For God's sake Wilhelm I haven't got time to sit here while your playing around with your barium platinocyanide and photographic plates I've got Christmas dinner to plan!"

[bunkerfan]

23rd December


In 1823 - The poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement C. Moore (" 'Twas the night before Christmas...") was published.





In 1834 English architect Joseph Hansom, who designed the Town Hall at Lutterworth, Leicestershire patented the horse drawn taxi, known as the Hansom Cab. He went on to sell the patent to a company for £10,000 but the sum was never paid. The first Hansom Cab travelled down Hinckley's Coventry Road in 1835. They were exported worldwide and became a feature of the 19th-century street scene.




In 1954 - The Walt Disney movie "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" was released.




In 1966, ITV (Redifusion) broadcast Ready, Steady Go! for the last time, after the Musicians Union enforced a ban on miming. The special guests for the farewell show were Mick Jagger, The Who, Eric Burdon, The Spencer Davis Group, Donovan and Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich.

[bunkerfan]

24th December


In 1828 William Burke who, with his partner William Hare, dug up the dead and murdered to sell the corpses for dissection, went on trial in Edinburgh. The other bodysnatcher, William Hare, had turned King’s evidence and was not therefore brought to trial.




In 1965 A meteorite weighing about 100 lb (45kg) was the largest to fall on Britain and landed in the village of Barwell, Leicestershire.

You wouldn't want this falling on your head.




In 1972, David Bowie appeared at the Rainbow Theatre, London, England giving a special Christmas Eve concert.

This footage shows rare clips of Bowie from several gigs.

[bunkerfan]

25th December Christmas day


In 1800 The first Christmas tree in Britain was erected at Queen’s Lodge, Windsor by the German-born Queen Charlotte, wife of George III. She brought the idea over from Germany where the first reports of Christmas trees go back to 1521.




In 1914 The Christmas truce between British and German troops continued. At 2 a.m. a German band went along the trenches playing Home Sweet Home and God Save the King.




In 1950 The Stone of Scone, the Scottish coronation stone which had been in Westminster Abbey for 650 years was stolen by Scottish nationalists. The Stone, weighing 458lb (208kg) was said to have been taken from Scotland by Edward I.




In 1976, American singer Johnny Mathis was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'When A Child Is Born', the singers only UK No.1 and the Christmas hit of 1976.

[bunkerfan]

26th December


In 1898 - Marie and Pierre Curie discovered radium.




In 1947 - Heavy snow blanketed the Northeast United States, burying New York City under 25.8 inches of snow in 16 hours. The severe weather was blamed for about 80 deaths.




In 1970 British Olympic medallist Lillian Board, MBE, died after losing her battle against a virulent form of cancer. The twice European Gold medallist and Olympic silver medallist who helped set four world records on the track, died late in the afternoon after she slipped into a coma on Christmas Eve.




In 2007, Amy Winehouse's second album ‘Back to Black’ was named as the biggest-selling album of the year. Released at the end of 2006 the album had now sold more than 1.5m copies in the UK, achieving five platinum sales awards, Winehouse was also nominated for six Grammys including song of the year. Leona Lewis's ‘Spirit’ was the second best seller, Lewis sold 1.27m copies in just five weeks, becoming the fastest-selling debut in UK history and making the former X Factor winner the fastest female million-seller in the UK. Mika's ‘Life in Cartoon Motion’ were the third best selling album of 2007.

[bunkerfan]

27th December


In 1831 English naturalist Charles Darwin sailed from Plymouth on board his ship, HMS Beagle. His scientific voyage of discovery lasted five years and led to the publication (in 1859) of his highly controversial book The Origin of Species which fuelled the 'creation versus evolution' debate.




In 1904 The first performance in London of James Barrie’s most famous work, Peter Pan.




In 1977 Thousands of people flocked to UK cinemas to watch the long-awaited blockbuster, Star Wars.




In 1980, John and Yoko's Double Fantasy album started an eight-week run at No.1 on the US chart. 'Just Like Starting Over' started a five-week stay at No.1 on the singles chart.

[JTull 007]

Dec 27, 2016 8:34:38 GMT bunkerfan said:

27th December
In 1831 English naturalist Charles Darwin sailed from Plymouth on board his ship, HMS Beagle.
His scientific voyage of discovery lasted five years and led to the publication (in 1859) of his
highly controversial book The Origin of Species which fuelled the 'creation versus evolution' debate.
    

No controversy for me... I LOVE Beagles and I LOVE Evolving

[bunkerfan]

28th December


In 1912 - The first municipally-owned street cars were used on the streets of San Francisco, CA.




In 1950 Derbyshire's Peak District became Britain’s first National Park.




In 1968, Pink Floyd appeared at the two day festival Flight To Lowlands Paradise II, Margriethal-Jaarbeurs, Utrecht, The Netherlands, (replacing The Jimi Hendrix Experience). Other acts appearing included Jethro Tull, Jeff Beck, The Pretty Things and the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band.




In 1971, George Harrison was at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'My Sweet Lord' making him the first Beatle to score a No.1 US hit. The song was originally intended for Billy Preston.

[bunkerfan]

29th December


In 1170 Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas à Becket, was murdered in his own cathedral by four knights, believing they were acting on direct orders from King Henry II. The disgraced knights and their families did a number of penances, one of which was to build a Chantry chapel in the centre of Watchet and the building of St Decuman’s Church, which Richard Brito and Reginald FitzUrse then gave to Wells Cathedral. Their families went on to give land to atone for their relations’ evil deed.




In 1860 HMS Warrior, Britain's first seagoing iron-clad warship, was launched. She froze to the slipway when she was launched during London's coldest winter for 50 years and six tugs were required to haul her into the river. In later years Warrior was saved from being scrapped by the efforts of the Maritime Trust. The restoration took 8 years. Today, the ship is used as a venue for special events, and can be privately hired as a wedding venue.




In 1966, The Jimi Hendrix Experience made their debut on the UK TV show Top Of The Pops performing 'Hey Joe'.

[JTull 007]

Dec 29, 2016 8:10:55 GMT bunkerfan said:

29th December
In 1170 Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas à Becket, was murdered in his own cathedral by four knights,
believing they were acting on direct orders from King Henry II. The disgraced knights and their families
did a number of penances, one of which was to build a Chantry chapel in the centre of Watchet and the building
of St Decuman’s Church, which Richard Brito and Reginald FitzUrse then gave to Wells Cathedral.
                 Their families went on to give land to atone for their relations’ evil deed.
                 

                Hey Joe,  where you goin' with that ax in your hand?  That ain't too cool...

[bunkerfan]

30th December


In 1879 The first performance of the Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera, 'The Pirates of Penzance', at the Royal Bijou Theatre, Paignton, Devon.




In 1924 - Edwin Hubble announced the existence of other galactic systems.




In 1954 British athlete Chris Chataway became the first winner of the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year award.




In 1967, The Beatles scored their 15th US No.1 with 'Hello Goodbye'.