This Week In History: January 18 – January 24

Headlines & Tidbits from the 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s & 80s

World News & the American Experience:

1937 – Franklin Delano Roosevelt became the first U.S. President to be inaugurated on January 20th. The “20th Amendment” of the “U.S. Constitution” set the date, officially.

1943 – A ban stopped U.S. bakers from selling sliced bread. Until the end of World War II, only whole loaves were sold. This was to reduce demand for metal parts.

1968 – The Apollo 5 launched to Moon; it was the first unmanned flight of the Apollo Lunar Module, which would later bring astronauts to the moon.

1973 – The Supreme Court’s decision was made in Roe v Wade.

Movies & TV:

1948 – The Original Amateur Hour debuted on the DuMont network, hosted by Ted Mack.  It lasted on television for 22 years.

1953 – 68% of all TV sets in the U.S. were tuned to CBS-TV, as Lucy Ricardo of “I Love Lucy” gave birth to a baby boy.

1959 – Dick Clark’s “American Bandstand” was the #1 daytime TV show in the U.S.

1968 – “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In”, debuted on NBC-TV. It became the highest-rated comedy show in history.

1970 – “The Johnny Cash Show” was broadcast for the first time in prime time on ABC-TV.

1972 – “Emergency” with Robert Fuller premiered on NBC TV.

1974 – “$6 Million Man” starring Lee Majors premiered on ABC TV.

1975 – “The Jeffersons” premiered on CBS-TV.

1983 – “The A-Team was first broadcast on NBC.

Music & Radio:

1930 – “Lone Ranger” was broadcast for the first time on WXYZ-Detroit.

1944 – The first jazz concert was held at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City, starring Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Artie Shaw, Roy Eldridge and Jack Teagarden.

1946 – “The Fat Man” debuted on ABC radio, starring J. Scott Smart.

1954 – The National Negro Network was formed on this date.

1964 – Beatles first appeared on the Billboard Chart with “I Want to Hold Your Hand.”

1964 – The first album by The Beatles was released, called “Meet the Beatles.”

1978 – The soundtrack of “Saturday Night Fever” reached #1 on the album charts, and stayed there for 6 months.

1980 – Pink Floyd’s “Wall” hit #1.

1986 – AIDS charity record “That’s What Friends are For,” reached #1.

Arts & Entertainment:

1955 – The board game “Scrabble” debuted.

Celebrity Headlines:

1958 – Elvis Presley got a letter from the draft board in Memphis, TN ordering him to report for duty; but allowed a 60-day deferment for him to finish the film, “King Creole”.

1969 – Judy Garland died at 48 of an overdose.

Sports:

1967 – US female Figure Skating championship won by Peggy Fleming.

1973 – George Foreman knocked out Joe Frazier in 2 for heavyweight boxing title.

1983 – Hulk Hogan pins Iron Sheik for World Wrestling Federation title.

1984 – US male Figure Skating championship won by Scott Hamilton.

1989 – Wayne Gretzky passed Marcel Dionne to become NHL’s 2nd all time scorer.

Technology & Inventions:

1955 – The first atomic-powered submarine, USS Nautilus, was launched at Groton, Connecticut.

1984 – Apple Computer Inc unveiled its Macintosh personal computer.

Automobile News:

1954 – The gas turbine automobile was introduced in New York City.

Famous Birthdays:

1928 – Martin Landau, actor

1930 – Buzz (Edwin) Aldrin Jr, astronaut

1931 – Tippi (Natalie) Hedren, actress

1931 – Sam Cooke, singer

1934 – Bill (Wilfred Bailey) Bixby

1939 – Wolfman Jack, disc jockey

1939 – Phil Everly, singer

1940 – Jack Nicklaus, professional golfer

1941 – Neil Diamond

1941 – Aaron Neville

1941 – Ron Townson, singer

1943 – Janis Joplin

1946 – Dolly Parton

1949 – Robert Palmer, singer

1950 – Billy Ocean, singer

1953 – Desi Arnaz Jr.

1959 – Linda Blair, actress

1965 – John Michael Montgomery, country singer

1968 – Mary Lou Retton