This Week In History: January 4 – January 10

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

World News & the American Experience:

1942 – Pan American World Airways completed the first commercial around-the-world airline flight.

1965 – President Lyndon B. Johnson gave his “Great Society” State of the Union Address.

1968 – The first U.S. heart transplant was performed at Stanford University by Dr. Norman E. Shumway.

1974 – Nixon refused to hand over tapes subpoenaed by Watergate Committee.

Movies & TV:

1948 – The first color newsreel was shown by Warner Pathe in movie theaters.

1957 – The sitcom “Blondie” premiered on NBC TV.

1957 – Elvis Presley appeared for a final time on the “The Ed Sullivan Show.”

1959 – “Bozo the Clown” premiered on TV.

1961 – “Mr. Ed” debuted on television.

1966 – The Who and The Kinks performed on the last “Shindig” TV show on ABC.

1967 – “Milton Berle Show” last aired on ABC-TV.

1967 – “Newlywed Game” debuted on ABC-TV.

1970 – The Soap Opera “All My Children” premiered.

1973 – “Schoolhouse Rock,” premiered on ABC-TV.

1975 – “Wheel Of Fortune,” debuted on NBC-TV.

1982 – “Fame” premiered on NBC-TV.

1984 – “TV’s Bloopers & Practical Jokes” debuted on NBC-TV.

Music & Radio:

1936 – “Billboard Magazine” published its first chart based on pop music’s national sales.

1940 – Gene Autry’s Melody Ranch” debuted on CBS radio.

1954 – Elvis Presley recorded “Casual Love Affair” and “I’ll Never Stand In Your Way” for his demo record.

1956 – “Don’t Be Cruel/Hound Dog,” by Elvis Presley broke records by going to #1 and staying there for 11 weeks.

1964 – Rolling Stones’ went on their first tour as a headline act.

1966 – The Beatles album “Rubber Soul”, went to #1 and stayed there for 6 weeks.

1968 – The Beatles’ “Magical Mystery Tour,” album went #1 and stayed #1 for 8 weeks.

1973 – Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain” earned her a gold record.

1979 – “Barbra Streisand’s Greatest Hits, Volume 2″ was the #1 album in the U.S. for 3 weeks.

Arts & Entertainment:

1934 – “Flash Gordon,” comic strip by Alex Raymond, debuted.

1937 – The first issue of the periodical “LOOK” went on sale.

1944 – The London “Daily Mail” was published.  It was the first transoceanic newspaper.

1952 – The comic strip “Peanuts” debuted in Sunday newspapers.

1957 – “Collier’s” magazine hit the newsstands for the last time after 69 years of publication.

1958 – Bobby Fischer won the United States Chess Championship for the first time.  He was 14 years old.

Celebrity Headlines:

1971 – Sonny Liston, heavyweight World Champ boxer (1962-64), found dead at 36.

Sports:

1942 – Joe Louis knocked out Buddy Baer, defending his world heavyweight boxing title for the 20th time.

1957 – Jackie Robinson announced his retirement from baseball.

Technology & Inventions:

1940 – Major E.H. Armstrong developed FM radio, free from interference and static.  He demonstrated it to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

1954 – The Duoscopic TV receiver by DuMont Laboratories was shown to the public.  It allowed split-screen TV viewing, or picture in picture.

1958 – The Flying V guitar was patented by the Gibson Guitar Company.

Automobile News:

1930 – The first diesel-engine automobile trip was completed.  It drove 792 miles from Indianapolis, IN to New York City.

Famous Birthdays:

1935 – Elvis (Aron) Presley

1938 – Bob Eubanks, TV game show host

1941 – Joan Baez, singer

1942 – Charlie Rose, newscaster

1944 – Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin

1946 – Diane Keaton, actress

1947 – David Bowie

1948 – Kenny Loggins, singer

1949 – George ‘Funky’ Brown, musician, Kool and The Gang

1953 – Malcolm Young, musician, AC/DC

1957 – Nancy Lopez, golf champion

1957 – Katie Couric

1964 – Nicolas Cage, actor