This Week In History: July 27 – August 2

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

American Experience:

1945 – July 28 – Due to heavy fog a US Army B-25 bomber crashed into the 79th floor on the north side of the Empire State Building. It left a hole 18 feet wide and 20 feet tall and killed 14 people.

1956 – “In God We Trust” was adopted as the U.S. national motto.

1958 – The US Postal Service increased the cost of a first class mail stamp to 4 cents after 26 years at 3 cents.

1960 – Republican National convention selects Richard Nixon as the candidate for president

1971 – Apollo 15 astronauts David R Scott and James B Irwin were the first people to ride on the moon in a vehicle. (LRV Lunar Rover Vehicle)

Movies & TV:

1940 – Bugs Bunny made his first appearance in “A Wild Hare.”

1943 – “Girl Crazy,” last Judy Garland-Mickey Rooney movie released

1950 – Walt Disney’s “Treasure Island” was released.

1951 – “Alice in Wonderland” was released.

1952 – “The Guiding Light” made the transition from radio to CBS Television

1957 – Jerry Lee Lewis makes his 1st TV appearance on the Steve Allen Show

1965 – Beatles movie “Help” premieres in London, attended by queen Elizabeth

1974 – The last showing of “Dinah’s Place” aired on NBC.

1974 – Jim Hartz became the new co-host of the “Today Show,” working with Barbara Walters.

1981 – Music Video Television (MTV) first aired. The very first video played was “Video Killed The Radio Star” by the Buggles.

Music & Radio:

1942 – Peggy Lee recorded “Why don’t You Do Right” with the Benny Goodman Band.

1942 –Live from New York, the first broadcast of “Stage Door Canteen” on CBS radio took place. Volunteering their time for the war effort, celebrities entertained the servicemen of World War II.

1954 – “Sh-Boom” (Life Could Be A Dream) by The Crew Cuts was the #1 song on the Billboard chart.

1960 – Chubby Checker introduces the world to “The Twist.”

1960 – Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini by Brian Hyland was at the top of the charts.

1966 – The Beatles’ “Yesterday… & Today,” album goes stays at #1 for 5 weeks

1974 – “Annie’s Song” by John Denver reached #1 on the Billboard singles chart.

The Arts:

1938 – “Dennis the Menace,” the comic strip 1st appears

1940 – John F. Kennedy’s first book “Why England Slept” was published. He was 23 years old.

1984 – “Peanuts” by Charles Schultz became the first comic strip to grace the pages of 2,000 newspapers.

Celebrity Headlines:

1973 – Farrah Fawcett married Lee Majors, the “Six Million Dollar Man.”

1976 – John Lennon was given permanent residency in the US after a long legal battle.

1981 – England’s Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer at St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Sports:

1981 – The Major League Baseball players’ strike over the issue of free agent compensation came to an end after seven weeks.

Technology & Inventions:

1933 – The first singing telegram was delivered.

1935 – 1st Penguin book is published, starting the paperback era

1987 – Ben & Jerry’s & Jerry Garcia agree on a new flavor called Cherry Garcia

Automobile News:

1941 – “Parade” Magazine introduces the Jeep to the American public in an article detailing the Army’s extensive use of this multi-purpose little truck.

Famous Birthdays:

1938 – Peter Jennings, news anchor (ABC Evening News)

1941 – Paul Anka, singer

1942 – Jerry Garcia, The Grateful Dead

1945 – Rick Wright, Pink Floyd keyboardist

1947 – Arnold Schwarzenegger, actor