Headlines & Tidbits from the 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s & 80s
World News & the American Experience:
1930 – Ruth Nichols became the first woman pilot on a transcontinental flight from New York to California. It took 7 days.
1942 – A tragic fire at the famed Cocoanut Grove nightclub in Boston, MA killed nearly 500 people.
1953 – A strike of photoengravers left New York City without newspapers for 11 days.
1971 – D.B. Cooper hijacked a Boeing 727. He demanded and received $200,000, and then parachuted out over the Cascade Mountains in Washington, never to be seen or heard from again. In 1980, $5,880 was discovered on the banks of the Columbia River, but that is one of the only clues ever found.
1986 – The Iran-Contra affair came to light. Members of Reagan’s administration, chiefly Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North, were accused of dealing arms for hostages.
Movies & TV:
1940 – Woody Woodpecker was seen for the first time in the theatrical short “Knock Knock.”
1942 – “Casablanca” premiered at Hollywood Theatre, New York City.
1948 – “Hopalong Cassidy” premiered on TV.
1956 – “The Price Is Right” debuted on NBC.
1977 – “Saturday Night Fever” set box office records and made a megastar out of John Travolta. The soundtrack sold more than 11 million copies.
Music & Radio:
1932 – Groucho Marx performed on radio for the first time.
1944 – “The FBI in Peace and War” was broadcast by CBS radio for the first time.
1949 – “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” by Gene Autry became the musical hit of the Christmas season.
1956 – Bandleader Tommy Dorsey died at the age of 51. His records sold more than 110,000,000 copies.
1958 – Richie Valens released “Donna” and La Bamba.”
1958 – Harold Jenkins changed his name to Conway Twitty and hit #1 with “It’s Only Make Believe.”
1960 – “Amos ‘n’ Andy” made its last broadcast on CBS radio.
1962 – The Beatles had their first recording session under their new name The Beatles.
1966 – Jimi Hendrix Experience debuted in London at Bag O’ Nails Club.
1969 – Cream had their final concert at Royal Albert Hall in London.
1976 – Sex Pistols release their debut single “Anarchy In The UK.”
1979 – “The Wall” by Pink Floyd was released, selling 6 million copies in 2 weeks.
Arts & Entertainment:
1936 – The first issue of “Life” magazine, created by Henry R Luce, debuted.
1950 – The musical “Guys and “Dolls opened at the 46th Street Theatre in New York City. It ran for 1200 performances.
1958 – The GE Theatre production of “A Turkey for the President” starred both Ronald and Nancy Reagan.
Celebrity Headlines:
1981 – Natalie Wood actress (West Side Story), drowned at 43 years old.
1986 – Actor Cary Grant passed away at the age of 82.
Sports:
1984 – Doug Flutie threw a 48-yard pass to get a touchdown in the final play of the game that led Boston College to beat Miami in the Orange Bowl. The play became known as “The Pass” or a “Hail Mary Pass.”
Technology & Inventions:
1944 – Johns Hopkins Hospital performs 1st open heart surgery.
1948 – The Zoomar Lens was patented by Dr. Frank G. Back of New York City. It a popular lens most often used in television production.
1948 – The first Polaroid camera was sold.
Famous Birthdays:
1935 – Marian Mercer, singer, actress
1939 – Tina Turner
1940 – Percy Sledge, singer
1940 – Bruce Lee
1942 – Jimi (James Marshall) Hendrix
1947 – Linda Laflamme, rocker
1957 – Caroline (Bouvier) Kennedy
1959 – Judd Nelson, actor
1960 – John F. Kennedy Jr.
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