Headlines & Tidbits from the 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s & 80s
World News & the American Experience:
1938 – Graf Zeppelin II, the world’s largest airship, made its maiden flight.
1947 – The U.S. Air Force, an independent military service, was established by the National Security Act. The Air Force had previously been a part of the US Army.
1985 – The Farm Aid concert, organized by Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young, was held to raise money for farmers in America. Farm Aid is now an organization to increase awareness of the importance of our farms, and the concert is put on annually.
Movies & TV:
1948 – Milton Berle began his TV career on “Texaco Star Theater.”
1949 – “Lone Ranger” premiered on ABC-TV.
1955 – The “Toast of the Town” became “The Ed Sullivan Show.”
1963 – “Outer Limits” debuted on ABC-TV.
1964 – “Shindig” premiered on ABC-TV.
1964 – “Bewitched” first episode was broadcast on ABC TV.
1965 – “The Dean Martin Show” debuted on NBC-TV.
1965 – The first episode of “Green Acres” was shown on CBS-TV.
1965 – “Lost in Space” premiered on TV.
1965 – “Hogan’s Heroes” debuted.
1967 – “Mission Impossible” premiered on CBS-TV.
1968 – “The Andy Griffith Show” was broadcast for the final time on CBS-TV.
1968 – “60 Minutes” debuted on CBS-TV.
1970 – “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” debuted on CBS-TV.
1971 – First broadcast of “Columbo” premiered on NBC-TV.
1972 – The TV show “Waltons” premiered.
1972 – “M*A*S*H,” premiered on NBC TV.
1978 – “Mork & Mindy” debuted on ABC-TV.
1981 – “Entertainment Tonight” debuted on TV.
1981 – First broadcast of “Miami Vice” was shown on NBC-TV.
1984 – The first MTV Awards premiered, hosted by Bette Midler and Dan Aykroyd host.
1984 – “The Cosby Show” debuted on NBC-TV.
1986 – First broadcast of “LA Law” premiered on NBC-TV.
Music & Radio:
1935 – “Just Plain Bill” was first broadcast on CBS radio.
1960 – Chubby Checker’s “Twist” hit #1.
1963 – “She Loves You”, by The Beatles, was released in the U.S. It was the first record to be recorded by them, but the second #1 hit.
1969 – “Sugar, Sugar”, by The Archies, hit number one in “Billboard”.
1977 – Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumors” is #1 for 19th straight week.
The Arts:
1951 – “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” closed at Ziegfeld in New York City after 740 performances.
1982 – “USA Today” was published for the first time. Its fast-reading format was criticized at first, but has now been imitated by others trying to appeal to readers in a fast-paced technology-oriented world.
Celebrity Headlines:
1970 – Jimi Hendrix died. The circumstances surrounding his passing are still hazy today.
1982 – Princess Grace of Monaco (Grace Kelly, actress) died in a tragic car accident.
Sports:
1947 – Jackie Robinson named 1947 “Rookie of Year.”
1973 – Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs in 3 sets in the tennis match “Battle of the Sexes.”
1978 – Muhammad Ali beat Leon Spinks for Heavyweight Boxing Title.
1979 – Theodore Coombs completed 5,193 mile roller skate from LA to NYC & back to Yates Center, KS.
1981 – Boxer ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard knocked out Thomas ‘The Hit Man’ Hearns for the Welterweight Boxing Championship. It was also the largest payday in boxing history.
1988 – Greg Louganis wins Olympic gold medal in Springboard Diving.
Technology & Inventions:
1931 – RCA Victor demonstrated an early version of the LP (Long Playing) 33-1/3 RPM Record.
Automobile News:
1947 – John Cobb set the automobile Land Speed World Record at 394.2 MPH. He was driving the piston engined, wheel driven Railton Special.
Famous Birthdays:
1925 – B.B. (Riley B.) King, musician
1931 – Anne Bancroft, actress
1934 – 1934 – Sophia Loren, Award-Winning actress
1938 – Walter Koenig, actor
1940 – Frankie (Frances) Avalon (Avellone), singer, actor
1941 – ‘Mama’ Cass Elliott (Ellen Naomi Cohen), singer The Mamas & The Papas
1946 – Oliver Stone, director
1947 – Chuck Panozzo, John Panozzo, rockers (Styx)
1949 – Ed Begley Jr. actor
1949 – Twiggy (Leslie Hornby), fashion model
1952 – Dee Dee Ramone, musician
1956 – Mickey Rourke, actor
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