History for May 2 on HistoryUnlimited.net


< Back 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Next >		1967–Capitol Records announces that one of the most cryptic periods in The Beach Boys career has come to a close, as they've stopped the Smile album project. Brian Wilson took over a year to compose and produce the album and hoped to battle The Beatles for pop supremacy. However, after The Beatles released Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Wilson became convinced that Smile would be seen as "second best."

907–Boris I of Bulgaria dies at a monastery near Preslav, Bulgaria. In 889, Boris had abdicated the throne to become a monk. He is regarded as a Saint in the Orthodox Church, and as the Prince and baptizer of Bulgaria. 1194–King Richard I of England gives Portsmouth its first Royal Charter. 1219–Leo I, King of Armenia, dies in Cilicia, in the south coastal region of Asia Minor (present-day Çukurova, Turkey), at age 69. 1230–William de Braose is hanged by Prince Llywelyn the Great. 1250–Toeransa, Sultan of Egypt, is murdered. 1335–Otto the Merry, Duke of Austria, becomes Duke of Carinthia. 1360–Emperor Yongle of China is born Zhu Di in Yingtian, Yuan Empire. He was the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty in China, reigning from 1402 to 1424. 1402–Eleanor of Aragon, Queen of Portugal, is born in Medina del Campo, Valladolid, Castile and León. 1458–Eleanor of Viseu is born in Beja, Portugal. She was a Portuguese infanta (princess) and later queen consort of Portugal. 1519–Italian Renaissance Man, Leonardo da Vinci, one of the most famous and versatile artists who ever lived, dies at Clos Lucé, France, at age 67. Leonardo da Vinci was a painter, sculptor, architect, mathematician, engineer, inventor, musician, philosopher, scientist, cartographer, and writer. He was was buried in the Chapel of Saint-Hubert in Château d'Amboise, France. 1536–Queen Anne Boleyn, mother of Queen Elizabeth I, is sent to the Tower of London to await her execution. She is imprisoned on charges of adultery, incest, treason, and witchcraft. Had she been willing to relinquish her daughter's right to the throne, her life would have been spared. 1559–John Knox returns to Scotland, from exile, to become the leader of the nascent Scottish Reformation. 1568–Mary, Queen of Scots, escapes from Loch Leven Castle. 1611–The King James Bible is published for the first time in London, England, by printer Robert Barker. 1670–King Charles II of England grants a permanent charter to the Hudson's Bay Company to open up the fur trade in North America. 1672–John Maitland becomes Duke of Lauderdale and Earl of March. 1729–Catherine the Great (Catherine II), Empress of Russia (1762-1796), is born Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg in Stettin, Pomerania, German Kingdom of Prussia. She was the most renowned and the longest-ruling female leader of Russia, reigning from 1762 until her death in 1796. She came to power following a coup d'état when her husband, Peter III, was assassinated. Russia was revitalized under her reign, growing larger and stronger than ever and becoming recognized as one of the great powers of Europe. The period of Catherine the Great's rule, the Catherinian Era, is often considered the Golden Age of the Russian Empire and the Russian nobility. 1737–Politician, William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne, is born William Petty-Fitzmaurice in Dublin, County Dublin, Kingdom of Ireland. He was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. As Prime Minister during the final months of the American War of Independence, he succeeded in securing peace with America, and this feat remains his most notable legacy. 1780–William Herschel discovers the first binary star, Xi Ursae Majoris. 1808–The people of Madrid rise up in rebellion against French occupation. Francisco de Goya later memorializes this event in his painting The Second of May 1808. 1812–The Siege of Cuautla during the Mexican War of Independence ends with both sides claiming victory after Mexican rebels, under José María Morelos y Pavón, abandon the city after 72 days under siege by royalist Spanish troops. 1813–Prince Augustus Ferdinand of Prussia dies in Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, at age 82. He was the youngest child of King Frederick William I of Prussia and his wife, Sophia Dorothea of Hanover. 1816–Léopold of Saxe-Coburg marries Princess Charlotte of Wales. 1829–After anchoring nearby, Captain Charles Fremantle of HMS Challenger, declares the Swan River Colony in Australia. 1837–Parliamentarian, Henry Martyn Robert, is born in Robertville, South Carolina. He developed Robert's Rules of Order. It became the most widely used manual of parliamentary procedure, and remains the most common parliamentary authority in the United States. 1840–Theodor Herzl, founder of the Zionist movement, is born Benjamin Ze’ev Herzl in Budapest, Kingdom of Hungary (present-day Hungary). He formed the World Zionist Organization and promoted Jewish migration to Palestine, in an effort to form a Jewish state (Israel). 1848–James Joseph Dolan is born in in Loughrea, Ireland. He was an Union Army veteran, Republican Party leader, racketeer, gunman, cattleman, and a key player in the Lincoln County War in New Mexico. The range war lasted through July, 1878, culminating in the Battle of Lincoln, and Dolan died 20 years later. The Lincoln County War story was told in the film Young Guns. 1857–Romantic poet, Alfred de Musset, dies in his sleep of heart failure in Paris, France, at age 46. He is best known for his novel La Confession d'un enfant du siècle (The Confession of a Child of the Century). 1863–Stonewall Jackson is wounded by friendly fire while returning to camp during the Battle of Chancellorsville. He succumbs to pneumonia eight days later. 1866–Peruvian defenders fight off the Spanish fleet at the Battle of Callao. 1869–The Folies Bergère opens in Paris, France. Located at 32 rue Richer in the 9th Arrondissement, the Folies Bergère was built as an opera house by the architect Plumeret. It was at the height of its fame and popularity from the 1890s Belle Époque through the 1920s Années folles. The institution is still in business, and is always a strong symbol of French and Parisian life. 1869–Actor, Tyrone Power, Sr., is born Frederick Tyrone Edmond Power in London, England. Power's father was the youngest son of the Irish actor, Tyrone Power, from whom his son, grandson, and great grandson would later take their stage names. After an extremely prosperous 30 years of acting on the stage and touring around the world, Power moved into silent films in 1914. Initially playing the leading man, he soon switched to playing villains and proved highly successful. In 1930, Power had a final great role as the villainous "bull whacker," Red Flack, in the widescreen epic The Big Trail, which was Power's first (and only) talkie and provided an unknown John Wayne with his first starring role. His son is actor, Tyrone Power. 1872–Hairdresser, Karl (Ludwig) Nessler, is born in Feldberg, Germany. He invented the permanent wave. In April 1919, his Hair Curler was filed at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He later developed a do-it-yourself kit for perms and opened a chain of hair salons. 1876–The April Uprising breaks out in Ottoman Bulgaria. 1878–The Washburn flour mill in Minneapolis, Minnesota, explodes, sending the roof 500 feet in the air. Eighteen workers are killed and seven other flour mills are also destroyed. 1879–The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party is founded in Casa Labra Pub in Madrid, Spain, by the historical Spanish workers' leader, Pablo Iglesias. 1880–Businessman, Eberhard Anheuser, dies in St. Louis, Missouri, at age 73. He co-founded Anheuser-Busch. He was a German-American soap and candle maker, as well as the father-in-law of Adolphus Busch. 1881–Lawyer and politician, Alexander Fyodorovich Kerensky, is born in Simbirsk (present-day Ulyanovsk), Russia. He served as the second Minister-Chairman of the Russian Provisional Government from July to November 1917. On November 7, 1917, his government was overthrown by the Vladimir Lenin-led Bolsheviks in the October Revolution. He spent the remainder of his life in exile. A leader of the moderate-socialist Trudoviks faction of the Socialist Revolutionary Party, Kerenski is a key figure of the Russian Revolution. 1885–Good Housekeeping magazine begins publication. 1885–Cree and Assiniboine warriors win the Battle of Cut Knife, their largest victory over Canadian forces during the North-West Rebellion. 1885–The Congo Free State is established by King Léopold II of Belgium. 1885–Gossip columnist, Hedda Hopper, is born Elda Furry in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. Her gossip column, “Hedda Hopper's Hollywood,” debuted in The Los Angeles Times on February 14, 1938. She became known for her outrageous, huge, and elaborate hats. She is the mother of actor, William Hopper. 1887–Hannibal W. Goodwin, of New Jersey, applies for a patent for celluloid photographic film. 1889–Menelik II, Emperor of Ethiopia, signs the Treaty of Wuchale, giving Italy control over Eritrea. 1890–The Territory of Oklahoma is established. 1892–German World War I flying ace, Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen, is born. He became known as The Red Baron. 1895–Lyricist, Lorenz Hart, is born in New York, New York. He grew up in a German-speaking family, and worked for a while for the Schubert organization, translating German plays. When he was 23, he met composer Richard Rodgers, who was then just 16 years old; within weeks they had written 15 songs. They were partners for 25 years, and had a string of successful Broadway shows. Hart wrote My Romance, Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered, and My Funny Valentine. He split with Rodgers in 1942, because he thought a musical about cowboys was too corny to be a hit. Richard Rodgers then teamed Oscar Hammerstein II to create Oklahoma! 1896–Princess Helen of Greece and Denmark is born in Athens, Greece. 1902–The first science fiction film, A Trip to the Moon, is released. 1902–Arturo Licata, super-centenarian, is born in Enna, Italy. He would go on to live to age 111 (and 357 days). He was verified as the oldest living man from September 13, 2013 until April 24, 2014. 1903–The 29th Kentucky Derby: Hal Booker, riding Judge Himes, wins in 2:09. 1903–Pediatrician and author, Benjamin (McLane) Spock, is born in New Haven, Connecticut. He was the leading expert on baby and child care in the 1950s. His book The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care, published in 1946, is one of the best-sellers of all time: by 1998, it had sold more than 50 million copies and has been translated into 39 languages. Spock was the first pediatrician to study psychoanalysis to understand children's needs and family dynamics. His ideas about childcare influenced several generations of parents to be more flexible and affectionate with their children, and to treat them as individuals. 1904–The 30th Kentucky Derby: Shorty Prior, riding Elwood, wins in 2:08. 1906–The 32nd Kentucky Derby: Roscoe Troxler, riding Sir Huon, wins in 2:08. 1907–Pinky Lee, children's TV show host and star of The Pinky Lee Show, is born Pincus Leff in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He was comic of the "baggy pants" variety on stage, becoming an expert at the slapstick, comic dancing, and rapid-fire jokes of the Burlesque style. 1918–General Motors acquires the Chevrolet Motor Company of Delaware. 1919–The first U.S. air passenger service begins. 1920–The first game of the Negro National League baseball is played in Indianapolis, Indiana. 1920–A swarm of tornadoes in Rogers, Mayes, and Cherokee Counties in Oklahoma, kills 64 people. 1921–Film director, Satyajit Ray, is born in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India. He directed 36 films, including feature films, documentaries, and shorts. He was also a fiction writer, publisher, illustrator, calligrapher, music composer, graphic designer, and film critic. In 1992, Ray was the first Indian to receive an Honorary Academy Award. His films include Pather Panchali, Aparajito, Apur Sansar, Devi, Sikkim, The Inner Eye, Bala, and Agantuk. 1923–Patrick (John) Hillery, President of Ireland (1976-1990), is born in Spanish Point, County Clare, Ireland. 1924–Actor, Theodore (Meir) Bikel, is born in Vienna, Austria. He studied acting at Britain's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and made his London stage debut in 1948. He appeared in the films The African Queen, Moulin Rouge, I Bury the Living, The Defiant Ones, I Want to Live!, Woman Obsessed, The Blue Angel, My Fair Lady, 200 Motels, and See You in the Morning. 1925–Kezar Stadium opens in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California. 1925–Actor, Roscoe Lee Browne, is born in Woodbury, New Jersey. He was cast in numerous TV shows, including Mannix, The Name of the Game, Bonanza, All in the Family, Barney Miller, Starsky and Hutch, Soap, Cosby, and Law & Order. He appeared in the films Black Like Me, The Comedians, Topaz, The Cowboys, Cisco Pike, The Worlds’s Greatest Athlete, Uptown Saturday Night, Legal Eagles, Jumpin’ Jack Flash, The Mambo Kings, Naked in New York, Dear God, and Hamlet. 1927–The Pulitzer Prizes are awarded. Reporting: John T. Rogers, of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, for the inquiry leading to the impeachment of Judge George W. English of the U.S. Court for the Eastern District of Illinois; Fiction: Early Autumn by Louis Bromfield (Stokes); Drama: In Abraham's Bosom by Paul Green (McBride); History: Pinckney's Treaty by Samuel Flagg Bemis (Johns Hopkins); Biography or Autobiography: Whitman by Emory Holloway (Knopf); Poetry: Fiddler's Farewell by Leonora Speyer (Knopf). 1929–Guitarist, Link Wray, is born Fred Lincoln Wray, Jr. in Dunn, North Carolina. Building on the distorted electric guitar sound of early records, his instrumental hit, Rumble, by Link Wray and his Ray Men in 1958, popularized the power chord, the major modus operandi of modern rock guitarists, which lead to punk and heavy rock. 1932–Comedian Jack Benny's radio show airs for the first time. 1932–The Pulitzer Prizes are awarded. Reporting: W.C. Richards, D.D. Martin, J.S. Pooler, F.D. Webb, and J.N.W. Sloan, of The Detroit Free Press, for their account of the parade of the American Legion during the 1931 convention in Detroit, Michigan; Fiction: The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck (John Day); Drama: Of Thee I Sing by George S. Kaufman, Morrie Ryskind, and Ira Gershwin (Knopf); History: My Experiences in the World War by John J. Pershing (Stokes); Biography or Autobiography: Theodore Roosevelt by Henry F. Pringle (Harcourt); Poetry: The Flowering Stone by George Dillon (Viking). 1933–Germany's independent labor unions are replaced by the German Labour Front. 1935–Faisal II, King of Iraq (1939-1958), is born Faisal bin Ghazi bin Faisal bin Hussein bin Ali in Baghdad, Kingdom of Iraq. He was the last King of Iraq. 1936–Peter and the Wolf, a symphonic tale for children by Sergei Prokofiev, has its world premiere in Moscow, Russia. 1936–The 62nd Kentucky Derby: Ira Hanford, riding Bold Venture, wins in 2:03. 1936–Singer, Engelbert Humperdinck, is born Arnold George Dorsey in Madras, British India (present-day Chennai, India). His hits include Release Me, The Last Waltz, and After The Lovin’. He took has stage name to contrast with the simplicity of the name of his fellow singer, Tom Jones. Humperdinck's easygoing style and good looks earned him a large following, particularly among women. His hardcore female fans called themselves "Humperdinckers." 1937–Actor and screenwriter, Lorenzo Music, is born Gerald David Music in Brooklyn, New York. He is best known for the role of the “never-seen” Carlton the Doorman on the TV series Rhoda. He also was the voice of the animated cartoon cat, Garfield. He changed his first name to Lorenzo for spiritual reasons after he became a member of the international spiritual association Subud. 1938–The Pulitzer Prizes are awarded. Reporting: Raymond Sprigle, of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, for his series of articles exposing the one-time membership of Mr. Justice Hugo Black in the Ku Klux Klan; Fiction: The Late George Apley by John P. Marquand (Little); Drama: Our Town by Thornton Wilder (Coward); History: The Road to Reunion 1865-1900 by Paul Herman Buck (Little); Biography or Autobiography: Andrew Jackson by Marquis James (Bobbs) and Pedlar's Progress by Odell Shepard (Little); Poetry: Cold Morning Sky by Marya Zaturenska (Macmillan). 1940–Actress, Jo Ann Pflug, is born in Atlanta, Georgia. She was seen on the TV shows The Big Valley, Marcus Welby, M.D., McCloud, Love, American Style, The Dukes of Hazzard, The Fall Guy, The Love Boat, and Knight Rider. She appeared in the films MASH, Traveller,* and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. She was married to TV personality, Chuck Woolery. 1941–An anti-British revolt, encouraged by Germany, takes place in Iraq. 1941–Following the coup d'état against Iraq Crown Prince 'Abd al-Ilah earlier that year, the United Kingdom launches the Anglo-Iraqi War to restore him to power. 1942–68th Kentucky Derby: Wayne D, Wright, riding Shut Out, wins in 2:04. 1942–Electronics engineer and inventor, Magic Alex, is born Yanni Alexis Mardas in Athens, Greece. He was associated with The Beatles between 1965 and 1969, and was appointed the head of Apple Electronics. He was also with The Beatles at Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's ashram in India. 1943–Hilton (Steven) Valentine, of The Animals, is born in North Shields, Northumberland, England. Along with the other original group members, Eric Burdon, Chas Chandler, Alan Price, and John Steel, Valentine was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. 1945–The Soviet Union announces the capture of Berlin, Germany, and Soviet soldiers hoist their red flag over the Reichstag building. 1945–The U.S. 82nd Airborne Division liberates Wobbelin concentration camp, finding 1,000 dead prisoners, most of whom had starved to death. 1945–A death march from Dachau to the Austrian border is halted by the segregated, all-Nisei 522nd Field Artillery Battalion of the U.S. Army in southern Bavaria, saving several hundred prisoners. 1945–Bob Henrit, drummer for The Kinks, is born Robert John Henrit in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, England. Henrit replaced the long-standing drummer of The Kinks, Mick Avory, after his departure in 1984. Henrit then worked with the group until their final demise in 1996. 1945–Model, Bianca Jagger, is born Bianca Prez Morena de Macias in Managua, Nicaragua. She had a public reputation as a jet-setter and party-goer in the 1970s and early 1980s, being closely associated in the public mind with New York City's nightclub Studio 54, and as a friend of pop artist, Andy Warhol. She appeared in the films All You Need is Cash, The American Success Company, and The Cannonball Run. She was married to rocker, Mick Jagger. Their daughter is Jade Jagger. 1945–Goldy McJohn, keyboardist for Steppenwolf, is born John Raymond Goadsby in Toronto, Canada. Originally a classically trained pianist, he was a pioneer in the early use of the electronic Hammond B3 organ in heavy metal music. 1946–The "Battle of Alcatraz" takes place, with two guards and three inmates being killed. 1946–Pop singer, Lesley Gore, is born Lesley Sue Goldstein in Brooklyn, New York. Her hits include It’s My Party, Judy’s Turn To Cry, She’s A Fool, You Don’t Own Me, and Maybe I Know. 1947–Businessman, James Dyson, is born in Cromer, Norfolk, England. He founded the Dyson Company. He is an inventor and industrial designer, best known for the Dual Cyclone bagless vacuum cleaner, which works on the principle of cyclonic separation. According to The Sunday Times Rich List 2013, his net worth was £3 billion. 1948–Country singer, Larry (Wayne) Gatlin, of The Gatlin Brothers, is born in Seminole, Texas. In the late 1970s, as part of a team with his brothers, Steve and Rudy, he achieved considerable success within the country music genre, performing on 33 “Top 40” singles. 1949–The Pulitzer Prizes are awarded. Reporting: Price Day, of The Baltimore Sun, for his series of 12 articles entitled, "Experiment in Freedom–India and Its First Year of Independence"; Fiction: Guard of Honor by James Gould Cozzens (Harcourt); Drama: Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller (Viking); History: The Disruption of American Democracy by Roy Franklin Nichols; Biography or Autobiography: Roosevelt and Hopkins by Robert E. Sherwood; Poetry: Terror and Decorum by Peter Viereck; Photography: Nathaniel Fein, of The New York Herald-Tribune, for his photo "Babe Ruth Bows Out"; Music: Music for the film Louisiana Story by Virgil Thomson (G. Schirmer). 1950–Lou Gramm, lead singer of Foreigner, is born Louis Andrew Grammatico in Rochester, New York. The band’s hit include Hot Blooded, Feels Like the First Time, Cold as Ice, Long, Long Way from Home, Double Vision, Waiting for a Girl Like You, and I Want to Know What Love Is. His father was bandleader, Bennie Grammatico. 1951–John Glascock, bass player for Jethro Tull, is born in Islington, England. 1952–The world's first jet airliner, the De Havilland Comet 1, makes its maiden voyage carrying 36 passengers, flying from London, England, to Johannesburg, South Africa. 1952–Actress, Christine (Jane) Baranski, is born in Buffalo, New York. She is known for her roles on the TV shows Cybill, The Good Wife, and The Big Bang Theory. She appeared in the films Lovesick, Legal Eagles, The Pick-up Artist, Reversal of Fortune, Addams Family Values, The War, The Birdcage, Bulworth, Chicago, Welcome to Mooseport, Bonneville, Mamma Mia!, and Into the Woods. 1953–The 79th Kentucky Derby: Hank Moreno, riding Dark Star, wins in 2:02. 1955–The Pulitzer Prizes are awarded. Reporting: Harrison E. Salisbury, of The New York Times, for his distinguished series of articles, "Russia Re-Viewed," based on his six years as a correspondent in Russia; Fiction: A Fable by William Faulkner (Random); Drama: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams (New Directions); History: Great River–The Rio Grande in North American History by Paul Horgan (Rinehart); Biography or Autobiography: The Taft Story by William S. White (Harper); Poetry: Collected Poems by Wallace Stevens (Knopf); Photography: John L. Gaunt, of The Los Angeles Times, for the photo "Tragedy by the Sea"; Music: The Saint of Bleecker Street by Gian-Carlo Menotti (G. Schirmer). 1955–Singer, Jay (Wesley) Osmond, of The Osmond Brothers, is born in Ogden, Utah. He is a world-class drummer who started his career at the age of two. 1955–Fashion designer, Donatella Versace, is born in Reggio, Italy. Donatella would follow in her brother, Gianni Versace's footsteps. She would ultimately become head of her own label, Versus, under the Versace umbrella. After her brother's death, Donatella became Vice-President and chief designer of the Versace Group. 1956–A U.S. Lab detects high-temperature microwave radiation from the planet Venus. 1957–Elvis Presley records Jailhouse Rock. The Leiber and Stoller song inspires Presley to choreograph the steps that the convicts dance in MGM's motion picture of the same name. 1957–U.S. Senator, Joseph McCarthy, dies from acute hepatitis in Bethesda, Maryland, at age 48. His death comes two and a half years after he was censured by the U.S. Senate for his Communist “witch hunts” during committee hearings. In all, about 150 people were jailed during this period, mostly brief sentences. Many more were denied their right to work due to the “Red Scare.” 1959–The 85th Kentucky Derby: Bill Shoemaker, riding Tomy Lee. wins in 2:02. 1960–In the wake of the payola scandal, Billboard reports that many radio stations are adopting a "better music" format and banning rock and roll. 1960–The Pulitzer Prizes are awarded. Reporting: A.M. Rosenthal, of The New York Times, for his perceptive and authoritative reporting from Poland; Fiction: Advise and Consent by Allen Drury (Doubleday); Drama: Fiorello! book by Jerome Weidman and George Abbott, music by Jerry Bock, and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick (Random House); History: In the Days of McKinley by Margaret Leech (Harper); Biography or Autobiography: John Paul Jones by Samuel Eliot Morison (Little); Poetry: Heart's Needle by W.D. Snodgrass (Knopf); Photography: Andrew Lopez, of United Press International, for his series of four photographs of a corporal, formerly of Dictator Batista's army, who was executed by a Castro firing squad; Music: Second String Quartet by Elliott Carter (Associated Music Publishers). 1961–Celebrity chef, Phil Vickery, is born in Folkestone, Kent, England. He appeared in the BBC's TV series Ready Steady Cook over 200 times between 1996 and 2010. 1962–The U.S. conducts an atmospheric nuclear test at Christmas Island. 1962–The Beatles perform at the Star-Club, Hamburg, West Germany. 1963–Berthold Seliger launches a rocket with three stages and a maximum flight altitude of more than 100 kilometres near Cuxhaven. It is the only sounding rocket developed in Germany. 1964–The Beatles leave England with their wives and girlfriends on a "secret" vacation, but their plan goes awry. John and Cynthia Lennon (along with George Harrison and his new girlfriend, Pattie Boyd) travel to Papeete on the island of Tahihi. Their original destination had been Honolulu, Hawaii, but despite booking their arrangements under false names, they are mobbed by fans as soon as they arrive on Hawaiian soil. 1964–The first ascent is made of Shishapangma, the 14th highest mountain in the world. 1964–The Beatles' Second Album reaches #1 on the American LP charts in its second week of release, the first album ever to make it to the top that quickly. 1964–Beginning a career-long rivalry of sorts, The Rolling Stones' self-titled debut LP knocks With The Beatles off the top of the U.K. album chart. The Stones’ manager, Andrew Oldham, had cleverly left the band's name off the album cover, which was a record industry first. 1964–The 90th Kentucky Derby: Bill Hartack, riding Northern Dancer. wins in 2:00. 1965–Although he swore he would never allow the band to appear on his show again, Ed Sullivan plays host to The Rolling Stones for a second time. To prevent any disturbances among the group's fans, the group is locked in the CBS-TV studios for the entire day. 1965–The world's first commercial communications satellite, Early Bird, goes into orbit and relays telephone messages and television programs between Europe and America, covering 24 countries. 1966–The Pulitzer Prizes are awarded. Reporting: Peter Arnett, of the Associated Press, for his coverage of the war in Vietnam; Fiction: Collected Stories by Katherine Anne Porter (Harcourt); Drama: No award given; Non-Fiction: Wandering Through Winter by Edwin Way Teale (Dodd); History: The Life of the Mind in America by Perry Miller (Harcourt); Biography or Autobiography: A Thousand Days by Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. (Houghton); Poetry: Selected Poems by Richard Eberhart (New Directions); Photography: Kyoichi Sawada, of United Press International, for his combat photography of the war in Vietnam during 1965; Music: Variations for Orchestra by Leslie Bassett (Peters). 1967–Capitol Records announces that one of the most cryptic periods in The Beach Boys career has come to a close, as they've stopped the Smile album project. Brian Wilson took over a year to compose and produce the album and hoped to battle The Beatles for pop supremacy. However, after The Beatles released Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Wilson became convinced that Smile would be seen as "second best." 1967–The Stanley Cup: The Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Montreal Canadiens, 4 games to 2. 1968–The 22nd NBA Championship: The Boston Celtics beat the Los Angeles Lakers, 4 games to 2. 1969–The British oceanliner, Queen Elizabeth II, leaves on its maiden voyage to New York. 1969–Elvis Presley finishes shooting his 31st and final movie, Change of Habit. His co-star and last leading lady is Mary Tyler Moore. 1970–A chart topper: Spirit in the Sky by Norman Greenbaum. 1970–The 96th Kentucky Derby: Mike Manganello, riding Dust Commander, wins in 2:03. 1972–The New York Times runs an editorial supporting the Lennons’ bid to stay in America. The “National Committee for John and Yoko” is formed to support their campaign. 1972–The U.S. conducts a nuclear test at Nevada Test Site. 1972–In the early morning hours, a fire breaks out at the Sunshine Mine located between Kellogg and Wallace, Idaho, killing 91 workers. 1972–J. Edgar Hoover, head of the FBI (1924-1972), dies of a heart attack in Washington, D.C., at age 77. Hoover is credited with building the Federal Bureau of Investigation into a larger crime-fighting agency, and with instituting a number of modernizations to police technology, such as a centralized fingerprint file and forensic laboratories. But late in his life and after his death, he was found to have exceeded the jurisdiction of the FBI and to have used the agency to harass political dissenters and activists, to amass secret files on political leaders, and to collect evidence using illegal methods. 1975–Apple’s basement recording studios at 3 Saville Row, London, England, is officially closed, and Apple Records becomes defunct. It will be revived as a Beatles-only label in 2004. 1980–The U.S. conducts a nuclear test at Nevada Test Site. 1980–John Lennon takes possession of his new sailing boat called “Royal Isis.” He spends the rest of the month learning how to sail. 1980–Film producer, George Pal, dies of a heart attack in Los Angeles, California, at age 72. He produced the sci-fi classics When Worlds Collide and War of the Worlds. His other films include The Great Rupert, Destination Moon, Houdini, Conquest of Space, Tom Thumb, The Time Machine, 7 Faces of Dr. Lao, and The Power. 1981–The 107th Kentucky Derby: Jorge Velasquez, riding Pleasant Colony, wins in 2:02. 1982–The British nuclear submarine HMS Conqueror sinks the Argentine cruiser ARA General Belgrano during the Falklands War. 1983–A 6.7 earthquake injures 487 people in Coalinga, California. 1984–The U.S. conducts a nuclear test at Nevada Test Site. 1984–Queen Elizabeth II officially opens "The Beatle Maze" at the Liverpool International Garden Festival. She also steps on board a life-size Yellow Submarine. 1985–The U.S. conducts a nuclear test at Nevada Test Site. 1986–The World Exposition opens in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 1987–The 113th Kentucky Derby: Chris McCarron, riding Alysheba, wins in 2:03. 1988–Jackson Pollock's painting, “Search,” sells for $4,800,000. 1989–Hungary begins dismantling its border fence with Austria, which allows a number of East Germans to defect. 1990–Thunderstorms spawn a tornado which injures 13 people in Paris, Texas, and produces baseball size hail in Rio Vista. 1990–Actor, David Rappaport, dies from suicide by gunshot at Laurel Canyon Park in San Fernando Valley, California, at age 38. He one of the best known dwarf actors in television and film, standing 3' 11". He appeared in the films Turkish Delight, Mysteries, Cuba, Black Jack, Time Bandits, Sword of the Valiant, The Bride, and Luigi’s Ladies. 1992–The Berklee College of Music awards singer, Bonnie Raitt, an honorary doctorate. 1992–The 118th Kentucky Derby: Pat Day, riding Lil E. Tee, wins in 2:03. 1992–Baby doctor and author, Lee Salk, dies of cardiac arrest in Manhattan, New York, at age 65. He was credited with discovering the calming effect the sound of a heartbeat has on infants.. 1993–Wine maker, Julio Gallo, dies in a car accident near Tracy, California, at age 83. He co-founded the E & J Gallo Winery with his brother, Ernest, in 1933. 1994–Dr. Kevokian is found not guilty in assisting suicides. 1994–A bus crashes in Gdansk, Poland, killing 32 people. 1995–During the Croatian War of Independence, the Army of the Republic of Serb Krajina fires cluster bombs at Zagreb, killing seven people and wounding over 175 civilians. 1998–The European Central Bank is founded in Brussels, Belgium, in order to define and execute the European Union's monetary policy. 1998–The 124th Kentucky Derby: Kent Desormeaux, riding Real Quiet, wins in 2:02. 1999–Mireya Moscoso becomes the first woman to be elected President of Panama. 1999–Actor, Oliver Reed, dies of a heart attack during a break from filming Gladiator in Valletta, Malta, at age 61. Reed was a popular performer in both the U.K. and America. His films include Beat Girl, The Angry Silence, The Curse of the Werewolf, The Girl-Getters, The Party’s Over, The Trap, The Shuttered Room, Oliver!, Women in Love, Take a Girl Like You, The Three Musketeers, Tommy, and Fanny Hill. 2000–President Bill Clinton announces that accurate GPS access would no longer be restricted to the United States military. 2008–Cyclone Nargis makes landfall in Burma, killing over 138,000 people and leaving millions of people homeless. 2008–The Chaitén Volcano begins erupting in Chile, forcing the evacuation of more than 4,500 people. 2009–Bob Dylan takes the day off from his European tour and, along with 13 other tourists, takes a bus trip to visit John Lennon's childhood home, Mendips, in Liverpool, England. He is not recognized. 2009–The 135th Kentucky Derby: Calvin Borel, riding Mine That Bird, wins in 2:02. 2010–Actress, Lynn Redgrave, dies of breast cancer in Kent, Connecticut, at age 67. She appeared in the films Tom Jones, Girl with Green Eyes, Georgy Girl, The Deadly Affair, Smashing Time, Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (But Were Afraid to Ask), The National Health, The Happy Hooker, The Big Bus, Sunday Lovers, Morgan Stewart’s Coming Home, Shine, Gods and Monsters, The Next Best Thing, Kinsey, and The Jane Austin Book Club. 2010–Super-centenarian, Kama Chinen, dies in Nanjo, Okinawa, Japan, at age 114 (and 357 days). 2011–The 41st Canadian federal election is held, in which the governing Conservative Party, led by incumbent Prime Minister Stephen Harper, increases their number of seats from a minority to a majority. 2011–An E. coli outbreak strikes Europe, mostly in Germany, leaving more than 30 people dead and many others sick from the bacteria outbreak. 2011–Terrorism mastermind, Osama Bin Laden, is killed in a U.S. military operation in Abbottabad, Pakistan, at age 54. 2012–A pastel version of Edvard Munch's famous painting, The Scream,* sells at auction for $119,922,500. 2013–Rhode Island becomes the 10th U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage. 2013–Guitarist, Jeff Hanneman, of Slayer, dies of liver failure at age 49. Hanneman had been off the road since 2011, after he contracted necrotizing fasciitis (a flesh-eating disease) from a spider bite. The disease is believed to have contributed to his death. 2014–Two mudslides in Badakhshan, Afghanistan, leave up to 2,500 people missing. 2014–Actor, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., dies of natural causes at his ranch in Solvang, California, at age 95. He is best known for his starring roles in the TV shows 77 Sunset Strip and The F.B.I. He appeared in the films Band of Angels, Bombers B-52, The Deep Six, Too Much, Too Soon, Home Before Dark, The Crowded Sky, By Love Possessed, The Chapman Report, Harlow, Wait Until Dark, and Airport 1975. 2015–Boxer, Floyd Mayweather, Jr., captures a relatively easy unanimous decision, beating Manny Pacquiao in a Welterweight Unification bout that was touted as the “Fight of the Century” in pre-publicity leading up to the match. The main event is delayed for 30 minutes as cable and satellite providers are overwhelmed by the amount of orders coming in on pay-per-view. Mayweather is expected to make $180 million, with Pacquiao likely making more than $100 million for the fight. 2015–The 141st Kentucky Derby: Victor Espinoza, riding American Pharoah, wins in 2:03. 2015–The Duchess of Cambridge gives birth to a baby girl at St. Mary's Hospital in London, England. The baby (Prince William and Kate's second child) weighs eight pounds and three ounces. She is fourth in line to the British throne and the fifth great-grandchild of 89-year-old Queen Elizabeth II. Cheers and chants of "Princess! Princess!" rang out from the hundreds of well-wishers and tourists gathered outside the Palace and the hospital as soon as the news was announced. 2016–The Economist and The Guardian claim that Craig Steven Wright is Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of the Bitcoin currency, with around $7 billion dollars in circulation. 2016–The bodies of mountaineer, Alex Lowe, and photographer, David Bridges, are found on the Himalayan mountain, Shishapangma, after being buried in an avalanche in 1999. 2016–President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, orders clocks in the country to move forward by a half hour from UTC 4:30 to UTC 4:00 in order to save electricity as Venezuela faces an increasing electricity shortage. 2018–Social media giant, Facebook, accidentally activates a “hate speech” button on users newsfeeds. It was only meant to be a private test. PHOTOS TOP TO BOTTOM: Boris I of Bulgaria; Queen Anne Boleyn; William Petty; Stonewall Jackson; Eberhard Anheuser; Hedda Hopper; a poster for A Trip to the Moon; Pinky Lee; Theodore Bikel; Link Wray; Engelbert Humperdinck; The Animals; Goldy McJohn; Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller; Christine Baranski; Donatella Versace; Bill Shoemaker riding Tomy Lee; The Beatles hanging out at the Star-Club in Hamburg, West Germany; The Rolling Stones on The Ed Sullivan Show; The Beach Boys' album Smile; a "Let Them Stay" John and Yoko button; a nuclear test at Nevada Test Site; The World Exposition in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Ask Dr. Salk by Lee Salk; Oliver Reed; Lynn Redgrave; and Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.
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