Category: On This Day

Historical Events

1956 – 60th Boston Marathon won by Antti Viskari of Finland in race record 2:14:14
1972 – Howard Dietz and Arthur Schwartz’s musical review “That’s Entertainment” closes at Edison Theater, NYC, after 4 performances
1978 – “History of the American Film” closes at ANTA NYC after 21 performances
2012 – 116th Boston Marathon: Kenyan double; Wesley Korir wins men’s section in 2:12:40; Sharon Cherop first woman in 2:31:50
2014 – Real Madrid defeat Barcelona to win its 19th Copa del Rey trophy
2021 – Raúl Castro confirms he is resigning as Cuban Communist Party leader, ending his family’s six decade leadership of Cuba

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Famous Birthdays

1897 – Jaap Vranken, Dutch organist and composer (Stabat Mater), born in Utrecht, Netherlands (d. 1956)
1897 – Arthur Charles Ernest Hoérée, Belgian-French composer, born in St. Gilles, Brussels, Belgium (d. 1986)
1938 – Gordon Wilson, Scottish politician (Leader of the Scottish National Party), born in Govan, Glasgow (d. 2017)
1965 – Caren Kemner, American volleyball outside hitter (Olympic bronze 1992, 96), born in Quincy, Illinois
1970 – Fran Robinson, American actress (Lauren-Charlie and Company), born in California
1975 – Nick Pickard, British actor, born in Surrey, United Kingdom

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Famous Deaths

1995 – Arthur English, British comedian and actor (Malachi’s Cove, Are You Being Served?), dies of complications from emphysema at 75
1999 – Alexander “Skip” Spence, Canadian-American guitarist, singer and songwriter (Jefferson Airplane), dies of lung cancer at 52
2005 – Kathleen “Kay” Walsh, British actress (The Horse’s Mouth, Oliver Twist), dies in a fire at 93
2011 – Gerry Alexander, West Indian cricket wicket-keeper (25 Tests, top score 108, 90 dismissals), dies at 82
2019 – Fay McKenzie, American actress and singer (The Party, Sierra Sue), dies at 101
2021 – Mike Mitchell, American rock guitarist (The Kingsmen -“Louie, Louie”), dies on his 77th birthday

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Historical Events

69 – Battle at Bedriacum, North-Italy
1952 – Franklin National Bank issues 1st bank credit card
1970 – Libyan leader Gadaffi launches “Green Revolution”
1988 – Meteorite explode above Indonesia
1989 – Sue Marchiano wins 3rd World Cup female marathon (2:30:48)
1991 – Sacramento Kings set NBA record, losing 35th consecutive game on road

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Famous Birthdays

1820 – Evander McNair, American Brigadier General (Confederate Army), born in Laurel Hill, North Carolina (d. 1902)
1875 – James J. Jeffries, American heavyweight boxer, born in Carroll, Ohio (d. 1953)
1887 – Mike Brady, American golfer (US Open 1911, 19 runner-up; 9 PGA Tour titles), born in Brighton, Massachusetts (d. 1972)
1894 – Bessie Smith, American blues singer known as the “Empress of the Blues” (recorded over 200 songs), born in Chattanooga, Tennessee (d. 1937)
1944 – John Wilbraham, British classical, baroque, and session trumpeter (Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields; English Chamber Orchestra; The Beatles – Magical Mystery Tour), and educator, born in Bournemouth, England (d. 1998)
1947 – Cristina Husmark Pehrsson, Swedish politician, born in Uddevalla, Sweden

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Famous Deaths

1954 – Arthur Fickenscher, American microtonal composer, and educator (University of Virginia, 1920-41), dies at 82
1967 – Totò [Antonio De Curtis], Italian actor (Motorizzate; Noi Duri) commonly referred to as the most popular Italian comedian of all time, dies from a heart attack at 69
1989 – Hu Yaobang, Chinese communist official and General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (1982-87), dies of a heart attack at 73
1990 – Ulrich Becher, German writer and playwright, dies at 80
2003 – Reg Bundy, British performer, dies at 56
2017 – Clifton James, American actor (Live and Let Die, Silver Streak), dies at 96

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Historical Events

1900 – Veteran’s Hospital at Ft Miley forms
1925 – First regular-season Chicago Cubs game broadcast on radio (WGN) by caller Quin Ryan; Cubs beat Pittsburgh Pirates, 8-2
1948 – Stanley Cup Final, Olympia Stadium, Detroit, MI: Toronto Maple Leafs go back-to-back with a 7-2 win over Detroit Red Wings for a 4-0 series sweep
1969 – Tornado strikes Dacca, East Pakistan killing 540
1988 – Devils 6-5 over Islanders-Devils take 1st round 4-2
2021 – Human cells grown in monkey cells for 20 days reported by US-Chinese team at the Salk Institute in “Cell”

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Famous Birthdays

1868 – Peter Behrens, German architect, born in Hamburg, North German Confederation (d. 1940)
1876 – Cecil Chubb, English barrister, gifted Stonehenge to the British nation, born in Shrewton (d. 1934)
1905 – Elizabeth Huckaby, American educator, born in Hamburg, Arkansas (d. 1999)
1916 – Emerson Buckley, American composer, born in NYC, New York (d. 1989)
1947 – Bob Massie, Australian cricket swing bowler (6 Tests; 16 wickets on debut v England 1972), born in Perth, Australia
1969 – Brad Pennington, American pitcher (California Angels), born in Salem, Indiana

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Famous Deaths

1843 – Joseph Franz Karl Lanner, Austrian composer and violist, dies at 42
1912 – Henri Brisson, French statesman (b. 1835)
1913 – Carl Hagenbeck, German animal trainer (Von Tieren und Menschen), dies at 68
1943 – Asser B. Kleerekoper, Dutch SDAP-Second-Member of parliament, dies at 62
1978 – Joe Gordon, American Baseball HOF 2nd baseman (World Series 1938, 39, 41, 43 NY Yankees; 1948 Cleveland Indians; AL MVP 1942; 9 x MLB All Star), dies of a heart attack at 63
1990 – Thurston Harris, American pop vocalist (The Sharps, Little Bitty Pretty One), dies of a heart attack at 58

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Historical Events

1944 – New Zealand and the Soviet Union establish diplomatic relations
1969 – Closure of the Brisbane tramway network.
1970 – Oakland uses gold-colored bases during the club’s home opener: Rules Committee subsequently bans this innovation
1997 – 61st US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Tiger Woods wins his first major title, a record 12 strokes ahead of Tom Kite; 4-round total 270 (−18) is tournament record
2004 – Barry Bonds hits his 661st career home run, passing his godfather Willie Mays on the MLB all-time list
2020 – NY Governor Andrew Cuomo says “I believe the worst is over if we continue to be smart,” about the COVID-19 pandemic in New York as death toll passes 10,000

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Famous Birthdays

1229 – Louis II, Duke of Bavaria, ruler of upper Baveria, born in Heidelberg, Germany (d. 1294)
1830 – Eduard Lassen, Belgian-Danish composer, born in Copenhagen, Denmark (d. 1904)
1867 – Sammy Woods, Australian cricket all-rounder (3 Tests Australia, 3 England, 1 x 50, 10 wickets; Somerset CCC) and rugby union flanker (13 caps England, 5 as captain), born in Sydney, Australia (d. 1931)
1895 – Arthur Fadden, 13th Prime Minister of Australia, born in Ingham, Queensland, Australia (d. 1973)
1915 – Bert Peleman, Flemish writer, born in Puurs, Antwerp, Belgium (d. 1995)
1967 – Dana Barros, American NBA guard (Boston Celtics), born in Boston, Massachusetts

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Famous Deaths

1093 – Vsevolod I, Grand Prince of Kiev, dies at 63
1959 – Rigardus “Rijn” Rijnhout, Giant of Rotterdam (2.375m), dies at 38
1975 – François Tombalbaye, Dictator and 1st President of Chad (1960-75), dies at 56
1983 – Theodore Stephanides, Greek doctor and naturalist, dies at 87
2009 – Bruce Snyder, American college football coach (Utah State, California, Arizona State), dies from melanoma at 69
2013 – Stephen Dodgson, British composer, dies at 89

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Historical Events

1862 – Union troops occupy Fort Pulaski, Georgia
1908 – Fire at the Boston Blacking Company (producer of leather dyes), spreads by high wind, kills 19 and makes 17,000 homeless in Chelsea, Massachusetts
1953 – Keizo Yamada runs fastest marathon to date, at Boston
1954 – Belgian Van Houtte government resigns
1973 – France recognizes North Vietnam
1989 – Peter Ueberroth deal to purchase Eastern Airlines falls through

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Famous Birthdays

1801 – Henry de Cock, Dutch reformed vicar and secession leader, born in Veendam, Groningen, the Netherlands (d. 1842)
1840 – Edmond Audran, French composer, born in Lyon, France (d. 1901)
1883 – Imogen Cunningham, American photographer (1965 ASMP award), born in Portland, Oregon (d. 1976)
1908 – Virginia Cherrill, American actress (City Lights; Lake Extra; Brat), born in Santa Barbara, California (d. 1996)
1948 – Lois Reeves, American singer (Martha and the Vandellas, 1969-72), born in Detroit, Michigan
1956 – Doris Baaten, Dutch actress (Sesame Street, Fien), born in Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands

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Famous Deaths

1748 – William Kent, English sculptor/architect (Kensington Palace), dies
1960 – Archibald McIndoe, New Zealand plastic surgeon pioneer who rehabilitated badly burned Royal Air Force crew during WWII, dies in his sleep of a heart attack at 59 [or 11 April]
1977 – Philip K Wrigley, baseball owner (Chicago Cubs), dies at 82
1987 – Mike Von Erich, American wrestler
2007 – Kevin Crease, Australian TV anchor (b. 1936)
2019 – Tommy Smith, English soccer defender (1 cap; Football League Div 1 1966, 73, 76, 77; FA Cup 1965, 74; European Cup 1977; Liverpool 467 games), dies at 74

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Historical Events

1612 – Last public burning at the stake in England – Edward Wrightman for heresy in Lichfield
1895 – Anaheim completes its new electric light system
1936 – First Butlins holiday camp opens in the UK at Ingoldmells, near Skegness
1968 – W Berlin student Rudi Dutschke seriously wounded at demonstration
1992 – BPAA US Open by Robert Lawrence
2015 – Amy Schumer hosts the 2015 MTV Movie Awards

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Famous Birthdays

1854 – Hugh Massie, Australian cricket batsman and captain (9 Tests; NSW), born in Port Fairy, Australia (d. 1938)
1913 – Oleg Cassini, American fashion designer (for Jackie Kennedy), born in Paris, France (d. 2006)
1933 – Tony Brown, American journalist (Tony Brown’s Journal), born in Charleston, West Virginia
1960 – Jeremy Clarkson, English motoring journalist, broadcaster and TV presenter (Top Gear, The Grand Tour), born in Doncaster, England
1969 – Chisato Moritaka, Japanese singer, born in Ibaraki, Osaka, Japan
1979 – Josh Server, American actor (All That), born in Highland Park, Illinois

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Famous Deaths

1902 – General Jacobus Potgieter, South African Boer commander, dies in Second Boer War Battle of Rooiwal, South African Republic
1921 – Augusta Victoria, Queen of Prussia, wife of Emperor Wilhelm II, dies at 62
1934 – John Collier, English painter (Lady Godiva) and writer, dies at 84
1980 – Charlotte Henry, American actress (Alice in Wonderland; Babes In Toyland; Jungle Menace), dies of cancer at 66
2006 – Proof [DeShaun Holton], American rapper (D12), shot to death in billiard game dispute at 32
2019 – Frances Swem Anderson, American technologist (nuclear medicine), dies at 105

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Historical Events

1589 – Spanish troops conquer Geertruidenberg
1916 – The Professional Golfers Association of America (PGA) is founded in New York City
1945 – General Blaskowitz becomes nazi leader of “Fort Holland”
1956 – Philips broadcasts 1st Dutch color TV programs
1976 – Brewers’ Don Money’s grand slammer disallowed-Yanks win 9-7
1993 – BPAA US Open by Del Ballard Jr

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Famous Birthdays

1928 – Rosco Gordon, American RandB pianist, singer, and songwriter (“Booted”; “No More Doggin'”), born in Memphis, Tennessee (d. 2002)
1939 – Alan Rothenberg, American lawyer and sports executive, born in Detroit, Michigan
1957 – Aliko Dangote, Nigerian Chairman and CEO of the Dangote Group, born in Kano, Kano State
1958 – Bob Bell, British engineer and Chief Technical Officer of the Renault Formula One team, born in Belfast, Northern Ireland
1963 – Warren DeMartini, American heavy metal guitarist (Ratt), born in Chicago, Illinois
1972 – Richard Wearne, Australian rower (Olympics 1996) and photographer, born in Sydney, Australia

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Famous Deaths

1919 – Emiliano Zapata, Mexican leader, murdered at 39
1962 – Stuart Sutcliffe, Scottish rocker who was the original bassist for the Beatles, dies of a brain hemorrhage at 21
1968 – Gustavs Celmins, Latvian politician (b. 1899)
2007 – Dakota Staton, American jazz singer (“Where Flamingos Fly”; “Sex Is A Misdemeanor”), dies at 76
2020 – Tom Webster, Canadian ice hockey right wing (Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings) and coach (NY Rangers, LA Kings), dies of brain cancer at 71
2022 – John Drew, American basketball small forward (NBA All-Star 1976, 80; Atlanta Hawks, Utah Jazz), dies from bone cancer at 67

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Historical Events

475 – Byzantine Emperor Basiliscus issues a circular letter (Enkyklikon) to the bishops of his empire, supporting the Monophysite christological position
1682 – Robert La Salle claims lower Mississippi (Louisiana) for France
1935 – Stanley Cup Final, Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec: Montreal Maroons beat Toronto Maple Leafs, 4-1 for 3-0 series sweep; Maroons last defunct team to win the Cup
1947 – Atomic Energy Commission confirmed
1967 – 1st Boeing 737 (a 100 series) makes its maiden flight
1982 – LA Lakers block 21 Denver shots setting NBA regulation game record

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Famous Birthdays

1917 – Vincent O’Brien, Irish racehorse trainer (6 x Epsom Derby; 2 x British champion trainer; only British Triple Crown winner, Nijinsky 1970), born in Churchtown, Ireland (d. 2009)
1933 – Gian Maria Volontè, Italian actor (Fistful of Dollars), born in Milan, Italy (d. 1994)
1963 – Joe Scarborough, American television personality, born in Atlanta, Georgia
1964 – Charles Jenkins Jr., American athlete (Olympic gold 4x400m relay 1992), born in NYC, New York
1972 – Karen Clark, Canadian synchronized swimmer (Olympic silver 1996), born in Calgary, Alberta
1982 – Jay Baruchel, Canadian actor (Man Seeking Woman), born in Ottawa, Ontario

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Famous Deaths

1980 – Kathleen Burke, American actress (Island of Lost Souls), dies at 66
1991 – Martin Hannett, record producer (b. 1948)
1991 – Maurice Binder, American photographer and film title designer (James Bond Movies), dies at 73
1994 – Raouf Khayrat, Egyptian general-major, murdered
2002 – Leopold Vietoris, Austrian mathematician (b. 1891)
2010 – Bob Franks, American politician (Rep-R-NJ 1993-2001), dies of cancer at 58

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Historical Events

1940 – German battle cruisers sink British aircraft carrier Glorious
1968 – 40th Academy Awards postponed to Apr 10th due to death of Martin Luther King
1971 – 1st legal off-track betting system begins (OTB-New York)
1975 – 47th Academy Awards: “The Godfather Part II”, Ellen Burstyn and Art Carney win
1976 – 1976 NFL Draft: Lee Roy Selmon from University of Oklahoma first pick by Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1990 – King Birendra of Nepal lifts 30-year ban on political parties

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Famous Birthdays

1942 – Eduard Visser, Dutch writer (Fyffes are now called Chiquita)
1946 – Stuart Pankin, American comedian (Striptease, Congo, Earl-Dinosaurs), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1946 – Tim Thomerson, American actor (Trancers), born in Coronado, California
1947 – Tom DeLay, American politician (Rep-R-Texas, 1985-2006), born in Laredo, Texas
1954 – Gary Carter, American Baseball Hall of Fame catcher (11 × MLB All-Star; World Series 1986; Gold Glove Award 1980–82; Montreal Expos, NY Mets), born in Culver City, California (d. 2012)
1969 – Steve Jackson, American NFL cornerback (Houston/Tennessee Oilers), born in Houston, Texas

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Famous Deaths

1937 – Arthur Foote, American classical organist, composer, and member of the “Boston Six” (Suite for Strings in E), dies at 84
1992 – Daniel Bovet, Swiss-Italian pharmacologist (1957 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, discovered chemotherapeutic agents including antihistamines0, dies at 85
1993 – Marian Anderson, American contralto and celebrated singer (My Lord, What a Morning), dies of congestive heart failure at 96
2004 – Bruce Edwards, American golf caddie (mainly for 5 x British Open champion Tom Watson), dies of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis at 49
2008 – Timothy Beaumont, Baron Beaumont of Whitley (b. 1928)
2010 – Dorothea “Teddy” Scholten, Dutch pop singer (“Een beetje” – “A Little Bit”), dies at 83

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Historical Events

1863 – Battle of Charleston, South Carolina failed Federal fleet attack on Fort Sumter
1959 – Oklahoma ends prohibition, after 51 years
1968 – Riots continue in over 100 US cities following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
1994 – 1st night game at Cleveland’s Jacobs Field, Indians 6 Seattle 2
1996 – Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya hits fastest ODI fifty off 17 balls v Pakistan, Singapore
2018 – Vegas Golden Knights suffer a 7-1 end of regular season defeat at Calgary but finish with an NHL expansion team record 51 victories; previous record 33 by Anaheim Ducks and Florida Panthers 1993-94

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Famous Birthdays

1930 – Andrew Sachs, German-born British actor (Manuel in Fawlty Towers), born in Berlin (d. 2016)
1952 – Bruce Gary, American rock drummer (The Knack – “My Sharona”), born in Burbank, California (d. 2006)
1954 – Jackie Chan, Hong Kong martial arts actor (Rumble in the Bronx), born in Hong Kong
1957 – Kim Kap-su, South Korean actor
1958 – Tony Aire, rocker (Adventures – “Sea of Love”)
1977 – Silvana Arias, Peruvian actress

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Famous Deaths

1925 – Saint Tikhon of Moscow [Vasily Ivanovich Bellavin], 11th Patriarch of Moscow and all of Russia, dies at 60
1994 – Golo Mann, German-American historian (Antisemitism), dies at 85
1997 – Georgy Shonin, Soviet cosmonaut (Soyuz 6), dies of a heart attack at 61
2002 – John Agar, American actor (Sands of Iwo Jima, Fort Apache), dies at 81
2013 – Andy Johns, British sound engineer and record producer (Humble Pie; Free; Joe Satriani), dies at 62
2020 – Harv Schmidt, American college basketball coach (University of Illinois 1967-74), dies at 83

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