1924 – “National Barn Dance” radio show premiered on WLS Chicago.
1927 – Actress Mae West was found guilty of “obscenity and corrupting the morals of youth” in a New York stage play entitled “Sex.” She was sentenced to 10 days in prison and fined $500 with the resulting publicity launching her Hollywood career.
1932 – During the depression, President Herbert Hoover suggested a five-day work week in lieu of layoffs.
1944 – 1944 NFL Draft: Quarterback Angelo Bertelli from the University of Notre Dame was the first pick by the Boston Yanks.
1948 – The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) television network debuted.
1963 – Johnny Cash released the single “Ring of Fire” written by his future wife, June Carter, and songwriter Merle Kilgore.
1982 – Sally Ride was named the first American woman astronaut. She became the first American woman in space on June 18, 1983 aboard the Space Shuttle.
1986 – Michael Spinks beat Larry Holmes on a split decision in 15 rounds to retain his IBF heavyweight boxing title.
1989 – A gun turret during a training exercise exploded on the USS Iowa, killing 47 sailors.
1995 – Oklahoma City bombing: Timothy McVeigh set off a truck bomb in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, killing 168 people, including 19 children, and injuring 500.
2011 – Fidel Castro resigned his position of First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba after 45 years in power.
2018 – Illinois Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth was the first parent to bring a baby into the Senate chambers a day after the Senate voted to allow babies on the chamber’s floor, if necessary, during votes.
2021 – NASA successfully flew its drone helicopter, Ingenuity, on Mars. It was the first powered aircraft to fly on another planet.
2022 – Inflation in the United States hit 8.5%, the highest since 1981, driven by a rise in gas prices, rent and food.
Author: Sonny Jones
About Author
