This Day in History

April 12, 1954

◦ Bill Haley and the Comets record “Rock Around the Clock”. The song was released in May and did not become a major hit at first. However, in July 1955 the song was used as the theme song for the movie Blackboard Jungle and the song became a #1 hit on the pop charts.

◦ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uT6ektDCAN8

April 12, 1974

◦ The hit song “Benny and the Jets” by Elton John became a #1 hit from April 12th to April 19th.

◦ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5rQHoaQpTw

April 13, 1943

◦ Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the Thomas Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C.. The memorial was dedicated to Thomas Jefferson who was the 3rd president of the United States and is considered an American founding father. Thomas Jefferson was also born on April 13, 1743 which may have been why FDR held the dedication on this day.

◦ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRMyEMRAYhw

April 13, 1957

◦ The hit song “All Shook Up” by Elvis Presley became a #1 hit from April 13th to June 7th.

◦ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23zLefwiii4

April 14, 1960◦ Bye Bye Birdie the musical opened. Bye Bye Birdie

was originally titled Let’s Go Steady. This story was inspired by Elvis Presley and his draft notice into the Army in 1957. Bye Bye Birdie was originally a Broadway musical and inspired a London production, multiple revivals, a sequel, a 1963 film, and a 1995 television production. This musical is also a popular choice for high school and college theater programs to put on.

◦ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1t3cBTb3xPc

April 14, 1865

◦ Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theater. The attack happened 5 days after Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House. This surrender ended the American Civil War.

◦ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L80_q2tPveo

April 15, 1933

◦ Elizabeth Montgomery was born on April 15, 1933 in Los Angeles. She was an American film, stage, and television actress. She is best remembered for playing Samantha Stephens on the television show Bewitched. Elizabeth received five Emmy and four Golden Globe nominations for her role as Samantha.

◦ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_oWus3B3lg

April 15, 1967

◦ The hit “Somethin’ Stupid” by Frank and Nancy Sinatra became a #1 hit from April 15th to May 12th.

◦ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0f48fpoSEPU

April 16, 1889◦ Charlie Chaplin was born on April 16, 1889 in

England. He was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer. Charlie Chaplin rose to fame during the silent film era. He became a worldwide icon through his persona “The Tramp”. He is also considered one of the most important figures in the history of the film industry. His career lasted more than 75 years until a year before his death in 1977.

◦ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0a998z_G4g

April 16, 1980

◦ Arthur Ashe retired from tennis. Arthur Ashe was an American professional tennis player. He won three Grand Slam singles titles. Ashe was the first African American player selected to the United States Davis Cup team. He was also the only African American man ever to win the singles title at Wimbledon, the US Open and the Australian Open.

◦ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGTW0R4nShU

April 17, 1961◦ The Bay of Pigs invasion began on this day. The

Bay of Pigs was a failed invasion that occurred on the Southwestern coast of Cuba. The attack was led by the U.S. government and took place in the height of the Cold War. Cuban exiles who opposed Fidel Castro’s Cuban Revolution were on the front lines of this invasion. The failure to the invasion led to relationship changes between the United States, Cuba, and the Soviet Union.

◦ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ij0c70UOI2g

April 17, 1964◦ The Ford Mustang

was introduced to the North American market.

◦ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtCt7k0rpx0

April 18, 1923

◦ Yankee Stadium first opened on this day. It took 500 worked and 158 days to complete the original stadium. It was the first three-tiered sports complex in the states. The first game ever at the old stadium was between the Yankees and the Red Sox. There were 74,200 people in attendance and Babe Ruth hit a three-run homer to win 4 to 1.

◦ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpGQLO8ou94

April 18, 2003◦ Etta James received

a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

◦ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJQO49Ochlg&t=46s

Resources◦ http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/april.html

◦ https://popculturemadness.com/Trivia/April/index.php

◦ https://www.onthisday.com/

◦ https://www.britannica.com/on-this-day/April-14

◦ https://www.timeanddate.com/on-this-day/april/16

◦ https://on-this-day.com/onthisday/thedays/music/apr18.htm

◦ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bye_Bye_Birdie

◦ https://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/abraham-lincoln-assassination

◦ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Montgomery

◦ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Chaplin

◦ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay_of_Pigs_Invasion

◦ https://nyfacts.com/yankee-stadium/

◦ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Ashe