Tag: theatre show ideas

30 newsworthy historical anniversaries in November 2020

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Historical anniversaries are great for On This Day in History features and anniversary tie-ins. They’re popular with readers and viewers, editors and producers love them, they’re simple to research, and you can easily turn them into newspaper and magazine articles, films, TV/radio/theatre shows, and more.

Here are 30 newsworthy and notable historical anniversaries coming up in November 2020 (so you have time to write about them!)

We’ve randomly picked one anniversary for each day of the month from The Date-A-Base Book 2020. You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries in the book. The editions for 2021 and 2022 are also available.

1 Nov 1895 – 125 years ago
The world’s first movie theater/cinema.
German filmmakers the Skladanowsky Brothers (Max and Emil) presented their Bioscop film projector to a paying audience in Berlin.
(On 28th December 1895 the Lumière Brothers presented their technically superior Cinematographe to a paying audience in Paris.
28th December 1895 is widely recognized as the birth date of motion pictures.)

2 Nov 1920 – 100 years ago
Westinghouse Electric launched the radio station KDKA in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. It is commonly cited as the world’s first commercial radio station. Initially it was only intended to save on the cost of transmitting telegraphs and business information between the company’s factories, but its remit was expanded to include news and entertainment.

3 Nov 1970 – 50 years ago
Death of Peter II, last King of Yugoslavia.

4 Nov 1980 – 40 years ago
Ronald Reagan was elected 40th President of the USA. (Inaugurated 4th March 1981.)

5 Nov 1940 – 80 years ago
Franklin D. Roosevelt became the only U.S. President to win a third term, beating Republican challenger Wendell L. Willkie.
This was also the first time that U.S. election returns were shown on television.

–

7 Nov 1940 – 80 years ago
The middle section of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in Washington, USA collapsed just months after it opened.
It was one of the most famous engineering failures in history.

8 Nov 1960 – 60 years ago
John F. Kennedy was elected 35th President of the USA. (Inaugurated 4th March 1961.)

9 Nov 1970 – 50 years ago
Death of Charles de Gaulle, President of France (1959–69).

10 Nov 1970 – 50 years ago
The Great Wall of China was opened to tourists.

11 Nov 1920 – 100 years ago
Following World War I, Britain and France held ceremonies to dedicate a national monument known as the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.
The British monument is at Westminster Abbey in London; the French monument (La tombe du soldat inconnu) is beneath the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. The French monument includes the first eternal flame created in Europe since the 4th century.

12 Nov 1920 – 100 years ago
Kenesaw Mountain Landis became the first commissioner of Major League Baseball.

13 Nov 1770 – 250 years ago
Death of George Grenville, British Prime Minister (1763-65).
Best known for introducing the Stamp Act (a form of taxation) into the American colonies.

14 Nov 1940 – 80 years ago
World War II: German Luftwaffe bombers virtually destroyed the city of Coventry, England, including its medieval cathedral.
Britain retaliated on 15th and 16th November by bombing Hamburg, Germany over two consecutive nights.

15 Nov 1995 – 25 years ago
British computer programmer Christopher Pile (also known as the Black Baron) was sentenced to 18 months in prison for writing and distributing computer viruses. He was the first person to be jailed for this offense.

16 Nov 1920 – 100 years ago
Qantas, Australia’s national airline, was founded (as Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Limited).

17 Nov 1970 – 50 years ago
The Sun newspaper in Britain introduced topless Page Three girls. The first was glamour model Stephanie Rahn.

18 Nov 1940 – 80 years ago
World War II: the first 75,000 men entered military service in the USA as part of peacetime conscription, following the enactment of the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 in September.

19 Nov 1995 – 25 years ago
The U.S. première of the film Toy Story. It was the first feature-length computer-generated film, and the first full-length film made by Pixar.
(Released USA: 22nd November, UK: 22nd March 1996.)

20 Nov 1945 to 1 Oct 1946 – 75 years ago
The first Nuremberg trial was held in Germany. 23 of the most important political and military leaders of the Third Reich were tried for war crimes committed during WWII. 12 of the defendants were sentenced to death and 10 were executed on 16th October 1946. (The other two had already died.)

21 Nov 1990 – 30 years ago
The Cold War ended as leaders of NATO and the Warsaw Pact states signed the Charter of Paris and a treaty on conventional forces in Europe.

22 Nov 1990 – 30 years ago
British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher announced her resignation. She was succeeded by John Major on 28th November.

23 Nov 1945 – 75 years ago
Wartime food rationing ended in the USA.

24 Nov 1995 – 25 years ago
In a referendum, the citizens of Ireland narrowly voted in favor of legalizing divorce.

25 Nov 1940 – 80 years ago
Woody Woodpecker made his first appearance, in the Andy Panda cartoon Knock Knock.

26 Nov 1970 – 50 years ago
The heaviest rainfall in one minute:  1.5 inches (38 mm) in Barot, Guadeloupe.

27 Nov 1920 – 100 years ago
The U.S. premiere of the swashbuckler adventure film The Mark of Zorro (original version), starring Douglas Fairbanks.
(Released 5th December.)

28 Nov 1520 – 500 years ago
Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan sailed into the South Pacific and named the waters the Pacific Ocean.

29 Nov 1895 – 125 years ago
Birth of Busby Berkeley, American film director and choreographer.
Known for his elaborate musical production numbers which often featured large numbers of dancing girls forming kaleidoscopic patterns.

30 Nov 2000 – 20 years ago
The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 came into effect in the UK.
It included the controversial “right to roam” which had been long sought by ramblers. Several disputed areas became accessible as a result.

More anniversaries:

You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries for this month in The Date-A-Base Book 2020. The 2021 and 2022 editions are also available if you need to work further ahead. Find out more at ideas4writers.com.

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31 newsworthy historical anniversaries in October 2020 (U.S. edition)

Posted on by admin

Historical anniversaries are great for On This Day in History features and anniversary tie-ins. They’re popular with readers and viewers, editors and producers love them, they’re simple to research, and you can easily turn them into newspaper and magazine articles, films, TV/radio/theater shows, and more.

Here are 31 newsworthy and notable historical anniversaries coming up in October 2020 (so you have time to write about them!)

We’ve randomly picked one anniversary for each day of the month from The Date-A-Base Book 2020. You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries in the book.

Oct 1, 1940 – 80 years ago
The USA’s first superhighway, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, was opened.

Oct 2, 1950 – 70 years ago
The first Peanuts comic strip by Charles M. Schulz was published.

Oct 3, 1980 – 40 years ago
The Housing Act came into effect in Britain. It gave more than 5 million council tenants the right to buy their homes.

Oct 4, 1895 – 125 years ago
The first U.S. Open golf championship was played, at the Newport Country Club, Newport, Rhode Island.

Oct 5, 1930 – 90 years ago
The British airship R101 crashed in France on its maiden overseas voyage. 48 people were killed.

Oct 6, 1995 – 25 years ago
The first extrasolar planet was discovered by astronomers in Geneva, Switzerland. It orbited the star 51 Pegasi, and was 47.9 light‐years from Earth. Thousands of extrasolar planets have been discovered since then.

Oct 7, 1920 – 100 years ago
Oxford University allowed women to become full members and study for full degrees for the first time, and the first 100 women were admitted.

Oct 8, 1895 – 125 years ago
Birth of Juan Perón, President of Argentina (1946–55, 1973–74).

Oct 9, 1940 – 80 years ago
Birth of John Lennon, British rock musician, singer, songwriter, and peace activist (The Beatles). (Shot dead 1980.)

Oct 10, 1980 – 40 years ago
British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher gave a memorable and defiant speech at the Conservative Party conference in Brighton, saying: “The lady’s not for turning!”

Oct 11, 2000 – 20 years ago
Death of Donald Dewar, First Minister of Scotland (1999–2000).

Oct 12, 1870 – 150 years ago
Death of Robert E. Lee, American general. Commander of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War.

Oct 13, 1945 – 75 years ago
Death of Milton S. Hershey, American confectioner and philanthropist. Founder of the Hershey chocolate company and the company town of Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Oct 14, 1940 – 80 years ago
Balham underground station disaster, London, UK. A German bomb caused tunnels to collapse while people were sheltering in the station during an air raid. 68 people were killed and more than 70 injured.

Oct 15, 1945 – 75 years ago
Death of Pierre Laval, Prime Minister of Vichy France during WWII. (Executed by firing squad after being convicted of treason.)

Oct 16, 1940 – 80 years ago
Holocaust: the Warsaw Ghetto was established in Poland.

Oct 17, 2000 – 20 years ago
Hatfield rail crash, Hertfordshire, UK. Four people were killed when a high‐speed passenger train derailed because of a cracked rail. (The spiraling cost of the subsequent national rail replacement program forced Railtrack into administration.)

Oct 18, 1920 – 100 years ago
Birth of Melina Mercouri, Greek actress, singer, politician and activist. Minister for Culture (1981–85). (Died 1994.)

Oct 19, 1960 – 60 years ago
The USA imposed an embargo on exports to Cuba. All goods were prohibited, except food and medicine.

Oct 20, 1995 – 25 years ago
The Secretary General of NATO, Willy Claes, resigned after the Belgian Parliament decided he should stand trial for his role in a bribery scandal.

Oct 21, 1960 – 60 years ago
Britain launched its first nuclear submarine, HMS Dreadnought.

Oct 22, 1930 – 90 years ago
The BBC Symphony Orchestra gave its first concert.

Oct 23, 1980 – 40 years ago
Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin resigned after falling ill. (He died on December 18th.) He was succeeded by Nikolai Tikhonov.

Oct 24, 1945 – 75 years ago
The United Nations was formally established and began operating. It replaced the League of Nations.

Oct 25, 1920 – 100 years ago
Death of Alexander, King of Greece (1917–20). (Septicemia after being bitten by a monkey, aged 27.)

Oct 26, 1970 – 50 years ago
The Doonesbury comic strip by Garry Trudeau was first published.

Oct 27, 1940 – 80 years ago
Birth of John Gotti, American organized crime boss. Head of the Gambino crime family in New York City. (Died 2002.)

Oct 28, 1940 to Apr 23, 1941 – 80 years ago
World War II: the Greco–Italian War. Italy invaded Greece, with disastrous results, grossly underestimating the Greeks’ tenacity. It was called the first Axis setback of the war, and infuriated German leader Adolf Hitler. The war turned into the Battle of Greece (April 23 to June 1, 1941) when British and German forces intervened. German-Italian victory. Axis forces then occupied Greece until 1945 and the Greek government was forced into exile in Cairo, Egypt.

Oct 29, 1940 – 80 years ago
The USA held its first-ever peacetime military draft lottery.

Oct 30, 1950 – 70 years ago
Pope Pius XII witnessed the Miracle of the Sun from the Vatican gardens. (Also on October 31st, November 1st and November 8th.)

Oct 31, 1920 – 100 years ago
Birth of Dick Francis, British crime writer and former jockey. Known for his novels set in the world of British horse racing. (Died 2010.)

More anniversaries:

You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries for this month in The Date-A-Base Book 2020. The 2021 and 2022 editions are also available if you need to work further ahead. Find out more at ideas4writers.com.

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31 newsworthy historical anniversaries in October 2020

Posted on by admin

Historical anniversaries are great for On This Day in History features and anniversary tie-ins. They’re popular with readers and viewers, editors and producers love them, they’re simple to research, and you can easily turn them into newspaper and magazine articles, films, TV/radio/theatre shows, and more.

Here are 31 newsworthy and notable historical anniversaries coming up in October 2020 (so you have time to write about them!)

We’ve randomly picked one anniversary for each day of the month from The Date-A-Base Book 2020. You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries in the book.

1 Oct 1940 – 80 years ago
The USA’s first superhighway, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, was opened.

2 Oct 1950 – 70 years ago
The first Peanuts comic strip by Charles M. Schulz was published.

3 Oct 1980 – 40 years ago
The Housing Act came into effect in Britain. It gave more than 5 million council tenants the right to buy their homes.

4 Oct 1895 – 125 years ago
The first U.S. Open golf championship was played, at the Newport Country Club, Newport, Rhode Island.

5 Oct 1930 – 90 years ago
The British airship R101 crashed in France on its maiden overseas voyage. 48 people were killed.

6 Oct 1995 – 25 years ago
The first extrasolar planet was discovered by astronomers in Geneva, Switzerland. It orbited the star 51 Pegasi, and was 47.9 light‐years from Earth. Thousands of extrasolar planets have been discovered since then.

7 Oct 1920 – 100 years ago
Oxford University allowed women to become full members and study for full degrees for the first time, and the first 100 women were admitted.

8 Oct 1895 – 125 years ago
Birth of Juan Perón, President of Argentina (1946–55, 1973–74).

9 Oct 1940 – 80 years ago
Birth of John Lennon, British rock musician, singer, songwriter, and peace activist (The Beatles). (Shot dead 1980.)

10 Oct 1980 – 40 years ago
British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher gave a memorable and defiant speech at the Conservative Party conference in Brighton, saying: “The lady’s not for turning!”

11 Oct 2000 – 20 years ago
Death of Donald Dewar, First Minister of Scotland (1999–2000).

12 Oct 1870 – 150 years ago
Death of Robert E. Lee, American general. Commander of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War.

13 Oct 1945 – 75 years ago
Death of Milton S. Hershey, American confectioner and philanthropist. Founder of the Hershey chocolate company and the company town of Hershey, Pennsylvania.

14 Oct 1940 – 80 years ago
Balham underground station disaster, London, UK. A German bomb caused tunnels to collapse while people were sheltering in the station during an air raid. 68 people were killed and more than 70 injured.

15 Oct 1945 – 75 years ago
Death of Pierre Laval, Prime Minister of Vichy France during WWII. (Executed by firing squad after being convicted of treason.)

16 Oct 1940 – 80 years ago
Holocaust: the Warsaw Ghetto was established in Poland.

17 Oct 2000 – 20 years ago
Hatfield rail crash, Hertfordshire, UK. 4 people were killed when a high‐speed passenger train derailed because of a cracked rail. (The spiraling cost of the subsequent national rail replacement program forced Railtrack into administration.)

18 Oct 1920 – 100 years ago
Birth of Melina Mercouri, Greek actress, singer, politician and activist. Minister for Culture (1981–85). (Died 1994.)

19 Oct 1960 – 60 years ago
The USA imposed an embargo on exports to Cuba. All goods were prohibited, except food and medicine.

20 Oct 1995 – 25 years ago
The Secretary General of NATO, Willy Claes, resigned after the Belgian Parliament decided he should stand trial for his role in a bribery scandal.

21 Oct 1960 – 60 years ago
Britain launched its first nuclear submarine, HMS Dreadnought.

22 Oct 1930 – 90 years ago
The BBC Symphony Orchestra gave its first concert.

23 Oct 1980 – 40 years ago
Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin resigned after falling ill. (He died on 18th December.) He was succeeded by Nikolai Tikhonov.

24 Oct 1945 – 75 years ago
The United Nations was formally established and began operating. It replaced the League of Nations.

25 Oct 1920 – 100 years ago
Death of Alexander, King of Greece (1917–20). (Septicemia after being bitten by a monkey, aged 27.)

26 Oct 1970 – 50 years ago
The Doonesbury comic strip by Garry Trudeau was first published.

27 Oct 1940 – 80 years ago
Birth of John Gotti, American organized crime boss. Head of the Gambino crime family in New York City. (Died 2002.)

28 Oct 1940 to 23 Apr 1941 – 80 years ago
World War II: the Greco–Italian War. Italy invaded Greece, with disastrous results, grossly underestimating the Greeks’ tenacity. It was called the first Axis setback of the war, and infuriated German leader Adolf Hitler. The war turned into the Battle of Greece (23 April to 1 June 1941) when British and German forces intervened. German-Italian victory. Axis forces then occupied Greece until 1945 and the Greek government was forced into exile in Cairo, Egypt.

29 Oct 1940 – 80 years ago
The USA held its first-ever peacetime military draft lottery.

30 Oct 1950 – 70 years ago
Pope Pius XII witnessed the Miracle of the Sun from the Vatican gardens. (Also on 31st October, 1st November and 8th November.)

31 Oct 1920 – 100 years ago
Birth of Dick Francis, British crime writer and former jockey. Known for his novels set in the world of British horse racing. (Died 2010.)

More anniversaries:

You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries for this month in The Date-A-Base Book 2020. The 2021 and 2022 editions are also available if you need to work further ahead. Find out more at ideas4writers.com.

Share this:

30 newsworthy historical anniversaries in September 2020 (U.S. edition)

Posted on by admin

Historical anniversaries are great for On This Day in History features and anniversary tie-ins. They’re popular with readers and viewers, editors and producers love them, they’re simple to research, and you can easily turn them into newspaper and magazine articles, films, TV/radio/theatre shows, and more.

Here are 30 newsworthy and notable historical anniversaries coming up in September 2020 (so you have time to write about them!)

We’ve randomly picked one anniversary for each day of the month from The Date-A-Base Book 2020. You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries in the book.

Sep 1, 1920 – 100 years ago
Lebanon (then known as Greater Lebanon) was created by France.

Sep 2, 1945 – 75 years ago
World War II officially ended when representatives from Japan signed the formal surrender document on board the U.S. battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.

Sep 3, 1950 – 70 years ago
Italian racing driver Giuseppe (“Nino”) Farina became the first ever Formula One World Champion after winning the 1950 Italian Grand Prix.

Sep 4, 1870 – 150 years ago
French Emperor Napoleon III was deposed and went into exile in England, and the French Third Republic was proclaimed.

Sep 5, 1970 to Oct 8, 1971 – 50 years ago
Vietnam War – Operation Jefferson Glenn. The last major American operation of the war. U.S./South Vietnamese victory.

Sep 6, 1620 – 400 years ago
102 English Puritans (now known as the Pilgrims) set sail aboard the Mayflower from Plymouth, England for a new life in America. After a perilous journey they landed in what is now Provincetown Harbor, Cape Cod, Massachusetts on November 11th. They had intended landing in Virginia but were unable to reach it because of heavy seas.

Sep 7, 1940 to May 11, 1941 – 80 years ago
World War II: the Blitz. Nazi Germany launched a sustained 8-month aerial attack on British cities in an attempt to destroy its war production capabilities. The campaign began with 57 nights of continuous bombing raids on London. German strategic failure.

Sep 8, 2000 – 20 years ago
UK fuel protests. Road hauliers blockaded oil refineries across the country to protest against the rising cost of fuel for vehicles. Within days, disruption was widespread and petrol stations ran out of fuel. (The protest ended on September 14th. Fuel supplies began to be restored by the 16th.)

Sep 9, 1895 – 125 years ago
The American Bowling Congress was formed. It codified all tenpin bowling standards, rules and regulations. In 2005 it merged with other bowling organizations to form the United States Bowling Congress.

Sep 10, 1945 – 75 years ago
Former Norwegian Prime Minister Vidkun Quisling was convicted of collaborating with Nazi Germany during WWII, and numerous other crimes. He was sentenced to death, and executed on October 24th.

Sep 11, 1895 – 125 years ago
Soccer: The original FA Cup was stolen from the window of a shoe shop in Birmingham, England. It was never seen again. Its official name is the Football Association Challenge Cup.

Sep 12, 1940 – 80 years ago
The Lascaux Caves in France were discovered by four teenagers. The caves contained well-preserved 17,000-year-old Paleolithic wall paintings.

Sep 13, 1970 – 50 years ago
The first New York City Marathon. 127 competitors ran laps around Central Park. The present course was first run in 1976.

Sep 14, 1960 – 60 years ago
OPEC (the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) was founded by Iraq, Iran, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Sep 15, 1940 – 80 years ago
World War II: the Battle of Britain – the turning point. The German Luftwaffe sustained heavy losses. On September 17th Hitler abandoned his plan to invade Britain (Operation Sea Lion) after reaching the conclusion that the operation was not viable.

Sep 16, 1920 – 100 years ago
Wall Street bombing. A terrorist bomb in a horse‐drawn wagon exploded near the U.S. Assay Office and J. P. Morgan building in Wall Street, New York City, USA. At least 38 people were killed and 300 – 400 injured.

Sep 17, 1940 – 80 years ago
Holocaust: Nazi Germany passed a law which entitled them to seize any valuable possessions from Jews in Germany and German-occupied territories.

Sep 18, 1870 – 150 years ago
Old Faithful geyser in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA was discovered and named by members of the Washburn–Langford–Doane Expedition. (In the early days, Old Faithful often suffered the indignity of being used for doing laundry. Cotton and linen items placed in it during its quiescent phase were ejected thoroughly washed when it erupted. But woolen items were torn to shreds.)

Sep 19, 1960 – 60 years ago
Traffic wardens began operating in London.

Sep 20, 1945 – 75 years ago
Operation Paperclip: Seven German rocket scientists arrived in the USA after being recruited to help develop its ballistic missile and rocket programs. Among them was Werner von Braun, the “Father of Rocket Science.”

Sep 21, 1995 – 25 years ago
The Hindu milk miracle, India. Statues of the elephant‐headed Hindu god Ganesh began drinking milk when spoonfuls were placed near their mouths. The phenomenon ended after 24 hours.

Sep 22, 1955 – 65 years ago
Britain’s first independent television channel ITV was launched, ending the BBC’s monopoly and broadcasting Britain’s first television commercials. (Initially only viewers in London could receive ITV. Regional franchises were rolled out across the whole country by 1965.) The first issue of the weekly TV listings magazine TV Times was published on September 20th.

Sep 23, 1870 – 150 years ago
Death of Prosper Merimée, French writer, archeologist and historian. Best known for his novellas, especially Carmen, which was the basis for Bizet’s opera of the same name.

Sep 24, 1945 – 75 years ago
Death of Hans Geiger, German physicist. Best known for co-inventing the Geiger counter, which measures levels of ionizing radiation.

Sep 25, 1970 – 50 years ago
The first episode of the musical sitcom The Partridge Family was broadcast on ABC television in the USA.

Sep 26, 1820 – 200 years ago
Death of Daniel Boone, American pioneer, explorer, frontiersman, and folk hero.

Sep 27, 1940 – 80 years ago
World War II: the Tripartite Pact was signed in Berlin by Germany, Japan and Italy. This military alliance marked the founding of the Axis Powers.

Sep 28, 1920 – 100 years ago
Black Sox scandal. Eight members of the Chicago White Sox baseball team were indicted for throwing the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds after receiving money from a gambling syndicate. On October 22nd a grand jury implicated the 8 players and 5 gamblers. The criminal trial was held in June–July 1921, and all 8 players were acquitted, but were banned from professional baseball for life.

Sep 29, 1920 – 100 years ago
The first ready-made radio receivers went on sale to the public, at the Joseph Home Company department store in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.

Sep 30, 1960 – 60 years ago
The first episode of the popular cartoon series The Flintstones was broadcast on ABC television in the USA.

More anniversaries:

You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries for this month in The Date-A-Base Book 2020. The 2021 and 2022 editions are also available if you need to work further ahead. Find out more at ideas4writers.com.

Share this:

30 newsworthy historical anniversaries in September 2020

Posted on by admin

Historical anniversaries are great for On This Day in History features and anniversary tie-ins. They’re popular with readers and viewers, editors and producers love them, they’re simple to research, and you can easily turn them into newspaper and magazine articles, films, TV/radio/theatre shows, and more.

Here are 30 newsworthy and notable historical anniversaries coming up in September 2020 (so you have time to write about them!)

We’ve randomly picked one anniversary for each day of the month from The Date-A-Base Book 2020. You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries in the book.

1 Sep 1920 – 100 years ago
Lebanon (then known as Greater Lebanon) was created by France.

2 Sep 1945 – 75 years ago
World War II officially ended when representatives from Japan signed the formal surrender document on board the U.S. battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.

3 Sep 1950 – 70 years ago
Italian racing driver Giuseppe (“Nino”) Farina became the first ever Formula One World Champion after winning the 1950 Italian Grand Prix.

4 Sep 1870 – 150 years ago
French Emperor Napoleon III was deposed and went into exile in England, and the French Third Republic was proclaimed.

5 Sep 1970 to 8 Oct 1971 – 50 years ago
Vietnam War – Operation Jefferson Glenn. The last major American operation of the war. U.S./South Vietnamese victory.

6 Sep 1620 – 400 years ago
102 English Puritans (now known as the Pilgrims) set sail aboard the Mayflower from Plymouth, England for a new life in America. After a perilous journey they landed in what is now Provincetown Harbor, Cape Cod, Massachusetts on 11th November. They had intended landing in Virginia but were unable to reach it because of heavy seas.

7 Sep 1940 to 11 May 1941 – 80 years ago
World War II: the Blitz. Nazi Germany launched a sustained 8-month aerial attack on British cities in an attempt to destroy its war production capabilities. The campaign began with 57 nights of continuous bombing raids on London. German strategic failure.

8 Sep 2000 – 20 years ago
UK fuel protests. Road hauliers blockaded oil refineries across the country to protest against the rising cost of fuel for vehicles. Within days, disruption was widespread and petrol stations ran out of fuel. (The protest ended on 14th September. Fuel supplies began to be restored by the 16th.)

9 Sep 1895 – 125 years ago
The American Bowling Congress was formed. It codified all tenpin bowling standards, rules and regulations. In 2005 it merged with other bowling organizations to form the United States Bowling Congress.

10 Sep 1945 – 75 years ago
Former Norwegian Prime Minister Vidkun Quisling was convicted of collaborating with Nazi Germany during WWII, and numerous other crimes. He was sentenced to death, and executed on 24th October.

11 Sep 1895 – 125 years ago
The original FA Cup was stolen from the window of a shoe shop in Birmingham, England. It was never seen again. Its official name is the Football Association Challenge Cup.

12 Sep 1940 – 80 years ago
The Lascaux Caves in France were discovered by four teenagers. The caves contained well-preserved 17,000-year-old Paleolithic wall paintings.

13 Sep 1970 – 50 years ago
The first New York City Marathon. 127 competitors ran laps around Central Park. The present course was first run in 1976.

14 Sep 1960 – 60 years ago
OPEC (the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) was founded by Iraq, Iran, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

15 Sep 1940 – 80 years ago
World War II: the Battle of Britain – the turning point. The German Luftwaffe sustained heavy losses. On 17th September Hitler abandoned his plan to invade Britain (Operation Sea Lion) after reaching the conclusion that the operation was not viable.

16 Sep 1920 – 100 years ago
Wall Street bombing. A terrorist bomb in a horse‐drawn wagon exploded near the U.S. Assay Office and J. P. Morgan building in Wall Street, New York City, USA. At least 38 people were killed and 300 – 400 injured.

17 Sep 1940 – 80 years ago
Holocaust: Nazi Germany passed a law which entitled them to seize any valuable possessions from Jews in Germany and German-occupied territories.

18 Sep 1870 – 150 years ago
Old Faithful geyser in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA was discovered and named by members of the Washburn–Langford–Doane Expedition. (In the early days, Old Faithful often suffered the indignity of being used for doing laundry. Cotton and linen items placed in it during its quiescent phase were ejected thoroughly washed when it erupted. But woollen items were torn to shreds.)

19 Sep 1960 – 60 years ago
Traffic wardens began operating in London.

20 Sep 1945 – 75 years ago
Operation Paperclip: Seven German rocket scientists arrived in the USA after being recruited to help develop its ballistic missile and rocket programs. Among them was Werner von Braun, the “Father of Rocket Science.”

21 Sep 1995 – 25 years ago
The Hindu milk miracle, India. Statues of the elephant‐headed Hindu god Ganesh began drinking milk when spoonfuls were placed near their mouths. The phenomenon ended after 24 hours.

22 Sep 1955 – 65 years ago
Britain’s first independent television channel ITV was launched, ending the BBC’s monopoly and broadcasting Britain’s first television commercials. (Initially only viewers in London could receive ITV. Regional franchises were rolled out across the whole country by 1965.) The first issue of the weekly TV listings magazine TV Times was published on 20th September.

23 Sep 1870 – 150 years ago
Death of Prosper Merimée, French writer, archeologist and historian. Best known for his novellas, especially Carmen, which was the basis for Bizet’s opera of the same name.

24 Sep 1945 – 75 years ago
Death of Hans Geiger, German physicist. Best known for co-inventing the Geiger counter, which measures levels of ionizing radiation.

25 Sep 1970 – 50 years ago
The first episode of the musical sitcom The Partridge Family was broadcast on ABC television in the USA.

26 Sep 1820 – 200 years ago
Death of Daniel Boone, American pioneer, explorer, frontiersman, and folk hero.

27 Sep 1940 – 80 years ago
World War II: the Tripartite Pact was signed in Berlin by Germany, Japan and Italy. This military alliance marked the founding of the Axis Powers.

28 Sep 1920 – 100 years ago
Black Sox scandal. Eight members of the Chicago White Sox baseball team were indicted for throwing the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds after receiving money from a gambling syndicate. On 22nd October a grand jury implicated the 8 players and 5 gamblers. The criminal trial was held in June-July 1921, and all 8 players were acquitted, but were banned from professional baseball for life.

29 Sep 1920 – 100 years ago
The first ready-made radio receivers went on sale to the public, at the Joseph Home Company department store in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.

30 Sep 1960 – 60 years ago
The first episode of the popular cartoon series The Flintstones was broadcast on ABC television in the USA.

More anniversaries:

You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries for this month in The Date-A-Base Book 2020. The 2021 and 2022 editions are also available if you need to work further ahead. Find out more at ideas4writers.com.

Share this:

31 newsworthy historical anniversaries in August 2020

Posted on by admin

Historical anniversaries are great for On This Day in History features and anniversary tie-ins. They’re popular with readers and viewers, editors and producers love them, they’re simple to research, and you can easily turn them into newspaper and magazine articles, films, TV/radio/theatre shows, and more.

We’ve randomly picked one anniversary for each day of the month from The Date-A-Base Book 2020. You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries in the book.

1 Aug 1770 – 250 years ago
Birth of William Clark, American explorer (Lewis and Clark expedition).

2 Aug 1990 to 28 Feb 1991 – 30 years ago
Gulf War. On 2nd August Iraq invaded Kuwait. On 6th the United Nations Security Council ordered a global trade embargo against Iraq. On 7th the USA launched Operation Desert Shield, sending U.S. forces to Saudi Arabia to prevent an Iraqi invasion. On 8th Iraq took full control of Kuwait and installed a puppet government. This led to Operation Desert Storm (17 Jan – 28 Feb 1991). Coalition victory.

3 Aug 1920 – 100 years ago
Birth of P. D. James, British novelist. Best known for her crime novels featuring the detective Adam Dalgliesh.

4 Aug 1870 – 150 years ago
The British Red Cross Society was founded.

5 Aug 1895 – 125 years ago
Death of Friedrich Engels, German socialist philosopher and social scientist who collaborated with Karl Marx to found modern communism and co-write The Communist Manifesto.

6 Aug 1945 – 75 years ago
World War II: the U.S. Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima, Japan. The center of the city was totally destroyed and approximately 80,000 people were killed immediately. A further 60,000 people died by the end of the year because of injury or radiation. It was the first city in history to be hit by a nuclear weapon. A second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on 9th August.

7 Aug 1955 – 65 years ago
Sony (then known as the Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corporation) released the first transistor radio made in Japan: the TR-55. It was also the first transistor radio in the world to use all-miniature components.

8 Aug 1945 – 75 years ago
World War II: the Soviet Union declared war on Japan and entered the Pacific War, exactly three months after the war in Europe ended, as agreed at the Yalta Conference in February.

9 Aug 1930 – 90 years ago
The cartoon character Betty Boop first appeared, in the cartoon Dizzy Dishes.

10 Aug 1895 – 125 years ago
The Proms (Promenade Concerts) began in London.

11 Aug 1995 – 25 years ago
U.S. President Bill Clinton banned all nuclear weapons testing by the USA, saying that the country’s nuclear stockpile could be safely maintained without the need for any further testing. He made this statement ahead of signing the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty in September 1996.

12 Aug 1960 – 60 years ago
NASA launched the first successful communications satellite, Echo 1, into low Earth orbit, to relay voice and TV signals. The satellite’s 30-meter (98-foot) shiny surface reflected signals from one point on the Earth to another. (This satellite was officially named Echo 1A. It was a replacement for the first Echo 1, whose launch in May 1960 ended in failure and it ditched into the Atlantic.)

13 Aug 1940 – 80 years ago
World War II: the main phase of the Battle of Britain began. The German Luftwaffe launched raids on RAF airfields and radar installations.

14 Aug 1945 – 75 years ago
World War II: V-J Day. Japan announced its unconditional surrender, ending WWII in the Pacific. (The war officially ended on 2nd September when Japan signed the surrender document.)

15 Aug 1945 – 75 years ago
Korea was divided along the 38th parallel, creating the Soviet-occupied North Korea and the U.S.-occupied South Korea.

16 to 23 Aug 1930 – 90 years ago
The first British Empire Games (now the Commonwealth Games) were held in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

17 Aug 1960 – 60 years ago
The Beatles gave their first live public performance, at the Indra Club in Hamburg, Germany. They performed there seven evenings a week, then relocated to the Kaiserkeller on 4th October after the Indra Club was closed down because of noise complaints.

18 Aug 1945 – 75 years ago
Death of Subhas Chandra Bose, Indian nationalist. Leader of a WWII force that attempted (unsuccessfully) to liberate the Indian military from British rule.

19 Aug 1960 – 60 years ago
The Soviet Union launched Sputnik 5 with the dogs Belka and Strelka (plus 40 mice, 2 rats and a variety of plants) on board. After a day in orbit, they returned safely. They were the first animals to survive orbital flight.

20 Aug 1920 – 100 years ago
The National Football League (NFL) was founded (as the American Professional Football Association).

21 Aug 1920 – 100 years ago
Birth of Christopher Robin Milne, British bookseller. Son of the author A. A. Milne. He appears as a character in his father’s Winnie-the-Pooh stories. (Died 1996.)

22 Aug 1770 – 250 years ago
British explorer Captain James Cook discovered eastern Australia, named it New South Wales, and claimed it for Britain.

23 to 31 Aug 2005 – 15 years ago
Hurricane Katrina hit the Bahamas, Cuba and the southern U.S. states. The city of New Orleans, Louisiana was particularly badly affected (on 29th August) when the levee system failed, flooding 80% of the city for several weeks. Florida and Mississippi also suffered severe damage. Over 1,800 people were killed. It was the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history.

24 Aug 1940 – 80 years ago
Death of Paul Gottlieb Nipkow, German engineer and television pioneer who invented the Nipkow disk – a spinning perforated disk that could scan images. It was used by John Logie Baird to develop the first mechanical television system.

25 Aug 1270 – 750 years ago
Death of Saint Louis IX, King of France (1226–70).

26 Aug 1920 – 100 years ago
The 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution came into effect. It granted women the right to vote.

27 Aug 1955 – 65 years ago
The first edition of the Guinness Book of Records (now Guinness World Records) was published.

28 Aug 1955 – 65 years ago
Death of Emmett Till, African American teenager who was mutilated and killed in Mississippi after flirting with a white woman. His death was one of the key events that motivated the Civil Rights Movement.

29 Aug 1895 – 125 years ago
The Rugby Football League was founded in England (as the Northern Rugby Football Union. The first match was played on 7th September.

30 Aug 1945 – 75 years ago
World War II: Hong Kong was liberated by British forces.

31 Aug 1980 – 40 years ago
Solidarity was formed in Gdansk, Poland after striking shipyard workers won the right to form a trade union. Communist authorities officially recognized Solidarity in October, but outlawed it in 1981 when they imposed martial law followed by years of political repression. It was legalized again in 1989.

More anniversaries:

You’ll find hundreds more anniversaries for this month in The Date-A-Base Book 2020. The 2021 and 2022 editions are also available if you need to work further ahead. Find out more at ideas4writers.com.

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