In this week: 19 - 25th April

#TattyHistory

An interesting week in history with the Oklahoma City bombing, the birth of Lenin and the launching of the Hubble telescope among other stories. Also we celebrate the 96^th birthday of British comedy legend Leslie Phillips. 

Read on for further details….

 

19^th April

75 years ago: In 1945, the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel opened on Broadway.

25 years ago: In 1995, the Oklahoma City bombing took place. A truck bomb exploded outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, USA, killing 168 people and injuring 500. (Timothy McVeigh was arrested on 21st April, convicted of the bombing, and executed in June 2001. Terry Nichols and Michael Fortier were convicted as conspirators and received prison sentences.)

Birthdays:

Harold “Dickie” Bird – legendary cricket umpire 87,

Sue Barker – former tennis player & TV presenter, 64.

20^th April

10 years ago: In 2010, BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico exploded, killing 11 workers. Crude oil began spewing from the well, and continued until it was eventually sealed in September, after several failed attempts. Around 210 million U.S. gallons were spilled in total, causing an environmental disaster. In July 2015, BP was fined $18.7 billion – the largest settlement in U.S. corporate history. It also paid $43.8 billion in criminal and civil penalties, cleanup costs, and compensation.

Birthdays:

Leslie Phillips – actor, remembered for the Carry On… films, 96

Georgie Glen – Scottish actress, known for Call the Midwife among others, 64

21^st April

125 years ago: In 1895, The Lambda Company of New York City, USA demonstrated its eidoloscope (previously known as a panopticon) – an early motion picture projector, and the first to use widescreen. It opened to the paying public on Broadway on 20th May. Its films were considered poor quality and the company soon failed because of copyright disputes.

Birthdays:

Iggy Pop – US singer-songwriter 73

Andie MacDowell – US actress 62.

22^nd April

150 years ago: In 1870 Russian communist politician and revolutionary Vladimir Lenin was born. Architect and first head of state of the Soviet Union, founder of the Russian Communist Party, leader of the Bolshevik Revolution, founder of Comintern (Communist International).

Birthdays:

Jack Nicholson – US actor, 83

Peter Frampton – English singer-songwriter 70

23^rd April

125 years ago: In 1895, New Zealand crime writer and theatre director Ngaio Marsh was born . She was best known for her series of 32 novels featuring Inspector Alleyn and as was one of the “Queens of Crime” alongside Agatha Christie, Margery Allingham and Dorothy L Sayers.

Birthdays:

Lee Majors – US actor and “6 Million Dollar Man”, 81

Narada Michael Walden – African-American singer-songwriter 68.

24^th April

125 years ago: In 1895, the first person to sail single-handedly around the world, Joshua Slocum, set sail from Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The journey took him more than 3 years, and he returned in June 1898.

 

30 years ago: In 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope was launched.

Birthdays:

Tommy Docherty – former Scottish football manager, 92.

Barbra Streisand – US singer, 78.

25^th April

25 years ago: In 1995, Ginger Rogers, American dancer and actress died from natural causes at the age of 83. Born Virginia Katherine McMath, she was noted for her on-screen partnership with Fred Astaire.

Birthdays:

Al Pacino – US actor and director, 80

Len Goodman – English dancer, former Strictly Come Dancing head judge, 56