1878 – The Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera H.M.S. Pinafore opened at the Opera Comique in London on the 25th May 1878.

1898 – Bennett Cerf the American publisher and co-founder of Random House was born on the 25th May 1898 (died 1971).

1925 – John T. Scopes was indicted for teaching Charles Darwin‘s theory of evolution on the 25th May 1925.

1944 – Frank Oz the English-American puppeteer, voice actor, and director was born on the 25th May 1944.

1953 – KUHT officially began broadcasting as the 1st public television station in the United States, from the campus of the University of Houston, on the 25th May 1953.

1958 – Paul Weller the English singer-songwriter and guitarist from The Jam and The Style Council was born on the 25th May 1958.

1959 – Julian Clary the English comedian, actor, and author was born on the 25th May 1959.

1955 – The 1st ascent of Kangchenjunga (8,586m), the 3rd highest mountain in the world was led by Joe Brown and George Band on the 25th May 1955.

1961 –  U.S. President John F. Kennedy announced his goal to initiate a Apollo program project to put a “man on the Moon” before the end of the decade, on the 25th May 1961.

1963 ~ Valerie Clarke & Werner Kressnig were married on the 25th May 1963. Valerie & Werner  Kressnig are the parents of artist Anton K. Kressnig. Valerie and Werner celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on the 25th May 2013.

1963 – Mike Myers the Canadian-American actor, singer, screenwriter, and producer was born on the 25th May 1963.

1964 – Ray Stevenson the Irish-English actor was born on the 25th May 1964.

1977 – Chinese government removed a decade old ban on William Shakespeare‘s work, which effectively ended the Cultural Revolution started in 1966.

1977 ~ The 1st STAR WARS  film in the series was released on the 25th day of May in 1977. The film series was created by George Lucas under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide phenomenon, followed by 2 sequels. The revenue generated by the Star Wars films totaled $4.49 billion, making it the 3rd highest grossing film series, behind the Harry Potter and James Bond films.

1986 – Hands Across America took place on the 25th May 1986.

2011 – Oprah Winfrey aired her last show, ending her 25 year run of The Oprah Winfrey Show on the 25th May 2011.

2012 – The Dragon spacecraft became the 1st commercial spacecraft to successfully rendezvous with the International Space Station (ISS) on the 25th May 2012.

Today in History for May 25th ~ video presented by the Associated Press…

 

1686 ~ Gabriel Fahrenheit the German inventor and thermometer maker was born on the 24th day of May in 1686 (d. 1736).

1830 ~ Mary Had a Little Lamb by Sarah Josepha Hale was published on the 24th day of May in 1830.

1844 ~ Samuel Morse sent the message “What hath God wrought” (a biblical quotation, Numbers 23:23) from the Old Supreme Court Chamber in the United States Capitol to his assistant, Alfred Vail, in Baltimore, Maryland to inaugurate the first telegraph line on the 24th day of May in 1844.

1930 ~ Amy Johnson landed in Darwin, Northern Territory on the 24th day of May in 1930 becoming the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia (she left on May 5 for the 11,000 mile flight).

1940 ~ Igor Sikorsky performed the first successful single rotor helicopter flight on the 24th day of May in 1940.

1941 ~ Bob Dylan the American singer and songwriter was born on the 24th day of May in 1941.

1944 ~ Patti LaBelle the American R&B singer, songwriter and actress was born on the 24th day of May in 1944.

1945 ~ Priscilla Presley the American actress was born on the 24th day of May in 1945.

1956 ~ The Eurovision Song Contest was held for the first time on the 24th day of May in 1956, in Lugano, Switzerland.

1956 ~ Larry Blackmon the American lead singer from Cameo was born on the 24th day of May in 1956.

1965 ~ Humphrey B. Bear the Australian children’s television series was 1st broadcast on Adelaide’s NWS-9 on Monday the 24th May 1965.

1969 ~ Anne Heche the American actress was born on the 24th May 1969.

1972 ~ Layne Beachley the Australian former professional surfer from Manly, New South Wales was born on the 24th May 1972. Layne Beachley won the World Surfing Championship 7 times. Layne’ Beachley’s official website: www.LayneBeachley.com | verified Twitter.com/LayneCBeachley | Facebook.com/LayneBeachleyOfficial | Youtube.com/user/LayneBeachley/videos | YouTube video: Layne Beachley ~ Profile: One successful child from down Under is the original Aussie, surf animal and also 8-time world champ Layne Beachley from Sydney. She’s not only the reigning competition queen and big wave charger but also a business woman. She paved the way for women surfers and changed the way the world looks at woman in surfing…

1981 ~ Andy Lee the Australian comedian was born Andrew Lee on the 24th May 1981. Since 2003, Andy has worked live on television and radio with Hamish Blake as part of the comedy duo Hamish and Andy. Andy Lee is best known as the bloke who dates girls out of his league since his unexplainable 4 year relationship with model Megan Gale. Visit Andy @ www.HamishAndAndy.com

2001 ~ Temba Tsheri the 15 year old Sherpa became the youngest person to climb to the top of Mount Everest on the 24th day of May in 2001.

Today in History for May 24th ~ video presented by the Associated Press…