JULY 31 ~ ON THiS DAY in History

1856 – ChristchurchNew Zealand was chartered as a city on the 31st July 1856.

1944 – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry the French pilot and writer died on the 31st July 1944 (born 1900).

1951 – Evonne Goolagong the Australian tennis player was born on the 31st July 1951.

1953 – Ted Baillieu the 46th Premier of Victoria in Australia was born on the 31st July 1953.

1962 – Wesley Snipes the American martial artist, actor, and producer was born on the 31st July 1962.

1964 – Ranger 7 sent back the 1st close-up photographs of the moon on the 31st July 1964, with images 1,000 times clearer than anything ever seen from the earth-bound telescopes.

1965 – J. K. Rowling the British novelist was born on the 31st July 1965.

1971 – Apollo 15 astronauts became the 1st to ride in a lunar rover on the 31st July 1971.

1989 – Victoria Azarenka the Belarusian tennis player was born on the 31st July 1989.

2012 – Michael Phelps broke the record set in 1964 by Larisa Latynina for the greatest number of medals won at the Olympics on the 31st July 2012.

Today in History for July 31st ~ video presented by the Associated Press…   

JULY 30 ~ ON THiS DAY in History

0762 – Baghdad was founded by caliph Al-Mansur on the 30th July in the year 762.

1502 – Christopher Columbus landed at Guanaja in the Bay Islands off the coast of Honduras on the 30th July 1502, during his 4th voyage.

1629 – An earthquake in Naples, Italy killed about 10,000 people on the 30th July 1629.

1729 – Foundation of Baltimore, Maryland was on the 30th July 1729.

1733 – The 1st Masonic Grand Lodge in the future United States was constituted in Massachusetts on the 30th July 1733.

1818 – Emily Brontë the English author and poet was born on the 30th July 1818 (died 1848).

1859 – First ascent of Grand Combin, one of the highest summits in the Alps, was on the 30th July 1859.

1863 – Henry Ford the American businessman and founder of the Ford Motor Company was born on the 30th July 1863 (died 1947).

1930 – In MontevideoUruguay won the 1st FIFA World Cup on the 30th July 1930.

1932 – Premiere of Walt Disney‘s Flowers and Trees, was on the 30th July 1932. It was the 1st cartoon short to use Technicolor and the 1st Academy Award winning cartoon short.

1936 – Buddy Guy the American singer-songwriter and guitarist was born on the 30th July 1936.

1947 – Arnold Schwarzenegger the Austrian-American bodybuilder, actor, politician and the 38th Governor of California was born on the 30th July 1947.

1950 – Frank Stallone the American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor was born on the 30th July 1950.

1958 – Kate Bush the English singer-songwriter and producer was born on the 30th July 1958.

1963 – Lisa Kudrow the American actress, screenwriter, and producer was born on the 30th July 1963.

1965 – U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Social Security Act of 1965 into law on the 30th July 1965, establishing Medicare and Medicaid.

1969 – Simon Baker the Australian actor, director and producer was born on the 30th July 1969.

1971 – Apollo programApollo 15 Mission – David Scott and James Irwin on the Apollo Lunar Module module Falcon landed on the Moon with the 1st Lunar Rover on the 30th July 1971.

1971 – Tom Green the Canadian comedian, actor, and rapper was born on the 30th July 1971.

1974 – Watergate scandal: U.S. President Richard Nixon released subpoenaed White House recordings on the 30th July 1974, after being ordered to do so by the Supreme Court of the United States.

1974 – Hilary Swank the American actress and producer was born on the 30th July 1974.

1978 – The 730 (transport)Okinawa Prefecture changes its traffic on the right-hand side of the road to the left-hand side.

1980 – Vanuatu gained independence on the 30th July 1980..

1997 ~ The THREDBO LANDSLiDE occurred at the Thredbo village ski resort in New South Wales, Australia, on the 30th July 1997. Two ski lodges were destroyed in the landslide, leaving 18 people dead.

2003 – In Mexico, the last ‘old style’ Volkswagen Beetle rolled off the assembly line on the 30th July 2003.

2006 – The world’s longest running music show Top of the Pops was broadcast for the last time on BBC Two on the 30th July 2006. The show had aired for 42 years.

2012 – A power grid failure left 7 states in northern India without power on the 30th July 2012, affecting 360 million people.

Today in History for July 30th ~ video presented by the Associated Press…  

JULY 29 ~ ON THiS DAY in History

1836 – The Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France was inaugurated on the 29th day of July in 1836.

1948 – The Games of the XIV Olympiad aka 1948 London Olympics began on the 29th day of July in 1948, after a 12 year hiatus caused by World War II.  The previous Summer Olympics were held in Berlin, Germany, 12 years earlier in 1936.

1981 – The wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales & Lady Diana Spencer at St Paul’s Cathedral in London was televised to a worldwide television audience of over 700 million people on the 29th day of July in 1981.

1987 – Margaret Thatcher the British Prime Minister and François Mitterrand the President of France signed the agreement to build Eurotunnel under the English Channel on the 29th day of July in 1987.

2005 – Astronomers announced their discovery of the dwarf planet Eris on the 29th day of July in 2005.

2012 ~ Australia‘s 4x100m relay swimming team broke a new Olympic record and won the first gold medal at the London Olympics on the 29th day of July 2012 (Day 1). The winning swim team members were Alicia Coutts, Cate Campbell, Brittany Elmslie and Melanie Schlanger, who swam the new Olympic record of 3:33.15 to beat the Netherlands in 2nd place, and the United States 3rd.

Australian women swimming relay team Olympic gold medals 2012 London Olympics Alicia-Coutts Cate-Campbell Brittany-Elmslie Melanie-Schlanger Herald Sun newspaper
The Australian women’s swimming 4x100m relay team that broke an Olympic record, with their gold medals at the 2012 London Olympics for Australia, at the London Aquatic Centre. Team members: Alicia Coutts, Cate Campbell, Brittany Elmslie & Melanie Schlanger (Herald Sun newspaper front cover Monday 30th July 2012)

Read the Herald Sun story: Women’s 4x100m freestyle relay claim Australia’s first gold medal and stamp 

Women's 4x100m Freestyle Swimming team medals Australian Gold Medallist stamps 2012 London Olympics 60cent postage stamp collectable souvenir
The Women’s 4x100m Freestyle Swimming team Australian Gold Medallist stamp by Australia Post (2012 London Olympics)

The stamp featured above is available from Australia Post 

Visit the official London 2012 Olympics website: www.London2012.com/country/australia/ for up to date information about Australia at the Olympics in the United Kingdom.

Today in History for July 29th ~ video presented by the Associated Press… 

JULY 28 ~ ON THiS DAY in History

1540 – Thomas Cromwell was executed at the order of Henry VIII of England on the 28th July 1540, on charges of treason.

1540 – Henry VIII of England married his 5th wife, Catherine Howard on the 28th July 1540.

1866 – Beatrix Potter the English author was born on the 28th July 1866 (died 1943).

1896 – Miami, Florida was incorporated on the 28th July 1896.

1902Albert Namatjira the Aboriginal artist was born Elea Namatjira in Hermannsburg Lutheran Mission, near Alice Springs on the 28th July 1902 (died 8th August 1959 aged 57).

1935 – 1st flight of the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress was on the 28th July 1935.

1943 – Richard Wright the English keyboard player from Pink Floyd was born on the 28th July 1943 (died 2008).

1945 – Jim Davis the American cartoonist and writer was born on the 28th July 1945.

1948 – Gerald Casale the American singer-songwriter and guitarist from Devo was born on the 28th July 1948.

1968 ~ Rachel Blakely the Australian actress was born in Borneo on 28 July 1968. Rachel Blackey is best known for her role as Gaby Willis in Neighbours, Marguerite Krux in The Lost World, and Glenda Fry in Mortified.

1993 – Andorra joined the United Nations on the 28th July 1993.

1958 – Terry Fox the Canadian athlete and activist was born on the 28th July 1958 (d. 1981).

1970LUKE SPEKES the funky front man of FATS WAH WAH was born on the 28th day of July in 1970. Luke Fishmouth Hopkins Spekes is a singer, songwriter and guitarist. Visit Fats Wah Wah Facebook 

2001 – Ian Thorpe became the 1st swimmer to win 6 gold medals at a single World Championships on the 28th July 2001.

Today in History for July 28th ~ video presented by the Associated Press… 

JULY 27 ~ ON THiS DAY in History

2012 – DARRYL COTTON the Australian pop star, actor and TV host lost his battle with liver cancer on the 27th day of July in 2012, aged 62. In the late 1960s Darryl Cotton was a founding member of rock group ZOOT , where he played with Beeb Birtles, Rick Springfield and others. When Zoot broke up, Darryl headed to Los Angeles, where he wrote songs for Olivia Newton-John, Shaun Cassidy, and others, before returning to Australia in 1978 to pursue a solo career, where his song Same Old Girl became a top 10 hit in 1980. Darryl Cotton also ventured into acting, in The Young Doctors TV series, then went on to co-host The Early Bird Show on Channel Ten, also in 1980. In 2000 Darryl Cotton formed a rock band called COTTON KEAYS & MORRiS (aka CKM) with Jim Keays and Russell Morris.

Darryl Cotton Australian singer singing music video 1980 white T-shirt 80s blonde hair-cut cinema
Darryl Cotton singing the 1980 hit song “Same Old Girl”

Darryl Cotton hosting The Early Bird Show with special guest Kylie Minogue in 1988

2012 – The 2012 OLYMPiC GAMES opening ceremony was held in London on the 27th day of July in 2012. The 2012 Summer Olympic Games is officially known as the Games of the XXX Olympiad, and also informally known as London 2012. These Olympics are scheduled to take place in London, England, United Kingdom, from the 27th July until the 12th August 2012. Over 10,000 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) are expected to participate. London is the 1st city to officially host the modern Olympic Games 3 times, having previously hosted the Games in 1908 and in 1948. Official 2012 Olympic Games website: www.London2012.com 

2012 Summer Olympics panoramic aerial view Olympic Park England UK London stadium arena village city buildings tower
2012 Summer Olympics panoramic aerial view of Olympic Park in London (Photo by EG Focus 16 April 2012)


Today in History for July 27th ~ video presented by the Associated Press… 

JULY 26 ~ ON THiS DAY in History

1875 – Carl Jung the Swiss psychiatrist was born on the 26th June 1875 (d. 1961).

1894 – ALDOUS HUXLEY the English author was born on the 26th July in 1894 (d. 1963). Aldous Huxley is best known for his novel Brave New Worldwritten in 1931 and published in 1932. Brave New World was set in London in the year 2540, and anticipated developments in reproductive technology and sleep-learning to change society. The Modern Library ranked Brave New World 5th on the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century list, and considered one of the top 100 greatest novels of all time.

Brave New World Aldous Huxley Science fiction novel writer books cover art Chatto & Windus 1932 London man woman
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, cover art by Leslie Holland and published in London by Chatto & Windus in 1932

1921 ~ Jeffrey Smart (AO) the Australian painter known for his Precisionist depictions of urban landscapes was born on the 26th July 1921 (died 20 June 2013 aged 91). The Age news: Jeffrey Smart dead at 91

Today in History for July 26th ~ video presented by the Associated Press… 

JULY 25 ~ ON THiS DAY in History

1788 – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart completed his Symphony No. 40 in G minor on the 25th July 1788.

1837 – The first commercial use of an electrical telegraph was successfully demonstrated by William Cooke and Charles Wheatstone on the 25th July 1837, between Euston and Camden Town in London.

1868 – Wyoming became a United States territory on the 25th July 1868.

1920 – The first transatlantic two-way radio broadcast took place on the 25th July 1920.

1923 –  Estelle Getty the American actress was born on the 25th July 1923 (died 1923 aged 84). Estelle Getty was best known for her role as Sophia Petrillo on The Golden Girls (1985 – 1992), which won her an Emmy, and a Golden Globe on The Golden Palace (1992 – 1993) and on Empty Nest (1993 – 1995).  American actress (d. 2008)

1942 – Bruce Woodley the Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist  from The Seekers was born on the 25th July 1942.

1959 – SR.N1 hovercraft crossed the English Channel from Calais, France to Dover, England on the 25th July 1959, in just over 2 hours.

1965 – Bob Dylan went electric when he plugged in at the Newport Folk Festival on the 25th July 1965, signaling a major change in folk and rock music.

1967 – Matt LeBlanc the American actor was born on the 25th July 1967.

1973 – Soviet Mars 5 space probe was launched on the 25th July 1973.

1976 – Viking programViking 1 took the famous Face on Mars photo on the 25th July 1976.

1978 – Louise Brown the world’s first test tube baby was born on the 25th July 1978.

1981Sheridan Smith the English actress was born on the 25th July 1981. Sheridan Smith verified Twitter: www.twitter.com/SheridanSmith1

1984 – Salyut 7 cosmonaut Svetlana Savitskaya became the 1st woman to perform a space walk on the 25th July 1984.

2000 – Air France Flight 4590, a Concorde supersonic passenger jet, F-BTSC, crashed on the 25th July 2000, just after takeoff from Paris killing all 109 aboard and 4 on the ground.

2000Mason Cook the American actor was born on the 25th July 2000. He is known for his portrayal of Cecil Wilson in Spy Kids: All the Time in the World, and appearing on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

2010 – WikiLeaks published classified documents about the War in Afghanistan on the 25th July 2010, one of the largest leaks in U.S. military history.

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

JULY 24 ~ ON THiS DAY in History

1567 – Mary, Queen of Scots, was forced to abdicate on the 24th July 1567, and replaced by her 1-year-old son James VI.

1823 – Slavery was abolished in Chile on the 24th July 1823.

1897 – Amelia Earhart the American pilot was born on the 24th July 1897 (d. 1937).

1949Michael Richards the American actor, comedian, writer, television producer, best known as Cosmo Kramer on Seinfeld, was born in Culver City, California on the 24th July 1949.

1968 – Kristin Chenoweth the American actress and singer was born on the 24th July 1968. www.facebook.com/KristinChenoweth & www.twitter.com/KChenoweth

1969 – Jennifer Lopez the American actress, singer and dancer was born on the 24th July 1969.

1980Peter Sellers the a British film actor, comedian and singer died on the 24th July 1980 aged 54 (born Richard Henry Sellers on the 8th September 1925). Peter Sellers appeared in the BBC Radio comedy series The Goon Show, was featured on hit comic songs and known around the world as Chief Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther series of films.

1998 – Bindi Irwin the Australian television host and actress was born on the 24th July 1998.

1969 – Apollo programApollo 11 splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean on the 24th July 1969.

2005 – Lance Armstrong won his 7th consecutive Tour de France on the 24th July 2005.

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

JULY 23 ~ ON THiS DAY in History

1632 – 300 colonists bound for New France departed from Dieppe, France on the 23rd July 1632.

1829 – William Austin Burt patented the typographer on the 23rd July 1829, a precursor to the typewriter.

1914Virgil Finlay the American pulp fantasy, science fiction and horror illustrator was born on the 23rd July 1914 (died 18th January 1971). See Google images

1938 – Bert Newton the Australian actor and television host was born on the 23rd July 1938.

1947 – David Essex the English singer-songwriter and actor was born on the 23rd July 1947.

1952 – Janis Siegel the American singer from The Manhattan Transfer was born on the 23rd July 1952.

1965 – Slash the English-American guitarist from Guns N’ Roses was born on the 23rd July 1965.

1967Philip Seymour Hoffman the American actor and director was born in Fairport, New York on the 23rd July 1967 (died 2nd February 2014 aged 46).  He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for the 2005 biographical film Capote. Phillip Seymour Hoffman is known for his film roles in Scent of a Woman (1992)Twister (1996)Boogie Nights (1997)The Big Lebowski (1998)Patch Adams (1998)Magnolia (1999)The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)Almost Famous (2000)Red Dragon (2002)25th Hour (2002)Punch-Drunk Love (2002) and Cold Mountain (2003).

1973 – Monica Lewinsky the American White House intern, author, and handbag designer was born on the 23rd July 1973.

1980 – Michelle Williams the American singer-songwriter from Destiny’s Child was born on the 23rd July 1980.

1983 – Bec Hewitt the Australian actress and singer was born on the 23rd July 1983.

1989Daniel Radcliffe the English actor best known as the title character in the Harry Potter film series.

2011 – Amy Winehouse the English singer-songwriter died on the 23rd July 2011 (born 1983).

2012Syria admitted to possessing a stockpile of chemical weapons on the 23rd July 2012, which they claimed were reserved for national defense against foreign countries.

Today in History for July 23rd ~ video presented by the Associated Press… 

JULY 22 ~ ON THiS DAY in History

1713 – Jacques-Germain Soufflot the French architect was born the 22nd July 1713. Jacques-Germain Soufflot designed the Panthéon (died 1780).

1894 – The PARiS~ROUEN MOTOR RACE known as the world’s 1st competitive motor race was held in France between Paris and Rouen on the 22nd July 1894.

Le Petit Journal 1894 Paris Rouen Concours des Voitures sans Chevaux Worlds 1st motor car race France front page old newspaper Peugeot driver Louis Rigoulot
The start of the 1894 Paris Rouen Concours des Voitures sans Chevaux, on the front page of Le Petit Journal on the 5th August 1894. Car 27 is a Peugeot 3hp driven by Louis Rigoulot.

1882Edward Hopper the American painter was born on the 22nd July 1882 (died 1967).

1898 – Alexander Calder the American sculptor was born the 22nd July 1898 (died 1976).

1924Margaret Whiting the American singer was born on the 22nd July 1924 (d. 2011).

1933Wiley Post became the 1st person to fly solo around the world on the 22nd July 1933, traveling 25,099 km (15,596 miles) in 7 days, 18 hours and 45 minutes.

1936Tom Robbins the American novelist was born on the 22nd July 1936.

1941 – Vaughn Bodē the American illustrator was born the 22nd July 1941 (died 1975).

1942Peter Habeler the Austrian mountaineer was born on the 22nd July 1942.

1944Rick Davies the English singer-songwriter and keyboardist from Supertramp was born on the 22nd July 1944.

1946Danny Glover the American actor was born on the 22nd July 1946.

1947Don Henley the American singer-songwriter and drummer from The Eagles was born on the 22nd July 1947.

1951Dezik & Tsygan became the 1st dogs to make a sub-orbital flight on the 22nd July 1951.

1962 – The Mariner 1 spacecraft had to be destroyed on the 22nd July 1962, after flying erratically several minutes after launch.

1963Emily Saliers the American singer-songwriter and musician from Indigo Girls was born on the 22nd July 1963.

1963Rob Estes the American actor was born on the 22nd July 1963. Rob Estes is best known for his roles as Harry Wilson on 90210, Sgt. Chris Lorenzo on Silk Stalkings, and Kyle McBride on Melrose Place.

1964David Spade the American actor and comedian was born on the 22nd July 1964.

1972SETH FiSHER the American illustrator was born on the 22nd July 1972 (d. 2006). Seth Fisher is known for his work on DC Comics‘ Green Lantern: Willworld, and nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Penciller/Inker for Flash: Time Flies and Vertigo Pop! Tokyo. Seth pencilled the Snow story arc of the Batman series Legends of the Dark Knight, and provided the art for Marvel’s Fantastic Four / Iron Man: Big in Japan in 2005. Seth also produced magazine and album covers in Finland and Japan, and worked for Presto Studios doing concept design work on the Myst III: Exile computer game. Seth Fisher died in January 2006, when he had an accidental fall from the roof of a building in Osaka, Japan. His website www.FloweringNose.com  has been kept going by his family, friends and fans, in hope that the rest of the world will not miss the delight of his life and works.

FloweringNose.com website Seth Fisher American comic book artist penciller sketches illustrations designs people characters cartoons
www.FloweringNose.com ~ official website of Seth Fisher (American comic book artist)

1973Daniel Jones the Australian musician, songwriter, and producer from Savage Garden is a musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known for his part in the hugely popular Australian pop duo Savage Garden

1983Martial law in Poland was officially revoked on the 22nd July 1983.

1983 ~ SHARNi ViNSON the Australian model, actress and dancer best known for her work on Home and Away and film Step Up 3D was born on the 22nd July 1983.

Sharni Vinson Australian actress dancer model Aussie girl smilling Home& Away Step Up 3D 2011 smile photo by Eva Rinaldi
Sharni Vinson, the Aussie actor joined the cast of Universal’s Blue Crush 2 proving that surfing and bikinis are a woefully under-appreciated combination (2011 photo by celebrity photographer Eva Rinaldi from www.EvaRinaldi.com )

See bikini clad Aussie beach girl Sharni Vinson in her 1st episode on Home & Away as Cassie Turner with Ric Dalby (played by Mark Furze)…

1992 – Selena Gomez the American actress and singer was born on the 22nd July 1992.

1997 – The second Blue Water Bridge opened between Port Huron, Michigan and Sarnia, Ontario on the 22nd July 1997.

2002 – Prince Felix of Denmark was born the 22nd July 2002.

2008 – Estelle Getty the American actress died on the 22nd July 2008 aged 84 (born 1923). Estelle Getty was best known for her role as Sophia Petrillo on The Golden Girls (1985 – 1992), which won her an Emmy, and a Golden Globe on The Golden Palace (1992 – 1993) and on Empty Nest (1993 – 1995).

2013 ~ Prince George of Cambridge was born at 4.24pm Monday 22nd July 2013 (London time). Kate Middleton The Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to George Alexander Louis (8lb 6oz) in the Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital in central London on the 4.24pm Monday 22nd July 2013, with Prince William The Duke of Cambridge at her side. Prince George is 3rd in line to succeed his great-grandmother Elizabeth II, to the thrones of the Commonwealth realms, following his grandfather Charles, Prince of Wales and father Prince William The Duke of Cambridge.

Today in History for July 22nd ~ video presented by the Associated Press