Never one to let a good idea go to waste¹, I would like to reintroduce to
h2g2 'On This Day In
History', slightly tweaked into a new,
shiny format. The lovely Italix had the presence of
mind to drop a number of pages where people could
leave their fun-filled facts. Why not pop over and
drop a suggestion. It may well find its way onto the
page!

29th May

• 1884
  
  The first steam cable trams run in Highgate, London.
  

• 1919
  
  Arthur Eddington confirms Albert Einstein's prediction
  that light does not always travel in straight lines.
  

• 1939
  
  Birthday of Nanette Newman. The lady who's hands could
  do dishes in the Fairy Washing Up Liquid ads
  was also cast in International Velvet.

• 1949
  
  Birthday of Francis Rossi, front man of the band
  Status Quo. His elder brother Mark was also born on
  this day, in 1945. Mark was also an original member of
  the band.

• 1985
  
  39 Juventus fans die at Heysel Stadium, Brussels. This
  was a result of a wall collapsing before the European
  cup final against Liverpool.

• Catwoman
• Darth Zaphod

30th May

• 1431
  
  Joan of Arc is burned by the English at Rouen, after
  claims that she is a witch. The only proof? She had
  beaten the English in battle. Definite qualification.
  

• 1672
  
  Birthday of Peter I 'the Great' of Russia. St.
  Petersburg is named after the Tsar.

• 1889
  
  The demon article of clothing to all females, the
  brassiere is invented. It removed the need to wear the
  corset.

• 1975
  
  The formation of the European Space Agency (ESA). ESA
  went on to launch payloads from the Ariane series of
  rockets.

• Apollo
• Zarquon the Ninth

31st May

• 1819
  
  Birthday of poet Walt Whitman. Whitman's Leaves of
  Grass was controversial in its day, with regards
  to content and style. It celebrates the American
  spirit.
  Murph

• 1857
  
  Birthday of Pope Pius XI. Born Ambrogio Damiano
  Achille Ratti, he was the 259th pope of the Roman
  Catholic Church. He reigned from 6 February 1922 to 10
  February 1939.
  Murph

• 1930
  
  Birthday of movie actor Clint Eastwood. He has had a
  successful career playing Western lawmen who shoot bad
  guys, loose cannon modern day law officers who shoot
  bad guys and Western outlaws who shoot worse
  guys.
  Murph

• 1970
  
  In Chimbote, Peru, an earthquake measuring 7.75 on the
  Richter scale killed more than 50,000, more than 100,000 were injured and 800,000 left homeless.
  
  Demon Drawer

• 1990
  Premiere of Seinfeld. The show was to
  become a cultural icon in many different countries,
  with memorable catchphrases as 'yadda, yadda,
  yadda', 'no soup for you', 'master of my
  domain', and countless others. Jerry, Elaine,
  George and Kramer will be with us in reruns for years
  to come, thankfully!
  Jimi X

• Mina
• 129266

1st June

• 1926
  
  Birthday of Marilyn Monroe. Born Norma Jeane
  Mortenson, or Baker, in Los Angeles, California,
  USA.
  Eeyore

• 1968
  
  Premier of The Prisoner. The show brought us
  Patrick McGoohan's famous portrayal of Number 6, as
  well as 'I am not a number; I am a free man!'
  
  Murph

• 1980
  
  Start date for CNN, the Cable News Network. It
  was the first all-news network on television.
  
  Murph

• Phyzix

2nd June

• 1740
  
  Birthday of the Marquis de Sade. The Frenchman
  published erotic writings and gave rise to the term
  sadism.
  Ioreth

• 1965
  
  Birthday of Stephen Waugh, Australian Cricket Captain.
  Of course, being a twin, it's also the birthday of
  fellow international cricketer Mark Waugh.

• 1967
  Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band released
  by the Beatles.
  Ioreth

• 1999
  
  Pope John Paul II blesses the official (900 space)
  Vatican City parking garage. It is situated on
  Janiculum Hill.
  Ioreth

• Luinelen

3rd June

• 1916
  
  Birthday of Leo Bernard Gorcey. He became the leader
  of the 1940s comedy team The Bowery Boys
  Jukes

• 1965
  
  Gemini IV is launched. It was the second two-man US
  flight and lasted 4 days, 1 hour 56 minutes and 12
  seconds. The two astronauts were James A. McDivitt and
  Edward H. White II. The flight featured the first
  extravehicular activity ('space walk’) by an
  American.
  

• 1978
  
  The Guinness Book of Records is recognised as the most
  stolen book from British libraries. According to
  itself that is.
  Delboy

4th June

• 780 BC
  
  The 1st reliable record of a total solar eclipse.
  Captured by Chinese astronomers.
  

• 1927
  
  The 1st Ryder Golf Cup. The US managed to beat England
  by 9-2.

• 1940
  
  German forces enter Paris during WWII.
  

• Phreako
• Lynne
• Schrödinger's Cat
  Flap

On This Day in History Archive

Fashion Cat

29.05.03 Front Page

Back Issue Page