May 19 in Pop Culture History

1780 – That morning, a combination of thick smoke and heavy cloud cover caused complete darkness to fall on Eastern Canada and the New England area of the United States candles were needed by noon. It did not disburse until the following evening, causing New England’s Dark Day.

1910 – Earth passed through the tail of Halley’s Comet.

1962 – Marilyn Monroe sang her famous ‘Happy Birthday’ to President John F. Kennedy at NYC’s Madison Square Garden

1965 – Pete Townshend wrote My Generation today, his 20th birthday, on a train. He was on a train because his car, a 1935 Packard hearse, was ordered away by the Queen.

#1 Hit May 19, 1973 – May 25, 1973: Stevie Wonder – You Are the Sunshine of My Life

1987 – A patent (#4,666,425) for “keeping a head alive” was issued to Chet Fleming.

#1 Hit May 19, 1990 – June 8, 1990: Madonna – Vogue

1994 – In Living Color (FOX) and L.A. Law (NBC) came to an end

1996 – Sundance Channel made its debut.

1997 – Avian flu, A(H5N1), killed a three-year-old boy in Hong Kong, its first victim.

2006 – The Da Vinci Code opened in theaters.

2009 – Glee premiered on FOX

#1 Hit May 19, 2018 – June 15, 2018: Childish Gambino – This Is America