March 18 in History

March 18 in Pop Culture History

March 18th is…
Awkward Moments Day
Biodiesel Day
Forgive Mom and Dad Day
Lacy Oatmeal Cookie Day
Sloppy Joe Day
Supreme Sacrifice Day

37 – Caligula was declared emperor of Rome.

1834 – The first US railroad tunnel was completed between Hollidaysburg and Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

1850 – Henry Wells and William Fargo founded American Express. Two years later, they left the company and were very successful in banking.

1852 – Henry Wells and William G. Fargo founded Wells, Fargo, and Company.

1911 – Irving Berlin copyrighted the first mega-pop hit, ‘Alexander’s Ragtime Band.’

1922 – Mohandas Gandhi was sentenced to six years in prison for civil disobedience (he served only two).

1925 – Tri-State Tornado (Missouri-Illinois-Indiana) killed 695 people.

1950 – #1 Hit March 18, 1950 – April 14, 1950: Teresa Brewer – Music! Music! Music!

1967 – #1 Hit March 18, 1967 – March 24, 1967: The Beatles – Penny Lane

1968 – The U.S. Congress repeals the requirement for a gold reserve (the Gold Standard) to back US currency.

1972 – #1 Hit March 18, 1972 – March 24, 1972: Neil Young – Heart of Gold

1975 – McLean Stevenson’s character (Lt. Colonel Henry Blake) died in the M*A*S*H episode “Abyssinia, Henry”, its third season finale.

1978 – #1 Hit March 18, 1978 – May 12, 1978: Bee Gees – Night Fever

1981 – The Greatest American Hero debuted on NBC

1984 – Miss America Vanessa Williams became even more well-known when she became the first Miss America to resign after old nude photos of her appeared in “Penthouse” magazine. She has gone on to prove herself as a first-class actress and singer. That particular issue is also noted as the first issue with a man on the cover (George Burns), and an underage Traci Lords is the nude centerfold. It is illegal to own, or even look inside, this issue in most countries, including the United States.

1990 – In the most prominent art theft in US history, 12 paintings, collectively worth over $500 million, were stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.

2000 – # 1 Hit March 18, 2000 – April 7, 2000: Destiny’s Child – Say My Name

2005 – The Suite Life of Zack & Cody premiered on The Disney Channel.

2006 – #1 Hit March 18, 2006 – March 31, 2006: Ne-Yo – So Sick

2008 – Jersey Boys (East End Musical) Opened on March 18, 2008, and closed on March 26, 2017

2012 – Once (Broadway Musical) Opened on March 18, 2012, and closed on January 4, 2015

 

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