July 31 in Pop Culture History
781 – The oldest recorded eruption of Mount Fuji in Japan.
1492 – Jews were expelled from Spain when the Alhambra Decree took effect.
1790 – The first US patent (X000001) as issued, to inventor Samuel Hopkins for a potash process.
1930 – The radio mystery program The Shadow aired for the first time.
1931 – New York television station W2XAB (now known as WCBS) began broadcasting.
1948 – Idlewild Field in New York, New York International Airport (now John F. Kennedy International Airport) was dedicated.
1961 – At Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, the first All-Star Game tie in Major League Baseball history happened, after the game was stopped in the ninth inning because of rain.
1971 – #1 Hit July 31, 1971 – August 6, 1971: James Taylor – You’ve Got a Friend
1987 – The Living Daylights, Maid to Order, The Wolf at the Door and The Lost Boys debuted in theaters.
1991 – Hot Shots! was released in theaters.
1992 – Death Becomes Her, Enchanted April, Bebe’s Kids, The Panama Deception and Buffy the Vampire Slayer debuted in theaters.
1995 – The Walt Disney Company announced their plans to purchase both ABC and ESPN
1998 – The Parent Trap, The Negotiator and Ever After: A Cinderella Story were released in theaters.
1999 – #1 Hit July 31, 1999 – September 3, 1999: Christina Aguilera – Genie In A Bottle
2003 – Avenue Q (Broadway Musical) Opened on July 31, 2003 and closed on September 13, 2009
2006 – Cuba’s Fidel Castro handed over power to brother, Raul Castro.
2009 – Funny People and Aliens in the Attic debuted in theaters.
2010 – #1 Hit July 31, 2010 – September 17, 2010: Eminem featuring Rihanna – Love the Way You Lie
2013 – The Smurfs 2 was released in theaters.
2015 – Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation and Vacation debuted in theaters.
2016 – Sharknado: The 4th Awakens aired on SyFy.
