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 |
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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 |
