March 23 in Pop Culture History
893 (Earthquake) Iran
1775 – Patrick Henry delivered his ‘Give me liberty, or give me death!’ speech at St. John’s Episcopal Church, in Richmond, Virginia.
1839 – The initials ‘O.K.’ were first published in The Boston Morning Post. Meant as an abbreviation for ‘oll correct,’ a popular slang misspelling of ‘all correct’ at the time.
1840 – John William Draper took the first successful photo of the Moon. Actually, a daguerreotype, a precursor of the photograph.
1857 – Elisha Otis’s first elevator was installed at 488 Broadway New York City.
1913 (Tornado) Omaha, Nebraska
1956 – Pakistan became the first Islamic republic in the world.
1963 – #1 Hit March 23, 1963 – March 29, 1963: Ruby & the Romantics – Our Day Will Come
1974 – #1 Hit March 23, 1974 – March 29, 1974: Cher – Dark Lady
1982 – Joanie Loves Chachi premiered on ABC
1983 – President Ronald Reagan introduced the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) now called “Star Wars” to the American discussion.
1983 – Dr. Barney C. Clark, the first recipient of a permanent artificial heart, died at the University of Utah’s Medical Center after 112 days with the device.
1996 – #1 Hit March 23, 1996 – May 3, 1996: Celine Dion – Because You Loved Me
1998 – James Cameron’s Titanic won 11 Academy Awards.
2000 – Aida (Broadway Musical) Opened on March 23, 2000 and Closed: September 5, 2004
2001 – The Russian space station, Mir, ended 15 years in orbit by burning up entering Earth’s atmosphere, mostly burning up in the atmosphere, and splashing into the Pacific Ocean.
2014 – Les Miserables (Broadway Musical) Opened on March 23, 2014 and Closed: September 4, 2016 (revival)