What Happened On
Elvis Gyrates on National TV
June 6, 1956
In what was later described as a "grunt and groin" performance, Elvis Presley appears on The Milton Berle Show singing his sexually charged version of Hound Dog. Although not Elvis's first television appearance and not even his first time on Milton Berle's show, this was the first time he was shown on television in full length gyrating his pelvis without his guitar blocking his moves. Journalist Jack O'Brian wrote that Elvis "makes up for vocal shortcomings with the weirdest and plainly suggestive animation short of an aborigine's mating dance." TV writer Ben Gross wrote "Popular music has been sinking in this country for some years… Now it has reached its lowest depths in the 'grunt and groin' antics of one Elvis Presley. …he gave an exhibition that was suggestive and vulgar, tinged with the kind of animalism that should be confined to dives and bordellos."
A few days after the performance, Berle called Elvis's manager Col. Tom Parker to tell him that based on the hundreds of thousands of letters critical of Elvis's performance, he had a star on his hands.
D-Day
June 6, 1944
Allied troops invade Europe at Normandy, during World War II. Over 4,000 allied troops were killed on the first day of the invasion, with the Germans losing about 1,000. Also, known as the Normandy landings, this was the largest seaborne invasion in history, with 875,000 men disembarking by the end of June.
What does "D-Day" stand for? It is a term, along with "H-Hour", that dates back to World War I and simply means the day and hour an operation will begin. Likewise, D+2 would mean two days after the operation began. The D is simply an alliteration of Day. All U.S. amphibious assaults of the war were given a D-Day designation. The Normandy landings just happen to be the most famous.
First Drive-In
First Drive-In
First Drive-In Theater
June 6, 1933
The first of the modern drive-in theaters opens, in Camden, New Jersey. It held 400 cars, had a 40 x 50 ft (12 x 15 m) screen, and advertised with the slogan, "The whole family is welcome, regardless of how noisy the children are." The cost was $0.25 per car plus $0.25 per person. It was opened by Richard Hollingshead who had patented the concept (U.S. Patent #1,909,537) which featured ramped parking for better viewing. His patent was ruled invalid in 1950. Earlier attempts at drive-ins featured silent movies and impromptu car parking.
According to some, Hollingshead came up with the idea because his mother was too large to sit comfortably in a regular theater.
Mighty Mouse Accused of Drug Abuse
June 6, 1988
The cartoon mouse is accused of drug abuse by the American Family Association for allegedly sniffing cocaine on a recent episode. The producers claimed that he was sniffing flowers that had been crushed by a bully.
First Test Tube Twins
June 6, 1981
The first test tube twins are born, in Australia. The twins, a boy and a girl, were delivered by Caesarian section. They are the world's seventh and eighth test-tube' babies.
DC-10 Grounded
June 6, 1979
The FAA grounds the DC-10 aircraft after an engine fell off of one during takeoff from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.
Basketball Association of America
June 6, 1946
The professional basketball league the Basketball Association of America is formed. In 1949, it merged with the National Basketball League to form the NBA.
Atlantic Crossing in a Row Boat
June 6, 1896
George Samuelson and Frank Harbo leave New York in an 18-foot row boat headed across the Atlantic. They arrived in England on Aug 1, making this the first recorded crossing of an ocean in a rowboat.
First U.S. President to Attend a Major League Baseball Game
June 6, 1892
Benjamin Harrison becomes the first sitting U.S. President to watch a major league baseball game when he watches the Cincinnati Reds beat the Washington Senators 7-4. Harrison stated, "I find a good deal of pleasure in watching a good game of ball."
1936 YMCA boxing class
1936 YMCA boxing class
YMCA
June 6, 1844
The Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) is established by Sir George Williams in London, with the aim of putting Christian principles into practice by developing a healthy "body, mind, and spirit."
Birthdays
David Randolph Scott
Born June 6, 1932
American astronaut. He was the seventh person to walk on the Moon. He was also the spacecraft commander of Apollo 15.
Nathan Hale Hanged
Nathan Hale Hanged
I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country
Nathan Hale
Born June 6, 1755 d. 1776
American Revolution officer. While being hanged by the British as a spy he proclaimed "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."
Bjorn Borg
Born June 6, 1956
Swedish tennis player, winner of six French Opens, five consecutive Wimbledons (1976-80), and two-time Player of the Year (1979-80).
Robert Englund
Born June 6, 1947
American actor. Film: Nightmare on Elmstreet movies (Freddie Kreuger).
Phillip Allen Sharp
Born June 6, 1944
American Nobel-winning geneticist. He is the co-discoverer of gene splicing.
Gary US Bonds (Gary Anderson)
Born June 6, 1939
American singer. Music: New Orleans (1960) and Quarter to Three (1961, #1).
Billie Whitelaw
Born June 6, 1932 d. 2014
English actress. Film: Charlie Bubbles (1968, British Film Academy Award) and The Omen (1976).
V.C. Andrews (Cleo Virginia Andrews)
Born June 6, 1923 d. 1986
American author. She had three #1 books before her death and numerous bestsellers after her death (ghostwritten from her notes). Flowers in the Attic (1979). In the movie version of Flowers in the Attic, she played the window-washing maid.
David T. Abercrombie
Born June 6, 1867 d. 1931
American outdoorsman and topographer. He founded Abercrombie Co. (1892) which became Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (1900).
Timothy Shay Arthur
Born June 6, 1809 d. 1885
American playwright. His play Ten Nights in a Bar-room (1854) is probably the most popular play in U.S. history. It has been made into four movies and is still produced regularly across the country.
Surrender of Lord Cornwallis by John Trumbull
Surrender of Lord Cornwallis by John Trumbull
John Trumbull
Born June 6, 1756 d. 1843
American soldier, painter of the American Revolution. Paintings: Signing of the Declaration of Independence, The Surrender of Cornwallis, The Resignation of Washington.
Deaths
The Tin Man
Jack Haley (John Joseph Haley, Jr.)
Died June 6, 1979 b. 1897
American comedian, actor. Film: The Wizard of Oz (1939, Tin Man and farm hand Hickory Twicker). Radio: The Jack Haley Show (1937-39).
Haley got the role of the Tin Man after Buddy Ebsen had an allergic reaction to the silver makeup and had to drop out. Haley suffered an eye infection from the makeup that required surgery to avoid permanent damage to his eye.
The second season of his radio show featured Lucille Ball and Gale Gordon.
Robert Francis Kennedy
Died June 6, 1968 b. 1925
American politician, U.S. Senator and brother of John F. Kennedy. He was assassinated by Sirhan Bishara Sirhan.
Carl Jung
Died June 6, 1961 b. 1875
Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst. Jung is the founder of analytical psychology.
Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!
Patrick Henry
Died June 6, 1799 b. 1736
American patriot. Known for his famous 1775 quote during the American Revolution: "I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"
Dr. John (Malcolm Rebennack, Jr.)
Died June 6, 2019 b. 1940
American Grammy-winning musician. Music: Walk on Guilded Splinters (1968), Iko Iko (1972), Right Place, Wrong Time (1973), and Makin' Whoopee (1989, Grammy).
Prior to a show, a motel manager was pistol whipping Dr. John's friend and lead vocalist, Ronnie Barron, over a tryst that Barron was having with the manager's wife. When Dr. John stepped in, the motel manager shot him, nearly taking his left-hand ring finger completely off. After surgery, the finger healed at an awkward angle, making it difficult to play guitar, so he concentrated on piano and organ.
As a child, he was pictured on Ivory Soap packages.
Theresa Saldana
Died June 6, 2016 b. 1954
American actress. She founded Victims for Victims after surviving a nearly fatal knife attack by a deranged admirer. Film: Raging Bull (1980). TV: Commish (1991-96, Rachel the wife of Police Commissioner Tony Scali).
Hollywood's Mermaid
Esther Williams
Died June 6, 2013 b. 1921
American swimmer, actress. Known as "Hollywood's Mermaid." Williams set multiple national and regional swimming records in her late teens as part of the Los Angeles Athletic Club swim team. She was prevented from competing in the 1940 Olympics due to the outbreak of World War II; however, she served as a commentator for synchronized swimming at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
Film: Million Dollar Mermaid (1952, Annette Kellerman).
Billy Preston
Died June 6, 2006 b. 1946
American singer, songwriter. Music: Will It Go Round in Circles (1973) and Nothing from Nothing (1974).
Newman self-portrait
Newman self-portrait
Arnold Newman
Died June 6, 2006 b. 1918
American photographer. Contributor to Life, Look, Esquire, etc. Newman is credited with being the first photographer to use environmental portraiture, in which the background setting is used to capture the essence of the individual's life and work.
Anne Bancroft (Anne Maria Louise Italiano)
Died June 6, 2005 b. 1931
American Oscar, Tony, and Emmy-winning actress. Film: The Miracle Worker (1962, Oscar), The Graduate (1967, Mrs. Robinson), and Agnes of God (1985).
Johnny Downs
Died June 6, 1994 b. 1913
American actor. As one of the Little Rascals, he appeared in 24 Our Gang films (1923-26). Film: Babes in Toyland (1934, Little Boy Blue).
Larry Riley
Died June 6, 1992 b. 1952
American actor. TV: Knotts Landing (Frank Williams).
James E. Casey
Died June 6, 1983 b. 1888
American businessman, founder of United Parcel Service (UPS).
Louis Lumière
Died June 6, 1948 b. 1864
French motion picture pioneer. He and his brother Auguste Lumière developed the Cinématographe motion picture camera and projector. They conducted the first paid movie screening.
1925 Nash automobile
1925 Nash automobile
Charles W. Nash
Died June 6, 1948 b. 1864
American automobile manufacturer. President of Buick Motor Co. (1910-16) and General Motors (1912-16), and founder and president of the Nash Motors Co. (1916-32).
Sir John Alexander Macdonald
Died June 6, 1891 b. 1815
Canadian politician, first prime minister of Canada (1857-58, 1868-73, 1878-91).