17 + (1+7) = 25, 25 + (2+5) = 32, etc.
Holidays
Earth Day Flag
Earth Day Flag
Earth Day
Celebrating the Earth and environment. Earth Day was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in first held on April 22, 1970. Nelson was later awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom award in recognition of his work.
What Happened On
McCarthy testifying
McCarthy testifying
McCarthy Hearings
April 22, 1954
Sen. Joseph McCarthy begins televised hearings of alleged Communist activity. He was accusing the U.S. Army of being soft on communism and the Army accused McCarthy and his chief counsel of improperly pressuring the Army for favorable treatment to an Army private who was a former McCarthy aide. Even though McCarthy was acquitted of these charges, his public approval ratings dropped considerably, with many people seeing him as unethical and a bully. He would be condemned by the U.S. Senate for his actions during his investigations into Communist activity.
First Nationally-Televised Atomic Bomb Explosion
April 22, 1952
The U.S. explodes a bomb in Nevada, allowing the image to transmitted coast to coast.
Photo Credit: Heritage Auctions
Photo Credit: Heritage Auctions
In God We Trust
April 22, 1864
U.S. Congress passes legislation authorizing the phrase "In God We Trust" on one-cent and two-cent coins.
First Left-Handed Heavyweight Boxing Champ
April 22, 1994
Michael Moorer defeats Evander Holyfield for the title.
Mexican Sewer Explosion
April 22, 1992
A Series of explosions in the Guadalajara, Mexico sewer system flattened buildings, hurled cars into air, and killed about a thousand people. Residents had been complaining of a strong gas-like odor and white smoke coming from the sewers for several days before the explosions. They were experiencing burning eyes, burning throats, and nausea. City workers found dangerously high levels of gasoline fumes. However, the city mayor did not feel it was necessary to evacuate the city because he felt that there was no risk of an explosion.
And investigation showed that new water pipes, made of zinc-coated iron, were built too close to an existing steel gasoline pipeline. The underground humidity caused these steel pipes to chemically react with the water pipes and corrode, creating a hole in the pipeline that permitted gasoline to leak into the ground and into the main sewer pipe. Normally, sewer pipes are built in a slope so that gravity helps move waste along. However, this sewer pipe had been recently rebuilt into a U-shape so that the city could expand its underground metro railway system. The city used an inverted siphon so that fluids could be pushed against gravity. However, while liquids were successfully pumped through, gases were not, and gas fumes built up, leading to the explosions.
First Released Genetically Altered Virus
April 22, 1986
The first Genetically Altered Virus to be released into the environment is approved by the Department of Agriculture. It was to fight a form of herpes affecting swine.
First Large-Scale Chemical Warfare
April 22, 1915
German forces release 168 tons of chlorine gas, killing 5,000. This was during the World War I in the Second Battle of Ypres, western Belgium (April 22 - May 25).
The German chemist Fritz Haber proposed using heavier-than-air chlorine gas to clear trenches. He originally proposed using the more deadly phosgene gas, but not enough was readily available.
After the initial chlorine-gas attacks, Allied troops used masks of cotton pads soaked in urine to help neutralize the chlorine, until gas masks could be provided.
First Light-Heavyweight Boxing Championship
April 22, 1903
Jack Root beats Charles "Kid" McCoy by points.
First National League Game
April 22, 1876
Baseball's Boston Red Stockings beat Philadelphia Athletics 6-5.
Birthdays
Peter Frampton
Born April 22, 1950
English guitarist, rock musician. His 1976 Frampton Comes Alive! is one of the all-time best-selling live pop albums. It was released following four unsuccessful solo albums. The songs "Show Me the Way", "Baby, I Love Your Way", and "Do You Feel Like We Do" were released as singles with all three reaching the Top 15 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album also popularized the use of the talk-box musical sound effect.
The album also featured Bob Mayo (rhythm guitar, piano, Hammond organ, vocals), Stanley Sheldon (bass guitar, vocals), and John Siomos (drums).
Jack Nicholson
Born April 22, 1937
American Oscar-winning actor. Film: Easy Rider (1969), The Last Detail (1973), Chinatown (1974), One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975, Oscar), The Shining (1980, "Here's Johnny"), and Batman (1989, The Joker).
Aaron Spelling
Born April 22, 1923 d. 2006
American TV and film producer. TV: The Mod Squad (1968-73), Charlie's Angels (1976-81), The Love Boat (1977–86), Fantasy Island (1977-84), Dynasty (1981-89), Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990–2000, which starred his daughter Tori), and Melrose Place (1992–99).
Neal Ball (Cornelius Ball)
Born April 22, 1881 d. 1957
American baseball shortstop. He made the first major-league unassisted triple play (1909).
Ball was playing shortstop for the Cleveland Naps when he caught a Boston Red Sox line drive, touched 2nd, and tagged the runner.
After his major league career, Ball coached for the minor league Baltimore Orioles, where he was assigned to train Babe Ruth, who had just come out of St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys.
An unassisted triple play occurs when a defensive player makes all three outs by himself in one continuous play, without his teammates making any assists.
Vladimir Lenin (Vladimir Ilich Ulyanov)
Born April 22, 1870 d. 1924
Russian revolutionary. Founder of the Soviet Union (1917).
Byron Allen (Byron Allen Folks)
Born April 22, 1961
American comedian.
Catherine Mary Stewart
Born April 22, 1959
Canadian actress. TV: Days of Our Lives (Kayla Brady).
Marilyn Chambers (Marilyn Ann Briggs)
Born April 22, 1952 d. 2009
American porn star. Film: Behind the Green Door (1972). She was the teenage mother on the Ivory Snow soap box. She also did spots for Pepsi and Clairol, had a minor role in The Owl and the Pussycat (1970), and was a Junior Olympics diver and gymnast.
Glen Campbell
Born April 22, 1936 d. 2017
American singer, five-time Grammy-winner. Music: Gentle on My Mind (1967), Wichita Lineman (1968), and Rhinestone Cowboy (1975). Film: True Grit (1969). TV: The Glenn Campbell Goodtime Hour (1969-72).
Charlotte Rae (Charlotte Rae Lubotsky)
Born April 22, 1926 d. 2018
American actress. TV: Diff'rent Strokes (Edna) and Facts of Life (Edna).
Ralph Byrd
Born April 22, 1909 d. 1952
American actor. Dick Tracy of the movies and TV series.
Eddie Albert (Edward Albert Heimberger)
Born April 22, 1906 d. 2005
American actor. TV: Green Acres (Oliver Wendell Douglas).
J. Robert Oppenheimer
Born April 22, 1904 d. 1967
American physicist. "father of the atom bomb." He predicted the existence of rapidly rotating neutron stars (1938), black holes (1939), and directed the lab that perfected the atom bomb (1943-45).
Thomas Holden
Born April 22, 1895 d. 1953
American criminal. He was the first person to make the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List (1950). He had killed his wife and her two brothers. He was apprehended and died in prison.
Holden and Francis Keating robbed payroll deliveries, trains, and banks, becoming one of the most notorious holdup teams by the end of the 1920s. They were captured and convicted in 1928 and each sentenced to 25 years in prison.
After two years, they escaped Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary and went on to form a new gang, committing a series of daylight robberies during 1930 and 1931. They were recaptured and returned to Leavenworth, where Holden was paroled in 1947. Two and a half years later, Holden killed his wife and two of her brothers during a drunken family argument.
Immanuel Kant
Born April 22, 1724 d. 1804
German philosopher, founder of critical philosophy.
Alexander VIII (Pietro Vito Ottoboni)
Born April 22, 1610 d. 1691
Italian religious leader, 241st Pope (1689-91).
Deaths
Richard Nixon (Richard Milhous Nixon)
Died April 22, 1994 b. 1913
American politician. 37th U.S. President (1969-74) and 36th U.S. Vice-President (1953-61).
An avid bowler, Nixon had a one-lane bowling alley built in the basement of the White House (1969).
The Tetons and the Snake River (1942)
The Tetons and the Snake River (1942)
Ansel Adams
Died April 22, 1984 b. 1902
American photographer. Famous for his black and white photographs of the California's Yosemite Valley.
Robert Morse
Died April 22, 2021 b. 1931
American Tony-winning actor. Broadway: How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1962, Tony).
Shirley Knight (Shirley Knight Hopkins)
Died April 22, 2020 b. 1936
American Tony-Emmy-winning actress. TV: thirtysomething (1987-90, Hope's mother), and Desperate Housewives (2005-07, Bree Van De Kamp).
Erin Moran
Died April 22, 2017 b. 1960
American actress. TV: Happy Days (1974-84, Joanie Cunningham), Joanie Loves Chachi (1982-83, Joanie Cunningham), and Daktari (1968-69, Jenny Jones).
Linda Lovelace (Linda Susan Boreman)
Died April 22, 2002 b. 1949
American porn star. Film: Deep Throat (1972, one of the highest-grossing porn films of all time). In her biography Ordeal she claimed she was forced into porn performances by her abusive husband. In later life, she became an anti-pornography spokeswoman.
Erma Louise Bombeck
Died April 22, 1996 b. 1927
American columnist, author. Quote: "Insanity is hereditary. You can catch it from your kids."
Maggie Kuhn
Died April 22, 1995 b. 1905
American executive, founder of the Gray Panthers (1970).
Father of Modern Jazz Piano
Earl "Fatha" Hines
Died April 22, 1983 b. 1903
American jazz pianist, "Father of Modern Jazz Piano." Music: My Monday Date (1928), Caution Blues (1928), Fifty-Seven Varieties (1928), and Rosetta (1933).
Charles Middleton
Died April 22, 1949 b. 1874
American actor. Film: Flash Gordon series (1936-40, Ming the Merciless).
Lionel Atwill
Died April 22, 1946 b. 1885
British horror actor. Film: Doctor X (1932, title role), The Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933, disfigured sculptor), and Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon (1943, Professor Moriarty).
Sir Frederick Henry Royce
Died April 22, 1933 b. 1863
English auto maker. Co-founder of the Rolls-Royce automobile company (1904).
Richard Mather
Died April 22, 1669 b. 1596
Puritan clergyman. Richard Mather, John Eliot and 28 other ministers created the Bay Psalm Book (1640), the first book printed in America in English.
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
Died April 22, 1616 b. 1547
Spanish author. Writings: Don Quixote (1605).
Saint Agapitus I
Died April 22, 536 b. ????
Italian religious leader, 57th Pope (535-536).
Saint Caius
Died April 22, 296 b. ????
religious leader, 28th Pope (283-296).