What Happened On
Hubble Space Telescope
April 24, 1990
NASA launches their $1.5 billion Earth-orbiting telescope into space. Although designed to view farther into space than any telescope on Earth, a flawed lens greatly reduced it capabilities. The telescope is named after astronomer Edwin Hubble.
Iranian Hostage Crisis - Rescue Disaster
April 24, 1980
An attempt to rescue the hostages of the Iranian hostage crisis ends in disaster when a helicopter crashes into a transport plane killing eight Americans and wounding five others. The secret rescue mission, codenamed "Eagle Claw", had already been aborted due to equipment failures from severe dust storms. The helicopters were repositioning themselves for refueling when the crash occurred.
The embassy had been taken over by Iranian students who believed the U.S. was attempting to undermine the Iranian Revolution. They also opposed U.S. support of the Shah of Iran who, after being overthrown, went to the U.S. for cancer treatment. They wanted him returned to stand trial for crimes against the Iranian people.
First Person to Die During a Space Mission
April 24, 1967
Soviet cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov dies when his spacecraft becomes entangled in its parachute and plummets to Earth.
Three U.S. astronauts had died during a simulation on the launch pad three months earlier in the Apollo 1 disaster.
Monkey Trial
April 24, 1925
John Scopes teaches Darwin's Theory of Evolution in a Dayton, Tennessee high school class, in violation of Tennessee law. This would lead to the famous Scope's Monkey Trial.
The previous month, Tennessee had made it a misdemeanor to "teach any theory that denies the story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals." High school teacher John Scopes defied this law by teaching evolution in his classroom. Famous lawyer, and three-time U.S. presidential candidate, William Jennings Bryan volunteered for the prosecution. Attorney Clarence Darrow joined the ACLU for the defense. Darrow called as his sole witness for the defense the prosecuting attorney Bryan, in an attempt to discredit his literal interpretation of the Bible. Bryan was ridiculed and forced to make contradictory statements. In an unusual twist, the defense attorney in his closing remarks asked the jury to convict his client. This accomplished two things: It allowed the case to be taken to the Tennessee Supreme Court and it prevented the prosecutor from delivering his closing speech that he had spent weeks preparing. Scopes was found guilty and ordered to pay a fine of $100. Even though Bryan the prosecutor won, he was publicly humiliated and many believe the public ridicule contributed to his death six days later. The conviction was eventually overturned by the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Underconstruction (left) and completed in 1913
Underconstruction (left) and completed in 1913
Woolworth Building
April 24, 1913
What was at the time the world's tallest building, is opened, holding the record until the construction of the 40 Wall Street building and the Chrysler Building in 1930. It was 792 feet (241.4 meters) high and is located at 233 Broadway in Manhattan, New York City. It consists of a 30-story base topped by a 30-story tower. In 2012, the top 30 floors were converted into residences. The building has its own zip code of 10279.
Ads from 1888 and 1900
Ads from 1888 and 1900
Kodak
April 24, 1888
The Eastman-Kodak company is founded. The Kodak camera was soon introduced with the slogan, "You press the button - we do the rest".
In 1879, founder George Eastman had invented an emulsion-coating machine which enabled him to mass-produce photographic dry plates and he began selling them in 1880 in New York. Before dry plates, wet plates had to be coated, immediately exposed, and then developed while still wet. Dry plates could be exposed and then developed later.
Trojan War
April 24, 1184 B.C.
The Greeks enter Troy hidden inside a giant wooden horse (traditional date).
Lottery Comes Up 666
April 24, 1980
In an attempt to cheat the system, the host of the Pennsylvania lottery had weighted certain balls to increase the probability that fours and sixes would be selected. The film Lucky Numbers (2000), starring John Travolta and Lisa Kudrow, was loosely based on this event.
Spanish-American War
April 24, 1898
Spain declares war on the U.S. The U.S. Congress would declare war on Spain the following day, declaring that a de facto state of war had existed since April 21.
Library of Congress
April 24, 1800
Library of Congress is established. It was started with the library of Thomas Jefferson.
Highest Recorded Tidal Wave
April 24, 1771
The Highest recorded tidal wave, 278 ft., off Ishigaki Island, Ryukyu Chain. Source: Guinness Book of World Records
First Professionally-Performed Play in America
April 24, 1767
First Professionally-Performed Play in America The Prince of Parthia performed in Philadelphia.
First Regularly-Published American Newspaper
April 24, 1704
The Boston News Letter by John Campbell is founded. It was published until Feb. 22, 1776.
Birthdays
William Castle (William Schloss)
Born April 24, 1914 d. 1977
American film producer, director. Known for the use of gimmicks to promote his horror films, such as hot-wiring theater seats and issuing "life insurance" to patrons in case they should die of fright while watching the movie. During viewings of House on Haunted Hill (1959) a plastic skeleton was rigged to fly over the audience during the corresponding scene in the movie, in an effect Castle called "Emergo". The low-budget House on Haunted Hill was made on a budget of about $200,000 and made over $2.5 million at the box office. Its huge success inspired Alfred Hitchcock to make his own low-budget horror movie Psycho.
Film: Macabre (1958, "So terrifying we insure you for $1,000 against death by fright!"), House on Haunted Hill (1959, which featured a glowing-eyed skeleton that floated over the movie goers), The Tingler (1959, the seats were wired to vibrating shock devices), and Homicidal (1961, with a "Fright Break," where those too frightened to watch could go to "Coward's Corner," with the words, "Watch the chicken! Watch him shiver in Coward's Corner!" blaring over the loudspeaker).
Invented the Zipper
Gideon Sundback
Born April 24, 1880 d. 1954
Swedish-American electrical engineer. Sundback invented the modern zipper (1917).
Kelly Clarkson
Born April 24, 1982
American Grammy-winning pop singer, first American Idol winner (2002).
Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore
Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore
Cedric the Entertainer (Cedric Antonio Kyles)
Born April 24, 1964
American comedian. Cedric the Entertainer is one of The Original Kings of Comedy.
Doug Clifford
Born April 24, 1945
American drummer with Creedence Clearwater Revival.
Barbra Streisand
Born April 24, 1942
American Oscar-Emmy-winning actress, singer. Film: Funny Girl (1968, Oscar), What's Up Doc? (1972), The Way We Were (1973), and A Star is Born (1976, Oscar).
Sue Grafton
Born April 24, 1940 d. 2017
American author. Writings: A is for Alibi (1983), B is for Burglar (1985), C is for Corpse (1986), etc.
Jill Ireland
Born April 24, 1936 d. 1990
British-born American actress. After being diagnosed with cancer she became a spokesman for victims of the disease. Film: Death Wish II (1981).
Shirley MacLaine (Shirley Beaty)
Born April 24, 1934
American Oscar and Emmy-winning actress. Film: Terms of Endearment (1983).
John Barbour
Born April 24, 1933
Canadian-born actor, comic. TV: Real People (host).
Bodnar receiving Calder Memorial Trophy in 1944
Bodnar receiving Calder Memorial Trophy in 1944
Gus Bodnar
Born April 24, 1923 d. 2005
Canadian hockey player. Bodnar scored a goal 15 seconds into his first NHL game (1943), setting the record for fastest goal by a player in his first NHL game.
He played 12 seasons in the National Hockey League.
Fred Gehrke
Born April 24, 1918 d. 2002
American NFL football player (1940-50). He designed the first NFL football helmet logo (Los Angeles Rams, 1948). He is also credited with creating the first helmet with a full facemask. This was after having broken his nose three times during the 1946 season.
Robert Porter Allen
Born April 24, 1905 d. 1963
American conservationist. He saved the whooping crane from extinction by discovering the last remaining flock near the Arctic Circle (1955).
Robert Penn Warren
Born April 24, 1905 d. 1989
American author, first U.S. poet laureate, and the only person to win the Pulitzer for both fiction (All the King's Men, 1946) and poetry (Promises, 1958).
Anthony Trollope
Born April 24, 1815 d. 1882
English novelist. He was one of the most successful and prolific English novelists of the Victorian era. Writings: Chronicles of Barsetshire. He is also responsible for introducing the familiar red pillar mailboxes in Britain (1853).
Robert Bailey Thomas
Born April 24, 1766 d. 1846
American publisher. Founder of The Farmer's Almanac (1792, later called The Old Farmer's Almanack), which he published until his death.
John Trumbull
Born April 24, 1750 d. 1831
American poet. He was a political satirist during the American Revolution, with his epic satirical piece M'Fingal.
Edmund Cartwright
Born April 24, 1743 d. 1823
English inventor. He revolutionized weaving with his invention of the power loom (1785).
John Graunt
Born April 24, 1620 d. 1674
English statistician. He co-wrote the world's first book of statistics and is the founder of the science of demography (the statistical study of human populations).
Saint Vincent de Paul
Born April 24, 1581 d. 1660
French ecclesiastic. He founded the Vincentian Congregation and the Sisters of Charity.
Deaths
First Person to Die During a Space Mission
Vladimir Mikhaylovich Komarov
Died April 24, 1967 b. 1927
Soviet cosmonaut. He became the first person to die during a space mission when his spacecraft became entangled in its parachute and plummeted to the Earth.
Andrew Smith Hallidie
Died April 24, 1900 b. 1836
English-born American engineer. He invented the first cable streetcar (1871, San Francisco).
Daniel Defoe
Died April 24, 1731 b. circa 1660
English author. Writings: Robinson Crusoe (1719) and Moll Flanders (1722). The character of Robinson Crusoe was based on the real-life adventures of Alexander Selkirk. Defoe died broke and in hiding from his debtors.
Andrew Woolfolk
Died April 24, 2022 b. 1950
American reeds player, with Earth, Wind & Fire. Music: Shining Star (1975, #1, Grammy), Best of My Love (1977, #1), and After the Love has Gone (1979, #2, Grammy).
Estée Lauder (Josephine Esther Mentzer)
Died April 24, 2004 b. 1908
American cosmetics executive. Quote: "There are no ugly women - only women who don't care or who don't believe they are attractive."
King Edward VIII and Mrs. Simpson
King Edward VIII and Mrs. Simpson
Wallis Warfield Simpson
Died April 24, 1986 b. 1896
Duchess of Windsor, American divorcee. King Edward VIII in 1936 abdicated his throne to marry her. He then became the Duke of Windsor.
Famous quote: "A woman can't be too rich or too thin."
Alice Lon (Alice Lon Wyche)
Died April 24, 1981 b. 1926
American singer, TV personality. Lawrence Welk's original Champagne Lady (1955-59). Welk fired her for showing too much knee on camera.
Bud Abbott (William Alexander Abbott)
Died April 24, 1974 b. 1897
American comedian. Lou Costello's partner.
Gerhard Domagk
Died April 24, 1964 b. 1895
German bacteriologist. He was the first person to refuse a Nobel Prize (1939). He was awarded the prize for his discovery of the antibacterial effects of Prontosil, the first of the sulfonamide drugs. He used the drug to save his own daughter's arm from amputation. He was forced to refuse the award due to pressure from the Nazi government during WWII. He was able to accept the award after the war.
Finley Peter Dunne
Died April 24, 1936 b. 1867
American humorist, creator of Mr. Dooley.
Founder of Child Psychology
G. Stanley Hall (Granville Stanley Hall)
Died April 24, 1924 b. 1844
American psychologist, founder of child psychology. He was the first president of the American Psychological Association (1892), the first president of Clark University (1888), and founder of the American Journal of Psychology (1887).