The numbers are the sequence of odd numbers paired together
[1 3] [5 7] [9 11]
What Happened On
Unabomber Captured
April 3, 1996
Ted Kaczynski is captured by the FBI. He was later convicted of killing three people and wounding 29 others by sending mail bombs over a period of almost eighteen years. Kaczynski was the target of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI's) longest and costliest investigation. The FBI used the acronym "UNABOM" (UNiversity and Airline BOMber) to refer to his case, resulting in the media calling him the "Unabomber". After some of his writings were published in the media, his brother recognized the writing style and beliefs and tipped off the FBI.
Helicopter surveying the crash site (left) and Ron Brown
Helicopter surveying the crash site (left) and Ron Brown
Clinton Cover Up Murder?
April 3, 1996
U.S. President Bill Clinton's Commerce Secretary Ron Brown is killed when his U.S. Air Force jet crashes into a mountainside during an attempted instrument approach to Dubrovnik, Croatia, while on an official trade mission. Brown was under investigation for corruption and was preparing to negotiate plea bargains implicating Clinton, prompting suspicions the crash was a cover up, but there is no direct evidence to support these allegations. He had stated he would not go to jail alone. Everyone on board died from the crash.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
April 3, 1975
The comedy group Monty Python release their comedy classic Monty Python and the Holy Grail. It parodied the legend of King Arthur's quest for the Holy Grail. And just what is the airspeed of an unladen swallow?
First Portable Cell Phone Call
April 3, 1973
The first portable cell phone call is made. General manager of Motorola's Communications Systems Division calls his rival at AT&T's Bell Labs from the streets of New York City.
I Have Been to the Mountain Top
April 3, 1968
Martin Luther King, Jr. makes his famous proclamation, "I have been to the mountain top." This was Martin Luther King's last speech, as he was assassinated the following day.
"…Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn't matter with me now, because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live - a long life; longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land. So I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord."
Planet of the Apes
April 3, 1968
The sci-fi classic movie Planet of the Apes is released. It starred Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, and Linda Harrison as Nova. The original script and novel it was based on called for a technologically-advanced society of apes, but that was changed to save production costs.
Produced on a budget of $5.8 million, it earned $33.4 million at the box office.
TV Guide
April 3, 1953
The first issue of TV Guide's national issue is published. Its cover featured Lucille Ball's newborn son Desi Arnaz, Jr. Only local TV guides had been published prior to this.
POWs building the bridge
POWs building the bridge
The Bridge on the River Kwai
April 3, 1945
The wooden railroad bridge over the Kwai river in eastern Kanchanaburi is destroyed by American bombers. During World War II, the Imperial Japanese Army had forced British prisoners of war to build the bridge for the "Death Railway". It was called the Death Railway because approximately 13,000 prisoners of war and 80,000 to 100,000 civilians died during its construction. The bridge had been damaged by British bombers in February, but was soon back in commission. It was rebuilt again after this bombing, and finally put out out of commission for the duration of the war by a British bombing run in June.
After the war, 111 Japanese military officials were tried for war crimes for their brutality during the construction of the railway, 32 of which were sentenced to death.
These events were made famous by Pierre Boulle's 1952 fictionalized novel Bridge over the River Kwai which was made into the 1957 movie Bridge on the River Kwai.
Lindbergh Kidnapper Executed
April 3, 1936
Bruno Hauptmann is electrocuted for the kidnapping and murder of Charles Lindbergh's 20-month-old son in 1932. Hauptmann was arrested for the crime in September 1934 after using one of the ransom money bills at a gas station. $14,600 of the $50,000 of ransom money was found in his garage. Hauptmann claimed the money was left with him by his former business partner who returned to Germany, where he died March 29, 1934. A search of Hauptmann's home found further evidence linked to the crime.
Hauptmann was found guilty of first degree murder and executed by electric chair in 1936. He claimed his innocence to the end, and turned down a last-minute offer to commute his sentence to life-without-parole in exchange for a confession.
April 5, 1892 ad and an Ice Cream Sundae
April 5, 1892 ad and an Ice Cream Sundae
Ice Cream Sundae
April 3, 1892
Church minister John M. Scott and pharmacy co-owner Chester Platt claim to have invented the Ice Cream Sundae on Sunday, April 3, 1892. Although there are many claims as to who invented this treat, theirs is the earliest that there is documented proof for. He took out the first newspaper ad for an Ice Cream Sundae on April 5, 1892, in the Ithaca Daily Journal. Reportedly, he and Scott had covered dishes of ice cream with cherry syrup and candied cherries. The men named the dish "Cherry Sunday" in honor of the day it was created. It was an immediate sensation and Platt soon added "Strawberry Sundays" and "Chocolate Sundays".
Jesse James Killed By His Own Gang
April 3, 1882
The famous outlaw Jesse James is shot and killed by a member of his own gang to collect his reward of $10,000.
First Run of the Pony Express
April 3, 1860
The Pony Express mail service begins its first run when it departs from St. Joseph, Missouri arriving in Sacramento, California 10 days later on April 13. Until then, sending a message across the U.S. could take months. However, the Pony Express was a financial failure, with rates of $5 per ounce (hundreds of dollars in today's money), the average person could not afford to use it. The completion of the first U.S. transcontinental telegraph line in 1861 made the Pony Express obsolete.
Crucifixion
April 3, A.D. 33
The traditional date of the crucifixion of Christ. This was established by comparing astronomical and historical data to the text in the Gospels; although there is much debate about these results.
Chess
April 3, 1975
Bobby Fischer forfeits the world chess title after refusing to defend it. He had become the first American to win the world chess championship when he defeated Boris Spassky of the USSR in what was called the Chess Match of the Century.
First Nuclear Reactor in Space
April 3, 1965
NASA launches SNAP-10A (Systems for Nuclear, Auxiliary Power). It is the first nuclear reactor launched into space and the only fission power system launched by the U.S. It stopped working after 43 days due to a non-nuclear systems malfunction.
Juvenile Jury
April 3, 1947
Juvenile Jury debuts on NBC, hosted by Jack Barry.
Dead soldiers on the Bataan Death March
Dead soldiers on the Bataan Death March
World War II - Bataan Death March General Executed
April 3, 1946
Masaharu Homma, the Japanese General responsible for the Bataan Death March is executed for his war crimes.
60,000-80,000 Filipino and American prisoners of war were forced by the Japanese to march 65 miles from Bataan to San Fernando, Philippines. It's estimated that 2,500 Filipinos and 500 Americans died during the march due to starvation and maltreatment by the Japanese. Those too weak to walk were executed. From San Fernando they were transported by overcrowded rail cars to Camp O'Donnell POW camp. Many more died due to the hot and crowded conditions on the rail cars. Another 26,000 Filipinos and 1,500 Americans died at Camp O'Donnell. Of the 22,000 Americans captured by the Japanese on the Bataan Peninsula, only about 15,000 returned to the United States.
Photo Credit: Jnn13
Photo Credit: Jnn13
The American's Creed
April 3, 1918
William Tyler Page's submission is chosen as the winner of a patriot contest by Congress.
"I believe in the United States of America, as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a republic; a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes.
I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support its Constitution, to obey its laws, to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies."
Birthdays
I Don't Like Mondays
Brenda Ann Spencer
Born April 3, 1962
American murderer. In 1979 at age 16, she opened fire on children in an elementary school playground. She killed two adults and injured eight children and a police officer. She stated, "I don't like Mondays. This livens up the day".
The Boomtown Rats hit 
I Don't Like Mondays (1980) was based on this event.
Photo Credit: David Shankbone
Photo Credit: David Shankbone
Eddie Murphy (Edward Regan Murphy)
Born April 3, 1961
American comedian. Film: 48 Hours (1982), Trading Places (1983), Beverly Hills Cop (1984), Dr. Dolittle (1998), and Shrek (2001, voice of Donkey). TV: Saturday Night Live (1980-2021).
Tony Orlando and Dawn
Tony Orlando and Dawn
Tony Orlando (Michael Cassavitis)
Born April 3, 1944
American singer. Tony Orlando recorded the song Candida, but concerned about a possible conflict of interest, Orlando sang under the condition that his name not be associated with the project, so it was released under the name "Dawn". When the song became a world-wide hit, he recorded Knock Three Times, also under the name Dawn, and it became a #1 hit. Wanting to go on tour, he recruited session singers Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson using the name "Dawn featuring Tony Orlando", which was later changed to "Tony Orlando and Dawn".
Music: Knock Three Times (1971, #1), and Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Ole Oak Tree (1973, #1).
Marlon Brando
Born April 3, 1924 d. 2004
American Oscar-winning actor. Film: A Streetcar Named Desire (1951), The Wild One (1953), On the Waterfront (1954, Oscar), The Godfather (1972, Don Corleone), and Superman (1978, Superman's father).
Doris Day (Doris von Kappelhoff)
Born April 3, 1922 d. 2019
American actress. When her 3rd husband Martin Melcher died in 1968, Day discovered that Melcher had lost her earnings in bad business deals with their attorney and she was deeply in debt. She also found that, even though she detested doing television, they had without her consent signed her up to do a TV series and specials. The series became The Doris Day Show and ran from 1968 to 1973. The show was popular and helped her recover financially. She also sued her attorney and won a multi-million dollar settlement.
Film: Pajama Game (1957) and Pillow Talk (1959). TV: The Doris Day Show (1968-73).
Iron Eyes Cody (Espera Oscar DeCorti)
Born April 3, 1904 d. 1999
American actor. Iron Eyes Cody was featured in the teary-eyed ecology TV commercials (1970s and 80s). Although he claimed Cherokee/Cree heritage, he had no native American blood. His parents were Italian immigrants. Film: Sitting Bull (1954) and A Man Called Horse (1970).
Mistinguett at the Moulin Rouge
Mistinguett at the Moulin Rouge
Mistinguett (Jeanne Florentine Bourgeois)
Born April 3, 1875 d. 1956
French actress, singer. Her risqué and flamboyant routines made her France's most-popular entertainer and the highest-paid female entertainer in the world. In 1919, her legs were insured for 500,000 francs.
Her signature song was "Mon Homme" (1916).
First President of the U.S.?
John Hanson
Born April 3, 1721 d. 1783
American statesman. First president of U.S. Congress Assembled (1781-82). Because of this, he is sometimes called the first president of the U.S.
Jennie Garth
Born April 3, 1972
American actress. TV: Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990-2000, Kelly Taylor).
David Hyde Pierce
Born April 3, 1959
American Emmy-winning actor. TV: Frasier (Dr. Niles Crane). Film: A Bug's Life (1998, voice of Slim the walking stick).
Alec Baldwin (Alexander Rae Baldwin III)
Born April 3, 1958
American actor, oldest of the "Baldwin brothers." Film: The Hunt for Red October (1990). TV: Doctors (Billy) and Knots Landing (Joshua).
Lyle Alzado
Born April 3, 1949 d. 1992
American football player, two-time All-Pro. As an amateur boxer, he fought an exhibition match against Muhammad Ali. He died of brain cancer, which he attributed to steroid abuse.
Wayne Newton
Born April 3, 1942
American cabaret singer, "Mr. Las Vegas". He performed over 25,000 concerts in Las Vegas.
Jan Berry
Born April 3, 1941 d. 2004
American singer, with Jan and Dean. In 1966, life imitated art when Berry crashed his Corvette into a parked truck while rounding a curve, eerily reminiscent of their hit song from two years earlier, Dead Man's Curve in which a Corvette crashes. The crash occurred just a short distance from the curve memorialized in their song. Jan suffered brain damage and partial paralysis. He had minimal use of his right arm, and had to learn to write with his left hand.
Jane Goodall (Baroness Vanlawick-Goodall)
Born April 3, 1934
British anthropologist. She is the world's foremost expert on chimpanzees.
Earl Lloyd
Born April 3, 1928 d. 2015
American basketball player. He was the first African American to play in a regular season game in the National Basketball Association (NBA), which he played in 1950 with the Washington Capitols against the Rochester Royals. They lost 78-70.
Lloyd was an All–American player for West Virginia State University, where he helped lead the team to an undefeated season in 1948. Lloyd also helped lead the Syracuse Nationals to the 1955 NBA Championship and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003.
Prior to the NBA, Lloyd played with the Harlem Globetrotters.
Virgil "Gus" Grissom
Born April 3, 1926 d. 1967
American astronaut. One of the seven original Mercury astronauts (1959) and the first astronaut to go into space twice. He died with two other astronauts when Apollo 1 caught fire on the launch pad during a simulation.
Stella Walsh (Stanislawa Walasiewicz)
Born April 3, 1911 d. 1980
Polish-born Olympic gold medal winner (1932) and the first woman to run the 100-yard dash in under 11 seconds (10.8 sec., 1930). She received more than 5,000 medals and awards. After her death, it was found that she possessed male genitalia and had a mix of male and female chromosomes and characteristics.
Henry Robinson Luce
Born April 3, 1898 d. 1967
American publisher. Founded Time (1922), Fortune (1930), Life (1936), and Sports Illustrated (1954) magazines.
Leslie Howard (Leslie Howard Steiner)
Born April 3, 1893 d. 1943
English actor. Film: Gone with the Wind (1939, Ashley Wilkes).
He was killed in 1943 during World War II when the German Luftwaffe shot down the civilian plane he was flying in. All 17 aboard were killed. Some believe the plane was targeted because the Germans believed Winston Churchill was aboard after spies at the airport saw a portly man smoking a cigar enter the plane before departing. Others speculate the plane was targeted because Howard was active in anti-German propaganda and rumored to be involved with British or Allied Intelligence.
Bud Fisher (Harry Conway Fisher)
Born April 3, 1885 d. 1954
American cartoonist, created Mutt and Jeff (1907).
Reginald De Koven
Born April 3, 1859 d. 1920
American operatic composer. Music: Oh, Promise Me (1889), Robin Hood (1890), and The Golden Butterfly (1908).
Boss Tweed (William Magear Tweed)
Born April 3, 1823 d. 1878
American politician, boss of Tammany Hall. It is estimated he stole between $30 and $200 million from New York City. He was portrayed in the film Gangs of New York (2002).
Edward Everett Hale
Born April 3, 1822 d. 1909
American author. Writings: The Man Without a Country (1863).
Washington Irving
Born April 3, 1783 d. 1859
American author. Writings: Rip Van Winkle (1819) and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1819). He also wrote under the names Diedrich Knickerbocker, Geoffrey Corson, Anthony Evergreen, and Jonathan Oldstyle.
Deaths
Johannes Brahms
Died April 3, 1897 b. 1833
German composer. One of the "Three Bs of Music" (Bach, Beethoven, Brahms).
Jesse James (Jesse Woodson James)
Died April 3, 1882 b. 1847
American outlaw. He fought with Confederate guerrillas during the Civil War. He was shot by a member of his own gang to collect his reward of $10,000.
Rob Pilatus
Died April 3, 1998 b. 1965
German-American model, dancer, singer, half of Milli Vanilli. Their album Girl You Know It's True won the Grammy for Best New Artist, which was taken back after it was revealed they didn't sing on it. Milli Vanilli consisted of Pilatus and Fabrice "Fab" Morvan and they had been one of the most popular pop acts in the late 1980s and early 1990s with millions of records sold.
Pilatus died of a drug overdose; he was in Germany undergoing a drug withdrawal program at the time.
Helicopter surveying the crash site (left) and Ron Brown
Helicopter surveying the crash site (left) and Ron Brown
Ron Brown
Died April 3, 1996 b. 1941
American, Democratic National Party chairman, Commerce Secretary (1993-96). He and 34 other people died in a government plane crash, prompting government cover-up theories, based on Brown's being under investigation for corruption and having prepared to negotiate plea bargains implicating U.S. President Bill Clinton.
Carl Burton Stokes
Died April 3, 1996 b. 1927
American politician, TV newscaster. He was the first African-American elected mayor of a major U.S. city (1967-72, Cleveland, Ohio).
In 1994, U.S. President Bill Clinton appointed him U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Seychelles.
Note: Richard G. Hatcher was also elected mayor of Gary, Indiana on the same day Stokes was elected.
Pinky Lee (Pincus Leff)
Died April 3, 1993 b. 1907
American children's TV show host. Known for his lisp, checkered hat, and plaid suit, he hosted The Pinky Lee Show (1954-55). He collapsed in the middle of a show due to a sinus infection. The camera crew and audience thought it was all part of his usual manic act and kept filming and cheering as he writhed on the floor.
Yoo hoo, it's me,
My name is Pinky Lee.
I skip and run with lots of fun
For every he and she…
Charles H. Goren
Died April 3, 1991 b. 1901
American bridge expert, columnist, Goren on Bridge.
Milton Caniff
Died April 3, 1988 b. 1907
American cartoonist. Creator of Terry and the Pirates (1934) and Steve Canyon (1947).
David Mathias Dennison
Died April 3, 1976 b. 1900
American theoretical physicist. He discovered the spin of the proton.
Bruno Richard Hauptmann
Died April 3, 1936 b. 1899
German-born carpenter. He was electrocuted for the kidnapping and murder of Charles Lindbergh's 20-month-old son in 1932. Hauptmann was arrested for the crime in September 1934 after using one of the ransom money bills at a gas station. $14,600 of the $50,000 of ransom money was found in his garage. Hauptmann claimed the money was left with him by his former business partner who returned to Germany, where he died March 29, 1934. A search of Hauptmann's home found further evidence linked to the crime.
Hauptmann was found guilty of first degree murder and executed by electric chair in 1936. He claimed his innocence to the end, and turned down a last-minute offer to commute his sentence to life-without-parole in exchange for a confession.
Honorius IV
Died April 3, 1287 b. ????
Italian religious leader, 190th Pope (1285-87).