June 4

Scott Winters June 4, 2025 1 Comment

A quick look at Today in History, check out some Celebrity Birthdays, and find out what Days of the Year to celebrate.

TODAY IN HISTORY:

1783 – A hot-air balloon was demonstrated by Joseph and Jacques Montgolfier. It reached a height of 1,500 feet.

1784 – Marie Thible became the first woman to fly in a hot-air balloon. The flight was 45 minutes long and reached a height of 8,500 feet.

1812 – The Louisiana Territory had its name changed to the Missouri Territory.

1816 – “The Washington” was launched at Wheeling, WV. It was the first stately, double-decker steamboat.

1876 – The “Transcontinental Express” train arrived in San Francisco, CA, via the First Transcontinental Railroad only 83 hours and 39 minutes after leaving New York, NY.

1892 – The Sierra Club was incorporated in San Francisco, CA.

1896 – Henry Ford made a successful test drive of his new car in Detroit, MI. He called the vehicle a “Quadricycle.”

1910 – A statue of George Armstrong Custer was dedicated in Monroe, MI. The famous general spent much of his life in Monroe.

1912 – Massachusetts became the first state to set a minimum wage.

1919 – The U.S. Senate passed the Women’s Suffrage bill.

1924 – An eternal light was dedicated at Madison Square in New York City in memory of all New York soldiers who died in World War I.

1931 – The first rocket-glider flight was made by William Swan in Atlantic City, NJ.

1935 – “Invisible” glass was patented by Gerald Brown and Edward Pollard.

1937 – The first shopping cart was introduced by Sylvan Goldman, owner of the Humpty Dumpty supermarket chain in Oklahoma. It was actually a modified folding chair on wheels.

1947 – The House of Representatives approved the Taft-Hartley Act. The legislation allowed the President of the United States to intervene in labor disputes.

1973 – A patent for the ATM was granted.

1974 – The Cleveland Indians had to forfeit a game to the Texas Rangers when fans got out of control on “10 Cent Beer Night”.

1974 – Sally Murphy became the first woman to qualify as an aviator with the U.S. Army.

1977 – The Apple II computer went on sale for the first time.

1982 – The movie “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan”, starring Ricardo Montalbán, premiered in theaters.

1984 – Bruce Springsteen released his “Born in the U.S.A.” album. It spent seven weeks at #1 on the Billboard charts and yielded seven Top 10 singles.

1984 – For the first time in 32 years, Arnold Palmer failed to make the cut for the U.S. Open golf tournament.

1985 – The Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling striking down an Alabama law that provided for a daily minute of silence in public schools.

1986 – The California Supreme Court approved a law that limited the liability of manufacturers and other wealthy defendants. It was known as the “deep pockets law.”

1992 – The U.S. Postal Service announced that the “young Elvis” stamp beat out the older “Vegas Elvis” stamp in a contest in which more than a million votes were tallied.

1998 – Actor Bob Denver, the star of TV’s “Gilligan’s Island”, was busted for marijuana possession in West Virginia after receiving pot in the mail.

1998 – Terry Nichols was sentenced to life in prison for his role in the Oklahoma City bombing.

1998 – George and Ira Gershwin got a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

2003 – Martha Stewart was indicted for conspiracy, obstruction of justice and securities fraud from the December 2001 sale of shares in ImClone Systems.

2003 – Amazon.com announced that it had received more than 1 million orders for the book “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.” The released date was planned for June 21.

2008 – The United Kingdom and Canada became the first countries to be able to buy and rent films at the iTunes Store.

2008 – Johnny Carson’s sidekick Ed McMahon began a fight to avoid foreclosure on his Beverly Hills estate after falling $644,000 behind in mortgage payments.

2008 – Jim Carrey and Jenny McCarthy led thousands of people in a march on Washington, D.C. to bring awareness to the impact that vaccines may have on autism.

2010 – Falcon 9 Flight 1 was the maiden flight of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, which launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 40.

2018 – In an effort to promote their hamburgers, IHOP changed their name temporarily to IHOB.

2019 – Professional gambler James Holzhauer’s 32-game winning streak came to an end on the TV game show “Jeopardy!”. His streak was just short of Ken Jennings’ record $2.52 million.

BIRTHDAYS:

Bruce Dern – 89 a old (1936) – Actor (“Coming Home”, “Nebraska”,”The Hateful Eight”, “Monster”, “Family Plot”, “The Great Gatsby”)

Roger Ball – 81 a old (1944) – Saxophonist, keyboardist (Average White Band)

Michelle Phillips – 81 a old (1944) – Singer (The Mamas & the Papas), actress (“The Last Movie”, TV’s “Knot’s Landing”, “Beverly Hills 90210”)

Parker Stevenson – 73 a old (1952) – Actor (TV’s “The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries”, movie “Stroker Ace”)

Keith David – 69 a old (1956) – Actor (“The Thing”, “Crash”, “There’s Something About Mary”, “Barbershop”, “Men at Work”)

El DeBarge – 64 a old (1961) – Singer (DeBarge). Born in Detroit, MI.

Julie White – 64 a old (1961) – Actress (TV’s “Grace Under Fire”, “Transformers” movies)

Andrea Jaegar – 60 a old (1965) – Tennis player

Scott Wolf – 57 a old (1968) – Actor (“Go”, TV’s “The Night Shift”, “Perception”, “V”, “Party of Five”, “Everwood”)

Horatio Sanz – 56 a old (1969) – Comedian (TV’s “Saturday Night Live”)

Noah Wyle – 54 a old (1971) – Actor (TV’s “ER”, “Falling Skies”, “The Librarians”, movies “Donnie Darko”, “A Few Good Men”)

Stefan Lessard – 51 a old (1974) – Bassist (The Dave Matthews Band)

Russell Brand – 50 a old (1975) – Actor, comedian

Angelina Jolie – 50 a old (1975) – Actress (“Girl, Interrupted”, “Changeling”, “Maleficent”, “Lara Croft”, “Original Sin”, “Wanted”, “Mr. and Mrs. Smith”, “A Mighty Heart”)

TODAY IS:

National Cheese Day: Gather friends or family and host a cheese-tasting event. With everything from gouda to comté to brie, there’s sure to be something for everyone on Cheese Day.
National Hug Your Cat Day: Embrace your little bundle of furry joy and take some time to appreciate them. Of course, if they don’t want to be hugged, you may need some Band-Aids.
National Cognac Day: Made from wine grapes grown in a particular region of France, Cognac is actually a form of brandy. Host a tasting party and sit around in leather armchairs.
International Corgi Day: Pamper your corgi, buy corgi-related merch to help support the rescue and care of these animals, or get involved with a local event on International Corgi Day.
Shopping Cart Day: Streamlining errands, these mobile assistants effortlessly carry your finds, making every trip to the shops a breeze.
National Old Maids Day: Spinsters around the world revel in your freedom. Though originally a day to try and find a husband, Old Maid’s Day is now an opportunity to appreciate the lack of one.
World Day for Assistive Technology: Innovative devices empower individuals with disabilities, enhancing independence, accessibility, and overall quality of life.
International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression: Some children wake up to laughter. Others wake up to gunfire. For too many, safety is just a dream. The International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression exists because their suffering cannot be ignored. It’s about those tiny hands that have held nothing but fear, those bright eyes that...
National SAFE Day: Ensuring secure firearm storage enhances community safety, fostering responsible ownership practices, and prioritizing household well-being.
Audacity To Hope Day: Audacity to Hope Day invites us to tap into the strength within us to overcome challenges and pursue our dreams. It's a day that celebrates the human spirit's capacity to face adversity with courage and optimism. It's about acknowledging our past difficulties and using them as a foundation to build...
National Christian T-Shirt Day: National Christian T-Shirt Day is a day when Christians come together to express their faith openly. They uniquely do this by wearing T-shirts with Christian messages. This tradition is not just about fashion. It's a bold statement of belief and unity among Christians. How to Celebrate National Christian T-Shirt Day T-Shirt Swap...
Corpus Christi: Corpus Christi celebrated on the Thursday following Trinity Sunday, marks a special day for many Christians around the world. It is a day to honor the tradition of Holy Communion, which commemorates Jesus Christ's Last Supper. While it is traditionally celebrated on a Thursday, in some places, it may shift...
America The Beautiful Week: America The Beautiful Week lights up the first week of June. It's a special time to appreciate the song "America the Beautiful" and to honor the love for the country. This week encourages us to reflect on the natural beauty and patriotic spirit that defines America! How to Celebrate America...
Medicare Fraud Prevention Week: Securing healthcare integrity, ensuring resources reach those in need, and safeguarding against deceptive practices for a healthier community.
National CPR and AED Awareness Week: Have you ever needed to use CPR or an AED in an emergency? National CPR and AED Awareness Week, celebrated during this time in early June, shines a spotlight on the importance of these life-saving skills. This special week is all about educating people on how to respond to a cardiac...
RSPCA Week: RSPCA Week introduces students to real animal care and empathy. Schools receive specially designed packs full of lesson ideas and fundraising tasks. These materials help children learn about kindness toward animals and working together to support a charity’s mission. Educators can pick the activities that fit their class and pace throughout...
Vivid Sydney: Vivid Sydney is a dazzling celebration that transforms the city into a vibrant playground of lights, music, and creativity. For weeks, iconic landmarks and urban spaces glow with stunning light installations and 3D projections, captivating both locals and tourists. This festival draws millions of visitors each year, offering an enchanting...
National Automotive Service Professional Week: National Automotive Service Professional Week is a special time set aside each year to celebrate the skilled individuals who maintain our vehicles. Scheduled in early June, this week acknowledges the hard work and expertise of mechanics and other service professionals who keep our cars running smoothly. Their dedication ensures that...
Stepparents Week: Stepparents Week is a special time to honor those who step into the role of parenthood with open hearts. Celebrated anually, this event recognizes the vital contributions of stepmoms and stepdads. It's all about the love, guidance, and care they provide to children, who are not their own by birth...
National Patient Participation Week: Have you ever felt excluded from decisions about your healthcare? National Patient Participation Week aims to change that. Taking place each year, this significant event highlights the crucial role patients play in shaping healthcare services. By bringing together patients and healthcare providers, the week fosters better communication and emphasizes the...