July 15

Scott Winters July 15, 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:

1885 – Niagara Reservation State Park, in New York, opened.

1888 – “Printers’ Ink” was sold for the first time.

1901 – Over 74,000 Pittsburgh steel workers went on strike.

1916 – Pacific Aero Products was incorporated by William Boeing in Seattle, WA. The company was later renamed Boeing Co.

1922 – The duck-billed platypus arrived in America, direct from Australia. It was exhibited at the Bronx Zoo in New York, NY.

1935 – The country’s first parking meter was unveiled in Oklahoma City, OK on the corner of First Street and Robinson Avenue.

1936 – The Mercury, Michigan’s first streamlined passenger train began service on the New York Central System between Detroit, MI and Cleveland, OH. By November 1938, the Mercury was also operating between Detroit, MI and Chicago, IL.

1959 – Chubby Checker’s version of Hank Ballard and the Midnighters’ song “The Twist” became an instant #1 hit. Two years later, it hit #1 again.

1965 – The spacecraft Mariner IV sent back the first close-up pictures of the planet Mars.

1968 – ABC premiered the TV soap opera “One Life to Live”. The daytime soap opera stayed on the air until August 19th, 2013.

1975 – The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project featured the dual launch of an Apollo spacecraft and a Soyuz spacecraft on the first joint Soviet-United States crewed flight. It was both the last launch of an Apollo spacecraft and the Saturn family of rockets.

1975 – Michigan Attorney General Frank Kelley ruled that when a woman married she did not have to adopt her husband’s last name.

1981 – Steven Ford, son of President Gerald R. Ford, appeared in a seductive scene of TV’s “The Young and the Restless” on CBS. Ford played the part of Andy.

1985 – Baseball players voted to strike on August 6th if no contract was reached with baseball owners. The strike lasted just one day.

1988 – The movie “Die Hard”, starring Bruce Willis, was released in theaters.

1996 – MSNBC, a 24-hour all-news network, made its debut on cable TV and the Internet.

1997 – Fashion designer Gianni Versace was shot and killed outside his Miami, FL home by serial killer Andrew Cunanan.

1998 – The movie “There’s Something About Mary”, starring Cameron Diaz and Ben Stiller, premiered in theaters.

2003 – AOL Time Warner disbanded Netscape. The Mozilla Foundation was established the same day.

2006 – Twitter was launched, becoming one of the largest social media platforms in the world.

2005 – Tim Burton’s film “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” premiered in theaters.

2005 – The movie “Wedding Crashers”, starring Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn, premiered in theaters

2006 – Twitter was launched.

2009 – The sixth Harry Potter movie, “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”, was released in theaters.

2011 – The final film in the Harry Potter series, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” was released in theaters. The film broke the one-day box-office record, hauling in $91,071,119 on its opening day.

2016 – The reboot of the movie “Ghostbusters, with mostly an all female cast, starring Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones, premiered in theaters.

2022 – Police in Germany were hunting for thieves that stole 500 cases of urinal cakes from a truck transporting them. The driver had parked to take a nap.

BIRTHDAYS:

Patrick Wayne – 86 years old (1939) – Actor (Son of movie star John Wayne. He made over 40 films, including 9 with his father.)

Linda Ronstadt – 79 years old (1946) – Singer

Jesse Ventura – 74 years old (1951) – Ex-wrestler/ex-Minnesota governor

Terry O’Quinn – 73 years old (1952) – Actor (TV’s “Lost”). Born in Sault Ste. Marie, MI.

David Pack – 73 years old (1952) – Singer (Ambrosia)

Marky Ramone – 73 years old (1952) – Drummer (The Ramones)

Joe Satriani – 69 years old (1956) – Guitarist

Willie Aames – 65 years old (1960) – Actor (Played Tommy Bradford on TV’s “Eight Is Enough” and Buddy Lembeck on “Charles in Charge”)

Lolita Davidovich – 64 years old (1961) – Actress (“Blaze”, “Raising Cain”, “Jungle 2 Jungle”)

Forest Whitaker – 64 years old (1961) – Actor (“The Last King of Scotland”, “Bird”, “Platoon”, “Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai”, “The Butler”, TV’s “The Shield”)

Brigitte Nielsen – 62 years old (1963) – Actress (Beverly Hills Cop 2, Cobra, Rocky IV, Red Sonja)

Brian Austin Green – 52 years old (1973) – Actor (Played David Silver on TV’s “Beverly Hills 90210”)

TODAY IS:

National Give Something Away Day: In this modern age where many people have more than enough, one way to help mitigate the problem of too much stuff has come to the rescue. It’s National Give Something Away Day! How to Celebrate National Give Something Away Day Many ways can be found to observe National Give...
National Gummi Worm Day: Get yourself a package of Gummi Worms, make a pudding-and-worms based “dirt parfait”, and make sure to share the tangy, fruit-flavored yumminess with everyone.
World Youth Skills Day: Equipping youth with essential life tools, paving paths toward success beyond the classroom, shaping promising futures.
National Clean Beauty Day: Discover a beauty revolution, where products harmonize with nature, offering purity and radiance without compromise.
Blackcurrant Day: Embarking on a sensory journey, the deep, tart essence of these berries captivates taste buds with nature's vibrancy.
Social Media Giving Day: Making meaningful impacts online, spreading kindness, and supporting causes through digital platforms, connecting hearts globally.
National Orange Chicken Day: Head over to your favorite Chinese restaurant (or order in) and get yourself the classic Orange chicken, or try making your own chicken and Orange sauce.
National Tapioca Pudding Day: Make them at home, or go out and try any number of Tapioca based treats and recipes, from a simple tapioca pudding to bread made with tapioca flour.
Arctic Sea Ice Day: An important day for polar bears as it represents their home, Arctic Sea Ice Day aims to help humans grow in their knowledge about sea ice and understand why it is such an important part of the environment! How to Celebrate Arctic Sea Ice Day Learn More About Sea Ice Get...
National I Love Horses Day: Take some time to show how much horses are loved and appreciated for National I Love Horses Day! History of National I Love Horses Day Since the time humans began domesticating these creatures up to 6000 years ago, horses have played an important role in the culture and lives of...
National Pet Fire Safety Day: Keep yourself and your furry friends safe by taking stock of potential pet-caused fire hazards, and puppy, kitty, or other pet-proofing your home.
International Stamp Out Spiking Day: Staying aware while having a good time is crucial. Protect yourself and friends by watching out for suspicious behavior.
National Respect Canada Day: National Respect Canada Day is a special occasion that encourages Canadians to appreciate and respect their country's diverse cultural mosaic. This day highlights the importance of showing respect, kindness, and understanding to everyone, regardless of their background. On this day, Canadians reaffirm their commitment to the values of inclusivity and...
National Be a Dork Day: For those who have felt like an outsider or like they just don’t fit in, National Be a Dork Day is the ideal time to embrace that inner dork and enjoy a day when everyone can be a dork! History of National Be a Dork Day Outcasts have probably been...
Celebration of the Horse Day: The bond between humans and horses runs deep, built on trust, steady movement, and quiet understanding. Horses listen without words, move with grace, and carry more than just riders. They hold space for emotion, growth, and connection. On Celebration of the Horse Day, people step into pastures or barns and feel...
Developmental Disability Professionals Day: Developmental Disability Professionals Day celebrates the people who support individuals with developmental challenges. These professionals include behavior analysts, case managers, service coordinators, and direct support staff. They shape lives by offering personalized help in housing, jobs, therapy, and daily tasks. They step in with care, patience, and inventiveness. That effort helps...
Saint Swithin’s Day: Saint Swithin’s Day is a day rich in tradition and folklore. Many believe the weather on this day can predict future patterns, sparking interest and conversation. It has become a symbol of hope or dread, depending on the forecast. People across the country pay close attention to the skies, adding...
Fiesta de la Tirana: Fiesta de la Tirana is a vibrant celebration held in northern Chile. It transforms the small town of La Tirana into a bustling center of energy, color, and sound. Thousands of people come together, filling the streets with traditional costumes, lively dances, and rhythmic music. It's a festival where faith...
Galway International Arts Festival: The Galway International Arts Festival is a vibrant celebration of creativity that takes over the city of Galway each year. This event brings together artists, performers, and visitors from around the globe for two weeks of music, theatre, dance, visual arts, and more. The festival transforms Galway into a hub of...