May 2

Scott Winters May 2, 2025 0 Comments

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:

1611 – The King James Bible was published for the first time in London, England by printer Robert Barker.

1885 – The magazine “Good Housekeeping” was first published.

1887 – Hannibal W. Goodwin applied for a patent on celluloid photographic film. This is the film from which movies are shown.

1890 – The Oklahoma Territory was organized.

1918 – General Motors acquired the Chevrolet Motor Company of Delaware.

1932 – Jack Benny’s first radio show debuted on NBC Radio.

1939 – Not hitting well and feeling bad, Ironman Lou Gehrig took himself out of the Yankee line-up after playing 2,130 consecutive games. The Yankees beat the Detroit Tigers 22-2 in that game. Gehrig never played baseball again.

1941 – The Federal Communications Commission agreed to let regular scheduling of TV broadcasts by commercial TV stations begin on July 1, 1941. This was the start of network television.

1941 – A new cereal called CheeriOats was introduced. The name was eventually changed to Cheerios four years later.

1946 – Prisoners revolted at California’s Alcatraz prison. Two guards and three inmates were killed.

1954 – Stan Musial, of the St. Louis Cardinals, set a new major league record when he hit 5 home runs against the New York Giants.

1964 – While speaking in Ann Arbor, MI at the University of Michigan Spring Commencement, President Lyndon B. Johnson announced plans for his “Great Society” plan.

1965 – The “Early Bird” satellite was used to transmit television pictures across the Atlantic.

1969 – The ocean liner Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) made its maiden voyage from England to the United States.

1970 – Student anti-war protesters at Ohio’s Kent State University burn down the campus ROTC building. The National Guard took control of the campus.

1974 – Former U.S. Vice President Spiro T. Agnew was disbarred by the Maryland Court of Appeals.

1974 – The filming of “Jaws” began in Martha’s Vineyard, MA.

1978 – The first unsolicited bulk commercial email was sent to every ARPANET address on the west coast of the United States. This first “spam” invited users to a product demonstration by Digital Equipment Corporation.

1982 – The Weather Channel debuted. It was founded by veteran television meteorologist John Coleman (who served as a chief meteorologist at WLS-TV in Chicago and as a forecaster for “Good Morning America”) and Frank Batten, then-president of the channel’s original owner Landmark Communications. The channel launched at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on May 2, 1982.

1986 – The City of Chernobyl was evacuated six days after the disaster.

1997 – The American spy action comedy film “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery”, starring Mike Myers, was released.

1999 – The Mercury space capsule, which carried Gus Grissom on America’s second manned space flight, was discovered off the Florida shore 38 years after it was lost.

2000 – President Bill Clinton announced that accurate GPS access would no longer be restricted to just the United States military.

2004 – Television’s “Doctor Phil” McGraw was slapped with a class action lawsuit that charged he knowingly deceived consumers with false claims about his line of weight-loss products.

2005 – Production of the Pontiac Grand Am ended.

2007 – Iowa spent $6,000 to change the locks at one of its state prisons after someone paid $12 on e-Bay for a set of keys belonging to a guard who retired in the 1970s.

2008 – The movie “Ironman” (based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name), starring Robert Downey Jr., debuted in theaters.

2008 – Sean “Diddy” Combs became the first male rapper to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

2012 – A pastel version of “The Scream” by Norwegian painter Edvard Munch, sold for $120 million in a New York, NY auction, setting a new world record for a work of art at auction.

2015 – A 4.2 earthquake centered near Galesburg, MI (between Battle Creek and Kalamazoo) hit west Michigan. It was the state’s most powerful quake since 1947.

2019 – A drone delivered a kidney for transplant surgery in Baltimore, MD.

BIRTHDAYS:

Engelbert Humperdinck – 89 years old (1936) – Singer (“After the Lovin'”)

R.C. Bannon – 80 years old (1945) – Country singer

Bianca Jagger – 80 years old (1945) – Model, human rights activist, was married to Mick Jagger

Larry Gatlin – 77 years old (1948) – Singer (Gatlin Brothers)

Lou Gramm – 75 years old (1950) – Singer (Foreigner)

Christine Baranski – 73 years old (1952) – Actress (TV’s “The Good Wife”, “Cybill”, “Welcome to New York”, movies “Mamma Mia!”, “Bowfinger”)

Elizabeth Berridge – 63 years old (1962) – Actress (TV’s “The John Larroquette Show”)

Ty Herndon – 63 years old (1962) – Country singer

Todd Sucherman – 56 years old (1969) – Drummer (Styx)

Dwayne Johnson – 53 years old (1972) – Wrestler, actor, known as “The Rock” (“Fast and Furious” movies, “Pain & Gain”, “Tooth Fairy”, “Race to Witch Mountain”, “The Scorpion King”, “G.I. Joe”, “Walking Tall”, TV’s “Ballers”)

David Beckham – 50 years old (1975) – Soccer player

Jenna von Oÿ – 48 years old (1977) – Actress (TV’s “Blossom”, “The Parkers”)

Gaius Charles – 42 years old (1983) – Actor (TV’s “Friday Night Lights”, “Grey’s Anatomy”, “Aquarius”)

Sarah Hughes – 40 years old (1985) – Olympic figure skater

Thomas McDonell – 39 years old (1986) – Actor (TV’s “The 100”)

Kay Panabaker – 35 years old (1990) – Actress (TV’s “Fame”, “Phil of the Future”, “Summerland”)

TODAY IS:

National No Pants Day: Leave your restricting pants in their drawer and feel the freedom of No Pants Day. Try skirts, dresses, kilts, or just stay home and relax bare-legged.
National Space Day: Visit an observatory or use a telescope to explore the night sky, or peruse one of NASA’s livestreams to remind yourself how big the universe really is.
International Harry Potter Day: Put on your robes, grab your wand, and celebrate with potions, spell-casting and Hogwarts-inspired fun.
National Brothers and Sisters Day: Take a moment to appreciate the bond you have with your siblings. Whether you're close or have your ups and downs, they're a part of your family and life's journey.
Sauvignon Blanc Day: Sauvignon Blanc Day is an annual celebration held on the first Friday of May. Wine lovers from around the world come together to raise a glass to this vibrant, aromatic white wine. Known for its crisp and refreshing flavors, Sauvignon Blanc has captivated wine enthusiasts with its diverse range of...
Baby Day: Visit your friends with children, read about parenting if you’re considering having your own little ones, or even volunteer at a daycare or other baby-centric event.
National Truffle Day: Decadent cocoa delights with a luscious, soft center evoke pure bliss, an exquisite treat for connoisseurs.
World Tuna Day: Sleek, powerful ocean dwellers, tuna command a watery realm, embodying the epitome of aquatic prowess and grace.
National Life Insurance Day: Ensuring a family's financial security with reliable life insurance coverage, offering peace of mind during uncertain times.
International Tuba Day: Underappreciated and often mocked, the tuba provides an essential role as bass in a wind or marching band, so dust off your tuba or go see a professional.
Take a Baby to Lunch Day: Take a Baby to Lunch Day invites adults to share a meal with a baby, turning an ordinary lunch into a delightful experience. Picture a tiny hand reaching for a spoon, eyes wide with wonder at the world around them. This day encourages people to slow down, savour the moment...
School Lunch Hero Day: Dedicated individuals ensuring children have nutritious meals, fostering a positive school environment and supporting student well-being.
Scurvy Awareness Day: Not many people think about scurvy today, but it’s still out there. This disease shows up when the body doesn’t get enough vitamin C. Back in the age of long sea journeys, it struck crews who went too long without fresh food. Now, International Scurvy Awareness Day brings attention to...
National Stop Snoring Week: National Stop Snoring Week is a week to focus on snoring. It is often the source of jokes. But the reality is that it can be a first sign of larger, sometimes unseen, health concerns. This annual week of observance can help raise national awareness about snoring! It also zeroes...
National Youth Violence Prevention Week: National Youth Violence Prevention Week is an important event that focuses on preventing violence among young people. During this week, various organizations and communities come together to raise awareness and promote safety. Activities and events are organized to educate both youth and adults on how to identify and prevent violence...
National Physical Education and Sport Week: National Physical Education and Sport Week kicks off a lively month dedicated to fitness and sports. It's a period that highlights the crucial roles health and physical education play in developing lifelong healthy habits! How to Celebrate National Physical Education and Sport Week Celebrating National Physical Education and Sport Week is...
Tracky Dack Day: Tracky Dack Day is a funny name for a serious cause. This annual event, run by TLC for Kids, encourages people to wear their favorite track pants (aka 'tracky dacks'!) to support children in hospitals! The name brings a smile, but the mission is profound. It raises awareness and funds...