May 3

Scott Winters May 3, 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:

1802 – The city of Washington, DC was incorporated.

1881 – Leonidas G. Woolley received a patent for the first electric locomotive headlight.

1888 – Thomas Edison organized the Edison Phonograph Works.

1921 – West Virginia imposed the first state sales tax.

1927 – Francis E.J. Wilde of Meadowmere Park, NY, patented the electric sign flasher.

1933 – The U.S. Mint was under the direction of a woman for the first time when Nellie Ross took the position.

1937 – Margaret Mitchell won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for her novel “Gone with the Wind”.

1944 – Wartime rationing of most grades of meats ended in the U.S.

1948 – TV’s “The CBS Evening News” debuted as a 15 minute nightly telecast. It has gone on to become the longest running network newscast.

1948 – The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that covenants prohibiting the sale of real estate to blacks and other minorities were legally unenforceable.

1952 – The Kentucky Derby was televised nationally for the first time on CBS.

1952 – Joseph Fletcher and William Benedict become the first people to land a plane at the North Pole.

1966 – The game “Twister” was featured on the “Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson.

1967 – Carl Wilson (Beach Boys) went to court on draft evasion charges.

1971 – National Public Radio broadcast for the first time.

1971 – James Earl Ray, Martin Luther King’s assassin, was caught in a jailbreak attempt.

1973 – The 108-story Sears Tower (now Willis Tower) in Chicago, IL was topped out at 1,451 feet as the world’s tallest building at the time.

1978 – Digital Equipment Corp. sent an unsolicited email to every west coast ARPANET address. It was the first SPAM email.

1986 – In NASA’s first post-Challenger launch, an unmanned Delta rocket lost power in its main engine shortly after liftoff. Safety officers destroyed it by remote control.

1986 – Dollywood (Dolly Parton’s theme park) opened in Pigeon Forge, TN.

1988 – The White House acknowledged that first lady Nancy Reagan had used astrological advice to help schedule her husband’s activities.

1991 – The final episode of TV’s “Dallas” airs on CBS television. It lasted 13 seasons in prime time.

1992 – Five days of rioting and looting ended in Los Angeles, CA. The riots, that killed 53 people, began after the acquittal of police officers in the beating of Rodney King.

1999 – Mark Manes, at age 22, was arrested for supplying a gun to Eric Harris and Dylan Kleibold, who later killed 13 people at Columbine High School in Colorado.

1999 – Hasbro released the first collection of toys for the Star Wars movie “Episode I: The Phantom Menace.”

1999 – The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 11,000 for the first time.

1999 – The southwestern portion of Oklahoma City, OK was destroyed by an F5 tornado that killed 45 people and injured 665. The storm caused $1 billion in damages. This tornado produced the highest wind speed every recorded at 301 +/- 20 miles per hour.

2000 – The sport of geocaching began. The first cache was placed with the coordinates from a GPS posted on Usenet.

2000 – The trial of two Libyans accused of killing 270 people in the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 (over Lockerbie) opened.

2001 – Tina Wesson, a 40 year old nurse from Tennessee, became the second “Survivor” grand prize winner, edging out Colby Donaldson for the million dollar prize. Nearly 34 million viewers tune in to the two hour live broadcast.

2002 – The movie Spider-Man, starring Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker, was released in theaters.

2006 – In Alexandria, VA, Al-Quaida conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui was given a sentence of life in prison for his role in the terrorist attack on the U.S. on September 11, 2001.

2007 – A videotape of a bombed David Hasselhoff sitting on the floor eating a hamburger, shirtless and in jeans, is aired by the TV shows “The Insider”, “Entertainment Tonight” and “Extra”.

2018 – A black bear wandered into a west side neighborhood in Grand Rapids, MI. He had climbed a tree. He was tranquilized by the DNR, and relocated to the wild near Houghton Lake, MI the same day.

2018 – Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan became the NFL’s first $30 million per season player after agreeing to $150 million contract extension.

BIRTHDAYS:

Frankie Valli – 91 a old (1934) – Singer (The Four Seasons)

Christopher Cross – 74 a old (1951) – Singer (“Ride Like the Wind”, “Sailing”, “Arthur’s Theme”)

Bruce Hall – 72 a old (1953) – Bass guitarist (REO Speedwagon)

David Ball – 66 a old (1959) – Musician (Soft Cell, “Tainted Love”)

Bobby Cannavale – 55 a old (1970) – Actor (TV’s “Third Watch”, “100 Centre Street”, “Will & Grace”, “Cold Case”, “Boardwalk Empire”, “Vinyl”)

Christina Hendricks – 50 a old (1975) – Actress (TV’s “Mad Men”)

Dulé Hill – 50 a old (1975) – Actor (TV’s “The West Wing”, “Psych”)

Farrah Franklin – 44 a old (1981) – Singer (Destiny’s Child)

Cheryl Burke – 41 a old (1984) – Dancer (TV’s “Dancing with the Stars”)

Mary Lambert – 36 a old (1989) – Singer, songwriter

TODAY IS:

Wordsmith Day:
National Paranormal Day: Put on your favorite paranormal flick or show, listen to a paranormal podcast, or read stories of real-life paranormal activity—but maybe leave the lights on.
National Lemonade Day: Warm weather means lots of good things—but it also means more thirst! Quench it with one of the world’s most refreshing drinks, the ever-popular lemonade.
International Wild Koala Day:
World Laughter Day: It boosts your mood, and even lengthens your life. Watch your favorite comedy, read a funny book, or gather some friends to tell jokes and get your diaphragm working.
Sun Day: Embracing warmth and radiance, basking in the vibrant glow that uplifts spirits and infuses joy into everyday moments.
AAPI Women’s Equal Pay Day:
Write a Review Day: Be a hero to businesses and shoppers alike! Sharing your thoughts and experiences can guide others to the best products and services.
National Garden Meditation Day: Meditation and nature can both boost your mood, improve your focus and memory, and calm your emotions, so join them together by practicing meditation in a garden.
Mayday for Mutts:
National Two Different Colored Shoes Day: Walk your own walk and show your individuality by wearing two different colored shoes, an exercise to get you to reject limiting social norms and enjoying life.
National Chocolate Custard Day: Indulge in this rich and decadent dessert made with velvety smooth chocolate and a creamy texture that will leave you wanting more.
National Textiles Day: Weaving threads into art, intricate patterns tell stories of craftsmanship, connecting heritage and innovation seamlessly.
National Pipe Organ Day: Embracing the grandeur of an instrument that breathes life into vast spaces, echoing intricate melodies with majestic resonance.
National Public Radio Day:
National Montana Day:
National Anxiety Disorders Screening Day:
International Permaculture Day:
Motorcycle Mass and Blessing of the Bikes Day:
National Infertility Survival Day:
National Specially-abled Pets Day:
National Raspberry Popover Day:
National SAN Architect Day:
National Lumpy Rug Day: Take stock of your home décor and see if you can’t smooth out the lumps in your rugs. Or, try taking them to an expert or updating your home with new ones.
International Dawn Chorus Day:
World Press Freedom Day :
Global Days of Action on Military Spending:
Machynlleth Comedy Festival:
National Pet Week:
Public Service Recognition Week:
National Tourism Week: Embark on journeys that unfold stories, connecting cultures, creating memories, and weaving the tapestry of global exploration.
Tracky Dack Day:
National Physical Education and Sport Week:
National Wildflower Week :
National Correctional Officer’s Week:
Drinking Water Week: