April 14

Scott Winters April 14, 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:

1775 – The first abolitionist society in the U.S. was organized in Philadelphia, PA with Ben Franklin as President.

1828 – The first edition of Noah Webster’s dictionary was published under the name “American Dictionary of the English Language”.

1846 – The Donner Party of pioneers departed Springfield, IL, for California on what would become a year-long journey of hardship, cannibalism, and survival.

1860 – The first Pony Express rider arrived in San Francisco with mail originating in St. Joseph, MO.

1865 – President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in Ford’s Theater in Washington, DC, by John Wilkes Booth. He actually died early the next morning.

1894 – First public showing of Thomas Edison’s kinetoscope took place in New York, NY.

1896 – John Harvey Kellogg received a patent for Kellogg’s Corn Flakes.

1902 – James Cash (J.C.) Penney opened his first retail store in Kemmerer, WY. It was called the Golden Rule Store.

1907 – Tobacconists reported that conservatively, 40,000 cigars were smoked in Grand Rapids, MI every day. That number did not include those who smoked cigarettes, pipes, or used chewing tobacco.

1910 – President William Howard Taft threw out the first ball for the Washington Senators and the Philadelphia Athletics.

1912 – On its maiden voyage, the Titanic hit an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean at 11:40 pm. It sank the next morning. 1,503 people lost their lives and more than 700 survived.

1925 – WGN, in Chicago, IL became the first radio station to broadcast a regular season major league baseball game. The Cubs beat the Pirates 8-2.

1927 – The first Volvo car premiered in Gothenburg, Sweden.

1939 – The John Steinbeck novel “The Grapes of Wrath” was first published.

1956 – In Chicago, IL, Ampex Corporation demonstrated the first commercial magnetic tape recorder for sound and picture (videotape).

1959 – The Taft Memorial Bell Tower was dedicated in Washington, DC.

1960 – Berry Gordy Jr. founded the Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, MI.

1969 – For the first time, a major league baseball game was played in Montreal, Canada.

1969 – At the Academy Awards there was a tie for the Best Actress between Katharine Hepburn and Barbra Streisand.

1977 – The Renaissance Center opened in Detroit, MI. It had a 73-story tower and four 35-story buildings.

1981 – America’s first Space Shuttle, Columbia, returned to Earth after a three-day test flight. The Shuttle orbited the Earth 36 times during the mission.

1983 – The first cordless phone was introduced by Fidelity and British Telecom. It could operate up to 600 feet from its base.

1984 – The Texas Board of Education began requiring that the state’s public school textbooks describe the evolution of human beings as “theory rather than fact”.

1988 – In New York, NY real estate tycoons Harry and Leona Helmsley were indicted for income tax evasion.

1990 – Cal Ripken, of the Baltimore Orioles, began a streak of 95 errorless games and 431 total chances by a shortstop.

1994 – Two American F-15 warplanes inadvertently shot down two U.S. helicopters over northern Iraq. 26 people were killed including 15 Americans.

2000 – The film “American Psycho”, based on Bret Easton Ellis’s 1991 novel of the same name, premiered. It starred Christian Bale, Willem Dafoe, and Jared Leto.

2004 – Dick Clark announced he has had adult onset diabetes since 1994. Clark had a deal with Merck pharmaceuticals to promote their diabetes medications.

2008 – Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines announced they were combining.

2012 – The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted its Class of 2012: Guns n’ Roses, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Donovan, Laura Nyro, Small Faces/Faces, Beastie Boys and Freddie King; producers Don Kirshner, Cosimo Matassa, Tom Dowd and Glyn Johns; and the backing groups The Crickets, The Famous Flames, The Midnighters, The Comets, The Blue Caps and The Miracles.

2020 – More than a quarter of Michigan’s workforce had filed unemployment claims because of COVID-19.

2021 – President Joe Biden announced his decision to withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan by September 11.

2023 – The Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) was launched by the European Space Agency.

BIRTHDAYS:

Joan Darling – 90 years old (1935) – Actress, director (directed the famous “Chuckles Bites the Dust” episode of TV’s “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”)

Frank Serpico – 89 years old (1936) – Former New York City Police Department officer , whistleblower

Julie Christie – 85 years old (1940) – Actress (“Dr. Zhivago”, “Shampoo”, “Darling”, “McCabe & Mrs. Miller”, “Afterglow”, “Away From Her”, “Fahrenheit 451”)

Ritchie Blackmore – 80 years old (1945) – Guitarist (Deep Purple)

John Shea – 76 years old (1949) – Actor (“Honey, I Blew Up the Kid”, TV’s “Lois & Clark”)

Brad Garrett – 65 years old (1960) – Actor (TV’s “Everybody Loves Raymond”, “‘Til Death”)

Robert Carlyle – 64 years old (1961) – Actor (“Trainspotting”, “The Full Monty”, “The World Is Not Enough”, “Angela’s Ashes”, TV’s “Hamish Macbeth”, “Stargate Universe”, “Once Upon a Time”)

Anthony Michael Hall – 57 years old (1968) – Actor (“Sixteen Candles”, “The Breakfast Club”, “Edward Scissorhands”, “Johnny Be Good”, “National Lampoon’s Vacation”, “The Breakfast Club”, “Weird Science”, TV’s “The Dead Zone”, “Saturday Night Live”)

Brad Ausmus – 56 years old (1969) – Baseball player, manager (Detroit Tigers player 1996, 1999-2000; manager 2014-2017)

Adrien Brody – 52 years old (1973) – Actor (“The Pianist”, “The Darjeeling Limited”, “King Kong”, “The Village”, “Summer of Sam”, “The Thin Red Line”)

Sarah Michelle Gellar – 48 years old (1977) – Actress (TV’s “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, “The Crazy Ones”, “All My Children”, movies “Scooby Doo”, “Cruel Intentions”, “Simply Irresistible”, “Scream 2”, “I Know What You Did Last Summer”)

Claire Coffee – 45 years old (1980) – Actress (TV’s “The West Wing”, “General Hospital”, “Franklin & Bash”, “Grimm”)

Vivien Cardone – 32 years old (1993) – Actress (TV’s “Everwood”)

Abigail Breslin – 29 years old (1996) – Actress (“Signs”, “Little Miss Sunshine”)

TODAY IS:

National Gardening Day: Gardening is a magical escape to a world of color, scents and textures. Planting a seed and watching it grow is a reminder of life's wonders.
National Look Up at the Sky Day: Slow down, take a deep breath, and take a moment to look up at the sky and appreciate the small beauties in an otherwise hectic, fast-paced, sometimes ugly life.
Pecan Day: These buttery, versatile gems can be sprinkled on salads, baked into pies or cakes, or simply enjoyed as a snack.
World Chagas Disease Day: World Chagas Disease Day, observed annually, aims to raise awareness about Chagas disease. This condition poses a significant health threat but often goes unnoticed. This event marks the date in 1909 when the first case of Chagas disease was diagnosed by the Brazilian physician Carlos Chagas. It's a moment to remember...
National Dolphin Day: Visit an aquarium or ocean, watch Flipper, or read all about the different species of dolphins to celebrate these smart, fun, and unique marine mammals.
Puffin Day: Puffin Day is a celebration of one of the world's most charismatic seabirds, the puffin. It highlights the birds' unique charm and importance, and they are known for their colorful beaks and quirky behaviors. Puffin Day isn't just a fun event for bird enthusiasts; it emphasizes the ecological significance of...
National Reach as High as You Can Day: With determination as fuel, embark on exciting adventures, conquer challenges, and turn dreams into reality, one milestone at a time.
International Moment of Laughter Day: Sharing hearty laughs lightens moods, strengthens bonds, and brings a refreshing dose of positivity to life's ups and downs.
International Laverbread Day: Have you ever tasted the sea in a single bite? Laverbread, a beloved Welsh delicacy, brings that experience to the table. Despite its name, it’s not bread at all but a rich, savory paste made from slow-cooked seaweed. Harvested along the Welsh coast, this deep green treasure is packed with...
Pan-American Day: Pan-American Day is a vibrant celebration of unity among the countries in the Americas. It highlights the shared values and cooperation between these nations. This special day emphasizes the importance of mutual understanding and collaboration, reflecting the collective spirit of the Americas. People across North, Central, and South America come...
National Ex Spouse Day: National Ex-Spouse Day, celebrated on April 14th each year, is a unique day that prompts us to think differently about relationships that have ended. Instead of focusing on the negatives, this day encourages us to reflect on the positives from past marriages and partnerships. The day isn't just about reminiscing good...
Baisakhi: Baisakhi marks the Punjabi New Year, bringing vibrant energy and a fresh start for people in Punjab and beyond. It’s a day brimming with hope and joy as fields burst into life with golden crops ready for harvest. Also called Vaisakhi (spellings vary) the festival captures the spirit of renewal...
Air Force Reserve Birthday: The Air Force Reserve Birthday celebrates the essential role of the Air Force Reserve in the United States defense strategy and recognizes the contributions of Reserve Airmen who serve both domestically and internationally. They play a vital part in supporting the Air Force's mission to fly, fight, and win. The...
Discover National Parks Fortnight: Discover National Parks Fortnight invites everyone to join in on an adventure - exploring the stunning landscapes and rich biodiversity of national parks. This fantastic outdoor-themed event spans two weeks each year. This period is the ideal opportunity to reconnect with the great outdoors and appreciate the environmental treasures within...
Orthodox Holy Week: Orthodox Holy Week is a deep and meaningful journey leading up to Easter, which celebrates Christ's resurrection. This sacred week starts with Palm Sunday, marking Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, greeted as a king. Each day then carries unique themes and moments of reflection. Early in the week, the parable of...
Semana Santa: Semana Santa, or Holy Week, is a profound time of reflection and devotion in many Christian communities. Streets come alive with solemn processions, participants carry religious icons, and traditional music fills the air. This period focuses on the final days of Jesus Christ, drawing believers together in shared faith and contemplation...
Make Mine Chocolate: "Make Mine Chocolate" is a lively campaign urging people to think twice before giving live rabbits as Easter gifts. The campaign encourages people to opt for chocolate bunnies instead. This approach helps spread the message of responsible pet ownership while offering a sweet alternative that won't end up in shelters...
National Green Week: National Green Week is an exciting initiative that brings attention to the importance of environmental sustainability. Schools and organizations across the country use this week to engage students in activities that promote greener living. The event aims to inspire young minds to adopt eco-friendly habits that can make a lasting...
National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week: From 9-1-1 emergency call operators and alarm systems to answering other non-emergency forms of communication such as texts, emails and social media contacts, public safety telecommunicators have a lot on the line every day when they show up for work! As technology rapidly advances and evolves, so do the opportunities for...
World Music Therapy Week: Helping people of all ages accomplish individualized goals, music therapy is a healthcare process that can take all sorts of forms based on the needs of the client. Approaches might include making music, listening to music, writing songs, improvisation, group discussion, or even meditation. Trained therapists use different forms of...
FOP Awareness Month: Raising awareness for a rare condition, efforts unite to support those facing the challenges of Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva.
Songkran Festival: Songkran, Thailand’s traditional New Year festival, is a vibrant celebration filled with energy and joy. It’s famous for its water-splashing activities, where people playfully drench each other in the streets using buckets, hoses, and water guns. This act symbolizes a fresh start and the washing away of misfortune, allowing everyone...