April 15

Scott Winters April 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:

1817 – The first American school for the deaf was opened in Hartford, CT.

1850 – The city of San Francisco, CA was incorporated.

1865 – President Abraham Lincoln died from injuries inflicted by John Wilkes Booth.

1871 – “Wild Bill” Hickok became the marshal of Abilene, KS.

1892 – The General Electric Company was organized.

1899 – Thomas Edison organized the Edison Portland Cement Company.

1911 – The Detroit Tigers played baseball in a blizzard. Players were making base hits because the ball was getting lost in the snow. The game was finally called when players could no longer see the pitcher when they stepped up to the plate.

1912 – The ocean liner Titanic sank in the North Atlantic at 2:20 am, two hours and forty minutes after hitting an iceberg the evening before. 1,517 people died and only 710 people survived.

1923 – Insulin became generally available for people suffering with diabetes.

1924 – Rand McNally published their first road atlas.

1927 – Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford were the first stars to leave their footprints in cement at Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood, CA.

1934 – In the comic strip “Blondie,” Dagwood and Blondie Bumstead welcomed a baby boy, Alexander. The child would be nicknamed, Baby Dumpling.

1947 – Jackie Robinson became the first African American player to appear in a regular season Major League baseball game. Playing first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers, he went hitless but scored the winning run in a 5-3 victory over the Boston Braves at Ebbets Field.

1952 – The first B-52 prototype was tested in the air.

1955 – Ray Kroc opened his first franchised McDonald’s restaurant in Des Plaines, IL.

1956 – The worlds’ first, all-color TV station was dedicated. It was WNBQ-TV in Chicago, IL and is now WMAQ-TV.

1956 – General Motors announced that the first free piston automobile had been developed.

1964 – The first Ford Mustang rolled off the showroom floor, two days before it was set to go on sale nationwide.

1967 – Richard Speck was found guilty of murdering eight student nurses.

1974 – Patty Hearst robbed a bank with her kidnappers, members of the Symbionese Liberation Army.

1982 – Billy Joel was seriously hurt in a motorcycle accident on Long Island, New York. He went to the hospital and stayed for over a month undergoing therapy on his injured hand.

1983 – The film “Flashdance”, starring Jennifer Beals, opened in a movie theaters throughout the United States.

1983 – In Urayasu, Chiba, Japan, the Tokyo Disneyland theme park opened.

1990 – Fox TV debuted a new sketch comedy show called “In Living Color”. It starred Keenen Ivory Wayans along with his youngest brother Damon.

1994 – The World Trade Organization was established.

1997 – Christopher Reeve received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

2007 – Donald Trump topped the Boston Phoenix’s annual list of “The 100 Unsexiest Men in America.”

2010 – In Prospect Harbor, ME, the Stinson Seafood plant stopped sardine processing after 135 years in operation.

2013 – Two pressure cooker bombs were detonated near the finish line of the Boston marathon in Boston, MA, killing three and injuring 264 others. The attack, which led to a lock-down and a massive four day manhunt across the city, turned out to be the work of the Tsarnaev brothers, Chechen immigrants holding radical Muslim views.

2014 – A total lunar eclipse occurred, producing a Blood Moon.

2019 – The cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris in France was seriously damaged by a large fire.

2020 – Armed demonstrators took to the Michigan State Capitol in “Operation Gridlock” to protest Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s COVID-19 “Stay at Home” orders.

2021 – A mass shooting occurred at a the Fedex Ground facility in Indianapolis, IN. Nine people were killed and seven were injured.

BIRTHDAYS:

Claudia Cardinale – 87 years old (1938) – Actress (“The Pink Panther”)

Julie Sommars – 83 years old (1942) – Actress (“Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo”)

Michael Tucci – 79 years old (1946) – Actor (“Grease”, TV’s”The Paper Chase”, “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show”, “Diagnosis: Murder”)

Dick Sharon – 75 years old (1950) – Baseball player (Detroit Tigers 1973-74)

Amy Wright – 75 years old (1950) – Actress (“The Deer Hunter”, “The Scarlet Letter”, “The Accidental Tourist”)

Heloise – 74 years old (1951) – Newspaper columnist (“Hints from Heloise”), daughter of original Heloise

Evelyn Ashford – 68 years old (1957) – Track athlete, 4-time Olympic gold medalist

Emma Thompson – 66 years old (1959) – Actress (“Howard’s End”, “The Remains of the Day”,”In the Name of the Father”, “Sense and Sensibility”, “Primary Colors”, “Love Actually”, “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”, “Nanny McPhee”)

Linda Perry – 60 years old (1965) – Singer (4 Non Blondes, “What’s Up”)

Samantha Fox – 59 years old (1966) – Singer (“Touch Me”)

Ed O’Brien – 57 years old (1968) – Guitarist (Radiohead)

Seth Rogan – 43 years old (1982) – Actor, writer (“Knocked Up,” “Superbad”, “This Is the End”, “The Guilt Trip”, “Paul”, “The Green Hornet”, “Funny People”, “Take This Waltz”, “The 40 Year Old Virgin”, TV’s “Freaks and Geeks”)

Emma Watson – 35 years old (1990) – Actress (“Harry Potter” movie series)

TODAY IS:

National Anime Day: Attend a convention, connect with fellow fans, or simply enjoy your favorite anime to honor the ever-popular form of media that first originated in Japan.
World Art Day: Expressing emotions through colors and shapes, art captures the essence of life, sparking emotions and fostering connection without words.
Titanic Remembrance Day: Songs have been sung. Books have been written. Films have been made. And stories have been told about the RMS Titanic.
National ASL Day: Over 450 million people around the world cannot hear spoken word. Learn ASL (American Sign Language) to engage with a whole new group of people and opportunities.
McDonald’s Day: Every year on this day, McDonald's fans mark a special day known as McDonald's Day. It commemorates the opening of Ray Kroc's first McDonald’s franchised restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois, back in 1955. It's a day filled with nostalgia and appreciation for one of the world's largest fast-food chains. McDonald's Day isn't...
National Glazed Spiral Ham Day: Savoring the succulence of glazed spiral ham, a delicious delight with caramelized sweetness and savory perfection.
National Laundry Day: Simplified daily chores, washing garments with ease, bringing freshness to fabrics, and maintaining a neat, vibrant wardrobe effortlessly.
National Rubber Eraser Day: Precision in errors, these small tools quietly correct, leaving traces of lessons learned in graphite whispers.
Universal Day of Culture: Embrace the beauty of a world that is diverse and varied, filled with unique art, music, foods, dances and so many other customs and practices! Universal Day of Culture is here to celebrate the protection and preservation of culture and heritage through art and artifacts. How to Celebrate Universal Day of...
Purple Up! Day: Celebrating unity and support by donning purple in solidarity with children whose parents serve in the military.
International Microvolunteering Day: Not everyone has the time to volunteer regularly, or perform large acts of service. But microvolunteering allows you to give back anyway.
National Take A Wild Guess Day: How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop? Have a little fun and hone your deduction skills by following your gut on Take A Wild Guess Day.
National Bunion Day: Feet are something that people often take for granted – until something goes wrong with them! With approximately 65 millions Americans impacted by the pain and discomfort caused by bunions, it just makes sense that there would be a day to promote and raise awareness about this foot condition. Join in...
National That Sucks! Day: You can’t be cheery and optimistic every day. Sometimes, it really does just suck: that’s the point of National Suck Day, a time when you don’t have to pretend.
Jackie Robinson Day: Every year on April 15, Major League Baseball celebrates Jackie Robinson Day. This special day marks the anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in baseball in 1947. On this day, every player in the league wears Robinson's number, 42, to honor his enduring impact both on and off the...
Tax Day: It's that time of year when you report your earnings to the government. Don't forget to fill out the necessary paperwork and get the most out of your deductions!
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...
Money Smart Week: Being smart with money isn't just about saving; it's also about making informed decisions and enjoying the process. Money Smart Week offers the perfect opportunity to dive into financial literacy and reconsider financial habits. In its essence, Money Smart Week is a lively event held annually to boost financial literacy...
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...