U.S. troops land on Okinawa

Born on This Day

Debbie Reynolds

1932 - 2016

Star of Hollywood classics like "Singin' in the Rain" and "The Unsinkable Molly Brown." Mother of "Star Wars" star Carrie Fisher.

Abraham Maslow

1908 - 1970

American psychologist whose self-actualization theory suggested humans must meet basic needs before pursuing self-fulfillment.

Ali MacGraw

1939 -

Actress whose girl-next-door vibe elevated 1970s hits like "Love Story" and "The Getaway."

Debbie ReynoldsGetty Images

Abraham MaslowBettmann Archive

Ali MacGrawGetty Images

1985

APR1

Nike releases its first Air Jordan shoesnamed for basketball superstar Michael Jordan. It sells 450,000 pairs in the first month.

Timeline

Also on This Day in History

Discover more of the major eventsfamous birthsnotable deaths and everything else history-making that happened on April 1st

1789

First U.S. House of Representatives elects speaker

On April 11789the first U.S. House of Representativesmeeting in New York Cityreaches quorum and elects Pennsylvania Representative Frederick Augustus Conrad Muhlenberg as its first speaker. Muhlenberga Lutheran minister and the former president of the Pennsylvania convention to ratify the U.S. Constitutionwas the son of Henry Augustus Muhlenberg and grandson […]

1:28m read

1816

Jane Austen declines royal librarian’s writing advice

Jane Austen responds to a letter from Rev. James Stanier Clarkelibrarian to England’s Prince Regent (the future King George IV), suggesting she write a historic romancesaying“I could not sit down to write a serious romance under any other motive than to save my life.” Austen’s correspondence with the Prince Regent’s librarianas well as […]

1:52m read

1918

RAF founded

On April 11918the Royal Air Force (RAF) is formed with the amalgamation of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). The RAF took its place beside the British navy and army as a separate military service with its own ministry. In April 1911eight years after Americans Wilbur […]

1924

Hitler sentenced for his role in Beer Hall Putsch

Adolf Hitler is sentenced for his role in the Beer Hall Putsch of November 81923. The attempted coup in Munich by right-wing members of the army and the Nazi Party was foiled by the governmentand Hitler was charged with high treason. Despite his convictionHitler was out of jail before the end of […]

1:46m read

1946

Alaskan earthquake triggers massive tsunami

On April 11946an undersea earthquake off the Alaskan coast triggers a massive tsunami that kills 159 people in Hawaii. In the middle of the night13,000 feet beneath the ocean surfacea 8.6-magnitude tremor was recorded in the North Pacific. (The nearest land was Unimak Islandpart of the Aleutian chain.) The quake […]

2:10m read

1963

Soap operas “General Hospital” and “The Doctors” premiere

On April 11963the ABC television network airs the premiere episode of General Hospitalthe daytime drama that will become the network’s most enduring soap opera and the longest-running serial program produced in Hollywood. On the same dayrival network NBC debuts its own medical-themed soap operaThe Doctors. By setting their new shows in […]

1:54m read

1970

President Nixon signs legislation banning cigarette ads on TV and radio

On April 11970President Richard Nixon signs legislation officially banning cigarette ads on television and radio. Nixonwho enjoyed the occasional cigarsupported the legislation at the increasing insistence of public health advocates. Alarming health studies emerged as early as 1939 that linked cigarette smoking to higher incidences of cancer and heart disease and[…]

2:06m read

1972

First MLB players’ strike begins

At 12:01 a.m. on April 11972the first collective players’ strike in Major League Baseball history begins. The strike lasts 12 daysending on April 13and 86 games are cancelledthrowing the season into flux from the start. The cause of baseball’s first strike was the expiration of the league’s three-year pension agreement. […]

1:46m read

1984

Marvin Gaye is shot and killed by his own father

On April 11984one day short of his 45th birthdayMarvin Gaye is shot and killed by his own fatherbringing a tragic end to the life of a musical artist at the peak of his career. Gaye was known as “the Prince of Motown,” the soulful voice behind hits as wide-ranging as “How […]

2:18m read

1985

Villanova wins NCAA basketball title in stunning upset

On April 11985in one of the most shocking upsets in college basketball historyVillanova beats heavily favoredPatrick Ewing-led Georgetown66-64to win the NCAA basketball title. The Wildcatsled by Dwayne McClain’s 17 pointsexecute a perfect game plan and shoot 79 percent from the field in the win. Georgetownthe No. […]

1:36m read

1993

The “Polish Prince” killed in plane crash

On April 11993race car driver and owner Alan Kulwickiwho won the 1992 National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) Winston Cup championship by one of the tightest margins in series historyis killed in a plane crash near BristolTennesseewhere he was scheduled to compete in a race the following […]

2:18m read