Writer of Pop Culture

Cool and refreshing news about pop culture and entertainment.

This Day in Pop Culture for January 20

On this day in pop culture history, the first Martin Luther King Jr. Day was celebrated, Disney made high school cool, and the National Negro Network was founded.

January 20, 2020

2–3 minutes

1986: First Martin Luther King Jr. Day

At the White House Rose Garden on November 2, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill creating a federal holiday to honor King. Observed for the first time on January 20, 1986, it is called Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Following President George H. W. Bush’s 1992 proclamation, the holiday is observed on the third Monday of January each year, near the time of King’s birthday. On January 17, 2000, for the first time, Martin Luther King Jr. Day was officially observed in all fifty U.S. states. Arizona (1992), New Hampshire (1999) and Utah (2000) were the last three states to recognize the holiday. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

2006: Disney Makes High School Cool

Cobin Bleu, Monique Coleman, Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale and Lucas Grabeel. *(TVDB)*

On this day in 2006, Disney Channel premiered the made-for-TV movie, High School Musical. Written by Peter Barsocchini and directed by Kenny Ortega, the movie was watched by 7.7 million viewers making it the network’s most successful TV movie despite mixed reviews from critics. HSM made Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman, Ashley Tisdale and Lucas Grabeel household names. The movie’s soundtrack was popular too.

The original romantic musical centered on six students from East High School in New Mexico: basketball player Troy Bolton (Efron), Troy’s best friend Chad Danforth (Bleu), smart transfer student Gabriella Montez (Hudgens), her friend and smart girl Taylor McKessie (Coleman), popular snobby girl Sharpay Evans (Tisdale) and her drama club brother Ryan (Grabeel).

Disney followed up with High School Musical 2 in 2007, High School Musical 3: Senior Year in 2008, Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure in 2011 and the High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, a series for Disney+, in 2019. Three seasons of the show aired on the streamer.

1954: National Negro Network is Founded

Founded on this day in 1954, the National Negro Network was a black-oriented radio programming service created by Chicago advertiser W. Leonard Evans, Jr. It was the first black-owned radio network in the country, and its programming was broadcast on up to 45 affiliates.

The network featured soap operas, dramatic shows, symphony concerts from black colleges and music featuring black DJs. Although popular, the NNN was short-lived ending after just one year of programming.