This Day in Pop Culture for April 4
1968: Martin Luther King Jr. is Assassinated
One year to the day after delivering his Beyond Vietnam speech, Martin Luther King Jr. was shot while standing outside of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee on this day in 1968. The month before, King visited Memphis in support of African American sanitation workers who had been treated poorly. On March 28 he led a protest march that ended in violence and the death of one African American teen. On April 3, he gave his last sermon saying, “…I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land.” (Image: Wikimedia)
1975: Microsoft is Founded
It was on this day when Bill Gates formed a partnership with Paul Allen to create Microsoft and sell BASIC interpreters for the Altair 8800.
1973: The World Trade Center Opens
It was on this day that the world’s tallest building (at that time) opened its doors for the first time. Standing tall with 110 stories, the World Trade Center was later destroyed on September 9, 2011 during the terrorist attacks.
1873: For the Dogs
It was on this day in 1987 that The Kennel Club was founded. It is the oldest and first official registry of purebred dogs in the world.
1964: The Beatles Top 5
It was on this day that The Beatles occupied the top five positions on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart including “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “Twist and Shout,” “She Loves You,” “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and “Please Please Me.”
Birthdays:
- 1895: Arthur Murray (dancer)
- 1916: David White (actor)
- 1932: Anthony Perkins (actor)
- 1944: Craig T. Nelson (actor)
- 1956: David E. Kelley (producer)
- 1965: Robert Downey Jr. (actor)
- 1966: Nancy McKeon (actress)
- 1979: Heath Ledger (actor)
- 1991: Jamie Lynn Spears (actor)
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Jeffrey Totey View All
I write about pop culture, arts and entertainment in the greater Seattle area.
