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Pop Culture Flashback: Frankenstein Gets His Day (August 30)

Happy Frankenstein Day! This day is also when Apple Records produced its first single with a controversial image.

August 30, 2026

Today is National Frankenstein Day, but it’s not for the classic monster movie or even the book. Today is also known as the anniversary of Apple Record’s first release of The Beatle’s “Hey Jude”, but the controversial record label almost doomed the single.

Happy National Frankenstein Day!

Freakishly weird, in some circles August 30th is also known as National Frankenstein Day. It’s not because that’s when the first movie about the monster was released in theaters or even when the original novel was published. It actually celebrates the birthday of the novel’s author Mary Shelley.

Incidentally, over 60 movies that feature Dr. Frankenstein’s monster aka, Frankenstein, have been made.

Famous Franks

Five friendly Franks from TV and movies all based on Frankenstein’s monster. Shelley would be so proud.

(L-R) Frankie from Groovie Goolies (1970); Herman Munster (Fred Gwynne) from The Munsters (1964); The Monster (Peter Boyle) from Young Frankenstein (1974); Frankenweenie (2012) and Frank from Hotel Transylvania (2012).

Famous characters based on Frankenstein — *(TVDB*)

OTHER EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON THIS DAY:

1968 – The Naughty Apple

A flying, flaming apple — (Wikimedia Commons)

It was on this day that The Beatles’ record label, Apple Records, released its first single, “Hey Jude.” The label was founded by the band intended to be used as a creative outlet for the band and used as a way to reduce their tax burden. They choose the name and image of a Granny Smith apple because in Paul McCartney’s mind, a green apple signified creative freedom and independence from commercial interests.

The record itself was unique because it featured the image of a Granny Smith apple on side-A and the same apple sliced in half on side-B. But according to The Independent, the song was almost never released because some record executives thought that the image looked like part of the female anatomy!

In a letter sent to Apple boss Ron Kass, the writer said that he “doubted that many of his chain store customers would even be willing to stock and display products containing the label.”

Not only was he wrong, but there is no evidence that the band had intended using a controversial image.

1980 – Christopher Cross Goes ‘Sailing’

On this day in 1980, singer-songwriter Christopher Cross rose to the top of the music charts with his first hit, “Sailing.” Up to this point, Cross was a relatively unknown singer. His self-titled album is considered to be one of the biggest soft-rock hits of all time and included “Ride Like the Wind,” (which was actually released before “Sailing”) and featured a backup vocal for Michael McDonald.

This fame led to a sweep of wins at the 1981 Grammy Awards where “Sailing” and Cross won for Best Record, Best Song, Best Album and Best New Artist. Cross’s next hit also came out that year, “Arthur’s Theme” from the Dudley Moore movie, Arthur. Cross’s next Top 10 hit was “Think of Laura” which came out in 1983, and it was his last.