Daily Archives: April 18, 2016

‘The Sound of Music’ wins Best Picture at 38th Academy Awards 50 years ago this hour (Apr 18 1966)


Video: '1966 Oscars' (25 videos)

(Monday, April 18, 1966, 7:00 p.m.-9:54 p.m. PST)The Sound of Music, a American musical drama film about a woman who leaves an Austrian convent to become a governess to the children of a Naval officer widower, won five Oscars tonight at the 38th Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Robert Wise for Best Director. Continue reading ‘The Sound of Music’ wins Best Picture at 38th Academy Awards 50 years ago this hour (Apr 18 1966)

First Major League baseball game played on AstroTurf 50 years ago today (Apr 18 1966)

(Monday, April 18, 1966) — The first official sporting event ever played on AstroTurf, the original artificial turf made to resemble grass, took place today at the Houston Astrodome in Texas as the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Houston Astros 6-3.

Bill Russell named NBA’s first African-American head coach 50 years ago today (Apr 18 1966)


Video: 'Bill Russell first African American to coach any professional sport! By: Medina Perocevic'

(Monday, April 18, 1966)Bill Russell was named player-coach of the Boston Celtics today, becoming the first African-American head coach in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Grace Kelly is wed to Prince Rainier in civil ceremony 60 years ago today (Apr 18 1956)


Video: 'Grace Kelly Royal Wedding (1956)'

(Wednesday, April 18, 1956) — American actress Grace Kelly, 26, married Prince Rainier of Monaco, 32, today in a 16-minute civil ceremony in the Palace Throne Room of Monaco.

A church wedding took place the next day.

League of Nations expires 70 years ago today (Apr 18 1946)


Video: 'United Nations - April In Three Cities (1946)' (League of Nations at 1:05)

(Thursday, April 18, 1946, 5:43 p.m. local time) — The League of Nations, created as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War, expired tonight in Geneva and willed to the United Nations its physical assets in the hope that the new organization might succeed where the League had failed.

International Court of Justice holds first sitting in The Hague, Netherlands 70 years ago today (Apr 18 1946)


Video: 'Plechtige openingszitting van het Internationaal Gerechtshof in het Vredespaleis (1946)'

(Thursday, April 18, 1946) — The International Court of Justice, the judicial arm of the United Nations, held its first sitting today in The Hague, Netherlands.

Devastating earthquake strikes San Francisco 110 years ago this hour (Apr 18 1906)


Videos: 'San Francisco Earthquake And Fire - April 18, 1906'

(Wednesday, April 18, 1906, 5:12 a.m. PST) — A major earthquake (with an estimated “moment magnitude” of 7.8) struck the coast of Northern California this morning on the San Andreas Fault, followed by raging fires, killing between 3,000 and 6,000 (with another 227,000-3000,000 left homeless) and causing more than $400 million in damages. Continue reading Devastating earthquake strikes San Francisco 110 years ago this hour (Apr 18 1906)