Author: Nourhan Sandouk
This day in history: Happy birthday, safety pin!
Written by: Nourhan Sandouk
Today, April 10, marks International Safety Pin Day. It’s the day in 1849 when Walter Hunt, a mechanic from New York, was granted U.S. Patent No. …
This day in history: NASA introduces its first astronauts
Written by: Nourhan Sandouk
On April 9, 1959, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) introduced its first group of astronauts to the world. Known as the “Mercury 7,” these …
This day in history: Twin Peaks premieres on ABC
Written by: Nourhan Sandouk
On April 8, 1990, ABC premiered the pilot of Twin Peaks. Created by visionary director David Lynch and writer Mark Frost, the show transformed the small-town …
This day in history: Happy birthday, Jackie Chan!
Written by: Nourhan Sandouk
April 7 marks the birthday of one of the most recognizable faces in cinema history, Jackie Chan. Born in Hong Kong in 1954 as Chan Kong-sang. …
This day in history: The US officially enters WWI
Written by: Nourhan Sandouk
For nearly three years, the United States watched World War I while nations like Great Britain, France, and Russia fought against Germany and the Central Powers. …
This day in history: Kurt Cobain dies
Written by: Nourhan Sandouk
On April 5, 1994, Kurt Cobain, the lead singer and guitarist of the rock band Nirvana, took his own life at his home in Seattle, Washington, …
This day in history: Dr. King stands for peace exactly one year before his death
Written by: Nourhan Sandouk
April 4 marks two significant moments in the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., one involving a stand for peace and the other marking his …
This day in history: Happy heavenly birthday, Jane Goodall!
Written by: Nourhan Sandouk
“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” Jane Goodall. Born in London on April …
This day in history: Deadly anthrax released from Soviet lab
Written by: Nourhan Sandouk
In the spring of 1979, on April 2, the city of Sverdlovsk (now Ekaterinburg) in the Soviet Union became the site of one of the deadliest …
This day in history: Soap opera General Hospital premieres
Written by: Nourhan Sandouk
April 1st is known to many as April Fools’ Day, but for television fans, it was the day the small screen got serious about drama. On …
This day in history: Pop star Selena is slain
Written by: Nourhan Sandouk
On March 31 1995, the world lost Selena Quintanilla-Perez, the “Queen of Tejano Music.” Though her life was tragically cut short at just 23 years old, …
This day in history: Happy Birthday, Celine Dion!
Written by: Nourhan Sandouk
Celine Dion is one of the most successful and recognized voices in music history. Born on March 30, 1968, in Charlemagne, Quebec, Canada, she was the …
This Day in History: U.S. troops withdraw from Vietnam
Written by: Nourhan Sandouk
On March 29, 1973 the last U.S. combat troops departed South Vietnam, exactly two months after the signing of the Paris Peace Accords. This departure marked …
This Day in History: First star laid on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Written by: Nourhan Sandouk
On March 28, 1960, the first permanent star was laid on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This first star honored the legendary film producer and director …
This Day in History: “March Madness” crowns its first men’s NCAA Champion
Written by: Nourhan Sandouk
While the March Madness tournament is now a massive global event, it had a very humble beginning. On March 27, 1939, the first-ever NCAA men’s basketball …
This Day in History: F. Scott Fitzgerald’s first novel published
Written by: Nourhan Sandouk
On March 26, 1920, a 23-year-old writer named F. Scott Fitzgerald had his first novel, This Side of Paradise, published by Charles Scribner’s Sons. The book …
This Day in History: Happy Birthday, Aretha Franklin!
Written by: Nourhan Sandouk
A gifted singer and a talented pianist, Aretha first began performing by touring with her father’s traveling revival show. This early experience in gospel music helped …
This Day in History: Halle Berry becomes first Black woman to win Best Actress Oscar
Written by: Nourhan Sandouk
On March 24, 2002, at the 74th Academy Awards, Halle Berry became the first Black woman to win the Oscar for Best Actress. She received the …
This Day in History: James Cameron’s “Titanic” wins 11 Academy Awards
Written by: Nourhan Sandouk
On March 23, 1998, Titanic took over the 70th Academy Awards, winning a record-tying 11 Oscars. Before the ceremony even began, Titanic was already making waves. …
This Day in History: Alcatraz closes its doors
Written by: Nourhan Sandouk
On March 21, 1963 Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, the world-famous maximum-security prison located on a cold island in the San Francisco Bay, officially closed its doors. As …
