| Martha's Vineyard was discovered in 1602 by Captain Bar tholomew Gosnold, who landed (May 21) on the island now called No Man's Land, and named it Martha's Vineyard,' which name was subsequently applied to the larger island. Captain Gosnold rounded Gay Head, which he named Dover Cliff, and established on what is now Cuttyhunk Island, which he called Elizabeth Island, the first (though, as it proved, a temporary) English settlement in New England. |
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| In 1819, the first bicycle in the U.S. was seen in New York City. Such bicycle velocipedes or "swift walkers" had been imported that same year. Shortly thereafter, on August 19, 1819, the city's Common Council passed a law to "prevent the use of velocipedes in the public places and on the sidewalks of the city of New York." |  |
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| The first Democratic National Convention was held in the Athenaeum (same venue as the two opposition parties) on 5/21-23/1832. All states were represented except Missouri, many with more delegates than they had votes in the convention. Five delegates attended from the District of Columbia. |
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| Founded by Clara Barton, the American Red Cross was modeled after the International Red Cross. She did not originate the Red Cross idea, but she was the first person to establish a lasting Red Cross Society in America. She successfully organized the American Association of the Red Cross in Washington, D.C., on May 21, 1881. Created to serve America in peace and in war, during times of disaster and national calamity, Barton's organization took its service beyond that of the International Red Cross Movement by adding disaster relief to battlefield assistance. She served as the organization's volunteer president until 1904. |
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| In May 1881, Orange Lawn and 18 other clubs formed the United States Lawn Tennis Association to standardize the game’s rules and equipment. Founding members of the Club included Richard Sears, the first US Singles Champion, and James Dwight, the USLTA’s first president. |
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| Dubbed by the media as "Gentleman Jim Corbett," he was college educated and in addition to boxing, pursued a career in acting, performing at a variety of theaters. On May 21, 1891, Corbett fought Peter "Black Prince" Jackson, because the reigning John L. Sullivan wouldn't fight Jackson because he was black. Corbett and Jackson fought to a draw after 61 rounds. |  |
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| Construction of the main observatory building began in 1895. The first astronomical observations were made in the summer of 1897. This telescope is the largest refractor ever completed, with a gain of 4 inches aperture and 23% in light-gathering ability over its nearest rival, the 36-inch refractor at Lick Observatory in California. The dome covering the 40-inch refractor is 90 feet in diameter. It is turned on 26 wheels by an electric motor which actuates an endless wire rope extending around the dome. |
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| In 1901, the first U.S. State motor car legislation was an act to regulate the speed of motor vehicle, passed in Connecticut. A limit was established of 12 mph within city limits and 15 mph outside, which were higher than the 8 mph city and 12mph country speeds in the bill as originally presented. Also, the car driver was required to reduce speed upon meeting or passing a horse-drawn vehicle, and if necessary, to stop to avoid frightening the horse. |
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| In 1906, Louis Henry Perlman of New York City applied for a patent for his invention of the demountable tyre-carrying rim on this day, similar those used on today's cars, but wider. |
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| Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (a.k.a. The Modern Dr. Jekyll)is a 1908 horror film, and the first screen adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's novel The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, and it's based on the 1897 stageplay by Luella Forepaugh and George F. Fish. The film is directed and produced by William G. Selig. The cast is unknown, and the film is completely lost. |
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| Carl Wickman in 1914 began a bus service in Minnesota where he transported iron ore miners from Hibbing to Alice at 15 cents a ride.It was incorporated as "The Greyhound Corporation" in 1926. |  |
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| On May 21, 1919, the House of Representatives passed the amendment by a vote of 304 to 89, and 2 weeks later on June 4, the Senate finally followed, where the amendment passed 56 to 25. |
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| Formal transfer of T.L. Huston's interest in the Yankees to Jake Ruppert is completed for $1.5 million. Ten days later Ruppert buys two more sets of uniforms so his players can wear a clean outfit every day, an unprecedented move. |  |
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| The Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning has been awarded since 1922 for a distinguished cartoon or portfolio of cartoons published during the year, characterized by originality, editorial effectiveness, quality of drawing, and pictorial effect. |
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| In May, 1925 the Ontario Government legalized the sale of 4.4 proof spirit beer called "Fergies Foam". The Walkerville Brewery shipped approximately 4,500 cases and 750 eight gallon and 13 gallon kegs in its first day! Huge crowds paraded the streets and jammed hotel lobbies and beverage rooms in the Border Cities, anxious to quaff the new 4.4 beer. |
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| On the evening of May 21, he crossed the coast of France, followed the Seine River to Paris and touched down at Le Bourget Field at 10:22P.M. The waiting crowd of 100,000 rushed the plane. "I saw there was danger of killing people with my propeller and I quickly came to a stop." He became an instant hero, "the Lone Eagle." New York City gave him the largest ticker tape parade ever, the president awarded him the Distinguished Flying Cross. His feat electrified the nation and inspired enthusiastic interest in aviation. |
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| In 1929, the first automatic electric stock quotation board was put into operation by Sutro and Company of New York City. This was the first major advance in market information since the Edison ticker. The board was able to display the open, high, low and last prices of each stock listed, and automatically shifted the figures as changes were made. It was the first of a network of electrically posted black boards serving the securities industry, activated by a central transmitting station via telegraph lines. The system eventually reached over 700 brokerage offices from coast to coast. |
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| On May 20-21, 1932, Earhart accomplished her goal of flying solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She took off from Newfoundland, Canada, at 7:12 p.m. on May 20, in her Lockheed Vega. Her flight was filled with dangers, from rapidly changing weather to a broken altimeter so she could not tell how high she was flying, to gasoline leaking into the cockpit. She brought her plane down on the coast of Ireland after a harrowing trip lasting 15 hours and 18 minutes The flight was the second solo flight across the Atlantic and the longest nonstop flight by a woman--2,026 miles (3,261 kilometers). |
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| In the early 30s he recorded with Red Nichols and in 1935 was in the band assembled by Glenn Miller that played under the leadership of Ray Noble. In 1939 Bradley formed a big band with drummer Ray McKinley that enjoyed great popular success, owing in part to a string of orchestrated boogie-woogie numbers, including "Beat Me, Daddy, Eight To The Bar". Ray McKinley played drums and did the vocal for the boogie-woogie tune, "Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar". The song, on Columbia Records, was so long it took up both sides of the 78rpm platter. |
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| At Griffith Stadium, the Chicago White Sox top the Washington Senators 10 in one hour, 29 minutes, the quickest night game in American League history. |
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| At Chicago, Joe DiMaggio hits for the cycle and adds another homer to drive in six runs, as the Yanks coast, 132. DiMag almost has a 6th extra base hit, but left fielder Ralph Hodgin snares it at the wall. Johnny Lindell adds a homer to back Vic Raschi's pitching over Orval Grove. DiMaggio is the first Yankee in eight years to hit for the cycle. DiMag last cycled in 1937. |  |
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| In 1949, four songs Morgan recorded made it big on the charts. They were "So Tired", "Cruising Down the River", "Sunflower" and "Forever and Ever." On the latter he used a vocal quartet that was just starting out and would later become famous as the Ames Brothers. 1949 was his big year. |  |
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| After leadoff batter Billy Cox grounds out against Ewell Blackwell, the Whip loses his snap. The Dodgers then score 15 runs in the first inning as a record 19 consecutive batters reach 1B. Captain Pee Wee Reese walks twice in reaching base safely three times. Andy Pafko is thrown out trying to steal 3B, and Duke Snider mercifully strikes out to end the barrage against the Reds. The Dodgers score 15 runs on 15 RBIs in the frame, and coast at home, 191. Winning pitcher Chris Van Cuyk has the most hits with four—two in the first inning off Bud Byerly and Frank Smith, while Bobby Morgan has a pair of two-run homers and Snider another two-run homer. The Reds lone run is a homer by reserve catcher Dixie Howell. |
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| Gibbs did ballads, straight pop, novelties, pop-jazz, cha-cha-chas -- whatever the marketplace might take, she could adapt. In the mid-'50s she, like many other White pop singers, covered R&B hits for the pop audience. Today's she's most remembered for outselling Etta James (with a cover of "The Wallflower," renamed "Dance with Me Henry") and LaVern Baker (on "Tweedle Dee"), although this phase of her career was pretty brief. |  |
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| On May 21, 1955 lLt John Conroy of the 115th Fighter Squadron made aviation history by completing the first sunrise to sunset trip between the west and east coast in an F-86A. The 5085-mile round trip between Van Nuys and New York took 11 hrs., 26 min. and 33 sec. |  |
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| "Maybellene" evolved out of "Ida Red," a hillbilly song by Bob Wills Berry from the early '50s. When Berry came to Chess Records in Chicago, Leonard Chess, who owned the studio, had Berry record this and renamed it. Various cars appear in the lyrics. Berry sings about chasing Maybellene in his V8 Ford while she drag races a man in a Cadillac with her Coupe de Ville. |  |
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| The Tribe keeps pounding but lose 107 to Baltimore. Three more Cleveland home runs set a since-topped American League record for most home runs (26) over eight straight games. The also go in the record books with nine straight games with two or more homers. |
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| The Baltimore Lighthouse became the world’s first nuclear powered lighthouse in 1964, when a 60-watt isotopic power generator was installed. According to a local newspaper, this generator was “smaller than a 55-gallon oil drum,” and was reputed to be capable of supplying an uninterrupted ten-year flow of electricity without any maintenance or refueling. The generator was removed two years later, however, as the Coast Guard was concerned with “cost and environmental considerations.” |
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| Although most of the lyrics are indecipherable, many people thought the song was somehow offensive. Indiana governor Matthew Welsh declared it "Pornographic" in 1964 and asked the Indiana Broadcasters Association to ban it. "Louie Louie" was written by an R&B singer named Richard Berry in 1956. With his group The Pharaohs, he was also the first to record it, and it got some airplay in some cities in the Western US. When bands heard it, many of them started covering it. |
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| While awaiting the release of "California Dreamin'," band member Denny Doherty was prodding songwriter John Phillips to come up with some new material. Phillips said he would come back in the morning with "A song with universal appeal." Ignoring the sarcastic comments from the group members, Phillips came up with this. It's about the lousy feeling that comes with the end of the weekend and beginning of another workweek. |
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| The Cubs climb above the .500 mark the first time all season with a 65 win over the Phillies. Chicago's Billy Williams sets a record for outfielders by playing his 695th straight game. |  |
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| A generous Mel Stottlemyre hands out 11 walks to Washington in eight 1/3 innings, but the Senators are unable to score. Steve Hamilton gets the last two outs to preserve the 20 win. The 11 walks in a shutout ties Lefty Gomez, who did complete his 1941 shutout. Danny Cater's 2-run homer in the 5th accounts for the scoring off Dick Such, making his first ML start. |  |
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| Stevie Wonder wrote this song as a tribute to music, specifically to Sir Duke Ellington who had just passed away. It also mentions "Satchmo" Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie and Sodarisa Miller. |  |
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| In 1979, accompanied by Ray Cooper, John became the first Western pop star to tour the Soviet Union then mounted a two-man comeback tour of the U.S. in small halls. John returned to the singles chart with "Mama Can't Buy You Love" (#9, 1979), a song from an EP recorded in 1977 with Philadelphia soul producer Thom Bell. |  |
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| Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back is a 1980 science fantasy film developed by George Lucas, written by Lawrence Kasdan and Leigh Brackett and directed by Irvin Kershner. It was the second film released in the Star Wars saga, and the fifth in terms of internal chronology. Among fans, the title is commonly abbreviated as "TESB", or referred to as simply "Empire". |  |
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| The album was produced by Nile Rodgers, who gave the album a funky sound that was something different for Bowie. Rodgers founded the Disco band Chic and produced hits for Diana Ross, including "Upside Down" and "I'm Coming Out." He also produced Madonna's 1985 album Like a Virgin. Stevie Ray Vaughan played lead guitar. Bowie was impressed when he saw Vaughan perform at the Montreaux Jazz festival a year earlier. |
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| The promising career of Roy Hobbes, a baseball natural, is cut short by a madwoman's bullet. Sixteen years later he makes a comeback despite his injuries, age and self-doubt. |  |
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| After recording four all-Spanish albums released by CBS Discos, Miami Sound Machine broke through to a much larger audience with their first English album, “Eyes of Innocence,” in 1984. The album included the dance hit single "Dr. Beat." Their next album, 1986's Primitive Love, included the tune "Conga!," which became the first single to be simultaneously included on Billboard's pop, Latin, soul, and dance charts. Two other singles, "Bad Boy" and "Words Get in the Way," joined "Conga!" in the pop Top Ten that year, while several singles approached number one during 1987-88, all of which -- "1-2-3," "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You," "Anything for You," "Can't Stay Away From You" -- featured emerging star and lead vocalist Gloria Estefan with top billing. |
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| The entire town is purchased by a visiting Japanese tycoon, who plans to turn the hamlet into a huge golf course and recreation resort. The lone hold-outs are Dick and Joanna, who keep their property thanks largely to Dick's refusal to play along with what he views as the latest demented whim of the townspeople. Everyone else takes their huge payoffs, says their final good-byes, and leave Dick and Joanna to run the Stratford Inn. |
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| "I Swear" was originally a Country hit for John Michael Montgomery. He included it on his 2002 album Love Songs, but originally recorded it on his 1994 album Kickin It Up. That year it reached #42 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the American Country charts. All 4 One turned it into an R&B song with a group vocal. It won a Grammy in 1995 for Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal. |  |
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1602 Martha's Vineyard first sighted
(Captain Bartholomew Gosnold)
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1819 First bicycles (swift walkers) in US introduced
in NYC
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1832 First Democratic National Convention (Baltimore)
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1881 American Red Cross founded by Clara Barton
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1881 US Lawn Tennis Association is formed
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1891 Boxers Peter Jackson & Jim Corbett fight
to a draw in 61 rounds
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1897 Yerkes Observatory 40-inch refractor is used
for first time
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1901 Motor car speed limit
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1906 Louis H Perlman patents a demountable tire
carrying rim for cars
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1908 First horror movie (Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde)
premieres in Chicago
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1914 Greyhound Bus Company begins in Minnesota
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1919 House of Representatives passes amendment
allowing women to vote
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1921 Oldest radio station west of Mississippi
River licensed in Greeley CO
1922 Colonel Ruppert buys out Colonel Huston interest
in New York Yankees
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1922 The cartoon, "On the Road to Moscow",
by Rollin Kirby, won a Pulitzer Prize
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1925 Canadians allow to beer sales
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1927 Lindbergh lands in Paris France, after first
solo air crossing of Atlantic
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1929 Automatic electric stock quotation board
installed, NYC
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1932 First transatlantic solo flight by a woman
(Amelia Earhart) lands
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1940 Will Bradley and his orchestra recorded
"Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar"
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1943 Fastest 9 inning American League baseball
game (89 minutes), White Sox beat Senators
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1945 Lauren Bacall & Humphrey Bogart wed
1948 New York Yankee Joe Dimaggio hits for the
cycle (single, double, triple, homerun)
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1949 "Forever & Ever" by Russ Morgan
topped the charts
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1952 Brooklyn Dodgers score 15 runs in first inning
& beat Cincinnati Reds, 19-1
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1955 "Dance with Me Henry" by Georgia
Gibbs topped the charts
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1955 First transcontinental round-trip solo flight-sunrise
to sunset
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1955 Chuck Berry records first hit, "Maybellene"
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1962 Cleveland sets American
League record for most homeruns (26) over 8 games
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1964 First nuclear-powered lighthouse begins operations
(Chesapeake Bay)
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1966 "Louie Louie" by The Kingsmen reentered
the chart & hits #97
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1966 "Monday, Monday" by the Mamas and
the Papas topped the charts
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1968 Cubs Billy Williams sets outfielder record
of 695 straight game
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1970 Mel Stottlemyre sets record by walking 11,
but wins 2-0
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1977 Sir Duke" by Stevie Wonder topped the
charts
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1979 Elton John becomes first western rocker to
perform live in the USSR
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1980 "Empire Strikes Back" premeires
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1982 British troops lands on Falkland Islands
1983 "Let's Dance" by David Bowie topped
the charts
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1984 "The Natural" a movie based on
the book by Bernard Malamud, was registered
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1988 "Anything for You" by Gloria Estefan
topped the charts
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1990 Last episode of "Newhart" airs
on CBS-TV; It was all a dream
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1994 "I Swear" by All-4-One topped the
charts
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