Category: Éphémérides (anglais)

“The Sopranos”, starring James Gandolfini as mobster Tony Soprano, debuts on HBO.

LA Kings center Wayne Gretzky becomes NHL’s all-time leading scorer in combined regular season & playoff points; 4 assists in 5-4 home win over Edmonton brings his total to 2,011, 1 more than Gordie Howe.

“Introducing the Beatles” released 1st Beatles album released in the US.

Elvis Presley records single “Heartbreak Hotel”.

RCA Victor released the first 45 rpm record to the public to compete with CBS/Columbia’s 33 rpm “LP”.

The first meeting of the United Nations General Assembly took place with 51 nations represented.

Soviet Union orders exile of Leon Trotsky.

Fritz Lang’s film “Metropolis” was first shown, in Berlin.

The League of Nations ratified the Treaty of Versailles, officially ending World War I with Germany.

John D. Rockefeller incorporated Standard Oil.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveils the first iPhone.

Michael Jackson receives the Artist of the Century award at the American music awards.

Baseball officially bans Pete Rose from being elected to Hall of Fame for betting on baseball.

Hockey Hall of Famer, Phil Esposito, announced that he would retire as a hockey player after the New York Rangers-Buffalo Sabres hockey game. The game ended in a tie. (NHL)

Bobby Orr’s #4 jersey is retired by the Boston Bruins.

The ocean liner Queen Elizabeth was destroyed by fire in Hong Kong harbor.

The supersonic aeroplane Concorde made its first trial flight, at Bristol.

Building of Aswan dam in Egypt, begins.

Fire kills 77 children in a Montreal movie theatre.

1st Women’s Golf Tournament held at Musselburgh Golf Club, Scotland.

Twitter bans US President Donald Trump permanently “due to the risk of further incitement of violence”.

Duke and Duchess of Sussex announce they are stepping back as “senior” royals, will work towards becoming financially independent.

Ukrainian Boeing 737-800 crashes just after take-off from Tehran, Iran, killing all 176 people on board.

Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto announces the recapture of drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, six months after he escaped prison.

RMS Queen Mary 2, the largest passenger ship ever built, is christened by her namesake’s granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II.

The top two executives of Salt Lake City’s Olympic Organizing Committee resigned amid disclosures that civic boosters had given cash to members of the International Olympic Committee.

Canada, US, USSR, Sweden, Finland and Czechoslovakia agree to take part in Canada Cup hockey tournament.

Golfer Jack Nicklaus, 21, 1st pro appearance, he came in 50th.

Charles De Gaulle was inaugurated as president of France’s Fifth Republic.

Elvis Presley’s “Don’t Be Cruel” and “Hound Dog” single goes #1 and stays #1 for a record 11 weeks (for a single).

The African National Congress (ANC) is founded.

1st US President George Washington delivers 1st state of the union address.

Monaco gains its independence.

Amazon overtakes Microsoft to become the world’s most valuable listed company for the first time, worth $797 billion.

Two gunmen commit a mass shooting at the offices of Charlie Hebdo in Paris, killing twelve people and injuring another eleven.

President Bill Clinton’s Impeachment trial begins in the US Senate after the House voted to impeach him for lying about his affair with Monica Lewinsky

The Leaning Tower of Pisa was closed to the public. The accelerated rate of “leaning” raised fears for the safety of its visitors.

“Fame” premieres on NBC TV

The United States recognized Fidel Castro’s new government in Cuba.

Gibson issued US patent for the Flying V Guitar.

“Flash Gordon” comic strip (by Alex Raymond) debuts.

Transatlantic telephone service began between New York and London. 31 calls were made on this first day.

First Canadian silver coins issued.

Founding of the Quebec Library.

Supporters of President Donald Trump storm US Capitol in Washington, resulting in five deaths and prompting evacuation of lawmakers and vice-president Mike Pence.

Randy Johnson, Pedro Martínez, John Smoltz and Craig Biggio are inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was clubbed on the right leg by an assailant at Cobo Arena in Detroit, MI. Four men were later sentenced to prison for the attack, including Tonya Harding’s ex-husband.

Philadelphia Flyers set NHL record of 35 straight games without a defeat

“Wheel Of Fortune” debuts on NBC-TV

Beatles’ “Magical Mystery Tour” album goes #1 & stays #1 for 8 weeks.

“Peanuts” debuted in Sunday papers across the United States.

The first diesel-engine automobile trip (in a Packard sedan) was completed after a run of 792 miles from Indianapolis, IN, to New York City, NY.

Mother Teresa arrives in Calcutta, India to begin her work among India’s poorest and sick people.

Maria Montessori opens her 1st (Montessori) school (Rome).

Chinese professor Zhang Yongzhen publishes the first SARS-CoV-2 genome map online, allowing health professionals worldwide to identify COVID-19.

Iran pulls out of the 2015 nuclear deal, will not limit its uranium enrichment.

Prince made his live debut at the Capri Theatre, Minneapolis.

Columbia Records releases Bruce Springsteen’s debut album “Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.”.

U.S. President Richard M. Nixon ordered the development of the space shuttle.

Soap Opera “All My Children” premieres on ABC.

“Bozo the Clown” live children’s show premieres on TV.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) got its very first demonstration of FM radio.

Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge began in San Francisco.

Le club athlétique Canadien hockey team play their first game, seven years before the founding of the NHL They are composed entirely of francophones.

South Korea, already the country with world’s lowest birth rate, records more deaths than births for the first time.

1st Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines given to the general public.

In Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the Burj Dubai (Dubai Tower) opened as the world’s tallest tower at 2,625 feet.

Eurythmics release their breakthrough second studio album “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)”.

Ottawa withdraws troops from Montreal and other areas in Quebec in wake of FLQ crisis.

Luna 1 (Mechta) becomes 1st craft to leave Earth’s gravity.

Elvis Presley records his 1st demo for Sun Records at a recording studio in Memphis, “It Wouldn’t Be The Same Without You” and “I’ll Never Stand In Your Way”.

Tufted plastic carpeting was introduced by Barwick Mills.

The first pop music chart based on national sales was published by “Billboard” magazine.

Bob Hope 1st heard on network radio as part of “The Intimate Revue”.

Samuel Colt sells his first revolver pistol to the United States government.

Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo greets the crowd alongside his children at the Mrsool Park Stadium in the Saudi capital Riyadh on January 3, upon his presentation as an Al-Nassr player. Media have estimated Ronaldo’s contract to be worth more than 200 million euros ($214.04 million).

Chinese Chang’e-4 spacecraft becomes the first ever to touch down on the far side of the Moon.

Over 2,000 people are killed in north-east Nigeria after Boko Haram militants raze the town of Baga.

The Bitcoin network is created as the first block of the digital currency is mined by a person or group of people using the name Satoshi Nakamoto.

After hosting the show for over 30 years, Casey Kasem gives up the hosting duties of “American Top 40” to Ryan Seacrest.

The Motorola StarTAC, the first flip phone and one of the first mobile phones to gain widespread consumer adoption, goes on sale.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducts 1st female artist, Aretha Franklin.

Apple Computer is incorporated by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne.

The Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) sold the New York Yankees to a 12-man syndicate headed by George Steinbrenner for $10 million.

Pope John XXIII excommunicated Cuban prime minister Fidel Castro.

In Italy, Mussolini announced that he would take dictatorial powers.

Construction begins on New York’s Brooklyn Bridge; completed May 24, 1883.

Brian Mulroney signs free trade accord with Ronald Reagan.

NY Islander, Mike Bossy, scores his 500th goal.

The musical “Annie” closed on Broadway at the Uris Theatre after 2,377 performances.

Senator John F. Kennedy, announces his candidacy for the US Presidency.

Montreal Wanderers’ hockey arena burns down.

Royal Bank of Canada takes over the Quebec Bank, founded in 1882.

Willis Carrier receives a US patent for the world’s first air conditioner.

The euro became currency for 11 Member States of the European Union. Coins and notes were not available until January 1, 2002.

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) goes into effect.

VH-1 made its broadcasting debut.

Fire in a recreation club kills 48 New Year’s Eve celebrants in the northern Quebec mining town of Chapais.

Fidel Castro overthrew the government of Fulgencio Batista, and seized power in Cuba.

Ho Chi Minh begins offensive against French troops in Indo China.

The Declaration by United Nations is signed by twenty-six nations.

Alcatraz Island officially became a Federal Prison.

Building of Panama Canal begins.

The Irish Parliament votes to join the Kingdom of Great Britain, forming the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

Glassblower Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit proposes system for making thermometers and the Fahrenheit temperature scale.

Last gladiator competition in Rome.