On August 6th 1942, songwriter, musician and actor Isaac Hayes was born in Covington, Tennessee, the second child of Isaac Hayes, Sr., and Eula Hayes. It's a long way indeed from performing onstage at the Academy Awards to portraying a cartoon chef, but that's the singular journey travelled by the late Isaac Hayes in a … Continue reading Aug 6 1942 Isaac Hayes born
Month: August 2012
August 5 1962 Marilyn Monroe found dead
On August 5th 1962, movie actress Marilyn Monroe was found dead in her home in Los Angeles. She was discovered lying nude on her bed, face down, with a telephone in one hand. Empty bottles of pills, prescribed to treat her depression, were littered around the room. After a brief investigation, Los Angeles police concluded … Continue reading August 5 1962 Marilyn Monroe found dead
August 4 1964 Slain civil rights workers found
On August 4th 1964, the remains of three civil rights workers whose disappearance on June 21 garnered national attention were found buried in an earthen dam near Philadelphia, Mississippi. Michael Schwerner and Andrew Goodman, both white New Yorkers, had travelled to heavily segregated Mississippi in 1964 to help organise civil rights efforts on behalf of … Continue reading August 4 1964 Slain civil rights workers found
August 3 1958 Nuclear submarine USS Nautilus travels under North Pole
On August 3rd 1958, the U.S. nuclear submarine Nautilus accomplished the first undersea voyage to the geographic North Pole. The world's first nuclear submarine, the Nautilus dived at Point Barrow, Alaska, and travelled nearly 1,000 miles under the Arctic ice cap to reach the top of the world. It then steamed on to Iceland, pioneering … Continue reading August 3 1958 Nuclear submarine USS Nautilus travels under North Pole
August 2 1943 Japanese forces attack PT boat with Kennedy on board
On August 2nd 1943, future President John F. Kennedy was serving as commander of a torpedo boat in the Solomon Islands when his ship was fired upon by the Japanese navy. As a young man, Kennedy had desperately wanted to go into the Navy but was originally rejected because of chronic health problems, particularly a … Continue reading August 2 1943 Japanese forces attack PT boat with Kennedy on board
August 1 1981 MTV launches
On August 1st 1981, MTV: Music Television went on the air for the first time ever, with the words (spoken by one of MTV’s creators, John Lack): “Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll.” The Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star” was the first music video to air on the new cable television channel, which initially … Continue reading August 1 1981 MTV launches
Craig Hill 