Poor Gabriel's Almanac

Interesting things that happened April 1st:

Birthdays on this date:

In 1753 William Harvey, surgeon
In 1815 Otto von Bismarck, statesman
In 1873 Sergei Rachmaninoff (in Novgorod Province, Russia), composer
In 1883 Lon Chaney, actor (The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Phantom of the Opera), film makeup pioneer -- "The Man of a Thousand Faces"
In 1920 Toshiro Mifune, actor (Seven Samuri, Rashomon, Yojimbo, Shogun)
In 1922 William Manchester, author (Death of a President)
In 1928 George Grizzard, actor (Law and Order, The Adams Chronicles)
In 1929 Jane Powell (in Portland, Oregon), actor (Royal Wedding)
In 1930 Grace Lee Whitney, actor (Some Like It Hot, Star Trek), singer
In 1932 Gordon Jump, actor (Soap, WKRP in Cincinnati)
+ Debbie Reynolds (in El Paso, TX), actor (Singing in the Rain), dancer
In 1934 Don Hastings, actor (The Edge of Night, As The World Turns)
In 1939 Ali MacGraw (in Pound Ridge, NY), actor (Love Story, Dynasty)
In 1944 Carol White (in England), actor (Cathy Come Home, Poor Cow)
In 1945 Heather Young (in Washington), actor (Land of the Giants)
In 1947 David Eisenhower, Grandson of President Dwight
In 1952 Annette O'Toole (in Houston, TX), actor (Superman III), songwriter

Events worth noting:

+ Saint Stupid's Day (a San Francisco tradition since 1980).
+ April Fool's Day
In 1778 Oliver Pollock, a New Orleans Businessman, creates the "$" symbol.
In 1789 House of Representatives first full meeting in New York City. F. Muhlenberg is the first Speaker of the House.
In 1850 San Francisco County Government established.
In 1853 Cincinnati became first US city to pay firefighters a regular salary.
In 1863 First wartime conscription law in US went into effect.
In 1865 Battle of Five Forks. Beginning of the end for Lee's Army.
In 1889 The first dishwashing machine is marketed (Chicago).
In 1918 Royal Air Force established in Britain.
In 1927 First automatic record changer introduced by His Master's Voice (RCA - Victor).
In 1933 Nazi Germany began persecution of Jews, boycotting Jewish businesses.
In 1935 First radio tube made of metal announced, Schenectady, NY.
In 1939 U.S. recognized Franco govt in Spain at end of the Spanish civil war.
In 1941 Navy takes over Treasure Island, California.
In 1945 American forces launched the invasion of Okinawa during WW II.
In 1954 First army helicopter battalion formed, Fort Bragg, NC.
In 1960 TIROS I (Television and Infra-Red Observation Satellite) launched to improve weather prediction.
In 1963 NYC's newspapers resume publishing after a 114 day strike.
In 1979 Iran proclaimed an Islamic Republic following the fall of the Shah.
In 1984 Marvin Gaye shot to death by his father Marvin Gaye Sr in LA.

And remember ...

America's Heartland Development Month
Cancer Control Month
Math Education Month
National Poetry Month

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Although efforts have been taken to ensure the accuracy of this information, several errors have been found in the past. Don't place any bets on the basis of what you find here. If you spot an error, write to Poor Gabriel at poorgabriel@mystery.com .