On 18 April 1980, Elmore City, Oklahoma, held the first dance in the town’s history. The Kevin Bacon film, which was loosely based on this, was…
Footloose—Footloose is a 1984 American musical drama film about Ren, a Chicago teenager who moves to Bomont, a town with a ban on rock ‘n’ roll and dancing. Ren struggles to fit in and gets into trouble when he falls for Ariel Moore, the preacher’s daughter. To challenge the ban, Ren confronts prejudice and the town’s strict preacher through dance. The film was a box office success, grossing $80 million in North America. It was loosely based on real events in Elmore City, where a ban on public dancing existed before statehood. In the 1979-1980 school year, students lobbied for a school prom with dancing, facing opposition from church leaders. Ultimately, the town mayor supported the students, declaring the prom a non-public event, and the school board authorised it. The controversy gained national attention, inspiring songwriter/screenwriter Dean Pitchford to create the film.
Interior of dome, St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City. Wikipedia
In Vatican City, the cornerstone of the current St. Peter’s Basilica was laid on this day in…
1506—Saint Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, a renowned Italian Renaissance church designed by Bramante, Michelangelo and Maderno, is considered one of the holiest Catholic shrines and the largest church in the world by interior measure. Believed to be the burial site of Saint Peter, it was begun in 1506 and completed in 1615. The basilica, designed as a Latin cross with a prominent dome, serves as a major pilgrimage site and the church of the popes. Its construction involved several architects, including Michelangelo, who designed the iconic dome, and Gian Lorenzo Bernini, who designed the elliptical piazza in front of it.
The publication, on 18 April 1938, of Action Comics #1 saw the debut of…
Superman—Superman, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, first appeared in Action Comics #1 in 1938. He is the archetypal superhero, fighting crime as a vigilante with extraordinary abilities and popularised the superhero genre.
Today in 2018, King Mswati III announced that his country’s name would change to Eswatini. The name it changed from was…
Swaziland—Eswatini, formerly Swaziland— is a landlocked country in Southern Africa bordered by South Africa and Mozambique. It has a lower-middle income economy, with agriculture and manufacturing as the main employment sectors. The country is an absolute monarchy ruled by King Mswati III since 1986 and faces significant health challenges, including high HIV/AIDS rates. Its capital is Phondvo, while Mbabane serves as the administrative centre.
On 18 April 1942, Pierre Laval became Prime Minister of…
Vichy France—Vichy France, established in 1940 under Marshal Philippe Pétain, governed the unoccupied zone of France after the Nazi German defeat. Initially collaborating with Germany, the regime shifted towards a corporatist state, emphasising “Work, family, fatherland”. However, after the Allied invasion of North Africa and the German occupation of the entire country, Vichy became increasingly subservient to Germany, ultimately collapsing with the Allied liberation in 1944. They were known as “Vichy France” as that city was the seat of their government.
Marshal Philippe Pétain meeting Hitler in October 1940. Wikipedia
The trial of Martin Luther over his teachings and efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church began on 17 April 1521 during the…
Diet of Worms—At an Imperial Diet of the Holy Roman Emperor in the Imperial Free City of Worms, Martin Luther refused to recant his writings unless proven wrong by Scripture or reason, famously stating, “Here I stand; I can do no other.” The Diet declared Luther a heretic and banned his writings.
On this day in 1972, Muttiah Muralitharan, cricketer, was born in…
Kandy—(Sri Lanka)—Muttiah Muralitharan, a Sri Lankan cricketer, is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. He is the only bowler to take 800 Test wickets and over 530 One Day International (ODI) wickets. Muralitharan was a part of the Sri Lankan team that won the 1996 Cricket World Cup.
Henry Ian Cusick, born today in 1967, who is best known for his role as Desmond Hume in Lost, is described in Wikipedia as…
Peruvian-Scottish—Henry Ian Cusick is a Peruvian-Scottish actor known for roles in Lost, The Gospel of John, Scandal, The 100, The Passage, and MacGyver.
Apollo 13 crew: Commander, James A. Lovell Jr., Command Module pilot, John L. Swigert Jr., and Lunar Module pilot, Fred W. Haise Jr. Wikipedia
The damaged Apollo 13 spacecraft returned to Earth safely today in 1970; the commander was…
James A. Lovell Jr.—Jim Lovell, a US astronaut, participated in the Gemini and Apollo space programmes. He commanded the Apollo 13 mission to the Moon in 1970, which faced a critical oxygen tank explosion but successfully returned to Earth. Apollo 13 was his fourth and final spaceflight.
Anneli Jäätteenmäki took office on 17 April 2003 as the first female prime minister of…
The trial of Martin Luther over his teachings and efforts to reform the theology and practices of the Catholic Church began on 17 April 1521 during the…
Diet of Weeds
Diet of Woods
Diet of Worms
On this day in 1972, Muttiah Muralitharan, cricketer, was born in…
Bonbon
Kandy
Toffey
Henry Ian Cusick, born today in 1967, who is best known for his role as Desmond Hume in Lost, is described in Wikipedia as…
Argentinian-Welsh
Chilean-Irish
Peruvian-Scottish
The damaged Apollo 13 spacecraft returned to Earth safely today in 1970; the commander was…
Fred W. Haise Jr.
John “Jack” L. Swigert Jr.
James A. Lovell Jr.
Anneli Jäätteenmäki took office on 17 April 2003 as the first female prime minister of…
The answers to my earlier post are shown in bold below and an explanation of the title and a song are at the end.
Portrait of Prince Charles Edward Stuart by Allan Ramsey. National Galleries of Scotland. Wikipedia
This battle, the last fought on British soil, took place on 16 April 1746; it was the Battle of…
The Battle of Culloden—fought on 16 April 1746—was the last Jacobite rising and the last full-scale battle on British soil. Led by Bonnie Prince Charlie (Charles Edward Stuart), the Jacobites, outnumbered and exhausted, were defeated by the Hanoverian forces under the Duke of Cumberland. The battle marked the end of the Highland clan culture and the Stuart dynasty’s last attempt to reclaim the British throne. Jim Clark, 1967 US Grand Prix Watkins Glen, NY. Wikipedia
The Scot who won the Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship for the second time in 1965 was…
Jim Clark—a Scottish racing driver, competed in Formula One from 1960 to 1968, winning two World Drivers’ Championship titles with Lotus in 1963 and 1965. He set records for most wins, pole positions and fastest laps. Clark also achieved success in American open-wheel racing, winning the Indianapolis 500 in 1965. He began racing in 1956 and tragically died in a racing accident in 1968. Portrait of John Witherspoon, Presbyterian minister and President of Princeton University. Wikipedia
The only clergyman to sign the US Declaration of Independence was a Scottish minister; he was…
John Witherspoon—was a Scottish-American Presbyterian minister and president of the College of New Jersey, now Princeton University. He was a Founding Father of the United States and the only clergyman to sign the Declaration of Independence. After studying theology at the University of Edinburgh, he served as a pastor in Beith, Ayrshire and Paisley; he was known for his involvement in ecclesiastical debates. In 1768, he crossed the Atlantic to become president of the College of New Jersey, revitalising the institution by expanding its curriculum and increasing enrolment. A staunch supporter of American independence, Witherspoon was active in political affairs, serving in the Continental Congress and advocating for independence. He authored numerous works on religious and political subjects, including Ecclesiastical Characteristics and Considerations on the Nature and Extent of the Legislative Authority of the British Parliament. The Citie of Edinburgh from the South (detail) by Wenceslas Hollar (1670). Wikipedia
The New Zealand city of Dunedin’s Scottish connection, is that it is named after…
Edinburgh—Dunedin’s name comes from the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh, Dùn Èideann, which means “fort of Edin”. The name “Edin” derives from the Cumbric word Eidyn, referring to the region and its hillfort, Din Eidyn, located at Castle Rock.
This Scottish-born actor received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Jimmy Malone in a 1987 film; he was…
Sean Connery—Sir Sean Connery, a Scottish actor, gained international fame for his role as James Bond. He also starred in films by Hitchcock, Lumet and Huston, winning an Academy Award—Best Supporting Actor as Jimmy Malone in The Untouchables)—and a knighthood.
Sean Connery as James Bond, Goldfinger, 1964. Wikipedia
Skye Boat Song
The post title is a line taken from the beginning of The Skye Boat Song which was composed in the late 19th century and recalled the journey of Bonnie Prince Charlie from Benbecula, an Atlantic island of the Outer Hebrides, to the Isle of Skye.
Skye Boat Song
Speed bonnie boat like a bird on the wing Onward the sailors cry Carry the lad that's born to be king Over the sea to Skye
Loud the winds howl loud the waves roar Thunderclaps rend the air Baffled our foes stand by the shore Follow they will not dare
Speed bonnie boat like a bird on the wing Onward the sailors cry Carry the lad that's born to be king Over the sea to Skye
Many's the lad fought on that day Well the claymore could wield When the night came silently lay Dead in Culloden's field
Speed bonnie boat like a bird on the wing Onward the sailors cry Carry the lad that's born to be king Over the sea to Skye
Though the waves leap soft shall ye sleep Ocean's a royal bed Rock'd in the deep Flora will keep Watch o'er your weary head
Speed bonnie boat like a bird on the wing Onward the sailors cry Carry the lad that's born to be king Over the sea to Skye
Burned are our homes exile and death Scattered the loyal men Yet ere the sword cool in the sheath Charlie will come again
Speed bonnie boat like a bird on the wing Onward the sailors cry Carry the lad that's born to be king Over the sea to Skye
(K) Kazakhstan—The flag of Kazakhstan was adopted on 4 June 1992, replacing the Soviet-era flag. The flag was designed by Shaken Niyazbekov.
(L) Lake Huron—Manitoulin Island, the largest lake island in the world, is located in Lake Huron, Ontario. With an area of 2,766 sq km, it contains over 100 lakes, including Lake Manitou, Lake Kagawong and Lake Mindemoya. Lady Macbeth, Sleepwalking scene, Macbeth. Wikipedia
(M) Macbeth—In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Lady Macbeth sleepwalks, rubbing her hands and recalling the deaths of King Duncan, Lady Macduff and Banquo. The Doctor, observing her guilt-ridden state, believes she needs divine help rather than medical treatment.
(N) Naughtiest—Enid Blyton’s Naughtiest Girl series, set at a progressive boarding school, was written in the 1940s and 1950s. Anne Digby later added to the series. Poster for Hyde Park of Hudson Wikipedia
(O) Olivia Colman—is an English actress, is known for her roles in television series like Peep Show, Broadchurch and The Crown, as well as films like The Favourite, The Father and The Lost Daughter. She has received numerous awards, including an Academy Award, four BAFTAs, two Emmys and three Golden Globes. As well as playing Elizabeth II in The Crown she played her mother, Queen Elizabeth, who was King George VI’s consort and the future Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, in Hyde Park on Hudson.
(P) Putney Bridge—The Boat Race is an annual rowing competition between Cambridge and Oxford universities, held on the River Thames in London. The men’s race began in 1829 and the women’s race in 1927. Cambridge leads in both the men’s and women’s races, with 87 and 47 wins respectively.
Putney Bridge at Dusk as viewed from the south-west at the boat sheds along the Thames. Wikipedia
(F) Freesia—Freesia is a genus of herbaceous perennial flowering plants native to eastern southern Africa. Cultivated hybrids of Freesia species are commonly known as “freesias” and grown as ornamental plants.
(G) Golden Cap—Golden Cap, a hill and cliff in Dorset, England, is the highest point near the south coast of Great Britain. It is owned by the National Trust and part of the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site. H.G. Wells by George Charles Beresford, 1920. Wikipedia
(H) H.G. Wells—Half a Sixpence is a 1963 musical comedy based on H.G. Wells’s novel Kipps. The show, tailored for Tommy Steele, follows Arthur Kipps, an orphan who inherits a fortune and learns that money can’t buy happiness.
(I) Ireland—In May 1915, the RMS Lusitania, a British ocean liner, was sunk by the German submarine U-20, 11 miles (18 km) off the Old Head of Kinsale, Ireland. This tragic event resulted in the loss of 1,197 lives, including passengers, crew, and stowaways. The sinking significantly boosted American support for entering World War I.
(J) J. Alfred Prufrock—The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock is T. S. Eliot’s first published poem, reflecting the title character’s thoughts in stream-of-consciousness style. Initially considered outlandish, it is now seen as a landmark in the shift from Romanticism to Modernism in poetry. Regarding the wrong alternative answers: J. Bruce Ismay was the chairman of the White Star Line, the owners of the Titanic. He faced criticism and was branded a coward after surviving the sinking. J. Edgar Hoover was the first Director of the FBI. He served in that role in the predecessor organisation, the BOI, and the FBI for a total of 48 years.
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