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Harry Styles opens Coachella after its 2 year hiatus in front of 100k people

The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is an annual music and arts festival held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, in the Coachella Valley in the Colorado Desert. After a 2 year cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Coachella returned in 2022 on April 15–17 and April 22–24. The headlining lineup initially comprised Harry Styles, Billie Eilish, Kanye West, and Swedish House Mafia.

'Finding Neverland' opens on Broadway

Finding Neverland is an original musical with music and lyrics by Scott Frankel and Michael Korie and a book by James Graham. The ART production directed by Diane Paulus opened on Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. Kelsey Grammer starred as Charles Frohman and Laura Michelle Kelly reprised the role of Sylvia Llewelyn Davies.

'Fargo' first airs on FX

'The Crocodile's Dilemma' is the pilot episode of the FX anthology series 'Fargo.' It was written by series creator and showrunner Noah Hawley and directed by Adam Bernstein. The title refers to the paradox in logic known as the crocodile dilemma. The episode received critical acclaim and was seen by 2.65 million viewers.

Boston Marathon bombing

Two homemade bombs detonated near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, creating a scene of chaos and killing three visitors and wounding more than 260 other people. Terrorists were two Muslim bothers born in the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan. One of them was killed shortly after accident.

'The Nance' opens on Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre

The Nance is a play written by Douglas Carter Beane. It involves the lives of burlesque performers during the 1930s. The play premiered at the Lyceum Theatre, in a Lincoln Center Theater production. Directed by Jack O'Brien, the play starred Nathan Lane as Chauncey Miles, and featured Jonny Orsini, Cady Huffman, Andréa Burns, and Jenni Barber.

'Peter and the Starcatcher' opens at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre

Peter and the Starcatcher is a play based on the 2004 novel Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, adapted for the stage by Rick Elice. The show then opened on Broadway at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. The original Broadway cast included Christian Borle, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Adam Chanler-Berat, and Teddy Bergman.

Christina Aguilera divorces Jordan Bratman

Aguilera filed for divorce from Bratman in October 2010, requesting joint legal and physical custody of their son Max. After reaching a private settlement and custody deal, their divorce was finalized in April 2011. Aguilera was concurrently involved in a romantic relationship with Matthew Rutler, who served as an assistant on the set of Burlesque.

'Next to Normal' opens on Broadway at the Booth Theatre

Next to Normal is an American rock musical with book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt. The story centers on a mother who struggles with worsening bipolar disorder and the effects that managing her illness has on her family. The musical opened on Broadway at the Booth Theatre in 2009.

Final episode of 'Black Books' airs

'Black Books' is a British sitcom created by Dylan Moran and Graham Linehan. Starring Moran, Bill Bailey, and Tamsin Greig, the series is set in the eponymous London bookshop and follows the lives of its owner Bernard Black, his assistant Manny Bianco and their friend Fran Katzenjammer.

'Amy's View' opens on Broadway

Amy's View is a play written by British playwright David Hare. The production moved to Broadway in 1999 for a limited run at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, again directed by Richard Eyre. Judi Dench, Ronald Pickup and Samantha Bond reprised their original roles.

1997

Baseball honors Jackie Robinson by retiring #42 for all MLB teams

In 1997, MLB retired his uniform number 42 across all major league teams; he was the first pro athlete in any sport to be so honored. MLB also adopted a new annual tradition, "Jackie Robinson Day", for the first time in 2004, on which every player on every team wears No. 42.

World Trade Organization agreement signed

The World Trade Organization is an intergovernmental organization that regulates international trade. 123 nations signed the Marrakesh Agreement, replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. The agreement marked the culmination of the 8-year-long Uruguay Round.

Hillsborough disaster

The Hillsborough disaster was a fatal human crush during an FA Cup semi-final football match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield, England. With 96 fatalities and 766 injuries, it remains the worst disaster in British sporting history.

'Driving Miss Daisy' opens at the Playwrights Horizons Theatre

Driving Miss Daisy is a play by American playwright Alfred Uhry, about the relationship of an elderly Jewish woman, Daisy Werthan, and her African-American chauffeur, Hoke Coleburn. The original Off-Broadway production was staged at Playwrights Horizons Studio Theatre, was directed by Ron Lagomarsino, and starred Dana Ivey and Morgan Freeman.

Tokyo Disneyland opens to the public

Tokyo Disneyland was the first Disney park to be built outside the United States. The park has seven themed areas and two mini-lands. The park is noted for its extensive open spaces, to accommodate the large crowds that visit the park.

Writer Jean-Paul Sartre dies

Jean-Paul Sartre was a French philosopher, playwright, novelist, political activist, biographer, and literary critic. He was one of the key figures in the philosophy of existentialism and phenomenology. Sartre died in Paris from edema of the lung.

The first actor rejects an Oscar

The 43rd Academy Awards were presented at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles. There was no host. The Awards presentation and hosting duties were handled by 34 "Friends of Oscar." The Awards were broadcast by NBC-TV for the first time in 11 years. The winning picture was 'Patton' directed by Frank McCarthy. George C. Scott became the first actor to reject an Oscar, claiming that the Academy Awards were "a two-hour meat parade, a public display with contrived suspense for economic reasons."

Rolling Stones release 'Aftermath'

A milestone in the recording career of the band in that Jagger/Richards wrote every single track on this their fourth studio album to be released by Decca Records in Britain. The album is considered an artistic breakthrough for the band. It was the group’s first LP to be recorded entirely in the U.S.

1965

The day that Havlicek Stole the Ball

'Havlicek stole the ball!' was the most famous radio call in basketball history. With five seconds left in Boston Garden, the Celtics let Wilt Chamberlain score an uncontested basket, cutting their lead to 110-109. John Havlicek leaps and slaps the ball to teammate Sam Jones, who dribbles out the clock.

Fidel Castro begins US goodwill tour

Castro was a member of a revolutionary group and took a key role in the Cuban Revolution which overthrew the former government. Following this, he visited the US where he gave a talk to the Council of Foreign Affairs. President Eisenhower did not want to meet him, so Castro met with Vice-President Nixon instead, whom he disliked.

The first McDonald's restaurant opens by Ray Kroc

Ray Kroc, a seller of milkshake machines, opened the first McDonald's franchise in Des Plaines, Illinois, outside of Chicago. His first-day sales were $366.12. The Des Plaines interior and exterior was painted by master painter Eugene Wright, who owned Wright's Decorating Service.

1947

Jackie Robinson becomes the first African American to play in MLB

Jackie Robinson becomes the first African-American in the major leagues when he plays his first game with the Brooklyn Dodgers. During his first season in the majors, Robinson encountered racism from opposing teams and fans, as well as some of his own teammates. Robinson broke the color barrier in a sport.

British and Canadian troops liberate the Nazi concentration camp Bergen-Belsen

Nazi German concentration camp near the villages of Bergen and Belsen, Germany. British and Canadian forces liberated Bergen-Belsen. They found around sixty thousand prisoners in the camp, most of them seriously ill. Approximately 50,000 people died in camp complex. Thousands of corpses lay unburied on the grounds.

One-hour helicopter flight

Aviation designer Igor Ivor Sikorsky flew his experimental helicopter, the Vought-Sikorsky VS-300, for 65 minutes and 14.5 seconds. It was the first successful single lifting rotor helicopter in the United States. VS-300 was also first successful helicopter with single vertical-plane tail rotor configuration for antitorque.

Insulin becomes generally available

American pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly started to sell insulin for treatment of diabetes. The disease was known to medicine from antiquity. Insulin was discovered by Charles Best and Frederick Banting in 1922. It's still used as a medication for high blood sugar today. Typically it is given by injection under the skin.

1922

The second Olympiad for women is held

The Women's Olympiad was the 2nd international women's sports event, a 7-day multi-sport event organized by Alice Milliat and held in Monte Carlo at the International Sporting Club of Monaco. The tournament was formally called "Deuxiéme Meeting International d'Éducation Physique Féminine". It was also the second of three Women's Olympiads or "Monte Carlo Games" held annually.

Sinking of the RMS Titanic

RMS Titanic sank in the early morning hours of 15 April 1912 in the North Atlantic Ocean, four days into her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City. The largest ocean liner in service at the time, Titanic had an estimated 2,224 people on board when she struck an iceberg at around 23:40 on Sunday, 14 April 1912. Her sinking two hours and forty minutes later at 02:20 ship's time on Monday, 15 April, resulted in the deaths of more than 1,500 people, making it one of the deadliest peacetime maritime disasters in history.

North Korean dictator Kim Il-sung is born

Kim II-sung was born in Kim Sŏng-ju, in Japanese occupied Korea. His family participated in anti-Japanese activities. He joined communist party and various anti-Japanese guerrilla groups in China. From this point, he proceeded to become a significant resistance figure, only to later become President of North Korea.

1896

First modern Olympic games close in Athens, Greece

King George the Great organised a banquet for officials and athletes. During his speech, he made clear that, as far as he was concerned, the Olympics should be held in Athens permanently. The official closing ceremony was held the following Wednesday, after being postponed from Tuesday due to rain.

Soviet First Secretary Nikita Khrushchev is born

Khrushchev was born in the village of Kalinovka, in Kursk Oblast, Russia. He started working in the Donbas area to get more money for the family. He became chairman of worker's council and joined Bolsheviks later during Russian Civil War. He built up his political career and became First Secretary of the Soviet communist party.

The General Electric Company is formed

General Electric was formed through the merger of Edison General Electric Company of Schenectady, New York, and Thomson-Houston Electric Company of Lynn, Massachusetts, with the support of Drexel, Morgan & Co. Around the same time, General Electric's Canadian counterpart, Canadian General Electric, was formed.

1875

Heavyweight boxer James J. Jeffries is born

James Jackson Jeffries was an American professional boxer and World Heavyweight Champion. He was known for his enormous strength and stamina. Using a technique taught to him by his trainer, former Welterweight, and Middleweight Champion Tommy Ryan, Jeffries fought out of a crouch with his left arm extended forward.

President Abraham Lincoln dies nine hours after being shot

Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth shot Abraham Lincoln point-blank in the back of the head in president's box of Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C.. Lincoln was carried to a boardinghouse across the street from the theater, but he never regained consciousness, and died in the early morning hours.

French sociologist Émile Durkheim is born

Durkheim is commonly cited as the principal architect of modern social science. He didn't engage in direct fieldwork but gathered information from anthropologists and explorers. His book Le Suicide is regarded as the first to make a methodological case study of an aspect of society, and shaped sociological thought as we know it today.

City of San Francisco is incorporated

Californian Gold Rush brought an influx of people, raising the population in San Francisco up to 25,000. California was quickly granted statehood and the city incorporated as governing body for the surrounding area. Subsequently, US military built Fort Point at the Golden Gate and fort on Alcatraz Island to secure the bay.

George Frideric Handel's opera 'Serse' premieres

Serse is an opera seria in three acts by George Frideric Handel. It was first performed in London. The Italian libretto was modified by an unknown hand from that by Silvio Stampiglia for an earlier opera of the same name by Giovanni Bononcini.

J. S. Bach's 'St Matthew Passion' premieres in Leipzig

The St Matthew Passion is a Passion, a sacred oratorio written by Johann Sebastian Bach for solo voices, double choir, and double orchestra, with libretto by Picander. It sets chapters 26 and 27 of the Gospel of Matthew to music, with interspersed chorales and arias.

Italian Renaissance polymath Leonardo da Vinci is born

Da Vinci was a scientist and engineer, but also painter, sculptor, architect. His most known inventions are a parachute, helicopter, and tank. He was interested in music, mathematics, engineering, literature, anatomy, geology, astronomy, botany, writing, history, and cartography. Leonardo is often mentioned as an exemplar of the Universal Genius or Renaissance Man.

Anniversaries of the (in)famous

born 1962

Nick Kamen

born 1990

Emma Watson

born 1982

Seth Rogen

born 1959

Emma Thompson