On April 26, 1956, the first Godzilla movie, “Godzilla, King of the Monsters,” premiered in New York.
In 1969, the band Humble Pie was formed.
In 1977, the New York disco Studio 54 opened. It fast became the “in” place to be for celebrities.
In 1982, singer Rod Stewart was mugged in Los Angeles in broad daylight. He was not hurt.
Also in 1982, Joe Strummer of The Clash disappeared for three weeks, forcing the band to cancel their tour of the UK. Strummer later explained that he had doubts about his career, so he went to Paris and had been “living like a bum.”
In 1984, jazz great Count Basie died of cancer at age 80. He’s best remembered for songs like “Jumpin’ At The Woodside” and “One O’Clock Jump.”
In 1991, “General Hospital” star Emily McLaughlin died of cancer.
In 1989, actor Lucille Ball died of an aortic rupture in Los Angeles at age 77.
In 1995, singer Bobby Brown was charged with aggravated assault and disorderly conduct following a nightclub fight in Orlando, Florida.
In 2013, country singer George Jones died at the age of 81. He was in the middle of a farewell tour.
Today’s Birthdays: Actor-comedian Carol Burnett is 91. Guitarist-songwriter Duane Eddy is 86. Singer Maurice Williams of Maurice and the Zodiacs is 86. Actor Giancarlo Esposito (“Better Call Saul,” ″Breaking Bad”) is 66. Drummer Roger Taylor of Duran Duran is 64. Actor Joan Chen (“Twin Peaks”) is 63. Drummer Chris Mars of The Replacements is 63. Actor-singer Michael Damian is 62. Actor Jet Li is 61. Guitarist Jimmy Stafford (Train) is 60. Actor-comedian Kevin James (“Paul Blart: Mall Cop,” ″The King of Queens”) is 59. Keyboardist Jeff Huskins of Little Texas is 58. Actor Marianne Jean-Baptiste (film’s “Secrets and Lies”) is 57. Fiddler Joe Caverlee of Yankee Grey is 56. Singer T-Boz of TLC is 54. Actor Shondrella Avery (“Napoleon Dynamite”) is 53. Bassist Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts is 53. Actor Simbi Kali (“3rd Rock From The Sun”) is 53. Bassist Michael Jeffers of Pinmonkey is 52. Drummer Jose Pasillas of Incubus is 48. Actor Jason Earles (“Hannah Montana”) is 47. Actor Leonard Earl Howze (“Barbershop”) is 47. Actor Amin Joseph (“Snowfall”) is 47. Actor Tom Welling (“Smallville”) is 47. Actor Pablo Schreiber (“Orange is the New Black,” ″Weeds”) is 46. Actor Nyambi Nyambi (“The Good Fight,” “Mike and Molly”) is 45. Actor Jordana Brewster (“The Fast and The Furious”) is 44. Actor Stana Katic (“Castle”) is 44. Actor Marnette Patterson (“Something So Right”) is 44. Actor Channing Tatum (“Magic Mike, “Step Up”) is 44. Actor Emily Wickersham (“NCIS”) is 40. Actor Aaron Meeks (”Soul Food”) is 38. Musician James Sunderland of Frenship is 37.
First Baptist Church in Grove City went through a major sanctuary remodeling project last year. The project began last summer and wrapped up this past winter.
Lead Pastor Aaron VanDuinen says the 1960s paneling was removed, new carpet was installed, new paint was applied, new seats were installed, and technology updates were made. He says worship services are held on Sundays at 10 a.m. and everyone is welcome.
Pastor VanDuinen says First Baptist hired a youth pastor in December of 2022 – Andrew Hallin – and he’s also been working with the summer rec program in Grove City. He says the young people will have a Young Makers Fair on the church grounds on May 31st from 3-to-6 p.m.
Pastor VanDuinen says First Baptist has Wholly Grounds Coffee House on the 4th Friday of each month from 7-to-9 p.m. with music, games and snacks – look on Facebook for any cancellation information. He says a craft and bake sale will be held at First Baptist on May 11th from 10-to-1 and the Steve Orsatti “Noah Flood” film will be shown at the church on May 19th at 6 p.m. The church is located on North 5th Street in Grove City. For more information, call 857-2495.
1926 – Germany and Russia sign neutrality peace treaty
1931 – Lou Gehrig hits a HR but is called out for passing a runner, mistake costs him AL home run crown; he and Babe Ruth tie for season
1986 – France performs nuclear test
1991 – Soccer star Diego Maradona, suspended for using cocaine, arrested in Argentina for possession and distribution of illegal narcotics
1993 – NBC announces Conan O’Brien to replace David Letterman on “Late Night”
2022 – World Bank warns the war in Ukraine will cause the “largest commodity shock” since the 1970s, with large economic and humanitarian effects
1538 – Gian Paolo Lomazzo, Italian painter and poet (Trattato), born in Milan (d. 1600)
1917 – Sal Maglie, American baseball pitcher (World Series 1954; MLB All Star 1951, 52; NY Giants; no-hitter 1956 Cleveland Indians), born in Niagara Falls, New York (d. 1992)
1926 – Michael Mathias Prechtl, German illustrator, born in Amberg, Bavaria (d. 2003)
1930 – Roger Moens, Belgian middle distance runner (800m world record 1955), born in Aalst, Belgium
1931 – Bernie Brillstein, American talent agent, manager and producer (The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd), born in Manhattan, New York (d. 2008)
1977 – Kosuke Fukudome, Japanese baseball player (Hanshin Tigers, Chicago Cubs), born in Osaki, Kagoshima, Japan
1476 – Simonetta Vespucci, Italian noblewoman and inspiration of Botticelli, dies at 23
1785 – Karl Siegmund von Seckendorff, German composer, dies at 40
1956 – Edward Arnold, American actor (Mr Smith Goes to Washington), dies at 66
1982 – Celia Johnson, British actress (Jean Brodie), dies of stroke at 73
1994 – Manuel Enríquez, Mexican composer, dies at 67
2017 – Raj Bagri, Indian-British merchant in metal, dies at 86
On April 25, 1968, The Beatles refused to perform for the Queen of England, saying regardless of the cause, they didn’t do benefits.
In 1977, Elvis Presley made what would be the last recordings of his life, at a concert in Saginaw, Michigan. Three songs appeared in the posthumously released album “Moody Blue.”
In 1979, the film “Rock and Roll High School” featuring The Ramones premiered in Los Angeles.
In 1981, the band Wings broke up after guitarist Denny Laine quit the group.
In 1990, tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordon died in Philadelphia of kidney failure at the age of 67. He helped define the be-bop movement, performing with such artists as Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie.
Also in 1990, George Strait was named entertainer of the year at the 25th annual Academy of Country Music Awards.
In 1995, actor-dancer Ginger Rogers died in Rancho Mirage, California. She was 83.
In 2002, musician Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes of TLC was killed in a car crash in Honduras. She was 30.
In 2021, Chloe Zhao became the first woman of color and the second woman ever to win the best director award at the Oscars for her work on “Nomadland.” Anthony Hopkins, at age 83, became the oldest actor to win an Oscar. He won for his work on “The Father.”
Today’s Birthdays: Actor Al Pacino is 84. Bassist Stu Cook of Creedence Clearwater Revisited is 79. Actor Talia Shire is 79. Singer Bjorn Ulvaeus of ABBA is 79. Actor Jeffrey DeMunn (“The Green Mile”) is 77. Country singer-songwriter Rob Crosby is 70. Actor Hank Azaria (“The Simpsons”) is 60. Singer Andy Bell of Erasure is 60. Bassist Eric Avery (Jane’s Addiction) is 59. Guitarist Rory Feek of Joey and Rory is 59. Former “Early Show” host Jane Clayson is 57. Actor Gina Torres (“I Think I Love My Wife”) is 55. Actor Renee Zellweger is 55. Actor Jason Lee (“My Name Is Earl,” ″Almost Famous”) is 54. Actor Jason Wiles (“Third Watch”) is 54. Actor Emily Bergl (“Southland”) is 49. Actor Marguerite Moreau (“The O.C.,” ″Life As We Know It”) is 47. Singer Jacob Underwood (O-Town) is 44. Actor Allisyn Snyder (“A.P. Bio,” “Sonny With A Chance”) is 28. Actor Jayden Rey (“The Conners”) is 15.
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