Fact 1: The Beatles Ruled the Charts
On June 25, 1967, The Beatles made history by being the first band ever to perform live in a worldwide satellite broadcast. They performed their hit song, "All You Need is Love," on a BBC program called Our World, reaching an estimated 350-400 million people.
Fact 2: A Historic UFO Sighting
June 25, 1947 is said to be the day Kenneth Arnold made his famous UFO sighting, leading to the popularization of the term 'flying saucer.' Arnold claimed to have seen nine shiny, flying objects near Mount Rainier, Washington, moving at extremely high speeds.
Fact 3: Michael Jackson's Tragic Death
On June 25, 2009, the world was shocked by the news of Michael Jackson's unexpected death. Known as the "King of Pop," his passing marked an end to over four decades of iconic music and performances.
Fact 4: A Day for Catfish
In the United States, June 25 is National Catfish Day. President Ronald Reagan designated this day in 1987 to recognize the value of farm-raised catfish. Today, catfish-related activities are held on this day across the country.
Fact 5: The Battle of Bannockburn
The second day of the momentous Battle of Bannockburn happened on June 25, 1314, ensuring Scotland's independence from England. Led by Robert the Bruce, the Scots defeated Edward II's forces, changing the course of their national history.
Fact 6: Release of the Movie "Jaws"
On June 25, 1975, the legendary thriller movie "Jaws" by Steven Spielberg was released in theaters, making people think twice before going into the water. The film became a significant player in establishing the modern Hollywood business model.
Fact 7: Colour Television's Debut
On June 25, 1951, CBS aired the very first commercial color TV broadcast. However, the network did commercial broadcasts in color only on Saturdays until the Federal Communications Commission approved the CBS color system in December of the same year.
Fact 8: The Start of the Korean War
On June 25, 1950, the Korean War began following the invasion of South Korea by North Korea. It lasted for three years and resulted in a stalemate which led to the division of Korea at the 38th parallel.
Fact 9: Venturing to the Moon
On June 25, 1992, the US Air Force Space Command decided to discontinue all operations of their lunar-seismic-detection-network. This network had been in operation since 1969, a product of the Apollo moon missions.
Fact 10: The First NASCAR Race
On June 25, 1950, the first NASCAR race was held at Dayton Speedway, Ohio. Dubbed the “Poor Man's Race,” it attracted many spectators who watched the race in beat-up, old cars on a dusty track.
Fact 11: Arthur Conan Doyle’s Birth
June 25, 1852, marks the birth of acclaimed writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in Scotland. Highly respected as the creator of Sherlock Holmes, his contribution to detective literature is beyond measure.
Fact 12: Vietnam War Broadcast
On this day, June 25, 1965, CBS's evening news expanded from 15 to 30 minutes, becoming the first network to do so. This change was triggered by the significant amount of news coming from the Vietnam War front.
Fact 13: The Barbados Slave Code
June 25, 1636, is marked by the endorsement of the 'Barbados slave code.' This code provided a legal basis for harsh slave treatment and stifled any potential unruliness or rebellion.
Fact 14: The First Female Astronaut
Valentina Tereshkova, the world’s first woman astronaut, landed safely back on Earth on June 25, 1963, after orbiting the Earth 48 times in her spacecraft Vostok 6.
Fact 15: The Siege of Jerusalem
The first crusaders reached Jerusalem and began the historic Siege of Jerusalem on June 25, 1099. This battle was one of the most significant during the First Crusade.
Fact 16: Anthrax Attacks
On June 25, 2002, the FBI ended its investigation of Dr. Steven J. Hatfill's involvement in the 2001 anthrax attacks. Despite the controversies, the case wouldn't be solved until 2008.
Fact 17: A Significant Completion
On June 25, 1938, the Federal minimum wage law was formally established in the United States under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. This marked a key milestone in workers' rights.
Fact 18: The Battle of Little Bighorn
June 25, 1876 saw the infamous Battle of Little Bighorn, termed Custer's Last Stand. This battle occurred between federal troops led by Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer and a coalition of Native American tribes. Custer’s forces were defeated.
Fact 19: The Great Name ‘Elvis’
In 1955, Elvis Presley played two shows at the Municipal Auditorium in New Orleans, Louisiana on June 25. This was part of Presley's early tours before he became a superstar.
Fact 20: Distinguished Science Fiction Writer’s Birthday
Award-winning science fiction author, Eric Frank Russell, was born on June 25, 1905. His works include "Sinister Barrier" and "Wasp." He’s honored as one of the leading sci-fi authors of his time.