June in History

1980

Culture

CNN goes on the air as the first 24-hour television news channel.

Many doubted that viewers wanted news all day, but the network grew into a global brand. Its live coverage of breaking events changed how the world follows the news.

Sources: Wikipedia — CNN · Wikidata — Q48340

1953

Culture

Elizabeth II is crowned at Westminster Abbey in the first coronation televised in full.

An estimated 27 million people in Britain watched the ceremony on television, and millions more listened by radio. The broadcast helped television become a mass medium, and the new queen went on to become Britain's longest-reigning monarch.

Sources: Wikipedia — Coronation of Elizabeth II · Wikidata — Q3797766

2006

Society

Montenegro's parliament declares independence, ending its union with Serbia.

Montenegro had been independent in the 19th century before joining Yugoslavia. Its peaceful separation from Serbia was accepted by Belgrade, and the country has since joined NATO and applied to join the European Union.

Sources: Wikipedia — Montenegro · Wikidata — Q236

1989

Society

Poland holds partly free elections in which Solidarity wins a landslide, starting the end of communism in Eastern Europe.

The results led to the first non-communist-led government in the Eastern Bloc, with Tadeusz Mazowiecki as prime minister. Change spread quickly to Hungary, East Germany, Czechoslovakia and beyond within months.

Sources: Wikipedia — 1989 Polish parliamentary election · Wikidata — Q2355470

1764

Science

Charles Messier records the Trifid Nebula, a glowing cloud of gas split by dark lanes, in his catalogue.

Messier listed the nebula as M20 while compiling his famous catalogue of non-comets. Later telescopes showed it is a star-forming region combining glowing, reflecting and dark clouds of gas and dust.

Meanwhile in art: Rococo, Neoclassicism

Sources: Wikipedia — Trifid Nebula · Wikidata — Q11377

1946

Sports

The Basketball Association of America is founded in New York, the league that becomes the NBA.

The Basketball Association of America was founded in 1946 and merged with the National Basketball League in 1949 to form the NBA, which counts 1946 as its own founding year.

Sources: Wikipedia — National Basketball Association · Wikidata — Q155223

1985

Culture

The adventure film The Goonies opens in American cinemas.

The Goonies was released in 1985, directed by Richard Donner from a story by Steven Spielberg. It became a cult classic, and fans still visit its filming locations in Astoria.

Sources: Wikipedia — The Goonies · Wikidata — Q636043

1984

Culture

The comedy Ghostbusters opens in American cinemas.

Ghostbusters was released in 1984 and became one of the highest-grossing comedies of its time. Its climax features the giant Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, and Ray Parker Jr.'s theme song topped the US charts.

Sources: Wikipedia — Ghostbusters · Wikidata — Q108745

1934

Culture

Donald Duck makes his screen debut in the Disney cartoon The Wise Little Hen.

Donald had only a small role, but his squawking personality made him an instant favorite. He soon starred in his own cartoons, rivaled Mickey Mouse in popularity and has appeared in more films than any other Disney character.

Meanwhile in art: Early Modernism

Sources: Wikipedia — The Wise Little Hen · Wikidata — Q1218820

1829

Sports

Oxford beats Cambridge in the first University Boat Race, rowed at Henley-on-Thames.

Oxford won the first race easily, beginning one of the oldest rivalries in sport. The Boat Race later moved to a course between Putney and Mortlake in London, where it draws large crowds along the riverbanks.

Meanwhile in art: Neoclassicism, Romanticism

Sources: Wikipedia — The Boat Race 1829 · Wikidata — Q16740184

1982

Culture

Steven Spielberg's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial opens in American cinemas.

E.T. was released in 1982 and became the highest-grossing film of all time until Jurassic Park in 1993. It won four Oscars, including one for John Williams's score.

Sources: Wikipedia — E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial · Wikidata — Q11621

1898

Society

Emilio Aguinaldo proclaims Philippine independence from Spain at his home in Kawit, Cavite.

The declaration was not recognized by Spain or the United States, which took control of the islands soon after. The Philippines gained full independence decades later, and this date is now celebrated as its Independence Day.

Meanwhile in art: Post-Impressionism

Sources: Wikipedia — Philippine Declaration of Independence · Wikidata — Q69772

1966

Society

The US Supreme Court rules in Miranda v. Arizona that police must tell suspects of their rights.

Miranda v. Arizona was decided 5–4 in 1966. The Miranda warning became part of American policing and is familiar worldwide from crime films and television.

Sources: Wikipedia — Miranda v. Arizona · Wikidata — Q1642249

1985

Society

Five European countries sign the Schengen Agreement on a riverboat, paving the way for border-free travel.

Belgium, France, West Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands signed the original agreement. The Schengen Area now covers most of Europe, letting hundreds of millions of people cross internal borders without passport checks.

Sources: Wikipedia — Schengen Agreement · Wikidata — Q2822795

1954

Sports

UEFA, the governing body of European football, is founded in Basel, Switzerland.

UEFA was founded in 1954, during the World Cup in Switzerland. It launched the European Cup in 1955 and the European Nations' Cup, now the European Championship, in 1960.

Sources: Wikipedia — UEFA · Wikidata — Q35572

1963

Exploration

Valentina Tereshkova launches aboard Vostok 6, becoming the first woman in space.

Tereshkova was chosen from hundreds of applicants partly for her parachuting skills, since Vostok pilots ejected before landing. Her flight made her a global celebrity, and it would be nearly two decades before another woman flew in space.

Sources: Wikipedia — Vostok 6 · Wikidata — Q269668

1985

Exploration

Space Shuttle Discovery launches STS-51-G, with the first Arab and Muslim astronaut aboard.

STS-51-G flew in 1985 with crew members from the US, France and Saudi Arabia. Sultan bin Salman became the first Arab, first Muslim and first royal to fly in space.

Sources: Wikipedia — STS-51-G · Wikidata — Q793632

1983

Exploration

Sally Ride launches aboard the space shuttle Challenger, becoming the first American woman in space.

Ride was selected from thousands of applicants and later flew a second shuttle mission. After leaving NASA she became a professor and founded a company to encourage girls and young people to study science.

Sources: Wikipedia — STS-7 · Wikidata — Q734688

1992

Culture

Tim Burton's Batman Returns opens in American cinemas.

Batman Returns was released in 1992 and was a hit, but its dark tone worried the studio and toy partners. The next film, Batman Forever, was made much lighter.

Sources: Wikipedia — Batman Returns · Wikidata — Q189054

1948

Culture

Ed Sullivan's Sunday-night variety show, first called Toast of the Town, premieres on CBS.

The Ed Sullivan Show ran on CBS from 1948 to 1971. The Beatles' first appearance in February 1964 was watched by about 73 million people.

Sources: Wikipedia — The Ed Sullivan Show · Wikidata — Q2081494

1970

Sports

Brazil beat Italy 4-1 in Mexico City to win the World Cup for a record third time.

The victory let Brazil keep the Jules Rimet Trophy for good. The tournament was the first World Cup broadcast in color, and this Brazil side is often called one of the greatest football teams ever.

Sources: Wikipedia — 1970 FIFA World Cup final · Wikidata — Q1069912

1986

Sports

Diego Maradona scores the "Hand of God" goal and the "Goal of the Century" as Argentina beat England 2–1.

Argentina beat England 2–1 at the Azteca Stadium in 1986 and went on to win the World Cup. Maradona said the first goal was scored "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God."

Sources: Wikipedia — Argentina v England (1986 FIFA World Cup) · Wikidata — Q4493724

1894

Sports

The International Olympic Committee is founded at the Sorbonne in Paris, reviving the Olympic Games.

The committee set out to hold Olympic Games every four years in different cities. The date is celebrated as Olympic Day, and the IOC now oversees both the Summer and Winter Games.

Meanwhile in art: Post-Impressionism

Sources: Wikipedia — International Olympic Committee · Wikidata — Q40970

1947

Society

Pilot Kenneth Arnold reports nine shining objects over Mount Rainier, and newspapers coin the term "flying saucer."

Kenneth Arnold's 1947 report was the first widely publicised UFO sighting in the US. It set off a wave of reports that summer, including the Roswell story a few weeks later.

Sources: Wikipedia — Kenneth Arnold UFO sighting · Wikidata — Q4424090

1910

Culture

Stravinsky's ballet The Firebird premieres at the Paris Opéra, making the young composer famous.

The Firebird was Stravinsky's first major commission and an instant triumph. Its success led to further collaborations with the Ballets Russes, including Petrushka and The Rite of Spring.

Meanwhile in art: Post-Impressionism, Early Modernism

Sources: Wikipedia — The Firebird · Wikidata — Q844790

1997

Culture

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is published in the UK, launching J. K. Rowling's series.

Several publishers turned the manuscript down before Bloomsbury accepted it. The seven-book series sold hundreds of millions of copies, was translated into dozens of languages and inspired a blockbuster film franchise.

Sources: Wikipedia — Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone · Wikidata — Q43361

2008

Culture

Pixar's WALL-E, about a lonely trash-compacting robot, opens in US cinemas.

WALL-E was released in 2008 and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. It is often praised as one of the best animated films ever made.

Sources: Wikipedia — WALL-E · Wikidata — Q104905

1919

Society

The Treaty of Versailles is signed in the Hall of Mirrors, formally ending the First World War with Germany.

The treaty set out territorial changes, reparations and the League of Nations. Its harsh terms were debated for decades, but it also established the International Labour Organization and new principles for international cooperation.

Meanwhile in art: Early Modernism

Sources: Wikipedia — Treaty of Versailles · Wikidata — Q8736

1958

Sports

Brazil beat hosts Sweden 5-2 to win their first World Cup, with a young Pelé scoring twice.

Brazil's flowing attacking play won worldwide admiration, and Pelé, then only 17, became a global star. It remains the only time a South American team has won the World Cup in Europe. Pelé went on to win two more World Cups.

Sources: Wikipedia — 1958 FIFA World Cup final · Wikidata — Q1078991

1973

Nature

A long total solar eclipse crosses Africa, and a Concorde prototype chases it for 74 minutes of totality.

The total solar eclipse of 1973 lasted up to seven minutes on the ground. By flying with the shadow at twice the speed of sound, Concorde 001 gave its scientists 74 minutes of totality.

Sources: Wikipedia — Solar eclipse of June 30, 1973 · Wikidata — Q1107678