May 18 in Pop Culture History

1910 – The Earth passes through the tail of Halley’s Comet.

1926 – In one of the first Media Frenzy of Popular Culture, Evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson disappeared while visiting a Venice, California beach.

1946 – A UFO, with living creatures inside, was reported by Gosta Carlsson in Sweden.

1952 – Professor Willard F. Libby determined the age of Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain, England, at 1848 BC, give or take 275 years.

1958 – Team Lotus made its Formula One debut in the Monaco Grand Prix.

1959 # 1 Hit May 18, 1959 – May 31, 1959: Wilbert Harrison – Kansas City

1963 # 1 Hit May 18, 1963 – May 31, 1963: Jimmy Soul – If You Wanna Be Happy

1968 # 1 Hit May 18, 1968 – May 3, 1968: Archie Bell & the Drells – Tighten Up

1974 # 1 Hit May 18, 1974 – June 7, 1974: Ray Stevens – The Streak

1980 (Volcano Eruption) Mount St. Helens in Washington erupted with a 5.1 magnitude, causing a massive avalanche and killing 57 people. David Johnson was a volcanologist studying Mt. St. Helens from 6 miles away when it erupted. He made a transmission stating: “Vancouver! Vancouver! This is it!” as the volcano erupted. The transmission went dead at this point, and his body was never recovered.

1980 – Ian Curtis of the post-punk band Joy Division committed suicide. The remaining members went on to form New Order.

1985 # 1 Hit May 18, 1985 – May 24, 1985: Simple Minds – Don’t You (Forget About Me)

1991 # 1 Hit May 18, 1991 – May 24, 1991: Hi-Five – I Like the Way (The Kissing Game)

1996 # 1 Hit May 18, 1996 – July 12, 1996: Bone Thugs-N-Harmony – Tha Crossroads

1998 – Murphy Brown TV series ended on CBS.

2001 – Based on William Steig’s 1990 children’s book, Shrek was released in movie theaters.

2013 # 1 Hit May 18, 2013 – June 21, 2013: Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Ray Dalton – Can’t Hold Us