June 20 in Pop Culture History

1214 – The University of Oxford received its Royal Charter.

1782 – Congress adopted the Great Seal of the United States, with the Bald Eagle clutching an olive branch and thirteen arrows.

1837 – Queen Victoria succeeded to the British throne.

1840 – Samuel Morse received the telegraph patent (#1647).

1893 – Lizzie Borden was acquitted of the murders of her father and stepmother.

1945 – The United States Secretary of State approved the transfer of Wernher von Braun (and other Nazi rocket scientists) to America.

1948 – Toast of the Town, a variety series hosted by Ed Sullivan, premiered on CBS. It was later renamed The Ed Sullivan Show.

1963 – The United States and the Soviet Union agreed to establish a “hot line” communication system between the two nations.

1975 – Hollywood’s first major summer ‘must see’ blockbuster, Jaws, opened in theaters.

#1 Hit June 20, 1981 – July 24, 1981: Stars on 45 – Medley: Intro Venus / Sugar Sugar / No Reply / I’ll Be Back / Drive My Car / Do You Want to Know a Secret / We Can Work It Out / I Should Have Known Better / Nowhere Man / You’re Going to Lose That Girl / Stars on 45

1986 – The Karate Kid Part II and Legal Eagles were released in theaters

#1 Hit June 20, 1987 – June 26, 1987: Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam – Head to Toe

#1 Hit June 20, 1992 – July 3, 1992: Mariah Carey – I’ll Be There

1997 – My Best Friend’s Wedding and Batman And Robin debuted in theaters

2003 – From Justin to Kelly and Hulk were released in theaters

2008 – Kit Kittredge: An American Girl and The Love Guru debuted in theaters

2014 – Jersey Boys was released in theaters