July 20 in Pop Culture History

1903 – The Ford Motor Company shipped its first car.

1938 – The United States Department of Justice filed suit in New York City against the motion picture industry charging violations of the Sherman Antitrust Act in regards to the studio system.

1940 – California opened its first freeway, the Arroyo Seco Parkway.

1960 – The Polaris missile was successfully launched from a submarine, the USS George Washington, for the first time.

#1 Hit July 20, 1963 – August 2, 1963: Jan and Dean – Surf City

#1 Hit July 20, 1968 – August 2, 1968: Hugh Masekela – Grazing in the Grass

1969 – In a live transmission from the Moon was viewed by 720 million people around the world, with the landing of Apollo 11, at 10:56 p.m. EDT, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepped onto the surface of the Moon live on international television.

1976 – The American Viking 1 spacecraft successfully landed on Mars.

1977 – The Central Intelligence Agency released documents under the Freedom of Information Act revealing it had engaged in mind control experiments.

1982 – The Provisional IRA detonated two bombs in Hyde Park and Regent’s Park in central London, killing eight soldiers, wounding forty-seven people, and killing seven horses.

1984 – Revenge of the Nerds, Best Defense, Electric Dreams, The Bostonians and The Never Ending Story debuted in theaters.

1990 – Arachnophobia, Navy Seals and The Freshman were released in theaters.

#1 Hit July 20, 1991 – July 26, 1991: EMF – Unbelievable

1997 – The fully restored USS Constitution (a.k.a. Old Ironsides) celebrated its 200th birthday by setting sail again for the first time in 116 years.

2001 – America’s Sweethearts and Ghost World debuted in theaters.

2005 – Criss Angel Mindfreak debuted on A&E.

2007 – I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry and Hairspray were released in theaters.

2012 – James Holmes opened fire at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, killing 12 and injuring 70 others.

2012 – The Dark Knight Rises was released in theaters.

2015 – The United States and Cuba resumed full diplomatic relations after five decades.