July 31 in Pop Culture History

781 – The oldest recorded eruption of Mount Fuji in Japan.

1492 – Jews were expelled from Spain when the Alhambra Decree took effect.

1790 – The first US patent (X000001) was issued to inventor Samuel Hopkins for a potash process.

1930 – The radio mystery program The Shadow aired for the first time.

1931 – New York television station W2XAB (now known as WCBS) began broadcasting.

1948 – Idlewild Field in New York, New York International Airport (now John F. Kennedy International Airport) was dedicated.

1961 – At Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, the first All-Star Game tie in Major League Baseball history happened after the game was stopped in the ninth inning because of rain.

#1 Hit July 31, 1971 – August 6, 1971: James Taylor – You’ve Got a Friend

1987 – The Living Daylights, Maid to Order, The Wolf at the Door and The Lost Boys debuted in theaters.

1991 – Hot Shots! was released in theaters.

1992 – Death Becomes Her, Enchanted April, Bebe’s Kids, The Panama Deception and Buffy the Vampire Slayer debuted in theaters.

1995 – The Walt Disney Company announced their plans to purchase both ABC and ESPN

1998 – The Parent Trap, The Negotiator and Ever After: A Cinderella Story were released in theaters.

#1 Hit July 31, 1999 – September 3, 1999: Christina Aguilera – Genie In A Bottle

2003 – Avenue Q (Broadway Musical) Opened on July 31, 2003 and closed on September 13, 2009

2006 – Cuba’s Fidel Castro handed over power to his brother, Raul Castro.

2009 – Funny People and Aliens in the Attic debuted in theaters.

#1 Hit July 31, 2010 – September 17, 2010: Eminem featuring Rihanna – Love the Way You Lie

2013 – The Smurfs 2 was released in theaters.

2015 – Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation and Vacation debuted in theaters.

2016 – Sharknado: The 4th Awakens aired on SyFy.

#1 Hit July 31, 2021 – August 13, 2021: Butter – BTS