January 26 in Pop Culture History

1564 – The Council of Trent issued its conclusions in the Tridentinum, establishing a distinction between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism.

1838 – Tennessee became the 1st state to prohibit alcohol.

1858 – The Wedding March by Felix Mendelssohn was played at the marriage of Queen Victoria’s daughter, Victoria, and Friedrich of Prussia.

1906 – The world’s steam car land speed record was set at 127.7 mph (205.5 km/h) by Fred Marriot, racing at Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.A. in his canoe-shaped Stanley Steamer Rocket. The record stood until 2009.

1912 – Jim Thorpe relinquished his 1912 Olympic medals for being a professional athlete. He was paid for playing two seasons of semi-professional baseball before competing in the Olympics, thus violating the amateur rules at that time. His Olympic medals were reinstated posthumously by an act of Congress in 1983.

1915 – The Rocky Mountain National Park was established.

1963 – #1 Hit January 26, 1963 – February 8, 1963: The Rooftop Singers – Walk Right In

1966 – The Beaumont Children (ages 9, 7, and 4) disappeared from Glenelg Beach near Adelaide, South Australia.

1974 – #1 Hit January 26, 1974 – February 1, 1974: Ringo Starr – You’re Sixteen

1979 – The Dukes of Hazzard debuted on CBS

1980 – NHL – The New York Islanders and Hartford Whalers played a NHL penalty-free game.

1988 – The Phantom of the Opera (Broadway Musical) Opened on January 26, 1988

1991 – #1 Hit January 26, 1991 – February 8, 1991: Surface – The First Time

2001 – The Wedding Planner debuted in theaters.

2009 –  Thriller – Live (East End revival) Opened on January 26, 2009