July 3 in Pop Culture History

1035 – William the Conqueror became the Duke of Normandy.

1819 – The Bank of Savings in New York City, an early savings bank in the United States, opened. Many think it was the oldest, but the Philadelphia Saving Fund Society (PSFS), was founded on December 4, 1816, and headquartered in Philadelphia, PA.

1852 – Congress established the United States’ 2nd mint in San Francisco.

1884 – Dow Jones and Company published its first stock average. Three reporters founded the company: Charles Dow, Edward Jones, and Charles Bergstresser.

1886 – The New York Tribune became the first newspaper to use a linotype machine, eliminating typesetting by hand.

1952 – The Congress of the United States approved the Constitution of Puerto Rico.

1969 – Rolling Stone member Brian Jones dies in an accidental drowning (aged 27)

1969 – Lulu, the elephant, went off script on live BBC television’s ‘Blue Peter,’ making the first on-air animal “blooper” we could find.

1971 – Doors frontman Jim Morrison died of an accidental drug overdose (aged 27)

1979 – President Jimmy Carter signed the first directive for secret aid to the opponents of the pro-Soviet regime in Kabul, Afghanistan.

1982 – #1 Hit July 3, 1982 – July 23, 1982: The Human League – Don’t You Want Me

1985 – Back to The Future was released in theaters, featuring the now famous 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 time machine/automobile.

1987 – Adventures in Babysitting and Inner Space debuted in theaters.

1988 – The USS Vincennes shot down Iran Air Flight 655 over the Persian Gulf, killing all 290 people aboard.

1991 – Terminator 2: Judgment Day and The Miracle were released in theaters.

1996 – Independence Day was released in theaters.

2002 – Men in Black II and The Powerpuff Girls Movie debuted in theaters.

2007 – Transformers and License to Wed were released in theaters.

2012 – The Amazing Spider-Man was released in theaters.

2013 – President of Egypt, Mohamed Morsi was overthrown by the Egyptian military.

2013 – Despicable Me 2, Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain and The Lone Ranger debuted in theaters.

#1 Hit July 4, 2020 – August 7, 2020: Rockstar – DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch