History offers
a chance
to truly
understand
how the past
impacts the now.

Follow our
daily timelime
of historical
events to
discover the
role The Beatles
played in changing
the modern world.

1878--Thomas Edison receives a patent for his phonograph.

1906--W. K. Kellogg and Charles D. Bolin incorporate the Toasted Corn Flake Company, in Battle Creek, Michigan.

1913--The first prize is inserted into a Cracker Jack box.

1943--Cass Elliot, of The Mamas and The Papas, is born.

1958--Carl Perkins, whose Blue Suede Shoes was one of the biggests hits of 1957, leaves Sun Records to become Columbia's first rockabilly artist. Two weeks later, Columbia releases Perkins' first single for his new label, Pink Pedal Pushers.

1961--The Beatles perform at the Casbah Coffee Club, West Derby, Liverpool.

1962--The Beatles perform at the Cavern Club -- a lunchtime show.

1963--The Beatles perform a night show at the Cavern Club, Liverpool. The supporting act is Lee Curtis and the All-Stars, the group for which Pete Best is drummer. This is the last time that any of The Beatles will see Pete Best in person.

1964--One-half ton of Beatle wigs are sent to the US.

1965--The Beatles in the recording studio (Studio Two, EMI Studios, London). John Lennon's song, You're Going To Lose That Girl, is recorded in one day (two basic takes plus overdubs). An unsuccessful attempt is made on March 30 to improve the song, and the track completed this day is the one released on the Help! album.

1967--John Lennon and Ringo Starr turn up to see Chuck Berry play London's Saville Theatre. Also on the bill are Del Shannon, The Canadians, and Hamilton and the Movement.

1970--The Plastic Ono Band appears on "Top of the Pops," in a pre-taped performance of Instant Karma!

1972--Paul McCartney releases Give Ireland Back to the Irish, his commentary about the Britain-Ireland conflict and it is immediately banned by the BBC. The notoriety the song receives from the banning only increases its popularity in England, where it goes to the top twenty.

1972--Badfinger's Straight Up LP enters the Billboard charts. The album was produced by George Harrison and Todd Rundgren and featured the top-5 hit Day After Day.

1972--Harry Nilsson starts a four week run at No. 1 on the US singles chart with his version of Badfinger's Without You.

1977--Ringo Starr (with Harry Nilsson) is a guest presenter at the Grammy Awards ceremony in the US.

1978--Broadcast on US television of a special about The Beatles, titled "All You Need Is Love."

1979--Yoko Ono hires Fred Seaman as John Lennon’s personal assistant and companion. Over the next 22 months of John’s life, Seaman becomes his closest daily confidant outside the immediate family.

1980--Due to some of the worst storms in American history, emergency evacuation workers desperately try to contact George Harrison in London, to tell him that his home in Beverly Green, off the coast of Malibu, is threatening to break away from its hillside and smash into the houses below.

1987--Neo-bluesman Taj Mahal plays North Hollywood's Palomino Club. By the end of the gig, he's been joined onstage by George Harrison, Bob Dylan, John Fogerty, and Jesse Ed Davis.

1987--The first anti-smoking ad airs on American TV, featuring actor Yul Brynner.

1990--US re-release of John Lennon posthumous compilation album, The John Lennon Collection, on CD (Capitol). Added are four songs not on the vinyl LP version: Happy Xmas (War Is Over), Stand by Me, Move Over Ms. L, and Cold Turkey.

For more day-by-day history go to HistoryUnlimited.net