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.

1914--Julia Stanley, mother of John Lennon, is born. (There is some disagreement as to the exact date of her birth. Some sources give March 12 as the correct date.)

1915--The Federal Trade Commission begins operation. The US government appointed five commissioners to receive $10,000 each year to regulate commerce and prohibit unlawful trade.

1920--Actor Leo McKern is born.

1926--Jerry Lewis is born Joseph Levitch in New York. Aside from his work with the most popular comedy team of all time, Martin & Lewis (with singer-actor Dean Martin), he also had a successful career as an actor and producer with films such as “The Bellboy” and “The Nutty Professor.” He recorded an album entitled, Jerry Lewis Just Sings, which featured the hit, Rock-A-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody. And last, but certainly not least, he is one of the most famous philanthropists of the 20th century through his work with the Muscular Dystrophy Association, serving as host of their 48-hour annual Labor Day telethon since the early 1960s. His son, Gary Lewis, was leader of the pop group, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, who enjoyed such Top 40 hits as This Diamond Ring and Count Me In.

1945--The US defeats Japan at Iwo Jima.

1955--President Eisenhower upholds the use of atomic weapons in case of war.

1955--The Ballad of Davy Crockett goes to No. 1, sparking the coonskin cap craze for Baby Boomers.

1959--Plans are released for the first US rock and roll package tour to hit Europe. Performers include Conway Twitty, Duane Eddy, Bobby Darin, Dale Hawkins, The Poni Tails, and guest star Cliff Richard. The event begins April 22 in London.

1961--The Beatles perform at the Cavern Club -- a lunchtime show.

1962--The Beatles perform at the Cavern Club -- a night performance.

1963--Instead of moving straight from Bristol to Sheffield with the Chris Montez / Tommy Roe tour, The Beatles detour to Broadcasting House in London for a live radio appearance. They had been forced to cancel a March 11 recording date for the BBC radio program "Saturday Club," so they perform six songs that are inserted live into the pre-recorded radio broadcast. The songs: I Saw Her Standing There, Misery, Too Much Monkey Business, I'm Talking About You, Please Please Me, and The Hippy Hippy Shake. After the broadcast, The Beatles have to hurry north 158 miles to Sheffield for the night's scheduled performance.

1963--Peter, Paul and Mary released the single, Puff the Magic Dragon. Through the years, controversy has continually surrounded the song. It was banned by several radio stations, whose management thought that the song was about smoking marijuana. The group denied this, stating: “It’s about a magic dragon named Puff.” Puff the Magic Dragon was their third single and it went to #2 on the pop charts.

1964--US release of The Beatles' single, Can't Buy Me Love / You Can't Do That (Capitol). 10 weeks on Billboard chart; highest position #1. Advanced orders are over one-and-a-half million. The song debuts at No. 1.

1964--Filming continues for "A Hard Day's Night." Only Ringo Starr and Wilfrid Brambell (Paul's "grandfather") act on this day, filming the scene where Brambell persuades Ringo to sneak out on his own.

1965--The Beatles continue filming in Austria for their second movie, "Help!" Completion of the "ski lift" segment.

1968--Robert F. Kennedy announces his US Presidential campaign.

1969--John and Yoko have decided to get married, but not in Britain. Their first choice is to have the ceremony performed on a cross-channel ferry, but they are denied permission to board the “Dragon” at Southhampton Docks because of “inconsistencies in their passports.” Instead, they fly to Paris, where they spend four days planning their next move.

1971--The Beatles receive a Grammy Award for the Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special (for the year 1970), for "Let It Be."

1972--John Lennon receives a deportation order to leave the United States; he appeals immediately. He and Yoko are able to persuade the US Immigration authorities to let them stay for another four weeks. Outside the court, John says: “We want to stay permanently because New York is the center of the earth; and also because we want to find Yoko’s daughter, Kyoko.”

1984--UK release of the John Lennon / Yoko Ono single Borrowed Time / Your Hands in a limited edition of 10,000 copies that included a color foldout poster sleeve.

1985--People magazine lists the top 57 money-making show-biz stars. At the top is Paul McCartney, former Beatle and leader of the group, Wings, whose music empire is said to be worth $500 million.

1986--Yoko Ono’s world tour continues with a performance in Vienna, Austria.

1990--Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon arrive at Heathrow Airport for a two-week stay in London. They take up residence at the Mayfair Hotel on Stratten Street.

1998--After long speculation, George Martin officially retires, and to honor his achievements he throws a party this evening at his AIR Studios in London. Among the guest are Ringo and his wife, Barbara, Cilla Black, and Rolf Harris. Also today, Echo Records in the UK releases the album George Martin: In My Life.

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