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April Fool’s Day became popular in England in the early 1700s. Nixon banned cigarette advertising in 1970, Hitler was sent to prison in 1924, and the BBC aired a spoof documentary about spaghetti trees in 1957. Cincinnati paid its firefighters a salary in 1853, and the internal combustion engine was patented in 1826. Apple was founded in 1976, the Netherlands legalized same-sex marriage in 2001, and the RAF was established in 1918. Reagan made the first major speech on AIDS in 1987.
April fools jokes were popularized. (c. 1700) While no one is sure exactly when April Fool’s Day started, the tradition of April Fool’s Day became popular in England in the early 1700’s. There is speculation that the whole thing started when nations have changed from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar, with those who have forgotten or have not heard of the change as “fools”.
A bill banning cigarette advertising on radio and TV was signed into law by President Richard Nixon. (1970) Although Nixon was an avid pipe smoker himself, he signed the bill into law at the insistence of public health advocates. Although studies had been published as early as 1939 detailing the effects smoking had on health, it was not until the late 1960s that the issue really came to the fore of popular consciousness.
Hitler was sent to prison. (1924) Hitler was convicted of an attempted coup known as the Beer Hall Putsch, but the trial brought him much good publicity. He spent nine months in prison, during which he wrote Mein Kampf, and came out more powerful than ever.
The BBC hosted a spoof documentary about spaghetti trees. (1957) The documentary, which detailed family traditions of spaghetti harvesting in Switzerland, earned mixed reviews. Though many were enraged at a news agency reporting fake news, others were simply curious about where to get their own spaghetti trees.
Cincinnati, Ohio became the first city in the United States to pay its firefighters a regular salary. (1853) The city was the first to have an established fire department, and others followed suit, although early firefighters weren’t always about helping people. Many gang wars have developed over the turf and responsibilities of fire crews, particularly in New York City.
The internal combustion engine has been patented. (1826) Although other versions of the engine had existed before, the first modern internal combustion engine was patented by Samuel Morey on this day. The machine received a lukewarm reception, but became popular after his death when another inventor, Charles Edgar Duryea, made the first gas engine.
Apple, Inc. is founded (1976) The first Apple computers were hand-built by one of the founders. The models sold for $666.66 – over $2,500 US Dollars (USD) in 2010 dollars.
The Netherlands has legalized same-sex marriage. (2001) Although same-sex marriages were recognized and performed in several regions prior to this, the Netherlands was the first country to allow it as a nation. As of 2010, same-sex marriages were still only allowed in 10 other countries besides the Netherlands.
The British Royal Air Force (RAF) is established. (1918) Just seven years after the Wright brothers invented the aircraft, the RAF was formed. By November 1918, they had over 20,000 aircraft and approximately 300,000 pilots and crew.
President Reagan made the first major speech on AIDS. (1987) The topic of AIDS was still largely taboo, and had only been officially recognized as a disease in 1981. Reagan gave a speech declaring AIDS “public health enemy number one” on this day.
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