What happened in April 1966?
The top front-page story of each day in April 1966, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Apr 1🌍 Pollution Report Urges Action – A study highlights the urgent need for waste re-use to combat escalating pollution levels globally.
- Apr 2📈 Stocks Advance Significantly – Stocks surge as trading volume rises to 9.05 million, with the Dow Index closing at 931.29, reflecting market strength.
- Apr 3🏛️ Athens Faces Changes – Part of Athens' historic Plaka quarter may be demolished to extend excavations of the ancient Agora.
- Apr 4🌌 Soviet Satellite Orbiting Moon – A Soviet satellite is successfully orbiting the Moon, playing 'Internationale' for the 23rd Party Congress.
- Apr 5📈 Copper Shares Advance – Copper shares register an advance on the London Stock Market amid ongoing doubts about steel nationalization.
- Apr 6🖼️ U.N. Dedicates Portrait – The United Nations dedicates a portrait of Dag Hammarskjöld, adding to its growing collection of art.
- Apr 7🏌️ Nicklaus Masters Favorite – Jack Nicklaus is the reluctant favorite as the Masters Golf Tournament begins today at Augusta with 103 players.
- Apr 8⛵ Stormvogel Reaches Manila – The 73-foot ketch, Stormvogel, becomes the first craft to finish in the third Hong Kong-Manila China Sea race.
- Apr 9🔭 Astronomical Observatory Launched – The U.S. successfully puts an astronomical observatory into orbit, equipped with 10 telescopes to scan the universe for a year.
- Apr 10🔭 Telescopes Probe Universe – New telescopes in space will explore the secrets of the universe, expanding our understanding of astronomy and cosmic phenomena.
- Apr 11📖 Pope Urges Rebirth – Pope calls for a 'rebirth of mankind' to combat totalitarian ideologies, emphasizing the need for unity and hope.
- Apr 12🌍 Cardinal Beran Visits U.S – Cardinal Beran arrives in the U.S. for an 18-day tour, greeted by Spellman after years as a prisoner.
- Apr 13✈️ Supersonic Airliner Competition – The final phase of the supersonic airliner competition is approaching, with Lockheed and Boeing designs under consideration.
- Apr 14🛩️ Iraq's President Dies – Iraq's President Abdul Salam Arif dies in a plane crash near Basra, leading to significant political implications in the region.
- Apr 15🌸 Japanese Flower-Viewing Party – Japanese Premier hosts a flower-viewing party in Tokyo, attended by 4,200 people enjoying the beauty of spring blossoms.
- Apr 16🔬 Inventor Wins Bronze Medal – Samuel Ruben receives a bronze medal for his innovative material that withstands severe heat, showcasing his contributions to science.
- Apr 17🏙️ New Town Near D.C – A new community for 100,000 will be built between Washington and Baltimore, featuring nine villages around a central business area.
- Apr 18🏫 Free City Classes Proposed – A plan for free city classes at the college level aims to provide academic or vocational training for high school graduates.
- Apr 19🏆 'Sound of Music' Wins – 'Sound of Music' awarded Best Film at the Oscars, with accolades for Julie Christie, Lee Marvin, and Robert Wise.
- Apr 20✈️ Boeing Jets Inspected – Tail cracks found in 22 Boeing jets are being repaired, with 190 aircraft undergoing inspections for safety.
- Apr 21🎭 Bolshoi Ballet Premiere – Bolshoi Ballet presents 'Don Quixote' at the Met, featuring Maya Plisetskaya as Kitri in a revised Petipa classic.
- Apr 22👑 Queen Opens Parliament – Queen Elizabeth opens a new Parliament session, the first to be broadcast on television.
- Apr 23🔬 I.B.M. Shrinks Transistor – I.B.M. announces a new microscopic transistor, showcasing advancements in technology and potential applications in various fields.
- Apr 24🛣️ New Interstate 40 – Interstate 40 opens in Oklahoma, enhancing travel efficiency while promoting local vacation attractions.
- Apr 25🌳 Instant Park Created – Paramus transforms a barren field into a park with 6,000 trees and shrubs in a 24-hour 'Plantathon' event.
- Apr 26🏗️ New Cargo Fleet Launched – U.S. Lines begins construction of a new cargo fleet, laying the keel for the first of five vessels, enhancing maritime capabilities.
- Apr 27🏢 Severe Tashkent Quake – A severe earthquake struck Tashkent, causing significant destruction, with 4 dead and 150 injured, prompting visits from Soviet leaders.
- Apr 28✈️ Airliner Lost in Andes – An airliner with 49 people, including 5 Americans, is missing in the Andes; search efforts are underway from Lima to Cuzco.
- Apr 29🏛️ Johnson Urges Housing Ban – President Johnson calls on Congress to ban housing bias and strengthen laws protecting civil rights workers.
- Apr 30💡 Electric Sleep Machine – A new transistorized sleep machine shows success in clinical tests, marking a potential breakthrough in sleep technology.
Happy Birthday! 1966 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1966 in real headlines. See the 1966 book →