Historical Events
US and Pope Recognise Franco
Apr 1 US recognizes Francisco Franco's government in Spain at end of Spanish civil war. Pope Pius XII congratulates Generalissimo Franco's victory in Spain
Guldahl's Only Title
Apr 2 6th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Ralph Guldahl wins his only Masters title with a tournament record 279 (−9), 1 stroke ahead of runner-up Sam Snead
- Apr 4 Faisal II ascends to throne of Iraq
Gretchaninov's 5th Symphony
Apr 5 Alexander Gretchaninov's 5th Symphony premieres at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia with Leopold Stowkowski conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra
Marian Anderson at the Lincoln Memorial
Apr 9 American contralto Marian Anderson sings before 75,000 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C; appearance organized after Anderson was denied permission to sing to an integrated audience in Constitution Hall [1] [2]
- Apr 10 Grens mobilization due to Italian invasion in Albania
- Apr 10 Prime Minister Hendrikus Colijn's Dutch government opens camp Westerbork for German Jews
- Apr 11 Hungary leaves League of Nations
- Apr 13 The Hindustani Lal Sena (Indian Red Army) is formed and vows to engage in armed struggle against the British.
- Apr 13 W Saroyan's "My Heart's in the Highlands" premieres in NYC
The Grapes of Wrath
Apr 14 John Steinbeck novel "The Grapes of Wrath" published
Soviets Propose Allinance
Apr 16 The Soviet Union proposes an alliance with Britain and France to counter Nazi Germany; the Soviets would later sign a secret agreement with the Nazis
- Apr 17 43rd Boston Marathon won by Ellison Brown in 2:28:51.8; his second victory in the event
- Apr 17 SN Behrman's "No Time for Comedy" premieres in NYC
Papen Turkish Ambassador
Apr 18 Franz von Papen becomes German ambassador in Turkey
- Apr 18 Hubert Pierlot forms Belgian government
- Apr 19 Connecticut finally approves Bill of Rights (148 years late)
William's 1st MLB Hit
Apr 20 Ted Williams' first MLB hit comes off of NY Yankees fellow future HOF'er Red Ruffing in Boston's 2-0 opening day defeat at Yankee Stadium, NYC
- Apr 23 Boston Red Sox Ted Williams hits his 1st HR
Hitler's Treaty Claim
Apr 28 Adolf Hitler claims German-Polish non-attack treaty still in effect
- Apr 29 Whitestone Bridge connecting the New York boroughs of Bronx and Queens opens
Gehrig Sets Record
Apr 30 Lou Gehrig sets a MLB record playing his 2,130th consecutive and final game for the New York Yankees.
- Apr 30 Tropicana ballet of Havana, Cuba, forms
Famous Birthdays
Ali MacGraw (85 years old)
Apr 1 American actress (Love Story, Goodbye Columbus), born in Pound Ridge, New York
- Apr 1 Nick Peters, American Baseball Hall of Fame writer (Oakland Tribune, Sacramento Bee, Berkeley Gazette, San Francisco Chronicle), born in San Francisco, California (d. 2015)
Phil Niekro (1939-2020)
Apr 1 American Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher (knuckleballer; no-hitter 1973; 5 x MLB All Star; 5 x Gold Glove; Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves), born in Blaine, Ohio
- Apr 1 Rudolph Isley, American rock singer (Isley Brothers, 1954-89 - "Shout"; "Twist and Shout"; "It's Your Thing"), and minister, born in Cincinnati, Ohio (d. 2023) [1]
- Apr 1 Vitali Davydov, Russian ice hockey defenceman (Olympic gold 1964, 68, 72; HC Dynamo Moscow), born in Moscow, Russia
- Apr 2 Glen Dale [Richard Garforth], British rock guitarist (The Fortunes, 1963-66 - "You've Got Your Troubles"; "Here It Comes Again" ), born in Deal, Kent, England (d. 2019)
- Apr 2 Lise Thibault, 27th Lieutenant Governor of Quebec, born in Saint-Roch-de-l'Achigan, Quebec
Marvin Gaye (1939-1984)
Apr 2 American soul singer-songwriter ("It Takes Two"; What's Going On"; "Let's Get It On"), born in Washington, D.C.
- Apr 3 Catalino "Lino" Brocka, Filipino film director (Macho Dancer, Jaguar), born in Pilar, Sorsogon, Philippines (d. 1991)
- Apr 3 François de Roubaix, French film score composer, born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France (d. 1975)
- Apr 3 Stefan Yanev, Bulgarian soccer midfielder (Cherno More Varna 228 games) and broadcaster (BNT; 17 books on Bulgarian football), born in Varna, Bulgaria (d. 2024)
- Apr 3 Vitaliy Davidov, Soviet ice hockey player (Olympic gold 1964, 68, 72), born in Moscow
- Apr 4 Danny Thompson, British double bassist (Blues Incorporated; Pentangle; Richard Thompson; John Martyn), born in Teignmouth, England
- Apr 4 Ernie Terrell, American boxer (WBA heavyweight champion 1965-67), born in Belzoni, Mississippi (d. 2014)
- Apr 4 Hugh Masekela, South African trumpeter, described as the "father of South African jazz" ("Grazing in the Grass"; "Soweto Blues"; Sarafina!), and anti-apartheid activist, born in Witbank, South Africa (d. 2018)
JoAnne Carner (85 years old)
Apr 4 American golfer (US Women's Open 1971, 1976), born in Kirkland, Washington
- Apr 4 Major Lance, American soul singer ("The Monkey Time"; "Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um"), born in Winterville, Mississippi (d. 1994) [some sources give year as 1941 or 1942]
- Apr 5 Andrew Buxton, British businessman (Barclays Bank: CEO, 1992–93; Chairman, 1993–99)
- Apr 5 Crispian St. Peters [Robin Peter Smith], British pop singer (The Pied Piper; No No No), born in Swanley, Kent, England (d. 2010)
- Apr 5 David Winters, American choreographer and director (Steve Allen Comedy Hour), born in London, England
- Apr 5 Ronald "Ronnie" White, American singer (The Miracles - "Shop Around"), born in Detroit, Michigan (d. 1995)
- Apr 6 André Ouellet, French Canadian politician
- Apr 6 Beverly "Guitar" Watkins, American blues guitarist, and singer, born in Atlanta, Georgia (d. 2019)
- Apr 6 Eugeniusz Faber, Polish soccer forward (36 caps; Ruch Chorzów, Lens), born in Chorzów, Poland (d. 2021)
- Apr 7 Brett Whiteley, Australian artist, born in Sydney, Australia (d. 1992)
David Frost (1939-2013)
Apr 7 British TV host (That Was the Week That Was), born in Tenterden, England
- Apr 7 Donald L Holmquest, astronaut, born in Dallas, Texas
Francis Ford Coppola (85 years old)
Apr 7 American director (The Godfather, Apocalypse Now), born in Detroit, Michigan
- Apr 7 Gary Kellgren, American music producer who co-founded The Record Plant studios, born in Shenandoah, Iowa (d. 1977)
- Apr 9 Michael Learned, American actress (Olivia in The Waltons, Nurse), born in Washington, D.C.
- Apr 10 Alan Rothenberg, American lawyer and sports executive, born in Detroit, Michigan
- Apr 10 Daniel Oliver, American CEO (Federal Trade Commission), born in New York City
- Apr 10 Penny Vincenzi [Hannaford], British novelist (An Absolute Scandal, Spoils of Time trilogy), born in Bournemouth, England (d. 2018)
- Apr 11 Louise Lasser, American actress (Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman - "Mary Hartman"), born in New York City
Alan Ayckbourn (85 years old)
Apr 12 English playwright and director, born in London, England
- Apr 12 Johnny Raper, Australian rugby league lock (33 Tests, 6 World Cup games; Newtown RLFC, St. George RLFC; Inaugural RL "Immortal") and coach (St. George, RLFC, Cronulla RLFC), born in Sydney, Australia (d. 2022)
- Apr 12 Peter Giger, Swiss progressive rock and jazz percussionist and bandleader (Dzyan), born in Zurich, Switzerland
- Apr 13 Barbara-Rose Collins, American politician (Rep-D-Michigan), born in Detroit, Michigan
- Apr 13 Paul Sorvino, American stage and screen actor (Goodfellas; Law and Order, 1991-92; Dick Tracy, That's Life), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 2022)
Seamus Heaney (1939-2013)
Apr 13 Irish poet and playwright (Nobel Prize in Literature 1995), born in Castledawson, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland [1] [2]
- Apr 13 Wijnie Jabaaij, Dutch politician (PvdA), born in Dordrecht, Netherlands (d. 1995)
- Apr 14 Jennifer Fowler, British classical composer, born in Bunbury, Australia
- Apr 15 Marty Wilde, English pop singer-songwriter ("A Teenager In Love"), and father of rocker Kim Wilde, born in London, England
- Apr 16 Boris Dvornik, Croatian actor, born in Split, Kingdom of Yugoslavia (d. 2008)
- Apr 16 Donald MacCormick, British broadcaster, born in Scotland (d. 2009)
- Apr 16 Dusty Springfield [Mary O'Brien], British pop vocalist ("I Only Want To Be With You"; "Son Of A Preacher Man"), born in West Hampstead, London (d. 1999)
- Apr 16 John DeLaFose, American French speaking zydeco musician, born in Duralde, Evangeline Parish, Louisiana (d. 1994)
- Apr 16 Margaretha de Boer, Dutch politician (PvdA), born in Amsterdam
- Apr 16 Reinier Lucassen, Dutch painter (Kuifje contra James Union), born in Amsterdam
- Apr 18 Glen Hardin, American rock and country piano player, and arranger (The Crickets), born in Wellington, Texas
- Apr 18 Thomas J. Moyer, American judge and Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court (1987-2010), born in Sandusky, Ohio (d. 2010)
Ali Hosseini Khamenei (85 years old)
Apr 19 2nd Supreme Leader of Iran (1989-) and the 3rd President of Iran (1981-89), born in Mashhad, Khorasan, Iran
- Apr 19 Clay Shaw, American politician (Rep-R-FL, 1981-2007), born in Miami, Florida (d. 2013)
- Apr 19 Ellen Weston, American actress (Betty-SWAT), born in New York City
- Apr 19 Michael Macaulay, South African cricketer (Tvl, W Prov, OFS, NE Tvl, E Prov & S Afr), born in Durban, Natal
- Apr 20 Camille Dimmer, Luxembourgish soccer forward (19 caps; FC Claravallis, Anderlecht, R. Crossing Club Molenbeek, Red Boys Differdange), born in Clervaux, Luxembourg (d. 2023)
- Apr 20 Gro Harlem Brundtland, Norwegian Prime Minister (1981-82, 1986-89, 1990-96) and Director-General of the World Health Organization, born in Bærum, Norway
- Apr 20 Peter S. Beagle, American novelist and screenwriter (The Last Unicorn), born in New York City
- Apr 21 Helen Prejean, American writer
- Apr 21 John McCabe, British composer and pianist, born in Liverpool, England (d. 2015)
- Apr 22 Alann Steen, American journalist and educator, and political hostage (Beirut, 1987-91), born in New York City (d. 2018)
- Apr 22 Jason Miller, American actor and writer (Exorcist, Light of Day), born in Scranton, Pennsylvania (d. 2001)
- Apr 22 John Foley, Bristish Lieutenant General
- Apr 22 Yury Sharov, Russian fencer (Olympic gold Soviet Union, team foil 1964, silver 1968), born in Saratov, Russia (d. 2021)
- Apr 23 Bill Hagerty, British editor (People), born in Ilford, London
- Apr 23 David Birney, American stage and screen actor (Bridget Loves Bernie; St Elsewhere, 1982-83), born in Washington, D.C. (d. 2022)
- Apr 23 Lee Majors [Harvey Lee Yeary], American film and TV actor ($6,000,000 Man, The Fall Guy), born in Wyandotte, Michigan
- Apr 23 Patrick Williams, American composer, arranger, and conductor, born in Bonne Terre, Missouri
- Apr 23 Ray Peterson, American singer ("Tell Laura I Love Her"), born in Denton, Texas (d. 2005)
- Apr 25 Patrick Anson, 5th Earl of Lichfield, English photographer (d. 2005)
- Apr 25 Tarcisio Burgnich, Italian soccer defender (66 caps; Internazionale 358 games) and manager (Como, Genoa), born in Ruda, Italy (d. 2021)
- Apr 25 Ted Kooser, American poet and US Poet Laureate, born in Ames, Iowa
- Apr 27 Jerry Mercer, Canadian rock drummer (April Wine), born in Montreal, Quebec
- Apr 27 João Bernardo "Nino" Vieira, Bissau-Guinean politician (President of Guinea-Bissau, 1980-99 & 2005-09), born in Bissau, Portuguese Guinea (d. 2009)
- Apr 27 Judy Carne, English comedienne and actress (Laugh-In, Love on a Rooftop), born in Northampton, England (d. 2015)
- Apr 27 Stanislaw Dziwisz, Polish prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, Archbishop of Kraków, born in Raba Wyżna, Poland
- Apr 30 Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, American composer (1st woman composer to win Pulitzer Prize for Music, 1983), born in Miami, Florida
- Apr 30 Pieter van Vollenhoven, husband of Princess Margriet of the Netherlands, born in Schiedam, Netherlands
Famous Weddings
Jacqueline Susann
Apr 2 Author Jacqueline Susann (20) weds Irving Mansfield at Har Zion Temple in Philadelphia
Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
Apr 22 Actor and naval officer of World War II Douglas Fairbanks Jr (29) weds supermarket magnate Huntington Hartford's former wife Mary Lee Hartford
Famous Deaths
- Apr 5 William Cooper, Australian cricket spin bowler (2 Tests, 9 wickets, BB 6/120; Victoria), dies at 89
- Apr 6 Robert Courtneidge, British theater producer, dies
- Apr 7 Joseph Lyons, 10th Prime Minister of Australia (1932-39), dies at 59
- Apr 9 Emilio Serrano y Ruiz, Spanish composer, dies at 89
- Apr 10 Alfredo Panzini, Italian author (Il Bacio de Lesba), dies at 75
- Apr 11 S.S. Van Dine [pseudonym for William Huntingdon Wright], American critic and detective writer (Philo Vance), dies at 50
- Apr 18 Theo Mann, Dutch actress (Pink Bernd, Hedda Gabler), dies at 88
- Apr 21 Herman Finck, British conductor (Palace Theatre (London), 1900-20), theater and light classical composer (In The Shadows), dies at 66
- Apr 25 John Foulds, British cellist, musicologist, and composer (World Requiem; Three Mantras), dies in Calcutta of cholera at 58
