Historical Events
- Apr 1 1st Dutch motorway, Amsterdam-Utrecht, opens
- Apr 1 1st US Army helicopter battalion forms, Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Gordie Howe Fastest Goal
Apr 1 Detroit Red Wings right wing Gordie Howe scores 2 goals and an assist, and sets a Stanley Cup playoff record for fastest goal from the start of a game (:09) in a 4-3 2OT win over Toronto in Game 5 of the Semi-Finals
- Apr 1 Earthquake/tsunami ravage Aleutians, 200 killed
- Apr 1 US Air Force Academy established
- Apr 1 WQED TV channel 13 in Pittsburgh, PA (PBS) begins broadcasting
- Apr 2 Ed Wood's cult classic film "Glen or Glenda?", initially screened as "I Changed My Sex" premieres in San Francisco, California
- Apr 2 Plans to build Disneyland 1st announced [see Jan 26]
- Apr 3 Don Perry climbs a 20' rope in under 2.8 seconds (AAU record)
Me and Juliet
Apr 3 Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein's musical "Me and Juliet" closes at Majestic Theater, NYC, after 358 performances
Conference of Interest
Apr 7 US President Dwight D. Eisenhower in a news conference is first to voice fear of a "domino-effect" of communism in the Indo-China region
- Apr 7 WALB TV channel 10 in Albany, GA (NBC/ABC) begins broadcasting
Music Premiere
Apr 8 Andrew Schwartz and Dorothy Fields' musical "By the Beautiful Sea", starring Shirley Booth, opens at the Majestic Theatre, later transferring to the Imperial, NYC; runs for 270 performances
- Apr 9 7th Cannes Film Festival: "Gate of Hell" directed by Teinosuke Kinugasa wins the Grand Prix du Festival International du Film
- Apr 9 WECT TV channel 6 in Wilmington, NC (NBC/CBS) begins broadcasting
- Apr 10 108th Grand National: Bryan Marshall wins aboard Royal Tan at 8/1; second consecutive GN victory for both Marshall and trainer Vincent O'Brien
- Apr 10 KRGV TV channel 5 in Weslaco, TX (ABC) begins broadcasting
- Apr 10 Wales beats Scotland, 15-3 at the St. Helen's Ground, Swansea to share Five Nations Rugby Championship with France and England; France's first title
US Masters Golf
Apr 12 18th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Sam Snead wins his 3rd and final Masters by 1 stroke in an 18-hole playoff with Ben Hogan
- Apr 12 8th NBA Championship: Min Lakers beat Syracuse Nationals, 4 games to 3
- Apr 12 Belgian Van Houtte government resigns
Music History
Apr 12 Bill Haley and the Comets record "Rock Around Clock"
- Apr 12 Joe Turner releases "Shake, Rattle & Roll"
- Apr 13 Baltimore Orioles 1st game, loses to Tigers in Detroit 3-0
Aaron's 1st Game
Apr 13 Milwaukee Braves' Hank Aaron's 1st game
Oppenheimer Security Hearing
Apr 13 Robert Oppenheimer accused of being a communist
- Apr 14 Soviet diplomat Vladimir Petrov asks for politics asylum in Canberra
- Apr 15 KARK TV channel 4 in Little Rock, AR (NBC) begins broadcasting
- Apr 15 Orioles 1st game in Baltimore beat White Sox 3-1
- Apr 15 WHO TV channel 13 in Des Moines, IA (NBC) begins broadcasting
- Apr 15 Yankees dedicate a plaque to Edward Barrow
- Apr 16 KVAL TV channel 13 in Eugene, OR (CBS) begins broadcasting
- Apr 16 Stanley Cup Final, Olympia Stadium, Detroit, MI: Detroit Red Wings beat Montreal Canadiens, 2-1 in OT for a 4-3 series victory
Nasser Seizes Power
Apr 18 Egyptian Colonel Gamal Abdel Nasser seizes power and appoints himself Prime Minister
- Apr 19 58th Boston Marathon won by Veikko Karvonen of Finland in 2:20:39
Demar's Last Race
Apr 19 7-time winner of Boston Marathon, 65-year-old Clarence Demar, runs his last race at Boston finishing 78th
- Apr 20 "Golden Apple" opens at Alvin Theater NYC for 125 performances
- Apr 21 USAF flies French battalion to Vietnam
- Apr 22 Achiel van Acker forms Belgian government
- Apr 22 NBA adopts 24-second shot clock & 6 team-foul rule
- Apr 22 US Senate Army-McCarthy televised hearings begin
- Apr 22 USSR joins UNESCO
- Apr 23 Hammerin' Hank Aaron hits 1st of his 755 homers
- Apr 24 1st American, civilian pilot, P.R. Holden, wounded in Indochina
- Apr 24 Australia & USSR break diplomatic relations
- Apr 24 WSEE TV channel 35 in Erie, PA (CBS) begins broadcasting
First Solar Battery
Apr 25 Bell labs announces the 1st solar battery made from silicon. It has about 6% efficiency.
- Apr 25 British raid Nairobi, Kenya (25,000 Mau Mau suspects arrested)
- Apr 25 US performs atmospheric nuclear test above Bikini Island
- Apr 25 WDEF TV channel 12 in Chattanooga, TN (CBS) begins broadcasting
Seven Samurai
Apr 26 "Seven Samurai", Japanese film directed by Akira Kurosawa, starring Toshiro Mifune, is released
- Apr 26 Far Eastern Affairs conference opens in Geneva
Anti-Polio Vaccine Trial Begins
Apr 26 Mass trials of Jonas Salk's anti-polio vaccine begin; the first shot is delivered in Fairfax County, Virginia; more than 443,000 children receive shots over three months
- Apr 26 USSR Supreme Soviet transfer the Crimean oblast from Russian SFSR to Ukrainian SSR
Music Concert
Apr 30 Darius Milhaud's 4th Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (Op. 295) premieres in Haifa, Israel
Famous Birthdays
- Apr 1 Giancarlo Antognoni, Italian soccer midfielder (73 caps; Fiorentina 341 games), born in Marsciano, Italy
- Apr 1 Jeff Porcaro, American drummer (Toto - "Rosanna"; "Africa"), born in Los Angeles, California (d. 1992)
- Apr 1 Susumu Hirasawa, Japanese electropop musician, born in Nakagawa, Adachi, Tokyo
- Apr 2 Donald Petrie, American film director (Mystic Pizza; Miss Congeniality), born in New York City
- Apr 2 Ron Palillo, American actor (Arnold Horshack-Welcome Back Kotter), born in New Haven, Connecticut (d. 2012)
- Apr 3 Elisabetta Brusa, Italian-British composer (Simply Largo), and educator, born in Milan, Italy
- Apr 4 Julie Carmen, American actress (Gloria, Last Plane Out), born in Mount Vernon, New York
- Apr 4 Michel Camilo, Dominican pianist (Rendezvous), born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
- Apr 5 Christopher S. Nelson, American actor (Sons & Daughters), born in New Orleans, Louisiana
- Apr 5 Michael W Butler, computer programmer (created TODAY program)
- Apr 5 Stan Ridgway, American singer-songwriter (Wall Of Voodoo), born in Barstow, California
- Apr 6 Judi Bowker, Shawford England, actress (Clash of the Titans)
- Apr 7 Clark Gillies, Canadian Hockey HOF left wing (Stanley Cup 1980, 81, 82, 83 New York Islanders; Buffalo Sabres), born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan (d. 2022)
- Apr 7 Donna White, American golfer (US Open runner-up 1982), born in Kinston, North Carolina
Jackie Chan (70 years old)
Apr 7 Hong Kong martial arts actor (Rumble in the Bronx), born in Hong Kong
- Apr 7 Tony Dorsett, American College and Pro Football Hall of Fame running back (Heisman Trophy 1976, U of Pittsburgh; Super Bowl 1977; Pro Bowl 1978, 81–83; Dallas Cowboys), born in Rochester, Pennsylvania
- Apr 8 G.V. Loganathan, American professor (d. 2007)
Gary Carter (1954-2012)
Apr 8 American Baseball Hall of Fame catcher (11 × MLB All-Star; World Series 1986; Gold Glove Award 1980–82; Montreal Expos, NY Mets), born in Culver City, California
- Apr 8 George Mesterhazy, Hungarian-American jazz pianist, and arranger, born in Hungary (d. 2012)
Dennis Quaid (70 years old)
Apr 9 American actor (Big Easy, Dreamscape, Right Stuff), born in Houston, Texas
- Apr 9 Iain Duncan Smith, British politician, Leader of the Conservative Party (2001-03), born in Edinburgh, Scotland
- Apr 10 Lenny Pickett, American saxophonist and musical director (Saturday Night Live band, 1985-; Tower of Power, 1973-81), born in Las Cruces, New Mexico
- Apr 10 Peter MacNicol, actor (Chicago Hope, Sophie's Choice), born in Dallas, Texas
- Apr 12 Marvin Johnson, American boxer (WBC Light heavyweight title 1978; WBA Light heavyweight title 1979-80, 86-87), born in Indianapolis, Indiana
- Apr 12 Pat Travers, Canadian rock guitarist (Puttin' it Straight), born in Toronto, Ontario
- Apr 13 Barbara Roche, British Labour Party politician
- Apr 13 Jimmy Destri, American rock keyboardist, and songwriter (Blondie - "Heart of Glass"; "Rapture"), born in Brooklyn, New York
- Apr 13 Niels Olsen, Danish singer and songwriter (The Olsen Brothers; Eurovision Song Contest, 2000), born in Odense, Denmark
- Apr 13 Roberto Dinamite, Brazilian soccer forward (38 caps; CR Vasco da Gama 753 games, 475 goals), born in Duque de Caxias, Brazil (d. 2023)
- Apr 14 Bruce Sterling, American sci-fi author (Involution Ocean; Schismatrix), born in Brownsville, Texas
- Apr 14 Jon Herington, American session and touring jazz and rock guitarist (Steely Dan), born in Paterson, New Jersey
- Apr 14 Shari Redstone, American media executive (ViacomCBS), born in Washington D.C.
- Apr 16 Ellen Barkin, American actress (Big Easy, Sea of Love), born in The Bronx, New York
- Apr 16 John Bowe, Australian racing driver, born in Devonport, Tasmania
- Apr 17 Frankie LaRocka (Frank LaRocca), American session and touring drummer, and record producer (Spin Doctors), born in Manhattan, New York City (d. 2005)
- Apr 17 Kim Tyler, American actor (Kyle-Please Don't Eat Daisies), born in Hollywood, California
- Apr 17 Michael Sembello, American Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter, composer and producer ("Maniac"; "Flashdance"), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Apr 17 Riccardo Patrese, Italian racing driver (Grand Prix), born in Padua, Italy
Roddy Piper (1954-2015)
Apr 17 Canadian pro wrestler (WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight C'ship 1992; World Tag Team C'ship [Ric Flair] 2006), born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Apr 19 Trevor Francis, British soccer forward (52 caps; Birmingham City, Nottingham Forest, Manchester City, Sampdoria, Sheffield Wednesday) and manager (QPR, Sheffield Wed, Birmingham City, Crystal Palace), born in Plymouth, England (d. 2023)
- Apr 20 Gilles Lupien, French Canadian ice hockey player, born in Lachute, Canada
- Apr 20 Peter Toohey, Australian cricket batsman (15 Tests, 1 x 100, 7 x 50, HS 122; NSW CA), born in Blayney, Australia
- Apr 21 Dale Eggeling, American golfer (3 LPGA titles), born in Statesboro, Georgia
- Apr 21 Ebiet G. Ade [Abid Ghoffar], Javanese-Indonesian singer-songwriter and guitarist, born in Wanadadi, Indonesia
- Apr 21 James Morrison [Paige], American actor (24, Twin Peaks), born in Bountiful, Utah
- Apr 22 Joseph Bottoms, American actor (Surfacing, Blind Date, Braker), born in Santa Barbara, California
Michael Moore (70 years old)
Apr 23 American filmmaker (Fahrenheit 9/11, Bowling for Columbine, Sicko), born in Flint, Michigan
- Apr 24 Captain Sensible [Ray Burns], English rock bassist (Women & Captains 1st), born in Balham, London
- Apr 24 Jack Blades, American rock bassist (Damn Yankees - "Coming of Age"; Night Ranger), born in Palm Desert, California
- Apr 24 Mumia Abu-Jamal, American journalist and political activist sentenced to death and then to life in prison, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Apr 24 Thomas Jennefelt, Swedish composer, chiefly of choral works (A Warning To The Rich; Villarosa Sequences), born in Stuvsta, Sweden
- Apr 24 Vince Ferragamo, American football quarterback (LA Rams, Montreal Alouettes), born in Torrance, California
- Apr 25 Rob Crosby, American country singer ("She's a Natural"), born in Sumter, South Carolina
Frank Bainimarama (69 years old)
Apr 27 Fijian naval officer and Prime Minister of Fiji (2007-22), born in Kiuva, Fiji
- Apr 29 Bill Paxon, American politician (Rep-R-New York 1989-99), born in Arkon, New York
- Apr 29 Deborah Iyall, American artist and singer (Romeo Void), born in Soap Lake, Washington
- Apr 29 Jake Burton Carpenter, American snowboarder (founder Burton Snowboards; one of the inventors of modern day snowboard), born in New York City (d. 2019)
Jerry Seinfeld (69 years old)
Apr 29 American comedian and actor (Seinfeld, Bee Movie), born in Brooklyn, New York
- Apr 29 Masaaki Suzuki, Japanese organist, harpsichordist, and conductor (Bach Collegium Japan), born in Kobe, Japan
- Apr 29 Shane Fontayne [Michael Barakan], British session and touring rock guitarist, and songwriter, born in London
- Apr 29 Snorri Sigfús Birgisson, Icelandic pianist and composer (Afmorsvisa), born in Copenhagen, Denmark
- Apr 30 Gunther Tiersch, German DR, 8 man cox (Olympic gold 1968)
Jane Campion (69 years old)
Apr 30 New Zealand film director (The Piano, The Power of the Dog), born in Wellington, New Zealand
Famous Deaths
- Apr 2 Maud Barger-Wallach, American tennis player (US Nat C'ship 1908), dies at 83
- Apr 2 Pudge Heffelfinger, American College Football Hall of Fame guard (3 x All American, Yale; first professional player 1892) and coach (Cal, Lehigh, Minnesota), dies at 86
- Apr 4 Frederick Lonsdale, British playwright (Balkan Princess), dies at 73
- Apr 5 Claude Delvincourt, French composer and pianist, dies at 66
- Apr 9 Philip Greeley Clapp, American composer and educator (University of Iowa, 1919-54), dies at 65
- Apr 10 Auguste Lumière, French engineer and filmmaker who made the 1st movie (Workers Leaving Lumière Factory), dies at 81
- Apr 10 Ludwig Curtius, German archaeologist (Die antike Kunst), dies at 79
- Apr 10 Oscar Mathisen, Norwegian speed skater (5-time World Champion all-round), dies at 65
- Apr 12 Pim Mulier, Dutch sports organizer, founded the Dutch Football and Athletics Association, Koninklijke HFC, established hockey in the Netherlands and President of the International Skating Union (1892-94), dies at 89
- Apr 13 Angus Lewis Macdonald, Canadian politician, dies at 63
- Apr 14 Lillian "Lil" Green, American blues singer and songwriter ("Romance In The Dark"), dies at 39 [or 57, or 48 - year of birth disputed]
- Apr 15 Arthur Fickenscher, American microtonal composer, and educator (University of Virginia, 1920-41), dies at 82
- Apr 15 Juan Vicente Lecuna, Venezuelan diplomat and composer, dies at 54
- Apr 17 Lucreţiu Pătrăşcanu, Romanian communist activist and sociologist, dies at 53
- Apr 25 Joseph Hergesheimer, novelist (Java Head), dies
- Apr 27 Torsten Ralf, Swedish operatic tenor (Daphne - "Apollo"), dies at 53
- Apr 28 Léon Jouhaux, French socialist and co-founder UN's ILO (Nobel Peace Prize 1951), dies at 74
- Apr 29 Ernst Heldring, Dutch ship owner and financier, dies at 82
