Historical Events
The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
Aug 1 "The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour" debuts on CBS-TV, with comic actor and singer Jimmy Durante as guest
- Aug 1 CBS presents the first episode of BBC production "The Six Wives of Henry VIII", continuing weekly until September 5th
Music Concert
Aug 1 George Harrison's benefit concerts for Bangladesh (2 shows) take place at Madison Square Garden, NYC; performers include Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, Ravi Shankar, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, and Leon Russell
Sports History
Aug 1 Richard Petty wins the Dixie 500 in Atlanta, Georgia to become the first NASCAR driver to win $1m in career earnings
Music History
Aug 3 Paul McCartney announces formation of his group Wings
- Aug 4 US launches 1st satellite into lunar orbit from manned spacecraft
- Aug 5 The British Parliament debate the security situation in Northern Ireland
- Aug 5 WNPE TV channel 16 in Watertown, NY (PBS) begins broadcasting
- Aug 6 3rd San Diego Comic-Con International opens at Muir College, University of California
- Aug 7 A Catholic man is shot dead by a British soldier in Belfast
- Aug 7 Apollo 15 returns to Earth
- Aug 8 A British soldier is shot dead by the Irish Republican Army in Belfast
- Aug 8 France performs nuclear test at Mururoa atoll
- Aug 9 Operation Demetrius (or Internment) is introduced in Northern Ireland allowing suspected terrorists to be indefinitely detained without trial; the security forces arrested 342 people suspected of supporting paramilitaries
Baseball Hall of Fame
Aug 9 Satchel Paige inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame
- Aug 10 16 baseball researchers form Society for American Baseball Research
- Aug 10 During the internment round-up operation in west Belfast, the Parachute Regiment kill 11 unarmed civilians in what became known as the Ballymurphy massacre
Baseball Record
Aug 10 Twins' Harmon Killebrew is 10th to amass 500 HRs, & adds his 501st
- Aug 11 4 people are shot dead in separate incidents in Belfast; three of them by the British Army, as violence continues following the introduction of Internment and Operation Demetrius
- Aug 11 Construction begins on Louisiana Superdome
- Aug 11 Harmon Killebrew hits HRs #500 & 501
Event of Interest
Aug 12 Syrian President Hafez al-Assad drops diplomatic relations with Jordan
Back Seat of My Car
Aug 13 Paul & Linda McCartney release single "Back Seat of My Car"
- Aug 14 Bahrain proclaims independence after 110 years of British rule
- Aug 14 British begin internment without trial in Northern Ireland
- Aug 14 Cards Bob Gibson, 35, no-hits Pirates, 11-0
- Aug 14 France performs nuclear test
- Aug 15 Bahrain gains independence from Britain
- Aug 15 Charles Lismont wins Helsinki marathon (2:13:09.0)
F1 World Champion
Aug 15 Despite crashing out on lap 36, Scotsman Jackie Stewart clinches his second Formula 1 World Drivers Championship at the Austrian Grand Prix at Österreichring; Swiss driver Jo Siffert of the BRM team wins the race
- Aug 15 KVRL (now KRIV) TV ch 26 in Houston, Texas (Fox) begins
- Aug 15 The Social Democratic and Labour Party announce a campaign of civil disobedience in response to the introduction of Internment in Northern Ireland
Event of Interest
Aug 15 US President Richard Nixon announces 90-day freeze on wages, prices & rents
- Aug 16 Over 8,000 workers go on strike in Derry, Northern Ireland, in protest at the introduction of Internment (allowing suspected terrorists to be indefinitely detained without trial)
Event of Interest
Aug 18 New Zealand Prime Minister Keith Holyoake announces in Parliament that New Zealand’s combat force would be withdrawn from Vietnam before the end of the year, coinciding with a similar announcement by the Australian government
- Aug 20 FBI begins covert investigation of journalist Daniel Schorr
- Aug 22 Approximately 130 non-Unionist councillors announce their withdrawal from participation on district councils across Northern Ireland in protest against Internment (allowing suspected terrorists to be indefinitely detained without trial)
- Aug 22 Bolivian military coup led by army Col. Hugo Banzer, drives out leftist President Juan José Torres
The Camden 28
Aug 22 FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover and US Attorney General John Mitchell announce arrest of 20 of the "Camden 28", a religious-left anti-war activist group intent on disrupting the military draft in Camden, New Jersey [1] [2] [3]
- Aug 23 WGTU TV channel 29 in Traverse City, MI (ABC) begins broadcasting
- Aug 24 India beat England by 4 wickets, their win against the Poms
- Aug 25 32nd Venice Film Festival opens
- Aug 25 Leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party Gerry Fitt presents a number of allegations of brutality by the security forces in Northern Ireland to representatives of the United Nations
Event of Interest
Aug 26 Dutch Queen Juliana & Prince Bernhard visit Indonesia
- Aug 26 MLB Baltimore Orioles' Don Buford struck out 5 times in a game
- Aug 26 NY Giant football team announces they're leaving Bronx for New Jersey in 1975
- Aug 28 The US dollar is allowed to float against the Japanese yen for the first time.
- Aug 30 WNPI TV channel 18 in Norwood, NY (PBS) begins broadcasting
- Aug 31 Adrienne Beames runs female world record marathon (2:46:30)
- Aug 31 An inquiry into allegations of brutality by the security forces against those interned without trial in Northern Ireland is announced
Music History
Aug 31 Beatle John Lennon leaves England for the final time, moving to New York City
Famous Birthdays
- Aug 1 Shae Sloan, American women,s baseball pitcher (Colorado Silver Bullets, 1994-96), born in Huntsville, Texas
- Aug 2 Dick Schreuder, Dutch soccer player (PSV/FC Groningen/RKC), born in Barneveld, Netherlands
- Aug 2 Fernando Smith, American NFL defensive end (Minnesota Vikings), born in Flint, Michigan
- Aug 2 Michael Hughes, Irish footballer, born in Larne, Northern Ireland
- Aug 4 Greg Frers, CFL safety (BC Lions)
- Aug 4 Jeff Gordon, American auto racer (Winston Cup Series 1995, 97, 98, 2001; Daytona 500 1997, 99, 2005) and broadcaster (Fox NASCAR), born in Vallejo, California
- Aug 5 "Evil" Jared Hasselhoff [Hennegan], American rock bassist (Bloodhound Gang), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Aug 5 Valeri Karpov, Russian RSL and NHL hockey left wing, 1992-2005 (Anaheim Mighty Ducks, 1994-97), born in Chelyabinsk, Russia
- Aug 6 Merrin Dungey, American actress
- Aug 6 Mike Bales, Saskatoon, NHL goalie (Ottawa Senators)
- Aug 6 Piyal Wijetunge, cricketer (Sri Lanka slow left-armer 1993)
- Aug 6 Scott Minto, English soccer defender (Charlton, Chelsea, Benfica, West Ham) and broadcaster (Sky Sports, TalkSPORT, BBC London), born in Bromborough, England
- Aug 7 Chris T. Jones, American NFL wide receiver (Philadelphia Eagles), born in West Palm Beach, Florida
- Aug 7 Dominic Cork, British cricketer (England all-rounder Hat-trick v WI 1995), born in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire
- Aug 7 Sydney Penny, American actress (Danni-New Gidget, Thorn Birds, All My Children), born in Nashville, Tennessee
- Aug 8 Marcello Simmons, American CFL defensive back (Toronto Argonauts), born in Tomball, Texas
- Aug 9 Davide Rebellin, Italian road cyclist, born in San Bonifacio, Italy
- Aug 9 James Kim, American technology reporter, who died in the Oregon mountains at 35
- Aug 10 Craig Newsome, American NFL defensive back (Green Bay Packers-Super Bowl 31), born in San Bernardino, California
- Aug 10 Justin Theroux, American actor (Mulholland Drive, Inland Empire), born in Detroit, Michigan
- Aug 10 Kevin Randleman, American mixed martial artist
- Aug 10 Mario César Kindelán Mesa, Cuban boxer
- Aug 10 Mike Morreale, Canadian football slotback (Grey Cup 1996 Toronto Argonauts, 1999 Hamilton Tiger Cats), executive (President CFLPA 2012-14) and broadcaster (CKOC), born in Hamilton, Ontario
- Aug 10 Paul Newlove, English rugby league player (St Helens), born in Pontefract, England
- Aug 10 Roy Keane, Irish football player (Manchester United) and coach, born in Cork, Ireland
- Aug 10 Sal Fasano, American MLB catcher (KC Royals), born in Chicago, Illinois
- Aug 10 Stephan Groth, Danish-Norwegian synth-pop singer (Apoptygma Berzerk), born in Odense, Denmark
- Aug 11 Aaron Miller, NHL defenseman (Colorado Avalanche), born in Buffalo, New York
- Aug 11 Alejandra Barros, Mexican actress
- Aug 11 Tommy Mooney, English football player
Pete Sampras (52 years old)
Aug 12 American tennis player (14 x Grand Slam singles titles; 5 x Tour Finals; Grand Slam Cup 1990, 97; Davis Cup 1992, 95), born in Washington, D.C.
- Aug 12 Yvette Nicole Brown, American actress (Community), born in East Cleveland, Ohio
- Aug 13 Camille Thompson, Canadian basketball center (Olympics, 1996), born in Salmon Arm, British Columbia
- Aug 13 Chad Cota, American NFL safety, 1995-2002 (Carolina Panthers, and three other teams), born in Ashland, Oregon
- Aug 13 Marcus Ragnarsson, Swedish professional ice hockey defenseman, 1990-2020 (NHL, 1995-2004: San Jose Sharks; Philadelphia Flyers; Swedish League, 1990-95, 2004-10), born in Östervåla, Sweden
- Aug 13 Moritz Bleibtreu, German actor (Run Lola Run), born in Munich, Bavaria, Germany
- Aug 13 Patrick Carpentier, Canadian auto racer (Champ Car Series 5 wins, 22 podiums; IndyCar Series 2 podiums), born in LaSalle, Quebec
- Aug 13 Rolando Molina, Salvadoran-born American actor (Next Friday; Eagle Eye), born in San Salvador, El Salvador
- Aug 13 Vernell Brown Jr., American jazz and R&B pianist, composer, arranger (Kenny Garrett Quintet), born in Las Angeles, California
- Aug 14 Adam Timmerman, American NFL guard (Green Bay Packers-Super Bowl 31), born in Cherokee, Iowa
- Aug 14 Christopher R. Nelloms, American sprinter, born in Dayton, Ohio
- Aug 14 James Folston, American NFL defensive end (Oakland Raiders), born in Cocoa, Florida
- Aug 14 Mark Loretta, American baseball infielder (Milwaukee Brewers), born in Santa Monica, California
- Aug 14 Pramodaya Wickremasinhghe, Sri Lankan cricketer (Sri Lankan fast-medium bowler), born in Matara, Sri Lanka
- Aug 14 Raoul Bova, Italian actor, born in Rome, Italy
- Aug 16 Stefan Klos, German footballer
- Aug 16 Troy Alexander, CFL defensive tackle (Saskatchewan Roughriders)
- Aug 16 Willie Jackson, NFL wide receiver (Jacksonville Jaguars)
- Aug 17 Jorge Posada, Puerto Rican baseball catcher (5-time MLB All Star and Silver Slugger Award; NY Yankees), born in San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Aug 17 Shaun Rehn, Australian Rules footballer, born in Arno Bay, Australia
- Aug 18 Jacob Vargas, American actor (Mi vida loca), born in Michoacan, Mexico
- Aug 18 Kevin Bouie, American football running back (Philadelphia Eagles, Ariz Cardinals), born in Pahokee, Florida
- Aug 18 Richard D. James, Irish-born musician (Aphex Twin), born in Limerick, Ireland
- Aug 18 Trey Ames, American actor (David-A Year in the Life), born in Canton, Ohio
- Aug 19 João Pinto, Portuguese football player, born in Porto, Portugal
Mary Joe Fernández (52 years old)
Aug 19 American tennis player, broadcaster (Olympic gold 1992, 96), born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
- Aug 20 Brad Avery, American Christian rock guitarist (Third Day, 1995-08)
- Aug 20 Brett Bech, American football wide receiver (New Orleans Saints), born in Slidell, Louisiana
- Aug 20 David Walliams, English actor, comedian (Come Fly With Me) and children's author, born in London, England
- Aug 20 Ke Huy Quan [Jonathan Ke Quan], Vietnamese-American actor (Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Everything, Everywhere All at Once), born in Saigon, South Vietnam
- Aug 20 Oronde Gadsden, American NFL wide receiver (Dallas Cowboys), born in Charleston, South Carolina
- Aug 20 Steve Stone, English footballer, born in Gateshead, England
- Aug 21 Liam Howlett, British musician (The Prodigy), born in Braintree, Essex, England
- Aug 21 Matthew Noonan, American concert organist, born in Brockport, New York
- Aug 21 Robert Harvey, Australian Rules Footballer (St Kilda Football Club), born in Seaford, Australia
- Aug 21 Shayne Edge, American NFL/WLAF punter (Steelers, Barcelona Dragons), born in Lake City, Florida
- Aug 22 Richard Armitage, British actor (The Hobbit; Robin Hood), born in Leicester, Leicestershire, England
- Aug 22 Rick Yune, American actor (Snow Falling on Cedars), born in Washington, D.C.
- Aug 23 Demetrio Albertini, Italian footballer, born in Besana in Brianza, Italy
- Aug 23 Gretchen Whitmer, American politician, Governor of Michigan (2019-), born in Lansing, Michigan
- Aug 23 Hugh Douglas, NFL defensive end (NY Jets), born in Mansfield, Ohio
- Aug 24 Pierfrancesco Favino, Italian actor, born in Rome, Italy
- Aug 25 Mike Lockwood, professional wrestler (d. 2003)
- Aug 25 Quintis "Chico" Ristie, Suriname radio host
- Aug 26 Jocelyn Borgella, first person of Haitian descent to play in the NHL (Detroit Lions), born in Nassau, Bahamas
Thalía (52 years old)
Aug 26 Mexican actress and singer known as the "Queen of Latin Pop", born in Mexico City
- Aug 27 Ernest Faber, Dutch soccer defender (1 cap; PSV) and manager (NEC, Groningen, PSV), born in Geldrop, Netherlands
- Aug 27 Jim Flanigan, NFL defensive tackle (Chicago Bears)
- Aug 27 Julian Cheung Chi-Lam, singer (A Modern Love Story) and actor (Return Of The Cuckoo), born in North Point, British Hong Kong
- Aug 28 Janet Evans, American swimmer (Olympic gold 400m, 800m, 400m medley 1988; 800m 1992; WR 400m, 800m, 1,500m), born in Fullerton, California
- Aug 28 Raul Marquez, Mexican-American boxer (Olympic-92), born in Valle Hermoso, Tamaulipas, Mexico
- Aug 28 Shane Andrews, infielder (Montreal Expos), born in Dallas, Texas
Todd Eldredge (52 years old)
Aug 28 American figure skater (World C'ship gold men's singles 1996; 6 x US national champion), born in Chatham, Massachusetts
Chris Tucker (52 years old)
Aug 31 American stand-up comedien and actor (Rush Hour), born in Atlanta, Georgia
- Aug 31 Mike Caldwell, American NFL linebacker (Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals) and coach, born in Oak Ridge, Tennessee
- Aug 31 Pádraig Harrington, Irish golfer (British Open 2007-08, PGA C'ship 2008, Ryder Cup wins 2002, 04, 06, 10), born in Dublin, Ireland
Famous Weddings
Donna Summer
Aug 5 American future five-time Grammy Award singer Donna Summer [née Gaines] (22) weds German actor Helmuth Sommer; divorce in 1976
Famous Deaths
- Aug 1 John McDermott, American golfer (US Open, 1911-12), dies of heart failure at 79 [1]
- Aug 2 Ludwig Marcuse, German philosopher (Obscene: The history of an indignation), dies at 77
- Aug 5 Josef Stanislav, Czech composer, and pedagogue, dies at 74
- Aug 7 (Henry) "Homer" Haynes, American country music comedian and guitarist (Homer & Jethro - "The Battle of Kookamonga"), dies of a heart attack at 51
- Aug 13 King Curtis [Ousley], American Grammy Award-winning R&B, rock, jazz, and session saxophonist bandleader ("Memphis Soul Stew"; Aretha Franklin; John Lennon), murdered during an argument with a vagrant outside of his NYC home at 37
W. O. Bentley (1888-1971)
Aug 13 English engineer and motoring pioneer who founded Bentley Motors Limited, dies at 82 [1]
Paul Lukas (1895-1971)
Aug 15 Hungarian actor (Kim, Berlin Express), dies of heart failure at 76
- Aug 15 Thomas Wayne, American rockabilly singer ("Tragedy"), dies in a car accident at 31
- Aug 16 Elsie Baker, actress (Ghosts of Hanley House), dies at 78
- Aug 16 Spyros Skouras, Greek-born American movie executive (20th Century Fox), dies at 78
- Aug 17 Horace McMahon, American actor (Detective Story, Martin Kane Private Eye), dies from a heart ailment at 65
- Aug 17 Wilhelm List, German field marshal during WWII, convicted of war crimes, dies at 91
- Aug 19 Mary Browne, American tennis player (US Nat C'ship 1912-14), dies at 80
- Aug 19 Walther Victor, German writer, dies at 76
- Aug 20 Rashid Minhas, Pakistani Air Force pilot (b. 1951)
- Aug 21 George Jackson, American criminal, author, and Black Guerrilla Family gang founder, shot to death during attempted San Quentin, California prison escape at 29
- Aug 23 Gisela Hernández [Gonzalo], Cuban composer (Diálogo), and music educator, dies at 58
- Aug 23 Oliver McGowan, American actor (Banning, Stagecoach), dies at 64
- Aug 23 The original Shamu, Sea World orca
- Aug 24 Carl Blegen, American archaeologist (excavator at Troy, Pylos), dies at 84
- Aug 25 Ted Lewis [Theodore Leopold Friedman], American entertainer, bandleader and musician (Is Everybody Happy?), dies of lung failure at 81
- Aug 26 Francesco Santoliquido, Italian composer, dies at 88
- Aug 27 Bennett Cerf, American publisher (Random House) and panelist (What's My Line), dies at 73
- Aug 27 Jim Turnesa, American golfer (PGA C'ship 1952; Ryder Cup 1953), dies of lung cancer at 58
- Aug 27 Lillian "Lil" Hardin Armstrong, American jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader, dies at 73
- Aug 27 Margaret Bourke-White, American photographer, 1st female LIFE staff photographer, dies at 67
- Aug 28 Nathan Leopold, US kidnapper and murderer of Bobby Franks (1924), dies at 66
