We take a look at some of the events that occurred on May 6th.

Today In …

1861- Arkansas ceded from the Union in the days leading up to the Civil War.

1937 - The Hindenburg disaster occurred today in Lakehurst, New Jersey.

1940 - John Steinbeck received the Pulitzer Prize for his book “The Grapes of Wrath”.

1957 - Future President John F. Kennedy won the Pulitzer Prize for his book “Profiles in Courage”.

1994 - England’s Queen Elizabeth II and French President Francois Mitterrand were on hand to officially open the Channel Tunnel, connecting the U.K. and France.

Sharing A Birthday Today…

Raymond Bailey who starred on TV’s “The Beverly Hillbillies” was born in 1904.

Tom Bergeron one of the hosts of TV’s “Dancing with the Stars” was born in 1955.

Tony Blair the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom was born in 1953.

George Clooney who starred in “From Dusk Til Dawn”, “O, Brother Where Art Thou” and “Syriana” was born in 1961.

Roma Downey who starred on TV’s “Touched by an Angel” was born in 1960.

Sigmund Freud the psychiatrist was born in 1856.

Dana Hill who starred as Audrey in “European Vacation” was born in 1964.

Paul Lauterbur the inventor of magnetic-resonance imaging which we know as the MRI was born in 1929.

Gaston Leroux the author of “Phantom of the Opera” was born in 1868.

Ben Masters who starred on TV’s “Passions” was born in 1947.

Willie Mays the legendary baseball player was born in 1931.

Robert Peary one of the first explorers of the North Pole was born in 1856.

Tsar Nicholas Romanov II of Russia was born in 1868.

Bob Seger the voice behind such hits as “Night Moves” and “Old Time Rock & Roll” was born in 1945.

Rudolph Valentino one of Hollywood’s renowned actors who starred in “The Sheik” was born in 1895.

Orson Welles the legendary director/writer/actor whose works include “Citizen Kane” was born in 1915.

We Said Goodbye To…

Otis Blackwell the singer/songwriter best known for writing the memorable songs “Don’t Be Cruel”, “Great Balls of Fire” and “Return to Sender” passed away in 2002 at the age of 70.

Marlene Dietrich the screen siren who starred in “The Blue Angel” and “Judgment at Nuremberg” passed away in 1992 at the age of 90.

Edward VII the British monarch passed away in 1910 at the age of 69.

Henry David Thoreau the author/philosopher passed away in 1862 at the age of 44.

Top Of The Charts On This Day In…

1995 - On The Country Charts – “I Can Love You Like That” by John Michael Montgomery
2006 - On The Country Charts – “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” by Jennifer Nettles and Jon Bon Jovi

Memorable Sports Moments In…

1915 - Babe Ruth hit his first home run!

1954 - The first four minute mile was ran by Roger Bannister today.

Famous Marriages

1950 - Elizabeth Taylor married Conrad Hilton Jr. The marriage would last less than a year.

1960 - England’s Princess Margaret married Anthony Armstrong-Jones.

Don’t forget about the Today In History Newsletter!