From the archives
Classic headlineLocal High School Dropouts Cut in Half
Source: Classic headline (CJR 'Squad Helps Dog Bite Victim' collections)View clipping source
Monday 12 October 2026
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- Local High School Dropouts Cut in HalfHall of Fame◆
- 1975Some Notes (Mostly Sour) On Singing SongsThe New York Times◆
- 2021New Zealand announces radical shake-up of health systemThe Guardian◆
- 2012I have zero sympathy for Simon CowellThe Guardian◆
- 1861Thaddeus S. C. Lowe, attempting to display the value of balloons, makes record journey, flying 900 miles from Cincinnati to South Carolina.Wikipedia◆
- 2023SpaceX's Starship launched for the first time before exploding four minutes into flight.Wikipedia◆
- 1939Billie Holiday (pictured) recorded the song "Strange Fruit", which later became an emblem of the civil rights movement.Wikipedia◆
- 2023SpaceX's Starship rocket, the largest and most powerful rocket ever built, launches for the first time. It explodes four minutes into flight.Wikipedia◆
- 2010The Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explodes in the Gulf of Mexico, killing eleven workers and beginning an oil spill that lasted six months.Wikipedia◆
- 1828French explorer René Caillié reached Timbuktu in present-day Mali, and later received a 9,000-franc prize from the Société de Géographie for being the first European to return with a description of the city.Wikipedia◆
- 1535Sun dogs were observed over Stockholm, Sweden, inspiring Vädersolstavlan, the oldest coloured depiction of the city.Wikipedia◆
- 1828René Caillié becomes the second non-Muslim to enter Timbuktu, following Major Gordon Laing. He would also be the first to return alive.Wikipedia◆
- 1809Two Austrian army corps in Bavaria are defeated by a First French Empire army led by Napoleon at the Battle of Abensberg on the second day of a four-day campaign that ended in a French victory.Wikipedia◆
- 2008American racing driver Danica Patrick won the Indy Japan 300, becoming the first woman to win an IndyCar auto race.Wikipedia◆
- Local High School Dropouts Cut in HalfHall of Fame◆
- 1975Some Notes (Mostly Sour) On Singing SongsThe New York Times◆
- 2021New Zealand announces radical shake-up of health systemThe Guardian◆
- 2012I have zero sympathy for Simon CowellThe Guardian◆
- 1861Thaddeus S. C. Lowe, attempting to display the value of balloons, makes record journey, flying 900 miles from Cincinnati to South Carolina.Wikipedia◆
- 2023SpaceX's Starship launched for the first time before exploding four minutes into flight.Wikipedia◆
- 1939Billie Holiday (pictured) recorded the song "Strange Fruit", which later became an emblem of the civil rights movement.Wikipedia◆
- 2023SpaceX's Starship rocket, the largest and most powerful rocket ever built, launches for the first time. It explodes four minutes into flight.Wikipedia◆
- 2010The Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explodes in the Gulf of Mexico, killing eleven workers and beginning an oil spill that lasted six months.Wikipedia◆
- 1828French explorer René Caillié reached Timbuktu in present-day Mali, and later received a 9,000-franc prize from the Société de Géographie for being the first European to return with a description of the city.Wikipedia◆
- 1535Sun dogs were observed over Stockholm, Sweden, inspiring Vädersolstavlan, the oldest coloured depiction of the city.Wikipedia◆
- 1828René Caillié becomes the second non-Muslim to enter Timbuktu, following Major Gordon Laing. He would also be the first to return alive.Wikipedia◆
- 1809Two Austrian army corps in Bavaria are defeated by a First French Empire army led by Napoleon at the Battle of Abensberg on the second day of a four-day campaign that ended in a French victory.Wikipedia◆
- 2008American racing driver Danica Patrick won the Indy Japan 300, becoming the first woman to win an IndyCar auto race.Wikipedia◆
20 April in history
0 eventsEvents, inventions, discoveries and releases. Looking for people or sport? See , and below.
We are adding more verified events for this date - more coming soon.
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What happened on this day · Odd history for today
Vintage News — April 20
1861 Oddly trueThaddeus S. C. Lowe, attempting to display the value of balloons, makes record journey, flying 900 miles from Cincinnati to South Carolina.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
2023 First everSpaceX's Starship launched for the first time before exploding four minutes into flight.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
1939 WeirdBillie Holiday (pictured) recorded the song "Strange Fruit", which later became an emblem of the civil rights movement.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2023 First ever
SpaceX's Starship rocket, the largest and most powerful rocket ever built, launches for the first time. It explodes four minutes into flight.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
2010 Oddly trueThe Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explodes in the Gulf of Mexico, killing eleven workers and beginning an oil spill that lasted six months.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
From The Guardian Archives — On This Day
2021The GuardianNew Zealand announces radical shake-up of health systemDistrict boards scrapped in favour of centralised body to tackle ‘postcode lottery’ and Māori Health Authority establ…
Read on The Guardian →- 2012The GuardianI have zero sympathy for Simon Cowell
Deborah Orr: Often it seems unfair when a public figure's private business is hung out to dry in the media. But not w…
Read on The Guardian → - 1975The New York Times · Front pageSome Notes (Mostly Sour) On Singing Songs
What the world needs is a Society for the Promotion of Last Performances. This organization would dispense prizes to…
Read on NYTimes.com →
Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform · Historic front pages via the NYT Archive API
Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Thumbnails CC BY-SA. Headlines via The Guardian Open Platform and the NYT Archive API. Historic pages via Library of Congress Chronicling America. Curated by OddlyTrue.
Strange but true headlines of the day
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1950
Weird history, same day
- ???? First ever
SpaceX's Starship launched for the first time before exploding four minutes into flight.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1939 Weird
Billie Holiday (pictured) recorded the song "Strange Fruit", which later became an emblem of the civil rights movement.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2023 First ever
SpaceX's Starship rocket, the largest and most powerful rocket ever built, launches for the first time. It explodes four minutes into flight.
Read more →Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Hall of Fame headlines are manually verified clippings (source linked); nothing is scraped from Newspapers.com. Facts from Wikipedia On This Day API (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia. Clippings from the Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers site.
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Viewing 20 April — today is 12 October.
Born on this day
0No recorded births.
Died on this day
17 in the archiveFive infamous ends — executed, assassinated or murdered — drawn at random from the archive. All infamous ends →
Accident
2012Death
Whitney Houston dies
Whitney Houston, singer and actress, died on this day in 2012. Accidental drowning. Remembered as: One of the best-selling music artists of all time.
Suicide
2016Death
Prince dies
Prince, musician, died on this day in 2016. Fentanyl overdose. Remembered as: Innovative artist known for his eclectic work and flamboyant stage presence.
Suicide
2014Death
Robin Williams dies
Robin Williams, actor and comedian, died on this day in 2014. Suicide. Remembered as: Known for his improvisational skills and wide variety of roles.
Suicide
2008Death
Heath Ledger dies
Heath Ledger, actor, died on this day in 2008. Accidental prescription drug overdose. Remembered as: Acclaimed performances, including the Joker in The Dark Knight.
Assassinated
1948Death
Mahatma Gandhi dies
Mahatma Gandhi, political ethicist, died on this day in 1948. Assassinated. Remembered as: Leader of the Indian independence movement.
Famous birthdays
3 this weekToday · 20 April
No famous birthdays recorded for 20 April yet.
Coming up this week
Karl MarxGerman philosopher and socialist (1818–1883)22 April · born 1818
Mahatma GandhiIndian independence activist (1869–1948)24 April · born 1869
William ShakespeareEnglish playwright and poet (1564–1616)26 April · born 1564
Day of Recognition20 April
UN Chinese Language Day
Celebrates multilingualism and the historical, cultural contribution of the Chinese language.
Music · No.1 on this day
What was topping the charts
The official No.1 singles and albums in the UK and the USA on this date, decade by decade.
2016 10 yrs ago
2006 20 yrs ago
1996 30 yrs ago
1986 40 yrs ago
1976 50 yrs ago
1966 60 yrs ago
1956 70 yrs ago
Sport on this day
0Finals, medals and records decided on 20 April.
No recorded sporting finals on this date yet.
Sporting almanac
Who was champion, 10, 25 and 50 years ago
World Cups, Olympics, Wimbledon, the Masters, Super Bowl and more — year by year since 1877.
2016 10 yrs ago
- Olympic GamesSummer Olympics in Rio
- WimbledonAndy Murray and Serena Williams win Wimbledon
- Super BowlDenver Broncos win Super Bowl 50
- Tour de FranceChris Froome wins the Tour de France
- The MastersDanny Willett wins the Masters
- World SeriesChicago Cubs win the World Series
2001 25 yrs ago
- WimbledonGoran Ivanisevic and Venus Williams win Wimbledon
- Super BowlBaltimore Ravens win Super Bowl XXXV
- The MastersTiger Woods wins the Masters
- World SeriesArizona Diamondbacks win the World Series
- NBA FinalsLos Angeles Lakers win the NBA Finals
- Stanley CupColorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup
1976 50 yrs ago
- Olympic GamesSummer Olympics in Montreal
- Olympic GamesWinter Olympics in Innsbruck
- WimbledonBjorn Borg and Chris Evert win Wimbledon
- Super BowlPittsburgh Steelers win Super Bowl X
- Tour de FranceLucien Van Impe wins the Tour de France
- The MastersRaymond Floyd wins the Masters
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