40 fun facts for August, 30

Discover dozens of fun facts for this special day. Read the summary for a quick recap on what happened.
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Summary
August 30 has been a remarkable day throughout history, witnessing events like the founding of Houston, Texas, the establishment of the White House-Kremlin hotline, and the premiere of Mary Poppins. Birthdays on this day include those of writer Mary Shelley, musician Charlie Parker, and actress Cameron Diaz.
40 Fun facts
  1. On August 30, 1836, the city of Houston, Texas, was founded by brothers Augustus and John Allen. Named after the then-President of the Republic of Texas, Sam Houston, the city was built on a piece of land near the Buffalo Bayou.
  2. In 1909, the Burgess Shale fossils were discovered by Charles Doolittle Walcott, a famous paleontologist. This important site, located in British Columbia, Canada, contains some of the oldest and best-preserved fossils dating back to 508 million years.
  3. Reggae music legend Keith Rowe was born on August 30, 1944. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Rowe is a founding member of the influential group, Keith and Tex, and his music helped define the rocksteady genre.
  4. On August 30, 1963, the first hotline communication link between the White House and the Kremlin was established. This direct telephone line enabled the two great powers to avoid misunderstandings and improve communication during the Cold War.
  5. The first radio broadcast of a major league baseball game took place on August 30, 1921, between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Philadelphia Phillies. This historic event was broadcasted by Pittsburgh's KDKA radio station.
  6. Theda Bara, a silent film actress who was famously known as the "Vamp," was born on August 30, 1885. She played the femme fatale in over 40 films and was one of cinema's earliest sex symbols.
  7. August 30, 1919, marked the birth of professional baseball player and coach Ted Williams. Nicknamed "The Splendid Splinter" and "The Kid,” Williams is regarded as one of the greatest hitters in the history of baseball.
  8. "Mary Poppins," the beloved Disney film based on the P.L. Travers book series, premiered on August 30, 1964. The film starred Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke and went on to win five Academy Awards.
  9. One of the most famous jewel thieves, Doris Payne, was born on August 30, 1930. Over a criminal career that spanned six decades, she reportedly stole around $2 million worth of jewels.
  10. The Beatles played their last-ever live concert on August 30, 1969, at the Isle of Wight Festival. Their performance was watched by an estimated audience of over 150,000.
  11. In the world of fashion, Cameron Russell, an American model, and activist was born on August 30, 1987. She has walked the runway for top brands like Prada, Chanel, and Victoria's Secret, and later engaged in activism for social and environmental issues.
  12. On August 30, 2002, the movie "City by the Sea" premiered, starring Robert De Niro and Frances McDormand. The film is based on the true story of a cop whose son becomes involved in a murder case.
  13. The influential Portuguese filmmaker, Manoel de Oliveira, was born on August 30, 1908. Spanning a career of over 90 years, Oliveira is recognized as one of the world's most creative and productive filmmakers.
  14. On August 30, 1935, movie director, producer, and actor John Phillips Avildsen was born. He is best known for directing the original "Rocky" in 1976 and "The Karate Kid” series.
  15. Agosto Cesar Sandino, a Nicaraguan revolutionary and anti-imperialist activist, was born on August 30, 1895. He fought against the US military intervention in Nicaragua during the 1920s and 1930s.
  16. Writer, director, and actor Roland Emmerich, known for creating movies like "Independence Day," "Stargate," and "The Day After Tomorrow," was born on August 30, 1955, in Germany.
  17. On August 30, 1884, Jack "Nonpareil" Dempsey, an Irish-American boxer, won the first Middleweight Championship of the World. He defended his title six times before losing it in 1891.
  18. The iconic pop artist, Roy Lichtenstein, was born on August 30, 1923. He was a leading figure in the pop art movement and his comic strip-inspired works are highly recognizable.
  19. On August 30, 1979, British comedian and television presenter James Corden was born. He is known for his Tony Award-winning Broadway performance in "One Man, Two Guvnors" and his hit late-night talk show, "The Late Late Show with James Corden."
  20. Author Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, best known for her groundbreaking and iconic work "Frankenstein," was born on August 30, 1797.
  21. On August 30, 1918, social activist and suffragette leader Fannie Lou Hamer was born. Her tireless efforts to fight for civil and voting rights are widely credited with helping to achieve the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in the United States.
  22. In 2003, the highly popular video game "The Sims 2" was released on August 30. It is a life simulation video game and the sequel to the best-selling game, "The Sims."
  23. Born on August 30, 1943, French actor and director Jean-Claude Van Damme, also known as "The Muscles from Brussels," achieved fame for his martial arts action films such as "Bloodsport" and "Universal Soldier."
  24. On August 30, 1967, celebrity hairstylist Frederic Fekkai was born. He is known for styling numerous A-list celebrities and even founded his own line of luxury haircare products.
  25. Saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Charlie Parker, also known as "Bird," was born on August 30, 1920. He was a pioneer of bebop and has been recognized as one of the most influential jazz musicians.
  26. August 30, 1974, is the birthday of actress and singer Cameron Diaz, known for her roles in films such as "The Mask," "There's Something About Mary," and "Charlie's Angels."
  27. On August 30, 1999, swing music and dance regained popularity with the release of the movie "Swing Kids" starring Robert Sean Leonard and Christian Bale.
  28. "The Great White Hope," a heavyweight boxing film, premiered on August 30, 1970. It starred James Earl Jones and chronicled the life story of African-American boxer Jack Johnson.
  29. Arthur Ashe, the first black man to win the US Open, was born on August 30, 1943. He was also the first African-American to be ranked as the No. 1 tennis player in the world.
  30. On August 30, 1776, the Battle of Long Island took place during the American Revolution. This battle was the first major conflict following the signing of the Declaration of Independence and marked the beginning of British occupation in New York.
  31. French composer Amédée-Ernest Chausson was born on August 30, 1855. He is known for his orchestral and chamber music compositions and was greatly influenced by Richard Wagner.
  32. The Bromo-Seltzer Tower, one of Baltimore's most iconic structures, was completed on August 30, 1911. It was originally built to advertise the Bromo-Seltzer headache remedy produced by inventor Isaac E. Emerson.
  33. United States Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a prominent figure in American politics and an advocate for women's rights, was born on August 30, 1966.
  34. American television host and Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts was born on August 30, 1960. She has been an influential figure in journalism and has survived both breast cancer and MDS.
  35. On August 30, 1791, the HMS Pandora, a British warship that had captured several of the Bounty mutineers, sank off the coast of Australia after striking the Great Barrier Reef.
  36. On August 30, 1958, the first nuclear-powered cargo ship, the NS Savannah, was launched in Camden, New Jersey.
  37. American NASCAR driver Sherry Pollex was born on August 30, 1978. She is not only known for her successful career in racing but also as an ovarian cancer survivor who has now become an advocate for early detection and treatment.
  38. The first Soviet Civil Code was adopted on August 30, 1922, regulating the Soviet Union's civil law.
  39. British singer-songwriter and guitarist Liam Gallagher, best known as the lead vocalist of the band Oasis, was born on August 30, 1972.
  40. Seychelles International Airport, located on the third-largest island of Seychelles, was officially opened to the public on August 30, 1971. Earlier, it was used as an RAF Flying Boat Station.

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