This Day in History: April 1

It is April fools day, a day on which you need to exercise skepticism regarding even the most serious channels. But real things do happen on April 1st. In fact, quite a few things have happened on this day in history.
A History of April Fools: • Porky Bickar and Fooli...
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This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. As very few images of the actual event are available in the Public Domain, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration.
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All events are portrayed in historical context and for educational purposes. No images or content are primarily intended to shock and disgust. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Non censuram.
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Script by THG
#history #thehistoryguy #onthisday

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

As many viewers noticed, I misstated the year that Eisenhower was elected. He was elected in 1952 and the United States Air Force Academy was established in 1954. I apologize for the error. Or, rather, April fools! ;)

[@Vicus_of_Utrecht]

Bruh, I've heard far worse lol. Damn it's been 4 years with ya. ... I'm so old.

[@ChiefMac59]

I caught that error and was going to comment, I say your correction

[@mollybell5779]

LOL Lance. Ya got me. 😅

[@HM2SGT]

😅 _That wasn't an error, that was an intentional, subtle April fools joke_ 😸👍🤞🍀 What was that thing that NASA said when the mission failed but they gathered useful data anyway, something about it just succeeded in an unexpected way? 😉

[@MR2Davjohn]

I did notice that. He was elected president in 1952.

[@stevebailey325]

You forgot the birth of my father, Thomas Rudkin Bailey in 1938. Veteran, blue collar boiler operater for 40 years, father of 7, grandfather of 10, ggrand father of 6 and a man with a wicked sense of humor. He always had time for us and we never tired of kidding him about his bday. :)

[@zackakai5173]

I'm just about of the age that I distinctly remember watching the premiere of this new Nickelodeon show called Spongebob Squarepants as a kid. Now, a quarter century later, Spongebob is up there with Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny as one of the single most iconic western cartoon characters of all time. History only gets more interesting when you get to an age that you've been around long enough to have watched it play out in real time.

[@lp-xl9ld]

In an old PEANUTS strip, one character tells Charlie Brown something like "Are you aware that no matter what day it is, it's someone's birthday?" Same can be said about events of historic significance.

[@tygrkhat4087]

In an old BC strip, Thor tells Peter that if you stand in one spot long enough, someone with the same birthday and intellectual level will pass by you. Eventually a chimp with a birthday cake riding a wheel comes up to him.

[@alan9963]

😊​@@tygrkhat4087

[@ghowell13]

As a Gen Xer, Nickelodeon will always be remebered for "You Can't Do That On Television." IYKYK

[@dsc4178]

Which the got from an Ontario Canada network.

[@leesimmons5453]

That was their best show.

[@Enolagay1945]

If you watch the new documentary on Nick...there was alot more they shouldn't have done on TV 😮

[@mariebelladonna437]

IYKYK. And if you don't know, you get covered in green slime.

[@ghowell13]

@mariebelladonna437 wish I could ❤️ react your response

[@Nicksonian]

The Kiwi, a flightless bird, associated with the New Zealand Air Force. Not the kind of association you’d want to make. Appropriate perhaps, it being April fools.

[@NoahSpurrier]

This is why the Australians make fun of their New Zealand neighbors.

[@tygrkhat4087]

@@NoahSpurrier As John Oliver put it: "New Zealand. Australia's Australia." And Australia's roundel has a kangaroo, so an animal that leaps, on a plane.

[@NoahSpurrier]

@@tygrkhat4087 Same accent, beautiful scenery, no scary snakes and spiders. The Kiwis have 6 sheep per person. New Zealand is obviously the better choice.

[@johndemeritt3460]

@@NoahSpurrier, you have NO IDEA how hard I'm trying to resist any sheep jokes!

[@__________________v___00000]

Humans are also a flightless creature, and New Zealanders call themselves Kiwis. It is one of my favorite insignias

[@MrDannMann]

My father broke his ankle on April 1st in the late 70s or 80s, it took many times from calls of the hospital to get my grandmother to believe them! Pretty silly really, thank you for this excellent content sir, I’ve watched this channel for a while, it’s always good to see you upload!

[@Nilumbra]

Not in the USA? Why would you be calling the hospital directly? In USA you'd be calling 911 and they are obligated to investigate ALL calls, no matter if it sounds fake .. they send out a unit and if it's a prank call you are cited. So your story doesn't make a ton of sense unless your family was in a country without emergency services.

[@MrDannMann]

@@Nilumbra the hospital was calling her, but never mind.

[@richardthornhill4630]

That's history that deserves to be remembered.

[@alidaweber1023]

When I hear the word nickelodeon, I think of old black and white silent movies.

[@LIE11Bldg7]

Marvin Gaye, Still very much missed

[@mikenixon2401]

Wow. An entirely different perspective of April reality day. Thanks for your work.

[@tomdixon7264]

I passed my private pilot's exam on, you guessed it, April 1st (1988). This might help to explain a lot of things.

[@tygrkhat4087]

I love the fact that the RAF, RCAF and RNZAF all share the same birthday.

[@robertwatson39]

April Fools Day 2012 was an important day for me. I’d only been playing golf seriously for 18 months, when at 3:35pm at the Gympie Golf Club ( Queensland Australia) I scored my one and only “Hole in One on the Par 3 17th hole. The tee distance was 183 metres, but the ball actually travelled about 210 metres. This alone made it a special day for me.

[@user-oh2hs6jh5x]

THG, I think you misspoke at the 7:00 minute mark of your video when you said Eisenhower was elected El Presidente in 1942. I have no doubt that you really meant to say 1952.

[@RetiredSailor60]

I caught that too.

[@edwinhryzan9030]

me too

[@tommost1]

14:13 he said January 1.

[@jamesomalley4556]

yep!

[@annayosh]

1 April, more exactly 1 April 1572, is a famous date in Dutch history. That day the Dutch revolutionaries conquered the city of Den Briel from the Spanish, it becoming the first city that was held by the revolutionaries in the Dutch Revolt after they had been chased out of the country in 1568 and starting the conquest of much of the country.

[@user-oh2hs6jh5x]

Good Monday Morning history fans and fellow nerds. Welcome to class. Please take your favorite seat and grab your beverage of choice.

[@JeffreyGlover65]

I'm present...with a cup of coffee and 2 donuts ( one for the teacher) 😎

[@Vicus_of_Utrecht]

Already had my beverages. Drunk as a skunk lol Postscript- f off, I don't work YOUR shift hours 😅

[@fredericknolan5420]

Born on March 13, 1954. Visited the academy in 1977 while stationed at Lowery AFB for tech school.

[@RetiredSailor60]

Good morning History Guy and everyone watching...New month, new week, and new history lesson.

[@BasicDrumming]

I appreciate you and thank you for making content.

[@robertbufkin5568]

Thanks!

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Thank you!

[@TheCleric42]

The Cincinnati fire department story made this all worth while.

[@edfromnc7660]

Also April 1st 1976, The Consolidated ail Corporation was formed from the remnants of several northeast railroads, Conrail was born. Some thought it was a joke....

[@JustMe-cr1dr]

In response to your mention of Nickelodeon: my absolute, hands-down favorite "Nick" show was Double Dare - a fast-paced game show for kids starring Marc Summers as the MC. Absolutely brilliant!!! BTW - Marc was the perfect game show host!!! I would have loved to see much more of him.

[@rumi5556]

Hi !! I just found your channel and I am so delighted. Your knowledge of history and the ease with which you share is so good. I'm checking all episodes. Thank you, takecare 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

Top of the morning stretching and a yawning 😴

[@Vicus_of_Utrecht]

You don't do that sleeping?

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

@@Vicus_of_Utrecht I was sleeping when the video first was released. Now I am brushing my teeth 😬 and going to bed 🛌 😴 Have a pleasant day.

[@BenjySparky]

THG,you rock! Love the channel and content. Peace 🤘 💥 ✌️

[@antoy384]

Little known: In Spain, April Fools is on December 28th. A friend told me he got married with his newly girlfriend. And at midnight told us it was a joke. 15 years later, they are still together with a child.

[@ExposingReflections]

Very enjoyable. Thank you

[@steveshoemaker6347]

l remember the night that Eisenhower was elected....An thank THG🎀 for all of hard work making history video's down thru these years now 👍 Old F-4 Shoe🇺🇸

[@tony-lx6cz]

To be remembered !

[@paulmcmanus6222]

One of your best so far, THG!

[@shawnr771]

Thank you for the lesson.

[@snotgurgletroll1812]

In the late 90s i was home health nurse thus did a lot of driving. My favorite radio station was playing disco music. I kept thinking that the station would advertise that the radio station would change. I FINALLY figured out it was April 1st!! 😂😂😂😂😂

[@pokiishere-sebastian2126]

Another great piece. Thank you!

[@carywest9256]

You got 'em,History dude(guy)! I love history myself and maps from the current era to old historical ones. And when Mom& Dad and l would travel on weekends or vacations. My dad would have me navigate to see if l knew my sense of direction. This was at the age of 8 or 9 when l started. I dig your segments on forgotten history, its good to learn something even at the fresh new age of 62. And that's not an April Fool joke.Take care and GOD bless you and everyone who's a believer.

[@HM2SGT]

😅 HAH! Whoda thunk it? Never imagined, didn't see that one coming! The historical senses of humour... 😄

[@jamiethibeault8011]

@THG amazing job as always! I love the work you do and I am ALWAYS sharing your stuff with friends. But I have one more for you that may have slipped your attention as it is very specific to a small group of Navy Sailors. You forgot one that is an important event for me and a large number of senior enlisted U.S. Navy members past and present, man or woman. On April 1st, 1893 the U.S. Navy officially created the rate of Chief Petty Officer. The first Chiefs were in the following ratings... Master-at-Arms, Boatswain's Mate, Quartermaster, Gunner's Mate, Machinist, Carpenter's Mate, Yeoman, Apothecary and Band Master. Some of these ratings (your MOS to other services) no longer exsist but most are still there. So to any other of my fellow CPOs out there..."NAVY CHIEF, NAVY PRIDE"!

[@stefansauvageonwhat-a-twis1369]

I thought 1:42 was a joke because captions said Voldemort IV instead of Valdemar IV lol

[@bigsarge2085]

It's April 1st, but THG ain't no fool!

[@darandeyoe]

Also, April 1, 1893 The United States Navy established the rank of CPO, Chief Petty Officer, (E-7). Happy birthday Chiefs 🎉

[@magistrumartium]

Ludendorff (8:46) was not Hitler's follower for long. When H was appointed chancellor In 1933, Ludendorff wrote to President Hindenburg, "I prophesy to you solemnly that this accursed man will take our Reich into the abyss."

[@bludeetu321]

My husband had a job in the 90's that required a lot of driving. He listened to NPR to pass the time. He came home on the afternoon of April 1st very excited to have learned that you could make a marvellous tea from organic garden compost. It was full of healthy, healing properties. It had to be true because it was on NPR. I raised my eyebrows and asked what is today's date? He looked at me blankly for a minute and then deflated and said "Oh!" Every April first since then one of us remembers to ask the other if they would like a cup of compost tea. 😂😂😂

[@aprilmorris4588]

@thehistoryguy I detested History class all the way until I graduated from HS and thankfully didn't need any History classes in college. Having said that, I am hooked on your channel and watch you all the time. I rarely comment, but since this is my birthday month, I wanted to say Thank You. Until I found your channel, the only history I was interested in was local to the Pacific Northwest & Oregon Trail. Now my history interests have expanded and I'm enjoying it. Much gratitude.

[@scotcoon1186]

When you learn more about the 20th century from The History Guy and Sabaton, you might have gone to my school, where we had a teacher so obsessed with the Civil War, we spent 30 of 36 weeks on it.

[@cliff8669]

Perhaps one of the greatest fooled ya got ya moments in history took place on October 30, 1938. Orson Welles "War of the Worlds" aired on the radio. How appropriate it would have been if that radio program was on April 1st.

[@QAKVIK]

Perhaps. However it caused panic in the cities, towns and streets. If anyone tried a stunt like that these days they'd be quickly tracked down, captured (possibly forcefully) and detained somewhere for an indeterminate time period. YIKES! I think too many people around the world have sadly lost their sense of humor.

[@cliff8669]

Yes...Humor is going the way of the DoDo Bird.@@QAKVIK

[@victorwadsworth821]

You're pulling my leg.

[@eugeneblue299]

Thank you.

[@kellybasham3113]

Love you videos

[@thomasmccrea8149]

On April 1st 1992 The Tommy and The Bull radio show announced that Mt Trashmore Park in Va Beach blew up due to a methane gas explosion raining dirt clods all over the Va Beach Expressway . This caused little panic and got them in a wee bit of trouble but everyone had a good laugh.

[@lukevaxhacker7762]

A risky proposition, a number of companies have gone public on April Fools' Day. Worked for one who did that 14 years ago today, although some call it a scam…

[@Megatron65]

The Battleship Tirpitz was launched April 1st 1939

[@janlindtner305]

As a Dane, Niels Ebbesen is a national hero who beheaded Count Gerhart "Den kullede greve" (the bald count) in Randers April 1 / 1340. Niels Ebbesen was involved in several battles in what is known as the Count's Feud, and after several battles and retreats, he fell in battle and died on November 2 / 1340. Niels Ebbesen's body was placed on wheels and steeples. At night it was removed by his friends and taken away. Presumably he was buried in Vestervig church. Honor be to your memory Niels. In this country it is a tradition to say something that makes the "April Fool" to go over a doorstep to really be a fool. There is just delivert an exciting package at your main door from me!--------- April's fool. Likewise, there is a tradition of "May cat" May the 1st. Happy Easter to you and yours❤👍🤟

[@RussellBond-dk6dj]

Nice save Lance I was going to send you a correction lol Happy Fools of April Day

[@CAMacKenzie]

I saw the spaghetti tree "documentry" on the The Tonight Show, starring, at the time, Jack Paar. Since I was a little kid at the time, just 6 or 7, I didn't often get to see Jack Paar, but I did see that.

[@stenbak88]

This is a good channel… April fools it is an amazing channel

[@scotcoon1186]

The North Platte canteen served their last World War 2 troop train April 1, 1946.

[@iambrian769]

Breakfast In Caribbean 🇻🇨 With This History.

[@johnfun3394]

I’m still complaining about my Doc Marten shoes I bought twenty years ago, most uncomfortable shoes ever, no fooling!

[@paulc7590]

Elderly friends of mine, George and Vivian, were planning to be married on April 1 back in the 1930s. Their parents would not allow it so they had to wait until April 2 to be married.

[@tiggerib5536]

Nothing about Pirates??? I mean all good stories have to have pirates involved!!! :)

[@cecillanter3207]

at around 7 minute error in date mentioned, the election a date was said to be 1942.. should be 1952

[@ShukenFlash]

Not going to lie, I kind of expected the link in the description was going to be a Rick Roll. I'm not sure if I'm disappointed or not

[@ThomasEJohnson]

It is also my Mother’s Birthday. Born on April 1st 1945, Easter Sunday.

[@J.A.Smith2397]

Very good

[@HM2SGT]

4:00 SOS . . . - - - . . . Replacing CQD - . - . - - . - - . .

[@GrumpyMeow-Meow]

I identify as the government. Everybody send me money! 😂

[@davesimms8825]

According to the RCAF it started April 1 1924 not 1923. They are currently celebrating the centennial.

[@neohistoryfan1014]

you also forgot Conrail, which started operations on this day, back in 1976.

[@Louis-kk3to]

April 1st 1978 , I was just a teenager ,I got out of bed ready for work at our family auto repair shop , and turned on the bathroom water ,,, and told my parents ,,THE WATER PIPE WAS BUSTED 😂 , MY DAD SAID THAT WAS A GOOD APRIL FOOLS ,AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORK TOO DAY JUST GO BACK TO BED AND I'LL STILL PAY YOU , " APRIL - FOOLS " 😢😂😂😂

[@johneverson2433]

April 1 is a payed holiday to the UMWA and no one could ever answer the question why

[@american7169]

Happy new year everyone!

[@Sibyle79]

I beta-tested Gmail and still use that account today.

[@LauraTenora]

2:44 April Fools Day may have been well established by the XVIII Century, but I don't think in Spain, as in Spanish speaking countries the day for pranks is December the 28th: Santos Inocentes. It's supposed to pay homage to the innocent children slaughtered by Herod, but it ended up messing with the gullibility of "innocent" people. Love your channel! Thanks!

[@garydiypapa2846]

Just noticed that you said Dwight Eisenhower was elected president in 1942, it was actually 1952. You may want to issue a correction.

[@HugoHugunin]

8:52 Lance, I found your April Fools joke! Dwight D Eisenhower was *NOT* elected president in 1942. It was 10 years later...in 1952.

[@Svensk7119]

THG, Paul Harvey said that April Fools Day sprang from the old tradition of celebrating Christmas in late March, early April. When that fell out of fashion, there were still hold outs, but it came to be that if you were still celebrating Christmas on the First of April, you were called an April Fool. So said Paul Harvey, anyway.

[@adriang6259]

Was about to mention the misdating but you just fixed that. I wondered if it was your own April fool's joke.

[@wholeNwon]

Well, almost: Eisenhower did not become President in "1942". I'm sure you were just trying to see whether we were paying attention.

[@Doc_Egan]

I love your content. However, I must mention that you forgot to talk about the birthday of the U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer.

[@ssgtmole8610]

Personal history: I moved into my house on April 1st, 2008.

[@russhassell9742]

You're so part of it. I will enjoy debunking this bullshit. Lol April fools belated. 😂😂

[@orbyfan]

Canadians have been the victims of several April Fool's jokes pulled by the federal government. On April 1, 1975, conversion to the metric system began when temperatures were changed from Fahrenheit to Celsius. On April 1, 1999, Nunavut, formerly the eastern part of the Northwest Territories, came into existence as a separate territory. There were a few of us back in the day who warned that the problems that existed there would continue, with another layer of government put on top of everything, which the rest of the country would end up paying for. Nunavut is such a colossal failure that it can't even take care of its own children. On April 1, 2024, yet another carbon tax forced on us by the regime of Justin Trudeau went into effect, while yet another pay raise for the 338 members of the House of Commons also went into effect.

[@DeconvertedMan]

Today I won 2,000,000! :D

[@mariebelladonna437]

I went to school with a set of identical twins who were born on April 1, 1979/80. The story that they liked to tell was that, because my generation was born before ultrasounds and such were widely, commonly used during pregnancy, their mother didn't know there were two of them until just after the first (Josh) was born, and the doctor looked down and said, "Uh-oh, here comes another one!" And because it was April 1, their mother thought it was a terrible April Fool's joke on the part of the doctor, and didn't believe him, until the second twin (Jason) popped out, and she saw for herself! 😂😂

[@edwardliquorish8540]

Our history is in books as well as audio and video. More is being digitalised. One of the oldest continuous peoples in the world is in Australia. Big country and tens of thousands of years to develop their technology. I theories, there could be an out of Australia migration back into Asia.

[@jamesmoss3424]

It's a good day to play some pranks. 😀👍

[@HBrooks]

i had a gmail account when it was invite only beta. had a 'hotmail' account before Microsoft bought it. :P

[@padraicfarrell188]

Great episode. You missed the opportunity to put one joke event in there and leave us to figure out which one it was.

[@samhianblackmoon]

🔥👍🏽

[@tonnitoedwards]

Its amazing that the Us airforce has just been around officially since 1947 and has become the worlds most premier and powerful airforce surpassing the British by far. A whooping 20,000 aircrafts thats incredible force as they say quantity is a quality by itself the English were amazing.

[@danam0228]

They were previously the United States Army Air Force from 1941-1947, and before that the aviation section of the U.S. Army Signal Corps from 1914. But yeah, the English became the largest by the end of WW1 and the best until about the middle of WW2 which a lot of people seem to forget. Peopke also seem to forget that the French were very prolific at producing stellar aircraft in WW1, the SPAD VIII being the best of the war, and provided the US Expeditionary Force with it's first fighter planes.

[@josephhodges132]

Eisenhower prez in 1942????!!!

[@bushranger51]

My mother passed away on 1 April 2018, and since then it is a black day for me.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

I am sorry for your loss

[@jeffbangkok]

Good night

[@dn88s]

Did you know that the history guy was born on April 1st?

[@oorzuis1419]

I heard that on April 1 the Geuzen 'Dutch Freedom fighters lay in front of the Den Briel harbor In the misty dawn putting up extra lights on every ship and shouting "in name of the prince of Orange open the sluis". masking the reel nr of ships in front of the port around 1580. I am not sure about the right date only it was on April 1st (the Spanish surrendered or fled I believe)

[@samlbrown6665]

You stated that Eisenhower was elected in 1942. Just a slip I'm sure, it was 1952.

[@sandrablanchette2239]

My father was honorably discharged on April 1, 1946 No joke

[@orbyfan]

On April 1, 1984, Marvin Gaye, one day short of his 45th birthday, was shot and killed by his father.

[@goodun2974]

At 1:57 , The US government had previously used the CIA to help unseat a democratically elected leader of Iran because he wanted to nationalize the oil industry there, and we installed a tyrannical dictator in his place. Regardless of his cancer, the Shah's brutal regime was about to come to an end soon enough, and the US bears blame for Iran reverting to a religious theocracy.

[@magistrumartium]

The voters of Iran deserve some blame too.

[@TranscendianIntendor]

April Fools is the Transcendian National Holiday.

[@stevenwiederholt7000]

6:39 AIR FORCE! We're the smart ones. Send the officers out to fight. 🙂