Orlando, FL in History

Florida: Fort Lauderdale - Gainesville - Hialeah - Jacksonville - Miami - Pensacola - St. Petersburg, FL - Tallahassee - Tampa - West Palm Beach

Historical Events

  • 1954-07-01 WDBO (now WCPX) TV channel 6 in Orlando, FL (CBS) begins broadcasting
  • 1956-05-29 WESH TV channel 2 in Daytona Beach-Orlando, FL (NBC) 1st broadcast
  • 1958-02-01 WFTV TV channel 9 in Orlando, FL (ABC) begins broadcasting
  • 1965-03-15 WMFE TV channel 24 in Orlando, FL (PBS) begins broadcasting
  • 1971-10-01 Walt Disney World opens in Bay Lake, Florida
  • 1982-10-01 EPCOT Center opens in Orlando, Florida
  • 1987-04-28 NBA announces expansion to Charlotte NC & Miami Fla in 1988 & Minneapolis Minn & Orlando Fla in 1989
  • 1989-01-29 Orlando Arena opens in Orlando, Florida

NBA All-Star Game

1992-02-09 42nd NBA All-Star Game, Orlando Arena, Orlando, FL: West beats East, 153-113; MVP: Magic Johnson, LA Lakers, F

Magic Johnson
NBA Legend Magic Johnson
  • 1994-05-16 Howard Stern Radio Show premieres in Orlando, Florida on WTKS 104.1 FM
  • 1998-04-22 Disney's Animal Kingdom opens at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Florida, United States.

WrestleMania

2008-03-30 WrestleMania XXIV, Florida Citrus Bowl, Orlando, FL: Kane defeats Chavo Guerrero; Randy Orton beats Triple H and John Cena in a title Triple Threat match; The Undertaker downs Edge

John Cena
Professional Wrestler and Actor John Cena
Triple H
Professional Wrestler Triple H
  • 2012-02-26 61st NBA All-Star Game, Amway Centre, Orlando, FL: West beats East, 152-149; MVP: Kevin Durant, OKC Thunder, F
  • 2016-06-12 Gunman claiming allegiance to the Islamic State opens fire at gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, killing 49, injuring 53 - worst mass shooting in the US
  • 2017-01-29 NFL Pro Bowl, Orlando, FL: AFC beats NFC, 20-13; MVPs: Travis Kelce, KC Chiefs, TE; Lorenzo Alexander, Buffalo Bills, LB
  • 2017-04-02 WrestleMania XXXIII, Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL: Roman Reigns defeats The Undertaker; Brock Lesnar beats Goldberg, first wrestler to win both WWE and Universal Championships
  • 2018-01-28 NFL Pro Bowl, Orlando, FL: AFC beats NFC, 24-23; MVPs: Delanie Walker, Tennessee Titans, TE; Von Miller, Denver Broncos, LB

NFL Pro Bowl

2019-01-27 NFL Pro Bowl, Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL: AFC beats NFC, 26-7; MVPs: Patrick Mahomes, KC Chiefs, QB; Jamal Adams, NY Jets, S

Patrick Mahomes
NFL Quarterback Patrick Mahomes
  • 2019-02-10 The eight centrally owned and operated team Alliance of American Football gets underway; Orlando Apollos beat Atlanta Legends, 40-6 at Spectrum Stadium, Orlando, FL

Famous Birthdays

  • 1939-06-11 Wilma Burgess, American country-pop singer ("Misty Blue"), born in Orlando, Florida (d. 2003)
  • 1943-01-30 Davey Johnson, American baseball second baseman (4 × MLB All-Star; World Series 1966, 70 Baltimore Orioles) and manager (World Series 1986 NY Mets), born in Orlando, Florida
  • 1956-07-30 Delta Burke, American actress (Suzanne-Designing Women), born in Orlando, Florida
  • 1957-01-11 Darryl Dawkins, American basketball center (Philadelphia 76ers, NJ Nets; NBA breaking a backboard rule), born in Orlando, Florida (d. 2015)
  • 1961-09-22 Dot Richardson, American softball infielder (Olympic gold 1996), born in Orlando, Florida
  • 1961-12-20 Nate Newton, NFL guard (Dallas Cowboys), born in Orlando, Florida
  • 1962-03-29 Billy Beane, American MLB baseball outfielder, executive (Oakland Athletics), born in Orlando, Florida
  • 1962-07-31 Wesley Snipes, American actor (Passenger 57, Money Train, Blade trilogy), born in Orlando, Florida
  • 1963-09-05 Tim McKyer, American NFL defensive back (Denver Broncos-Super Bowl 32), born in Orlando, Florida
  • 1963-11-01 Monty Sopp, American professional wrestler, born in Orlando, Florida
  • 1965-10-24 Vernice Smith, American NFL guard (Phoenix Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Washington Redskins, St Louis Rams), born in Orlando, Florida
  • 1966-06-14 Traylor Howard, American actress (Joy Byrnes-Boston Common), born in Orlando, Florida
  • 1968-11-21 Antonio Tarver, light heavyweight boxer (Olympics-br-96), born in Orlando, Florida
  • 1969-01-05 Shaun Micheel, American golfer (PGA C'ship 2003), born in Orlando, Florida
  • 1972-06-17 James McKnight, American NFL wide receiver (Seattle Seahawks), born in Orlando, Florida
  • 1972-12-19 Warren Sapp, American NFL Hall of Fame defensive tackle (Tampa Bay Bucs), born in Orlando, Florida
  • 1972-12-25 Josh Freese, American session and touring rock drummer(Devo; Sting; Nine Inch Nails; Kelly Clarkson), born in Orlando, Florida
  • 1973-08-22 Howie Dorough, American singer (Backstreet Boys - "I Want It That Way"), born in Orlando, Florida
  • 1974-01-20 Calvin Harrison, American athlete (Olympic gold medalist), born in Orlando, Florida
  • 1974-08-14 Chucky Atkins, American basketball player, born in Orlando, Florida
  • 1975-01-31 Kenard Lang, American football defensive end (Washington Redskins), born in Orlando, Florida
  • 1982-05-11 Jonathan Jackson, actor (Lucky-General Hospital), born in Orlando Florida
  • 1985-06-03 Detox Icunt [Matthew Sanderson], American drag queen, recording artist and TV personality (RuPaul's Drag Race), born in Orlando, Florida

Famous Weddings

  • 2004-12-30 Boston Red Sox centerfielder Johnny Damon (31) weds Michelle Mangan at Ritz Carlton Grande Lakes Hotel in Orlando, Florida
  • 2007-12-08 Backstreet Boys member Howie Dorough (34) weds longtime girlfriend Leigh Boniello at St. James Cathedral in Orlando, Florida
  • 2012-07-26 NBA guard Rafer Alston (36) weds "Basketball Wives" star Ashley Walker at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida
  • 2013-11-02 'N Sync founding member Chris Kirkpatrick (42) weds his girlfriend Karly Skladany in Orlando, Florida