Historical Events in April 1970

Apr 1 John Lennon and Yoko Ono release hoax they are having dual sex change operations

Apr 1 US President Richard Nixon signs bill limiting cigarette advertisements from 1st Jan 1971

Apr 1 Serious riots continue in the Ballymurphy estate in Belfast between Catholic residents and the British Army
Apr 2 Meghalaya becomes autonomous state within India's Assam state
Apr 2 2 men begin ascent of south face of Annapurna I, highest final stage in a wall climb in world
Apr 3 Miriam Hargrave of England passes her drivers test on 40th attempt
Apr 3 As part of a new 'get tough' policy in Northern Ireland, Ian Freeland of the British Army, warned that those throwing petrol bombs could be shot dead
Apr 4 Firestone World Tournament of Champions won by Don Johnson
Apr 4 124th Grand National: 15/1 chance Gay Trip wins by 20 lengths, giving Irish jockey Pat Taaffe his second GN winner
Apr 5 WSNS TV channel 44 in Chicago, IL (IND) begins broadcasting
Apr 7 "Effects of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-moon Marigolds," premieres in NYC

Apr 7 42nd Academy Awards: "Midnight Cowboy", John Wayne & Maggie Smith win

Apr 10 Paul McCartney officially announces the split of The Beatles

Apr 11 Apollo 13 launched to Moon; unable to land, returns in 6 days
Apr 11 Beatles' "Let It Be" single goes #1 & stays #1 for 2 weeks
Apr 11 San Francisco beats Cincinnati 2-1, only day Reds aren't in 1st place in 1970

Apr 12 Yankees dedicate plaques to Mickey Mantle & Joe DiMaggio

Apr 13 34th US Masters Tournament, Augusta National GC: Billy Casper defeats Gene Littler, 69 to 74 in a Monday 18-hole playoff to win his 3rd major title; last 18-hole playoff at the Masters
Apr 13 Greek composer Mikis Theordorakis freed
Apr 13 Apollo 13 announces "Okay, Houston, we've had a problem here", as Beech-built oxygen tank explodes en route to Moon
Apr 13 Oakland uses gold-colored bases during the club's home opener: Rules Committee subsequently bans this innovation

Apr 13 5th Academy of Country Music Awards: Merle Haggard and Tammy Wynette win

Apr 16 Protestant Unionist Ian Paisley wins seat formerly held by Terence O'Neill in the Stormont (North Ireland Parliament)

Apr 17 Apollo 13 limps back safely, Beech-built oxygen tank no help
Apr 17 Paul McCartney's 1st solo album "McCartney" is released
Apr 18 France beats England, 35-13 at Stade Colombes, Paris to earn a share of the Five Nations Rugby Championship with Wales

Apr 19 "Look to the Lilies" closes at Lunt-Fontanne NYC after 25 performances
Apr 19 24th Tony Awards: Borstal Boy & Applause win
Apr 20 74th Boston Marathon: Englishman Ron Hill wins in 2:10:30 (US record): American Sara Mae Berman 1st woman for 2nd straight year in 3:05:07 (unsanctioned)
Apr 20 Bruno Kreisky becomes 1st socialist chancellor of Austria
Apr 21 Reds clout 7 HRs by 6 batters, Braves counter with 3 HRs, 6 for one team & 9 different batters for two teams, all tie or set records
Apr 21 The Principality of Hutt River (previously Hutt River Province) secedes from Australia - it remains unrecognised by Australia or other nations
Apr 21 The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (APNI) is formed; it attempts to appeal to Catholics and Protestant to unite in support of moderate policies
Apr 22 "Park" opens at John Golden Theater NYC for 5 performances
Apr 22 First Earth Day celebrated, founded by Gaylord Nelson
Apr 22 NY Met Jerry Grote sets record of 20 put outs by a catcher

Apr 22 NY Met Tom Seaver strikes out last 10 Padres, for a total of 19

Apr 22 Senators beat Yankees 2-1 in 18 innings
Apr 24 People's Republic of China launches its 1st satellite transmitting song "East is Red"
Apr 24 Gambia becomes a republic within the Commonwealth
Apr 25 "Park" closes at John Golden Theater NYC after 5 performances
Apr 25 Freda Payne releases "Band of Gold"
Apr 25 Melanie (Safka) releases "Lay Down"
Apr 26 "Company" opens at Alvin Theater NYC for 690 performances
Apr 29 US and South Vietnamese forces launch an incursion into Cambodia, expanding the Vietnam War
Apr 30 Cubs Billy Williams is 1st NLer to play in 1,000 consecutive games
Apr 30 US troops invade Cambodia