This Day in Pop Culture History: September 15

Entertainment and Culture

• 1954: The iconic scene of Marilyn Monroe’s skirt being blown up by a subway grate was filmed for the movie The Seven Year Itch.
• 1965: The science fiction television series Lost in Space premiered.
• 1968: The final issue of the influential British music magazine Record Mirror was published.
• 1997: Elton John’s new version of “Candle in a Wind,” rewritten to honor Princess Diana, sold a record 600,000 copies in one day in Britain.

Sports

• 1960: Hockey legend Maurice “Rocket” Richard of the Montreal Canadiens announced his retirement from the NHL. At the time, he held the NHL record for most career goals.
• 1978: Boxer Muhammad Ali made history by becoming the first fighter to win the world heavyweight title three times after defeating Leon Spinks in a unanimous decision.
• 1990: Chicago White Sox closer Bobby Thigpen became the first pitcher in MLB history to record 50 saves in a single season.
• 2000: The XXVII Olympic Games officially opened in Sydney, Australia.

Comic Books and Toys

• 1950: The popular American comic strip Beetle Bailey debuted.
• 1952: Mr. Potato Head became the first toy to ever be advertised on television.
• 2006: DC Comics released Teen Titans #38, a comic book that explored the aftermath of the Infinite Crisis storyline.
• 2020: The sci-fi horror film Intersect, featuring the voice of famed evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, premiered digitally and on-demand.

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Sources

• This Day in Rock History: September 15
• This Day in History: September 15
• Mr. Potato Head – History
• The Story of the Lost in Space TV Show
• Muhammad Ali: A Timeline of His Fights