People are always shouting they want to create a better future. It’s not true. The future is an apathetic void of no interest to anyone. The past is full of life, eager to irritate us, provoke and insult us, tempt us to destroy or repaint it. The only reason people want to be masters of the future is to change the past.’ — Milan Kundera
1. Alfred Hitchcock’s film Psycho was premiered
On this day in history in 1960 Alfred Hitchcock’s film Psycho was premiered. The horror-thriller starring Anthony Perkins and Vera Miles has become one of the classics of the genre. The shower scene is one of the best-known murder scenes in the history of film.
2. Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space
On this day in history in 1963 Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space.
The Soviet cosmonaut completed 48 orbits on board the spaceship “Vostok 6” before returning safely to Earth. The former textile worker was declared “Hero of the Soviet Union” and received the United Nations Gold Medal of Peace.
3. The Monterey Pop Festival opened
On this day in history in 1967 The Monterey Pop Festival opened. The three-day concert event featured historic performances by Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Ravi Shankar, and Janis Joplin.
4. South African police killed hundreds of protesting schoolchildren
On this day in history in 1976 South African police kill hundreds of protesting schoolchildren. An estimated 20,000 youth were protesting against the introduction of Afrikaans as the languages of instruction in their schools when police officers started firing into the crowd. The “Soweto uprising” is today commemorated on Youth Day each year.
5. The world’s first country-wide total tobacco ban went into effect
On this day in history in 2010 The world’s first country-wide total tobacco ban goes into effect. Bhutan banned the cultivation, harvesting, production, and sale of tobacco and tobacco products. It is still legal in the South Asian country to smoke in a private setting, but obtaining tobacco products legally is close to impossible.
