1778 --- Captain James Cook, of the British Navy, thought he was the first to find a group of islands in the Pacific. He named them the Sandwich Islands in honor of England’s Earl of Sandwich, the first lord of the British Admiralty. Little did he know that the islands already had a name. The people who lived on them called the islands Hawaii.

Actually, these islands had been discovered long before this day by the Polynesians. Other explorers before Cook probably stopped at the Hawaiian Islands as early as the 1500s. However, it was Cook who spread the word of the existence of this group of tropical isles to the rest of the world.

Captain Cook got along really well with the Hawaiians at first. It seems that his two major trips to the islands occurred during makahiki (a festival) when one of their gods, Lono would, symbolically, return from his travels to preside over the festivities. Some thought Cook was this god. Unfortunately, on his next trip to his Sandwich Islands, Cook lost the godlike image. He had returned to the islands other than when Lono was to arrive and his humanity was revealed. Cook and his men got into a battle with the Hawaiians and Cook was killed in the melee.

1896 --- The x-ray machine was exhibited (in New York City) for the first time. To see the machine, one had to pay a 25¢ admission charge. To see an x-ray machine at your friendly neighborhood doctor’s or dentist’s office will set you back at least $65 today. See the nurse at the desk, please...

1911 --- For the first time an aircraft landed on a ship. Pilot Eugene B. Ely flew onto the deck of the USS Pennsylvania in San Francisco harbor.

1939 --- Louis Armstrong and his orchestra recorded "Jeepers Creepers."

1943 --- Pre-sliced bread was banned in the U.S. for the duration of World War II, to conserve metal from spare parts that might be needed.

1944 --- The first jazz concert was held at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. The performers were Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Artie Shaw, Roy Eldridge and Jack Teagarden.

1948 --- Ted Mack came to television as The Original Amateur Hour debuted on the DuMont network. The program continued on different networks for a 22-year run on the tube. We remember it being sponsored by Geritol. The original, Original Amateur Hour, on radio, was hosted by Major Bowes. In the TV version, Mack presented many up-and-coming stars who later claimed great fame in show biz. Teresa Brewer and Pat Boone are just a couple.

1958 --- Willie O'Ree became made his NHL debut with the Boston Bruins. He was the first black player to enter the league.

1968 --- Singer Eartha Kitt made headlines, as she got into a now-famous confrontation with Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson -- wife of the President of the United States -- at a White House luncheon to discuss urban crime. Ms. Kitt told Lady Bird (the First Lady) that American youth were rebelling against the war in Vietnam, linking the crime rate with the war escalation.

1975 --- The Jeffersons was seen for the first time on CBS-TV. The show was a spin-off; based on the black family that moved next door to the bigoted Archie Bunker in All in the Family. The show lasted for several seasons and is still seen in syndicated reruns. Sherman Hemsley plays the part of George Jefferson, Isabelle Sanford is in the role of Weezie

1987 --- For the first time in history the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) was seen by over 100 million viewers. The audience was measured during the week of January 12-18.

1990 --- The first McDonald’s in Moscow opened.

1996 --- Australian scientists who claimed to have contacted life on other planets stumbled on the real source of the signals -- a microwave oven in the kitchen of their laboratory.

1997 --- Norwegian Borge Ousland completed a 1,675-mile trek across Antarctica, the first time anyone traversed the continent alone.

2003 --- Michelle Kwan won her sixth straight U.S. Figure Skating Championships title and seventh overall.

On the Radio January 18th

1946 Symphony - The Freddy Martin Orchestra (vocal: Clyde Rogers)
It Might as Well Be Spring - The Sammy Kaye Orchestra (vocal: Billy
Williams)
I Can’t Begin to Tell You - Bing Crosby with the Carmen Cavallaro
Orchestra
You Will Have to Pay - Tex Ritter

1954 Oh! My Pa-Pa - Eddie Fisher
Changing Partners - Patti Page
Secret Love - Doris Day
Bimbo - Jim Reeves

1962 The Twist - Chubby Checker
Peppermint Twist - Joey Dee & The Starliters
Can’t Help Falling in Love - Elvis Presley
Walk on By - Leroy Van Dyke

1970 Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head - B.J. Thomas
Venus - The Shocking Blue
I Want You Back - The Jackson 5
Baby, Baby (I Know You’re a Lady) - David Houston

1978 Baby Come Back - Player
Here You Come Again - Dolly Parton
You’re in My Heart (The Final Acclaim) - Rod Stewart
Take This Job and Shove It - Johnny Paycheck

1986 That’s What Friends are For - Dionne & Friends
Talk to Me - Stevie Nicks
Burning Heart - Survivor
Bop - Dan Seals

* information from KALW 91.7 San Francisco - listen online!