On April 7, 1949, the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South
Pacific opened at the Majestic Theatre on Broadway in New
York City. The romantic musical about World War II, which
touches on controversial racial themes, went on to run for
almost five years, becoming one of the most popular musicals
of the 1950s.

The “Twin Towers” of the World Trade Center officially open
in New York City. The buildings replaced the Empire State
Building as the world’s tallest building.

Though they would only hold that title for a year, they remained
a dominant feature of the city’s skyline and were recognizable
the world over long before they were destroyed in a terrorist
attack in 2001.

Oklahoma! opened on Broadway on March 31, 1943. In spite of 
a less-than-promising lead-up, it would go on to set a Broadway
record of 2,212 performances before finally closing five years
later.

SANDY KOZEL

The crew of the Apollo 8 (from left): Frank Borman, William Anders and James Lovell Jr. (AP Photo) 

 

Borman announced that the crew had a final message for
the people of Earth as each man took turns reading the 
first 10 verses of the book of Genesis from the Bible.

The Apollo 8 mission paved the way for Apollo 11, fulfilling
President John F. Kennedy’s goal of landing a man on the
moon before the end of the decade.

Apollo 8 command module in the Museum of
Science and Industry.

More than two years after the Berlin Wall was constructed by
East Germany to prevent its citizens from fleeing its communist
regime, nearly 4,000 West Berliners were allowed to cross into
East Berlin to visit relatives.