26 April 2026
► EVENTS ON 26 APRIL;
On this day in 1938 in Boyer, Tasmania, Australian Newsprint Mills Limited commenced construction of the world’s first pulp and paper mill to use hardwood to produce newsprint paper. It became a major industry in the Derwent Valley.
1952, in the Atlantic Ocean – The United States aircraft carrier USS Wasp collided with the destroyer USS Hobson, with the loss of 175 lives.
1960, in the Derwent Valley – Over 650 were declared homeless, due to major flooding of the Derwent River and tributaries..
1962, America’s Ranger 4 spacecraft crashed onto the the far side of the Moon without returning any scientific data.
It was designed to transmit pictures of the lunar surface for 10 minutes prior to crash landing, to rough-land a seismometer, and collect gamma-ray data, but a power failure stopped the spacecraft’s master clock and sent it out of control. It became, however, the first U.S. spacecraft to reach another celestial body.
1966, Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, was destroyed by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake, leaving over 300,000 homeless.
1967, Melbourne, Victoria, the Ford Motor Company announced production of the fastest car ever built in Australia at the time, the XR Ford Falcon GT.
It was powered by a 287 cubic inch V8 engine, coupled to a 4 speed manual transmission, and came in one colour only – a shade of bronze named G T Gold.
1986, Chernobyl, Ukraine, the world’s worst civil nuclear disaster occurred when an explosion at the local nuclear power plant released 400 times more radio-active material than the Hiroshima atomic bomb.
This radio-activity forced the permanent evacuation of 53,000 people from nearby Pripyat, caused hundreds of deaths, and reached countries as far distant as Scotland, Norway and Sweden.
► ARRIVALS ON THIS DATE
1894, Rudolf Hess, in Alexandria, Egypt. He was a prominent Nazi official who flew solo from Germany to Scotland in an attempt to negotiate peace with the United Kingdom, but was immediately arrested and gaoled.
After being tried at Nuremberg after World War Two ended, he was given a life sentence. He died in Spandau Prison, Berlin, in 1987.
1938, Duane Eddy, in New York, U.S.A. He was a guitarist, who had many hit records during the late 50s and early 60s, noted for their “twangy” sound, including Rebel Rouser, Peter Gunn, and Because They’re Young.
He was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1994, and is Rock and Roll’s all-time #1 instrumentalist. He died in 2024.
1940, Ian Geoghegan, in Sydney, New South Wales. He was a racing driver and five-time winner of the Australian Touring Car Championship, co-winner of the 1973 Bathurst 1000 race with Alan Moffat, driving an XA Ford Falcon. Ian Geoghegan was inducted into the V8 Supercars Hall of Fame in 1999. He died in 2003.
1942, Robert Louis Ridarelli alias Bobby Rydell, in 1942 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. – He was a teen idol of early 60s rock and roll, famed for his hits Wild One and Volare. He died in 2022.
1947, Warren Clarke, in Oldham, Lancashire, England. He was an actor, whose first television appearance was in the long running soap opera Coronation Street. He appeared regularly as Detective Superintendent Andy Dalziel in the TV series Dalziel and Pascoe. He died in 2014.
► DEPARTURES ON THIS DATE
1973, Irene Ryan, in Santa Monica, California, U.S.A., aged 70. She was an actress best known for her portrayal of the feisty, shotgun-toting Granny, in the television sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies.
1976, Solomon Joel Cohen, alias Sid James, in Sunderland, England, aged 62. He was an actor and comedian who appeared in English movies from 1947. During the 1960s, he was regularly cast in the Carry On comedy films, and starred in the Bless This House sitcom from 1971 till his death.
He was appearing in a play at the Sunderland Empire Theatre, in Sunderland, England, when he died on-stage during a performance. Some people claim to have subsequently seen James’ ghost at the theatre
1984, William James Basie, alias Count Basie, in Hollywood, Florida, U.S.A., aged 79. He was a jazz pianist, organist, composer and bandleader. He led his own jazz orchestra for nearly 50 years. One of his theme songs was April In Paris.
1989, Lucille Ball, in Beverley Hills, California, U.S.A. aged 77. She was a comedienne, film, television, stage and radio actress, model, film and television executive, and star of the sitcoms I Love Lucy, The Lucy Show, Here’s Lucy and Life With Lucy.
1997, Gene Urick, alias Gene Ames, in Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.A. aged 74. He was a member of the Ames Brothers singing quartet very popular in the 1950s, with million selling hits such as The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane, You You You, Tammy and Melodie D’Amour.
Today’s Photo – Origin unknown, but highly appropriate for ANZAC Day (yesterday).
Today’s Playlist :
| TRACK | RELEASE YEAR | PLAY TIME | LAST PLAYED |
| Allan Caswell – Swing The Blues | 2026 | 06:06 | 3/4/2026 |
| John Gilheaney – The Wind On The Hill | 2026 | 06:12 | – |
| Jason Carruthers – She’d Taken Her Life | 2026 | 06:14 | 10/4/2026 |
| For A Listener: Billy Joel – Uptown Girl | 06:18 | 6/6/2025 | |
| Duane Eddy – Around The Block In 80 Days Duane Eddy, born on this day in 1938 in New York, U.S.A. Died 2024 | 1965 | 06:25 | – |
| Bobby Rydell – Do The Cha Cha Cha Robert Louis Ridarelli alias Bobby Rydell, was born on this day in 1942 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. He died in 2022. | 1962 | 06:27 | 17/12/2023 |
| Australian National Concert Orchestra – The Shadow Of Your Smile | 06:32 | 28/7/2019 | |
| Gail Russell – Heart of Stone | 2026 | 06:35 | 24/4/2026 |
| Vintage Vinyl Helen O’Connell – Slow Poke | 1951 | 06:41 | 23/5/2014 |
| Garry Jones – Eyes Shine Bright | 2026 | 06:43 | 20/2/2026 |
| Nancy Muller – Heartbeat | 2026 | 06:51 | 24/4/2026 |
| Wendy Maree – Apricot Sky | 2026 | 07:05 | 10/4/2026 |
| COUNTRY ROAD + Clint Bradley – Soul of the West | 2024 | 07:11 | 31/1/2025 |
| + Gene Watson – This Song Is Just For You | 2026 | 07:14 | 5/4/2026 |
| For A Listener: Merle Haggard – Mama’s Hungry Eyes | 07:19 | 3/4/2026 | |
| Count Basie & His Orchestra – Basie’s Boogie William James Basie, alias Count Basie, died on this day in 1984 at the age of 79, in Hollywood, Florida, U.S.A. | 07:25 | – | |
| Ames Brothers & Hugo Winterhalter’s Orchestra & Chorus – Little Serenade Gene Urick, alias Gene Ames, died on this day in 1997 at the age of 74, in Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.A. | 1958 | 07:27 | 12/2/2026 |
| Eric Jupp & His Orchestra – Theme From Number 96 | 07:32 | 4/7/2014 | |
| Vintage Vinyl Harry Belafonte – Coconut Woman | 1957 | 07:37 | 1/3/2020 |
| Tim Withano – This Is Not My Place | 2026 | 07:40 | – |
| Diamond 45 – Charting on this day 1966 + Easybeats – Women Make You Feel Alright | 1966 | 07:46 | 24/4/2026 |
| + Beach Boys – Barbara Anne | 1966 | 07:49 | 24/4/2026 |
| For A Listener: Merle Haggard – The Soldier’s Last Letter | 07:53 | – | |
| Caroline J Harte – If This Ain’t Love | 2024 | 08:05 | 31/1/2025 |
| COMFORT ZONE + Vera Lynn – The Rainbow Connection | 08:11 | – | |
| + Daniel O’Donnell – Distant Drums | 08:15 | 3/7/2020 | |
| Allan Barron – Misty River | 2026 | 08:23 | 24/4/2026 |
| Philip Wildman – High Country | 2026 | 08:28 | – |
| Brian May & ABC Melbourne Showband – String of Pearls | 08:34 | 8/10/2023 | |
| Alan Percy – They Waltzed With Matilda | 2026 | 08:38 | 26/4/2026 |
| Diamond 45 – Charting on this day 1966 +Slim Dusty – The Decimal Currency Pub | 1966 | 08:42 | 24/4/2026 |
| + Cliff Richard – Blue Turns To Grey | 1966 | 08:45 | 24/4/2026 |
| Shelley Minson – Dance When The Music Plays | 2026 | 08:48 | 19/4/2026 |
| Clayton Saunders – Uluru | 2025 | 08:52 | 1/2/2026 |