In "This Month in YesterYear History," we look back at the big pop culture moments from
20 (2006), 25 (2001), 30 (1996), and 35 (1991) years ago!
Below, you'll find a little time capsule of what was significant during this month in history. Hopefully, as you read these brief recaps of the past, you'll remember the who, when, and where of some long-tucked-away memories! That's the whole point of this site!
POINTS OF REFERENCE
2006:
On the 2nd, Michael Schumacher wins the Formula 1 Grand Prix for the 5th time, becoming the 1st driver in any series to win 5 races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. On the 3rd, Detroit Red Wings legend Steve Yzerman officially retires from the NHL, finishing with 692 goals and 1,755 points. Also on the 3rd, singer Lilly Allen releases her debut single "Smile." Also, on the 3rd, Annika Sörenstam won her 10th and final major title for the US Open Women's Golf. On the 4th, Sir Richard Branson sells Virgin Mobile for 962.4 million British pounds. Space Shuttle Discovery launches on the 4th of July. An emergency meeting at the United Nations Security Council took place after North Korea's missile tests, which included two short-range missiles, one SCUD missile, and one long-range missile. On the 6th, the Nathula Pass between India and China, which was sealed during the Sino-Indian War, reopened for trade after 44 years. On the 7th, Cleveland Indians first baseman Travis Hafner became the first player in MLB history to hit 5 grand slams before the All-Star break when he homered off Baltimore's Kris Benson. On the 10th, Pakistan International Airlines flight crashed in Multan, Pakistan, shortly after takeoff, killing all 45 people on board. On the 11th, 209 people were killed in a series of bomb attacks in Mumbai, India. That same day, the American League wins the MLB All-Star Game 3-2 in Pittsburgh at PNC Park. On the 20th, during an appearance on "The Tonight Show," Colin Farrell is confronted by telephone sex worker Dessarae Bradford, who had been stalking the actor for quite some time. On the 31st, Fidel Castro temporarily hands over power to his brother Raúl, prompting a celebration in Miami, Florida's Little Havana, where many Cuban Americans partied long into the night.
2001:
On the 2nd, the AbiaCor self-contained artificial heart was created. That same day, the Bush administration announced it would allow oil companies to drill in a 1.5-million-square-mile area in the Gulf of Mexico (America). Also on the 2nd, the UN Security Council postponed a vote on a US-led sanctions package on Iraq when it became clear that Russia wouldn't participate. On the 3rd, at a meeting of its oil ministers, OPEC agrees to maintain current production quotas, indicating that if Iraqi oil returns to the market, it may cut production to maintain its desired price level. On the 5th, US President George W. Bush nominated Robert Mueller as FBI Director. That seems like it's important for about 19 years later. On the 7th, in his first appearance at Daytona since the death of his father earlier that year, Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the Pepsi 400, coming from 7th with 9 laps remaining to beat teammate Michael Waltrip. On the 9th, the mockumentary "The Office," created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, premieres on BBC 2. On the 10th, the American League wins the MLB All-Star Game 4-1 at Safeco Field in Seattle. On the 16th, Jurassic Park III, starring Sam Neill and William H. Macy, premiered in the US. On the 25th, faced with declining oil prices, OPEC cut its oil production by 4% to keep prices high. I could use some declining oil prices here in July 2026. On the 29th, "The Princess Diaries," starring Anne Hathaway (in her film debut), directed by Garry Marshall, premieres at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood
1996:
On the 1st, the NHL's Winnipeg Jets move to Phoenix and rename themselves the Coyotes. On the 4th, the free internet email "Hotmail" began service. On the 5th, the Angels and A's score a combined total of 16 runs in the first inning (3 and 13 respectively), setting a record for the highest scoring 1st inning of any game. The A's eventually win 16-8. On the 6th, in a 2-0 win vs. the Brewers, New York Yankees closer John Wetteland set the MLB record for 20 consecutive saves en route to 24. He'd achieve 24 on the 14th, a record that still stands. Nelson Mandela steps down as President of South Africa on the 7th. He now continues to change our collective memories. The Spice Girls release their debut single, and earworm classic, "Wannabe" on the 8th. The next day, Leann Rimes' debut album "Blue" hits store shelves. It would eventually become the Billboard Album of the Year 1997. On the 9th, the National League wins 6-0 in the MLB All-Star Game at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. Then, L.A. Dodger Mike Piazza was named MVP. Also on the 9th, the US Senate votes to raise the minimum wage to $4.25 an hour. Kirby Puckett, the Minnesota Twins Center Fielder, retired after 12 seasons on the 12th after losing vision in one eye. On the 12th, Michael Jordan signed a one-year extension with the Chicago Bulls worth $30.1 million. On the 15th, after 2,216 consecutive games at shortstop, Cal Ripken moved to third base. That same day, Mexico was hit by a 6.5 earthquake. On the 17th, Paris-bound TWA Flight 800 explodes off the coast of Long Island, killing all 230 aboard. Call me a nut, but you'll never convince me that it was not a missile, either a terrorist or a friendly fire mishap, covered up by the Clinton administration in an election year days before the Olympics opened in America. I've met too many TWA employees who feel the same way, especially a mechanic who aided in the investigation. I digress... On the 21st, "The Daily Show" starring Craig Kilborn debuts on Comedy Central as a left-leaning satirical news talk show. The Summer Olympics open in Atlanta, Georgia, on the 19th. On the 21st, "The Great One," Wayne Gretzky, signs a two-year deal with the New York Rangers. On the 27th, a bomb exploded in Atlanta Park amid the Summer Olympics, killing one and injuring 110. Poor Richard Jewell's life was ruined after helping many people to safety, thanks to the trial by media. On the 28th, the remains of a prehistoric human were discovered near Kennewick, Washington. Darryl Strawberry hits his 300th home run as a New York Yankee on the 29th. That same day, famed baseball manager Tommy La Sorda retired with a record of 1599 wins, 1439 losses, four National League Pennants, and two World Series championships.
1991:
On July 1st, Terminator 2: Judgment Day debuts in theaters. On the 2nd, it was announced that Donald Trump proposed to Marla Maples with a 7.5-carat diamond ring. On the 2nd, Boyz n the Hood, starring Ice Cube and Cuba Gooding, Jr, debuts in theaters. On July 3rd, the Gateway Board of Trustees approves a 20-year lease for the Cleveland Indians to play MLB at Jacobs Field. On the 5th, MLB owners approve the Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins as new franchises to start play in 1993. Major league umpire Steve Palermo and former NFL defensive lineman Terence Mann shot trying to help 2 waitresses from being robbed on the 7th. On the 8th, Pittsburgh Pirates President Carl Barger leaves to become the President of the Florida Marlins. The 62nd MLB All-Star Game is played in Toronto on the 9th, where the AL wins 4-2. Boris Yeltsin is sworn in as the first elected President of Russia on the 10th. That same day, L'Express Airlines Beechcraft C-99 crashed in Alabama, killing 13. On the 11th, a DC-8 from Nigeria Airways crashed at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, killing all 261 passengers. A total eclipse of the sun is seen in Hawaii on the 11th. On the 18th, Mike Tyson meets the Miss Black America contestants. He invites Desiree Washington back to his hotel room. She agrees, and the next day, she claimed he raped her while she was alone with him in his hotel room. Tyson was eventually sent to prison for 3 years over it. On the 19th, Cal Ripken plays his 1,500th straight game for the Baltimore Orioles. On the 22nd, all-around sicko Jeffrey Dahmer confesses to killing 17 men in 1978. On the 23rd, just back from a 3-game suspension, he is ejected for throwing the ball at and hitting Cubs baserunner Doug Dascenzo as the Cubs win 8-5. On the 26th, actor Paul Reubens (Pee-wee Herman) is arrested for exposing himself at an adult movie theater in Sarasota, Florida. On the 27th, TV Guide publishes its 2000th edition. The 29th sees fans at Yankee Stadium heckle Jose Canseco, throwing cups and inflatable dolls onto the field amid rumors that he is dating Madonna.
TOP MOVIES
2006: "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" -
This fantasy "swashbuckler" was directed by Gore Verbinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer as the second installment of Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean series (and the direct sequel to 2003's Curse of the Black Pearl). The legendary Hans Zimmer returned to compose the rousing orchestral score. The film stars Johnny Depp as the eccentric Captain Jack Sparrow, Orlando Bloom as Will Turner, Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Swann, with Bill Nighy as the terrifying Davy Jones, Stellan Skarsgård as Bootstrap Bill Turner, Jack Davenport as Norrington, and Geoffrey Rush reprising his role as Barbossa.
The plot picks up at Will and Elizabeth’s wedding, which is interrupted by Lord Cutler Beckett, who arrests them for aiding Jack Sparrow and offers clemency in exchange for Jack’s magical compass. Meanwhile, Jack is being hunted by Davy Jones, the ghostly captain of the Flying Dutchman, to whom he owes a blood debt. The story unfolds across the Caribbean with massive sea battles, a monstrous Kraken, deals with cannibals, and a race to find the Dead Man’s Chest containing Davy Jones’ still-beating heart.
Critically, the film received mixed reviews and only holds a 53% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics praised the spectacular visuals and Johnny Depp's show-stealing charm, but many found it very long, convoluted, and overly focused on spectacle rather than the story. Audiences were more enthusiastic, however, and the film was an enormous commercial success. It grossed over $1 billion worldwide on a $225 million budget, becoming the highest-grossing film of 2006 and one of the fastest films to reach the billion-dollar mark.
This was filmed back-to-back with the third installment, "At World's End," to save on time and cost. Extensive practical effects and on-location shooting in Dominica and the Bahamas were complicated by numerous hurricanes. The iconic line "I got a jar of dirt" was improvised by Johnny Depp.
2001: "Jurassic Park III" -
Jurassic Park III is a science fiction action-adventure film directed by Joe Johnston (replacing Steven Spielberg). It is the third installment in the original Jurassic Park trilogy. John Williams' iconic themes are incorporated into Don Davis’s score. The film stars Sam Neill reprising his role as Dr. Alan Grant, with Téa Leoni as Amanda Kirby, William H. Macy as Paul Kirby, Alessandro Nivola as Billy Brennan, Trevor Morgan as Eric Kirby, and a brief return by Laura Dern as Ellie Sattler.
The plot follows paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant, who is lured to the abandoned InGen Site B (Isla Sorna) under false pretenses by a wealthy couple searching for their missing son. Once stranded on the island, the group faces a new array of deadly dinosaurs, including the massive Spinosaurus (which rivals the T-Rex), alongside aggressive Pteranodons and Velociraptors that appear to be communicating with one another and are now capable of using tools. The survivors must navigate the dangerous jungle and find a way off the island.
Critically, the film received mostly negative reviews, holding a 49% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. They praised the dinosaur action and practical effects, but most critics felt it lacked any depth. Audiences were more positive, praising the fast-paced thrills and action.
Despite the negativity (and the fact it's a terrible movie, in my opinion), the film was a solid success, grossing $368.8 million worldwide ($181.2 million domestic) against a $93 million budget, making it the eighth-highest-grossing film of 2001.
The Spinosaurus was the first dinosaur introduced in the movies that was not featured in Michael Crichton's novel. This film had the shortest runtime of all Jurassic Park films at 92 minutes. It created the largest animatronic dinosaur used in filming (the Spinosaurus). It was the last Jurassic Park film to rely mostly on practical effects, as the franchise shifted to almost entirely CGI starting with the 2015 trilogy.
1996: "Independence Day" -
Independence Day (also known as ID4) is a 1996 science fiction action disaster film directed by Roland Emmerich and features an ensemble cast headlined by Will Smith as Marine pilot Captain Steven Hiller, Jeff Goldblum as satellite technician David Levinson, and Bill Pullman as US President Thomas Whitmore. Supporting roles include Mary McDonnell, Judd Hirsch, Randy Quaid, Robert Loggia, Vivica A. Fox, and Brent Spiner.
The plot centers on a massive alien invasion that simultaneously attacks major cities worldwide with enormous spacecraft. As humanity faces extinction, disparate survivors, including a cocky fighter pilot, a tech genius, the President, and a crop-dusting pilot with a grudge, converge in the Nevada desert. They uncover the aliens’ weakness and launch a daring global counteroffensive on July 4th, turning the American Independence Day into Earth’s last stand for survival.
The film received mostly positive reviews, holding a 70% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics praised the groundbreaking visual effects, thrilling spectacle, and fun performances (especially from Smith and Goldblum), but many noted thin characters, stereotypical writing, and formulaic plotting. Audiences loved it far more, awarding it an “A” CinemaScore and embracing it as the ultimate summer blockbuster film.
The film was a massive commercial triumph, grossing $817.4 million worldwide ($306.2 million domestic) against a $75 million budget, becoming the highest-grossing film of 1996 and one of the biggest hits of the decade. Notable trivia includes its record-breaking opening weekend (the first film to gross over $100 million in its first week), groundbreaking CGI and practical effects (especially the White House destruction scene), and its cultural impact as a defining 1990s popcorn movie that boosted Will Smith’s stardom.
It won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects and inspired a 2016 sequel, Independence Day: Resurgence.
1991: "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" -
Often called T2, this sci-fi action film was directed by James Cameron, who co-wrote the screenplay with William Wisher. It is the sequel to the 1984 film The Terminator, and stars Arnold Schwarzenegger reprising his role as the T-800 Terminator (now reprogrammed as a protector), Linda Hamilton as a hardened Sarah Connor, Edward Furlong as her young son John Connor, and Robert Patrick as the advanced liquid-metal T-1000 assassin.
The plot is set in 1995, years after the events of the first film. A more advanced Terminator (the T-1000) is sent back in time to kill young John Connor, the future leader of the human resistance against Skynet. A reprogrammed T-800 (Schwarzenegger) is sent to protect him. Sarah, John, and the Terminator must work together to destroy Cyberdyne Systems and prevent Judgment Day (the nuclear apocalypse that will give birth to Skynet) while evading the relentless, shape-shifting T-1000 in one of the greatest cat-and-mouse chases in movie history.
Critically, the film was a major success, holding a 91% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes today. Critics and audiences alike praised its groundbreaking visual effects, intense action sequences, emotional depth, and strong character arcs (especially the evolving relationship between John and the Terminator). Many consider it one of the greatest sequels ever made.
It earned four Academy Awards (Best Visual Effects, Best Sound, Best Sound Editing, and Best Makeup). The film was a massive commercial hit, grossing approximately $520 million worldwide against a record-breaking $94–102 million budget (the most expensive film ever made at the time), becoming the highest-grossing film of 1991. This film is also home to Schwarzenegger’s famous “Hasta la vista, baby!” line.
TOP SONGS
2006: "Promiscuous" by Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland
2001: "U Remind Me" by Usher
1996: "How Do You Want It" by 2Pac featuring K-Ci & JoJo with Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman
1991: "Unbelievable" by EMF
TOP TELEVISION NEWS
July 2006:
7th: The comedy "Psych," starring James Roday and Dule Hill, debuts on USA Network. It would eventually run 8 seasons.
9th: The Showtime drama Brotherhood debuts.
18th: Eureka, the sci-fi comedy/drama about a secret town of geniuses, debuts on Syfy (then the Sci-Fi Channel).
21st: Live at Gotham, the stand-up comedy series, debuts on Comedy Central.
21st: The cartoon, What's New, Scooby-Doo?, is canceled. It had run on Cartoon Network since 2002.
23rd: Chapelle's Show comes to an end after 3 years on Comedy Central.
24th: The early days of online distribution begin as the unaired Aquaman pilot is made available on iTunes.
29th: The Replacements, an animated series about kids who replace their parents, debuts on The Disney Channel.
29th: The great Lilo & Stitch cartoon series comes to an end on the Disney Channel after two seasons.
July 2001:
10th: The Geena Davis Show, a short-lived daytime talk series, comes to an end on ABC.
17th: The Big Garage, a Canadian kids' show about four taxis and their friends, is removed from TLC after several years, as the channel began to evolve into an adult-focused reality channel.
21st: Nickelodeon's "Rugrats" celebrates its 10th anniversary with a one-hour special, "All Growed Up." It was followed by an Amanda Bynes-narrated documentary, "Still Babies After All These Years." The All Growed Up special became the most-viewed kids' program on cable television,
23rd: ESPN debuts "The Best Damn Sports Show Period."
July 1996:
6th: When it becomes evident that Donna Love (portrayed by Anna Stuart) would be the next to die in a serial-killer storyline on the NBC soap opera Another World, many fans launch letter-writing campaigns to save the character. Executive producer Jill Farren Phelps decides that Frankie Frame (Alice Barrett) will be killed off the show instead.
7th: Hulk Hogan famously turns into a bad guy at the Bash at the Beach event, and announces the formation of the new World order with Kevin Nash and Scott Hall.
14th: Muppets Tonight comes to an end after 22 episodes on ABC.
15th: MSBC launches "The News with Brian Williams" and "Time and Again."
17th: News Corporation (owners of 20th Century Fox and the FOX series of television channels) announced that it would acquire New World Cinema in an all-stock transaction worth $2.48 billion.
19th: Tales from the Crypt, the legendary horror series on HBO, ends its run. It had aired since 1989, over 7 seasons and 93 episodes.
22nd: The Daily Show debuts on Comedy Central.
July 1991:
4th: The great kids summer show, Salute Your Shorts, (READ ABOUT IT HERE) debuts on Nickelodeon.
8th: Shop 'til You Drop, a shopping competition show often dubbed "the shopping mall version of Supermarket Sweep," debuts on Lifetime.
12th: The Match Game comes to an end after running continuously since 1962. It would return in 1998 for a brief run.
19th: Hi Honey, I'm Home!, a show about a sitcom family living in the real world (READ ABOUT IT HERE) debuts on ABC. It also aired simultaneously on Nick at Nite.
28th: NBC aired a pilot for a new series starring Adam West, titled "Lookwell." It was written by Conan O'Brien and Robert Smigel. While the show wouldn't be picked up as a series, it has since become a cult classic among certain circles of the internet.
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