On this day

April 1, 1937

Revisit the news, notable people, and historical moments connected to this date.

Portrait 1080 × 1920 PNG · created on your device

Filter by:

Headlines from April 1, 1937

Notable Births

Jordan Charney

1937Jordan Charney, American actor[†]

Jordan Charney is an American character actor known for Ghostbusters (1984), Network (1976) and Hill Street Blues (1981).

Yılmaz GĂŒney

1937Yılmaz GĂŒney, Palme d'Or award-winning Kurdish film director, scenarist, actor, novelist and activist (died 1984)[†]

Yılmaz GĂŒney was a Kurdish film director, screenwriter, novelist, actor and communist political activist. He quickly rose to prominence in the Turkish film industry. Many of his works were made from a far-left perspective and devoted to the plight of working-class people in Turkey. GĂŒney won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1982 for the film Yol which he co-directed with ƞerif Gören. He was at constant odds with the Turkish government over the portrayal of Kurdish culture, people and language.

Lynn Garrison

1937Lynn Garrison, Canadian aviator, political advisor, and mercenary[†]

Lynn Garrison is a Canadian pilot and political adviser. He was a Royal Canadian Air Force fighter pilot in the 403 City of Calgary Squadron, before holding jobs as a commercial pilot, film producer, director and mercenary. Garrison has also accumulated a substantial collection of classic aircraft, flying many of these as well as organising their restoration and preservation. He participated in the Nigerian Civil War as a mercenary, assisting the military of Biafra.

Historical Events

Aden

1937Aden becomes a British crown colony.[†]

Aden is a port city located in Yemen in the southern part of the Arabian peninsula, on the north coast of the Gulf of Aden, positioned near the eastern approach to the Red Sea. It is situated approximately 170 km (110 mi) east of the Bab-el-Mandeb strait. With its strategic location on the coastline, Aden serves as a gateway between the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, making it a crucial maritime hub connecting Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. As of September 2025, Aden City has a population of approximately 1,154,000 residents, making it one of the largest cities in Yemen. Aden is the capital and principal part of Aden Governorate, encompassing eight districts. During the colonial period, the name Aden referred to the area along the north coast of the gulf, encompassing Tawahi, Mualla, Crater, and much of Khor Maksar district. The western harbour peninsula, known as Little Aden, now falls within the Al Buraiqeh district.

Royal New Zealand Air Force

1937The Royal New Zealand Air Force is formed as an independent service.[†]

The Royal New Zealand Air Force is the aerial service branch of the New Zealand Defence Force. It was formed initially in 1923 as a branch of the New Zealand Army, being known as the New Zealand Permanent Air Force, becoming an independent air force on 1 April 1937.