On This Day Podcast Dave Schulz

A 5.1 magnitude earthquake shakes the ground underneath Mount St. Helens in Washington State. The quake sets off a landslide and the entire north slope of the volcano slides away exposing the core of the volcano, triggering the massive and devastating eruption On This Day in 1980.

Michael Jackson's landmark album "Thriller" is released on this day in 1982. The album contains only 9 songs, produces 7 hit singles, wins a record breaking 8 Grammy Awards and goes on to become the best selling album of all time. (rerelease)

Four members of the Clutter Family are murdered in their quiet Holcomb, Kansas farmhouse during the early morning hours On This Day in 1959. Author Truman Capote writes a book about the murders, a book he refers to as a non-fiction novel, one of the first True Crime books ever published: "In Cold Blood". 

The murders of Ronald and Louise DeFeo along with their 4 children, killed by oldest son Ronald "Butch" DeFeo Jr...On This Day in 1974. The murder house at 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville will subsequently become famous as The Amityville Horror house. (Rerelease)

A chartered plane carrying southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd crashes in a wooded swamp near Gillsburg, Mississippi killing six including lead singer/founding member Ronnie Van Zant On This Day in 1977.

Marie Antoinette loses her head at the hands of Monsieur de Paris, Henri Sanson, and his Guillotine, On This Day in 1793.