8 September 1966

The landmark American science fiction television series Star Trek premieres with its first-aired episode, “The Man Trap”.
“Star Trek” is a science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry that first aired in 1966. The show is set in the 23rd century and follows the adventures of the starship USS Enterprise and its crew as they explore space, encountering new civilizations, solving interstellar conflicts, and boldly going “where no man has gone before.”

The original series (often referred to as Star Trek: The Original Series or TOS) is centered around Captain James T. Kirk, his first officer Spock (a half-human, half-Vulcan with a logical mindset), and chief medical officer Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy. The crew represents a diverse group, including characters like communications officer Lt. Uhura, engineer Scotty, and helmsman Sulu.

“Star Trek” often tackled complex themes like exploration, the nature of humanity, diversity, ethics, and social justice. It also envisioned a future where different species, races, and cultures worked together peacefully, making it known for its optimistic view of humanity’s future. Though the original series only ran for three seasons, it spawned multiple spin-offs, movies, and a massive franchise that has become a cornerstone of popular science fiction culture.

8 June 1966

The National Football League and American Football League announced a merger effective in 1970.

The merger of the National Football League (NFL) and the American Football League (AFL) was a significant event in the history of American professional football. This merger, which was completed in 1970, had a profound impact on the sport, leading to the formation of the modern NFL as we know it today.

Background and Reasons for the Merger

Competition and Rivalry: The NFL, established in 1920, was the dominant professional football league in the United States. The AFL was founded in 1960 as a rival league, and its establishment led to intense competition for players, fans, and television contracts.

Rising Costs: The competition between the two leagues drove up player salaries and operating costs, making it financially challenging for both leagues to sustain their operations independently.

Television Contracts: Television revenue was becoming increasingly important for professional sports leagues. The NFL had lucrative contracts with major networks, and the AFL was starting to secure its own significant deals. A unified league promised greater bargaining power for television rights.

Key Events Leading to the Merger

Initial Discussions: Secret meetings between NFL and AFL owners began in the mid-1960s to explore the possibility of a merger. Key figures in these discussions included Lamar Hunt, owner of the AFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, and Tex Schramm, general manager of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.

Announcement: On June 8, 1966, NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle and AFL Commissioner Al Davis, along with other league officials, announced that the two leagues would merge. This announcement came as a surprise to many in the sports world.

Terms of the Merger

Unified League: The merger agreement stipulated that the two leagues would operate as separate entities for the 1966 through 1969 seasons, culminating in a championship game between the two league champions. Starting in 1970, the two leagues would fully integrate into a single league.

Super Bowl: One of the most significant outcomes of the merger was the creation of the Super Bowl, which would determine the champion of the combined leagues. The first Super Bowl (originally called the AFL-NFL World Championship Game) was played on January 15, 1967.

Divisions and Conferences: The newly merged league adopted a conference format, with the AFL teams becoming the American Football Conference (AFC) and the NFL teams forming the National Football Conference (NFC). Each conference was further divided into divisions.

Draft and Player Movement: A common draft was established to distribute new talent evenly between the teams. This helped to ensure competitive balance and prevent bidding wars over college players.

Impact of the Merger

Increased Popularity: The merger greatly increased the popularity of professional football in the United States. The unified league could present a single, cohesive product to fans and broadcasters.

Economic Growth: The merger led to significant economic growth for the NFL, with increased revenues from television contracts, merchandise sales, and ticket sales.

Cultural Significance: The NFL became a major cultural institution in the United States, with the Super Bowl growing into one of the most-watched sporting events globally.

Competitive Balance: The merger helped maintain competitive balance within the league, ensuring that smaller-market teams had opportunities to compete on an equal footing with larger-market teams.

30 November 1966

Barbados becomes independent from the United Kingdom.

Barbados gained its independence from the United Kingdom on November 30, 1966. This marked the end of nearly 300 years of British colonial rule in Barbados. The process leading to independence was relatively peaceful, and Barbados became a sovereign nation within the Commonwealth.

The journey towards independence began with political and social developments in the mid-20th century. The Barbados Labour Party (BLP), led by Errol Barrow, played a crucial role in advocating for greater autonomy and self-governance. In 1961, Barbados achieved full internal self-government, which allowed for the island to have its own parliament and a greater degree of control over its domestic affairs.

The push for complete independence continued, and negotiations between Barbadian leaders and the British government resulted in the Barbados Independence Act of 1966. This act, which received royal assent on July 22, 1966, paved the way for Barbados to become an independent state on November 30 of the same year.

The formal ceremony for Barbados’ independence took place at the Garrison Savannah, with a grand parade and the raising of the new national flag. Errol Barrow, who had become the Prime Minister, played a key role in the celebrations. Barbados remained a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy, and it retained ties to the British Crown through its membership in the Commonwealth of Nations.