THIS week

Elvis Presley

JULY 5, 1954

Elvis Presley recorded his first single, That’s All Right, at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee. Copies of the acetate went to local disc jockey Dewey Phillips and upon hearing it was about to be played on the radio, Presley had an attack of nerves.

He went to the local cinema to distract himself – but the single was a hit.

JULY 5, 1946

The bikini went on sale for the first time after debuting during an outdoor fashion show at the Molitor Pool in Paris, France.

It was the work of French fashion designer Jacques Heim, but he named it the Atom – after the smallest known particle of matter.

It’s thought the lack of fabric after the Second World War inspired the design.

JULY 7, 1958

Jennifer Saunders, English actress, comedian and screenwriter, was born. Saunders went on to become one half of celebrated comic duo French and Saunders. The pair met in 1977 on a drama teacher’s course – but didn’t get on well to begin with. French considered Saunders “snooty and uptight”...thankfully they became friends.

JULY 8, 1947

Reports are broadcast that a UFO crash landed in Roswell, New Mexico in what became known as the Roswell incident. Authorities claimed the UFO was in fact a downed weather balloon. In the 1990s, the US military published two reports disclosing the true nature of the crashed object: a nuclear test surveillance balloon, but conspiracy theorists remain sceptical.