October 05

Events - Economy & Industry

1970day.year

The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is founded.

The Public Broadcasting Service is established, marking the birth of a new public television network in the United States.
On October 5, 1970, PBS was officially launched to provide non-commercial, educational television programming. It succeeded National Educational Television (NET) and aimed to serve audiences nationwide. PBS became home to iconic series such as Sesame Street, NOVA, and Masterpiece Theatre. Funded by member stations, federal grants, and viewer contributions, PBS focused on high-quality cultural and educational content. Its founding reshaped American broadcasting by prioritizing public service over profit. Today, PBS remains a valued institution for lifelong learning and the arts.
1970 Public Broadcasting Service
1982day.year

Tylenol products are recalled after bottles in Chicago laced with cyanide cause seven deaths.

Tylenol is recalled nationwide after cyanide-laced bottles in Chicago lead to seven fatalities.
In early October 1982, several people in the Chicago area died after ingesting Tylenol capsules poisoned with cyanide. Johnson & Johnson swiftly issued a nationwide recall of over 31 million bottles of Tylenol products. The crisis highlighted vulnerabilities in over-the-counter medication safety. In response, tamper-evident packaging became a new industry standard. Johnson & Johnson’s transparent handling of the tragedy is still cited as a model for crisis management. The events spurred U.S. regulations to protect consumers from product tampering.
1982 Tylenol bottles in Chicago