1016: The English throne is claimed by King Cnut.
1016: The English throne is claimed by King Cnut.
1972: Atari releases the arcade game "Pong".
1972: Atari releases the arcade game "Pong".
1895: America's first automobile race takes place, with 6 cars racing from Chicago to Evanston and back, 55 miles in total. Frank Duryea wins, averaging 7 mph.
1895: America's first automobile race takes place, with 6 cars racing from Chicago to Evanston and back, 55 miles in total. Frank Duryea wins, averaging 7 mph.
2013: Disney's animated film "Frozen" is released.
2013: Disney's animated film "Frozen" is released.
1948: The first Polaroid camera is sold. (The Land Camera model 95, only US$89.75!)
1948: The first Polaroid camera is sold. (The Land Camera model 95, only US$89.75!)
Happy 85th Birthday, Woody Woodpecker!
In 1940, Walter Lantz's Woody Woodpecker character makes his debut appearance in the animated short "Knock Knock". Lantz had been irritated by a woodpecker pecking the roof of his cabin, so he created Woody as an antagonist out of spite.
Happy 85th Birthday, Woody Woodpecker!
In 1940, Walter Lantz's Woody Woodpecker character makes his debut appearance in the animated short "Knock Knock". Lantz had been irritated by a woodpecker pecking the roof of his cabin, so he created Woody as an antagonist out of spite.
2007: Australian Prime Minister John Howard loses his seat in the Federal Election.
2007: Australian Prime Minister John Howard loses his seat in the Federal Election.
1889: The debut of the first jukebox - the "nickel-in-the-slot phonograph" - at the Palais Royale Saloon, San Francisco. Its songs were recorded on wax cylinders, and it could only be loaded with one cylinder at a time. But it was still popular enough to catch on.
1889: The debut of the first jukebox - the "nickel-in-the-slot phonograph" - at the Palais Royale Saloon, San Francisco. Its songs were recorded on wax cylinders, and it could only be loaded with one cylinder at a time. But it was still popular enough to catch on.
1963: Lyndon B. Johnson is sworn in as the 36th US President after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
1963: Lyndon B. Johnson is sworn in as the 36th US President after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
2019: The Cybertruck is launched.
2019: The Cybertruck is launched.
1866: The US patent for a yo-yo (then called a whirligig or bandalore, as was the style at the time) is issued to James L. Haven and Charles Hettrick of Cincinnati, Ohio.
1866: The US patent for a yo-yo (then called a whirligig or bandalore, as was the style at the time) is issued to James L. Haven and Charles Hettrick of Cincinnati, Ohio.
1863: President Abraham Lincoln delivers his Gettysburg Address. (The one that opens with "Four score and seven years ago...")
1863: President Abraham Lincoln delivers his Gettysburg Address. (The one that opens with "Four score and seven years ago...")
1928: "Steamboat Willie", the first fully synchronized sound cartoon, is released.
1928: "Steamboat Willie", the first fully synchronized sound cartoon, is released.
1973: President Richard Nixon proclaims unto 400 Associated Press managing editors "I am not a crook."
1973: President Richard Nixon proclaims unto 400 Associated Press managing editors "I am not a crook."
1581: Tsar Ivan the Terrible attacks his son and heir, Ivan Ivanovich, with a scepter. This results in the son's death three days later.
1581: Tsar Ivan the Terrible attacks his son and heir, Ivan Ivanovich, with a scepter. This results in the son's death three days later.
1926: NBC (The National Broadcasting Company) launches, with a radio network of 24 stations across the USA.
1926: NBC (The National Broadcasting Company) launches, with a radio network of 24 stations across the USA.
1922: The BBC (British Broadcasting Company) begins daily radio broadcasts.
1922: The BBC (British Broadcasting Company) begins daily radio broadcasts.
1997: After preview performances, "The Lion King" (musical) officially opens on Broadway.
1997: After preview performances, "The Lion King" (musical) officially opens on Broadway.
1859: Jules Léotard performs the first flying trapeze circus act in Paris.
(The one-piece costume that he designed for wearing while performing these acts - to maximise agility and also show off his physique - is named after him.)
1859: Jules Léotard performs the first flying trapeze circus act in Paris.
(The one-piece costume that he designed for wearing while performing these acts - to maximise agility and also show off his physique - is named after him.)
1926: U.S. Route 66 is established, running from Chicago, Illinois, through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, before terminating in Santa Monica, California.
1926: U.S. Route 66 is established, running from Chicago, Illinois, through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, before terminating in Santa Monica, California.
1969: Sesame Street debuts!
(Today's Simpsons screenshot is not from an episode of The Simpsons - not for lack of references to Sesame Street, of which there have been many, over the years - but from Sesame Street's celebrity version of their "Monster in the Mirror" music video!)
1969: Sesame Street debuts!
(Today's Simpsons screenshot is not from an episode of The Simpsons - not for lack of references to Sesame Street, of which there have been many, over the years - but from Sesame Street's celebrity version of their "Monster in the Mirror" music video!)
1965: The northeast blackout of 1965 causes over 30 million people to lose access to electricity in parts of Ontario as well as Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont for up to 13 hours.
1965: The northeast blackout of 1965 causes over 30 million people to lose access to electricity in parts of Ontario as well as Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont for up to 13 hours.
1910: The first US patent for an “electric insect destroyer” a.k.a. "bug zapper" is issued to William H. Frost.
1910: The first US patent for an “electric insect destroyer” a.k.a. "bug zapper" is issued to William H. Frost.
1874: The first political cartoon depicting an elephant as a symbol of the Republican Party is published by Thomas Nast.
(The Democratic Party's animal representative in this particular cartoon was a fox.)
1874: The first political cartoon depicting an elephant as a symbol of the Republican Party is published by Thomas Nast.
(The Democratic Party's animal representative in this particular cartoon was a fox.)
1860: Abraham Lincoln is elected the 16th President of the United States of America.
1860: Abraham Lincoln is elected the 16th President of the United States of America.