Eric Christensen
@echristensen.bsky.social
love, truth, beauty, corn, and a little democracy … an old, long-haired, noble-fared, leaping gnome
I love to share the things I am learning. Sometimes my histories will cover significant events, and sometimes they will just be fun. I may not be able to be able to post a history every day, but I want to post as many as possible in response to sycophants who are desperately trying to erase history.
January 17, 2026 at 9:28 PM
I love to share the things I am learning. Sometimes my histories will cover significant events, and sometimes they will just be fun. I may not be able to be able to post a history every day, but I want to post as many as possible in response to sycophants who are desperately trying to erase history.
Image—from page 12 of the “Anderson [Indiana] Daily Bulletin” on Thursday, January 17, 1929—is the first “Thimble Theatre” strip to introduce the character of Popeye. (4/4)
January 17, 2026 at 9:28 PM
Image—from page 12 of the “Anderson [Indiana] Daily Bulletin” on Thursday, January 17, 1929—is the first “Thimble Theatre” strip to introduce the character of Popeye. (4/4)
Popeye became the star of his own comic books and animated cartoons, and then later became a movie character portrayed by Robin Williams, as well as the subject of pinball machines and video games. (3/4)
January 17, 2026 at 9:28 PM
Popeye became the star of his own comic books and animated cartoons, and then later became a movie character portrayed by Robin Williams, as well as the subject of pinball machines and video games. (3/4)
In his first appearance, Popeye is hired by Castor Oyl (Olive Oyl’s brother) and Ham Gravy (Olive Oyl’s fiancé) to be the only crew member on their boat. Popeye soon became so popular that the strip was renamed “Thimble Theatre Starring Popeye” and then just “Popeye.” (2/4)
January 17, 2026 at 9:27 PM
In his first appearance, Popeye is hired by Castor Oyl (Olive Oyl’s brother) and Ham Gravy (Olive Oyl’s fiancé) to be the only crew member on their boat. Popeye soon became so popular that the strip was renamed “Thimble Theatre Starring Popeye” and then just “Popeye.” (2/4)
I love to share the things I am learning. Sometimes my histories will cover significant events, and sometimes they will just be fun. I may not be able to be able to post a history every day, but I want to post as many as possible in response to sycophants who are desperately trying to erase history.
January 16, 2026 at 7:04 PM
I love to share the things I am learning. Sometimes my histories will cover significant events, and sometimes they will just be fun. I may not be able to be able to post a history every day, but I want to post as many as possible in response to sycophants who are desperately trying to erase history.
Image—from the New Gramophone House web site—shows the cover art for the 1950 double album of the Benny Goodman concert at Carnegie Hall. (5/5)
January 16, 2026 at 7:04 PM
Image—from the New Gramophone House web site—shows the cover art for the 1950 double album of the Benny Goodman concert at Carnegie Hall. (5/5)
The 1950 album was reissued as a CD in 1998 after the original aluminum studio master recordings were discovered. (4/5)
January 16, 2026 at 7:03 PM
The 1950 album was reissued as a CD in 1998 after the original aluminum studio master recordings were discovered. (4/5)
A recording of the concert was believed to have been lost until 1950, when Goodman gave one of the two copies of the recording to Columbia Records, and three studios became involved in creating an acceptable quality double-LP album, which sold over one million copies. (3/5)
January 16, 2026 at 7:03 PM
A recording of the concert was believed to have been lost until 1950, when Goodman gave one of the two copies of the recording to Columbia Records, and three studios became involved in creating an acceptable quality double-LP album, which sold over one million copies. (3/5)
Reviewer Bruce Eder described the concert as “the single most important jazz or popular music concert in history: jazz’s ‘coming out’ party to the world of ‘respectable’ music.” (2/5)
January 16, 2026 at 7:03 PM
Reviewer Bruce Eder described the concert as “the single most important jazz or popular music concert in history: jazz’s ‘coming out’ party to the world of ‘respectable’ music.” (2/5)
I love to share the things I am learning. Sometimes my histories will cover significant events, and sometimes they will just be fun. I may not be able to be able to post a history every day, but I want to post as many as possible in response to sycophants who are desperately trying to erase history.
January 15, 2026 at 7:21 PM
I love to share the things I am learning. Sometimes my histories will cover significant events, and sometimes they will just be fun. I may not be able to be able to post a history every day, but I want to post as many as possible in response to sycophants who are desperately trying to erase history.
Photo—by Creative Commons contributor “Jimberg13”—shows the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on the day of Super Bowl I, with the Arizona Symphonic Marching Band, the Anaheim High School Drill Team and Flag Girls, and an inset of Al Hirt rehearsing for the halftime show. (4/4)
January 15, 2026 at 7:21 PM
Photo—by Creative Commons contributor “Jimberg13”—shows the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on the day of Super Bowl I, with the Arizona Symphonic Marching Band, the Anaheim High School Drill Team and Flag Girls, and an inset of Al Hirt rehearsing for the halftime show. (4/4)
The two leagues merged in 1970 and have since been known as the National Football League, comprising the American Football Conference and the National Football Conference. (3/4)
January 15, 2026 at 7:20 PM
The two leagues merged in 1970 and have since been known as the National Football League, comprising the American Football Conference and the National Football Conference. (3/4)
The halftime show featured trumpeter Al Hirt. It was the only Super Bowl to be broadcast on two of the “Big Three” networks, because NBC was contracted to televise American Football League games and CBS was contracted to televise National Football League games. (2/4)
January 15, 2026 at 7:20 PM
The halftime show featured trumpeter Al Hirt. It was the only Super Bowl to be broadcast on two of the “Big Three” networks, because NBC was contracted to televise American Football League games and CBS was contracted to televise National Football League games. (2/4)
I love to share the things I am learning. Sometimes my histories will cover significant events, and sometimes they will just be fun. I may not be able to be able to post a history every day, but I want to post as many as possible in response to sycophants who are desperately trying to erase history.
January 14, 2026 at 7:04 PM
I love to share the things I am learning. Sometimes my histories will cover significant events, and sometimes they will just be fun. I may not be able to be able to post a history every day, but I want to post as many as possible in response to sycophants who are desperately trying to erase history.
Image—from an Amazon listing—shows the front cover of the first album recorded by the Supremes, “Meet the Supremes,” released in 1962. (5/5)
January 14, 2026 at 7:04 PM
Image—from an Amazon listing—shows the front cover of the first album recorded by the Supremes, “Meet the Supremes,” released in 1962. (5/5)
Florence Ballard lost a legal battle with Motown over royalty payments, after which she slipped into alcoholism, depression, and poverty before dying of heart attack in 1976 at the age of 32 in “one of rock’s greatest tragedies.” (4/5)
January 14, 2026 at 7:03 PM
Florence Ballard lost a legal battle with Motown over royalty payments, after which she slipped into alcoholism, depression, and poverty before dying of heart attack in 1976 at the age of 32 in “one of rock’s greatest tragedies.” (4/5)
Barry Gordy groomed Diana Ross to become a superstar, and Mary Wilson went on to have a relatively successful musical career. (3/5)
January 14, 2026 at 7:03 PM
Barry Gordy groomed Diana Ross to become a superstar, and Mary Wilson went on to have a relatively successful musical career. (3/5)
The group had been on the verge of a break-up ever since Barry Gordy at Motown had changed their name from The Supremes to The Supremes with Diana Ross and finally to Diana Ross & The Supremes, signaling Gordy’s intention to make Diana Ross a solo act. (2/5)
January 14, 2026 at 7:03 PM
The group had been on the verge of a break-up ever since Barry Gordy at Motown had changed their name from The Supremes to The Supremes with Diana Ross and finally to Diana Ross & The Supremes, signaling Gordy’s intention to make Diana Ross a solo act. (2/5)
I love to share the things I am learning. Sometimes my histories will cover significant events, and sometimes they will just be fun. I may not be able to be able to post a history every day, but I want to post as many as possible in response to sycophants who are desperately trying to erase history.
January 13, 2026 at 5:50 PM
I love to share the things I am learning. Sometimes my histories will cover significant events, and sometimes they will just be fun. I may not be able to be able to post a history every day, but I want to post as many as possible in response to sycophants who are desperately trying to erase history.
Image—from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa—is an early photograph of Korean immigrant plantation workers in Hawaii. (5/5)
January 13, 2026 at 5:50 PM
Image—from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa—is an early photograph of Korean immigrant plantation workers in Hawaii. (5/5)