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Trivia People571: Salad Dressing NamesLet's start with salad, specifically salad dressing, even more specifically salad dressing names. We'll start with the king of salad dressings in the United States: ranch. Ranch dressing was first created in 1954 by Steve Henson, who owned a dude ranch called Hidden Valley Ranch, near Santa Barbara, California. His customers liked the dressing so much that Henson started selling packets of dried mix so they could have it at home. Bottled, prepared ranch dressing was introduced in 1983. Thousand Island dressing's origin story is not as clear, although it's name refers to the Thousand...
2018-02-2803 minTrivia People570: WInter OlympicsToday is the 14th day of competition at the 23rd Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. Here are a few things you might not have known about these Olympics and the Olympic Winter Games in general. Ninety-two nations are competing in 102 events in 15 sports during the 19-day competition. The host South Koreans marched with their counterparts from North Korea under a unified Korean flag during the opening ceremony. The two countries combined to field a unified women's ice hockey team, but otherwise participated separately. This is the third time the Winter Olympics have been held...
2018-02-2004 minTrivia People569: We're Back and We're Going to Disneyland!I hope you're asking yourself, where has this guy been for the past eight months? Well, my wife and I moved from Yakima, Washington, to Los Angeles in a so-far successful attempt to avoid winter. Also, I've recently started a new job, because unlike other podcasters, we're not rolling in Blue Apron or SquareSpace money yet. So, inspired by my new-ish surroundings, here are five things you may not have known about Disneyland: Walt Disney originally wanted to build an amusement park next to his studios in Burbank, California, north of downtown Los Angeles. However, the p...
2018-02-1204 minTrivia PeopleTaking a Break -- We Shall Return!To my listeners: I hope you've noticed there has been a lack of "Trivia Minute" podcasts lately. I have quite a few exciting and positive things going on in my life right now, so I've had to put the podcast on the back burner until things settle down (likely sometime this autumn). My promise: The show will return, so please stay subscribed using whichever podcast service you use. Keep an eye on this space for updates. Thank you for listening! -- Marcus P.S.: All 550...
2017-05-1500 minTrivia People567: Trivia Minute Update: May 5, 2017We'll start off with a question: What nation did Mexican forces defeat in the Battle of Puebla, which is marked by Cinco de Mayo celebrations? We'll have the answer later in the show. Today is Cinco de Mayo, which is celebrated more in the United States than it is in Mexico. It's also Children's Day in Japan and South Korea and Constitution Day in Kyrgyzstan. It's unofficially International Midwives' Day, Cartoonists Day, and International Tuba Day. It's the birthday of chef James Beard, who was born in 1903; actor Michael Palin, who...
2017-05-0502 minTrivia PeopleTrivia Minute Update: May 4, 2017We'll start off with a question: What was the only crime gangster Al Capone was ever convicted of? We'll have the answer later in the show. Today is International Firefighters Day, Youth Day in Fiji, and Restoration of Independence Day in Latvia. It's unofficially Star Wars Day, National Day of Prayer and National Orange Juice Day. It's the birthday of actress Audrey Hepburn, who was born in 1929; actor Will Arnett, who is 47; and golfer Rory McIlroy, who is 28. Now, we'll spin the wheel to pick a year at random.
2017-05-0402 minTrivia PeopleTrivia Minute Update: May 3, 2017We'll start off with a question: Who was the owner of the Dodgers when they moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles? We'll have the answer later in the show. Today is World Press Freedom Day, Constitution Day in Poland, and Constitution Memorial Day in Japan. It's Public Radio Day, Wordsmith Day, and National Raspberry Popover Day. It's the birthday of singer and actor Bing Crosby, who was born in 1903; musician James Brown, who was born in 1933; and magician Doug Henning, who was born in 1947. Now, we'll spin the wheel...
2017-05-0302 minTrivia PeopleTrivia Minute Update: May 2, 2017We'll start off with a question: The maiden flight of the De Havilland Comet, the first jet airliner, traveled between which two cities? We'll have the answer later in the show. Today is Flag Day in Poland, National Education Day in Indonesia, and Teachers' Day in Iran. It's unofficially National Play Your Ukulele Day, International Scurvy Awareness Day and World Asthma Day. It's the birthday of Catherine the Great, who was born in 1729; singer Engelbert Humperdinck, who is 81; and soccer star David Beckham, who is 42. Now, we'll spin the...
2017-05-0202 minTrivia PeopleTrivia Minute Update: May 1, 2017Our T-shirt giveaway came to an end on Sunday. We only had one entry from Doug Barbeau, who wins a Trivia Minute T-Shirt. Thanks, Doug. We'll start off with a question: Which two of the contiguous 48 states are not served by Amtrak rail service? Today is Constitution Day in Argentina, Latvia and the Marshall Islands. It's International Workers' Day, and it's May Day. It's unofficially Frequent Flyer Day, National Chocolate Parfait Day, and School Principals' Day. It's the birthday of author Joseph Heller, who was born in 1923; musician Judy Collins, who...
2017-05-0102 minTrivia PeopleTrivia Minute Update: April 28, 2017Today's trivia question: Who was the captain of the HMS Bounty? Today is International Workplace Safety Day, National Heroes Day in Barbados, and National Day of Mourning in Canada. It's unofficially National Cubicle Day, National Superhero Day, and National Blueberry Pie Day. It's the birthday of author Harper Lee, who was born in 1926; Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan, who is 57; and actress Penelope Cruz, who is 43. Now, we'll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1986, the top song in the U.S. was "Addicted t...
2017-04-2802 minTrivia PeopleTrivia Minute Update: April 26, 2017We'll start off with a trivia question: Tanzania was formed from the merger of what two countries? We'll have the answer later in the show. Today is World Intellectual Property Day. It's unofficially Administrative Professionals Day, Audubon Day and Hug an Australian Day. It's the birthday of architect I.M. Pei, who is 100; actress Carol Burnett, who is 84; and actor Jet Li, who is 54. Now, we'll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1990, the top song in the U.S. was "Nothing...
2017-04-2602 minTrivia PeopleTrivia Minute Update: April 25, 2017We'll start off with a trivia question: What is the name of the canal and lock system that connects the North American Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean? We'll have the answer in the show. Today is World Malaria Day, Flag Day in Swaziland, and Liberation Day in Italy. It's unofficially National Plumber's Day, National Telephone Day, and Hairstylists Appreciation Day. It's the birthday of journalist Edward R. Murrow, who was born in 1908; singer Ella Fitzgerald, who was born in 1917; and actor Al Pacino, who is 77. Now, we'll spin...
2017-04-2502 minTrivia PeopleTrivia Minute Update: April 21, 2017We'll start off with a trivia question: What city hosted the most recent World's Fair held in the United States? We'll have the answer later in the show. Today is Civil Service Day in India, National Tree Planting Day in Kenya, and Day of Self-Government in Russia. It's unofficially Big Words Day, Kindergarten Day, and Keep Off the Grass Day. It's the birthday of author Charlotte Brontë, who was born in 1816; Queen Elizabeth II, who is 91; and actor Tony Danza, who is 66. Now, we'll spin the wheel to pick a...
2017-04-2102 minTrivia PeopleTrivia Minute Update: April 18, 2017We'll start off with a trivia question: What sporting event is closely associated with World War I fighter pilot Roland Garros? We'll have the answer later in the show. Today is World Heritage Day; Independence Day in Zimbabwe, Friend's Day in Brazil and Coma Patients' Day in Poland. It's unofficially National Lineman Appreciation Day, National Animal Crackers Day, and National Velociraptor Awareness Day. It's the birthday of TV host Conan O'Brien, who is 54; actor David Tennant, who is 46; and actress America Ferrera, who is 33. Now, we'll spin the wheel...
2017-04-1802 minTrivia PeopleNo ShowHey folks. We're having some technical difficulties here at TriviaPeople.com HQ, so there won't be a show today.
2017-04-1400 minTrivia People1992: Disney Opens Euro DisneylandOn this date in 1992, The Walt Disney Company opened Euro Disneyland. Here are some things you may not have known about Disney parks. Walt Disney originally wanted to build a theme park in Burbank, California, near his studios. Because of the limited size of the property, Disney chose instead to buy 160 acres of orange grove in Anaheim, about 30 miles south of Burbank. Initially, Disney planned to call the park "Disneylandia." Construction of Disneyland began in 1954 and the park opened the following year. When it opened, Disneyland had five distinct lands: Frontierland, Adventureland, Fantasyland...
2017-04-1205 minTrivia PeopleTrivia Minute Update: April 11, 2017We'll start off with a question: Despite not landing on the Moon, what record did the crew of Apollo 13 set? Today is Juan Santamaria Day in Costa Rica and World Parkinson's Disease Day. It's unofficially International Louie Louie Day, National Eight-Track Tape Day, and National Pet Day. It's the birthday of fashion designer Oleg Cassini, who was born in 1913; actor Joel Grey, who turns 85; and television host Jeremy Clarkson, who is 57. Now, we'll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1988, the top song in t...
2017-04-1102 minTrivia PeopleBig Ben: The Story Behind the BellOn this date in 1858, the bell known as Big Ben was cast in London. Here are some things you may not have known about Big Ben. The nickname Big Ben refers to the bell only. The clock is called the Great Clock, while the tower is named Elizabeth Tower. The namesake of the bell is disputed. It may have been named after Sir Benjamin Hall, who was in charge of the installation of the bell, or it might have been named after the English heavyweight boxing champion Benjamin Caunt. The bell...
2017-04-1005 minTrivia PeopleAnswering This Week's QuestionHey folks, no show today, but I wanted to make sure to give you the answer to this week's question. Also, be sure to listen to Monday's podcast when we'll have details on our first T-shirt giveaway contest. As a refresher, the question was: What is the second fastest land mammal? Listen to the show for the answer. The first correct answer came from Christopher Lazar. We also got correct answers from Tom (who didn't give his last name), Alex Thompson, Brian and Elisa, and Jim Cardillo. Thanks for...
2017-04-0700 minTrivia PeoplePresidential Vetoes: Because I Said SoOn this date in 1792, George Washington used his presidential veto power for the first time. Here are a few things you may not have known about the veto. The history of the veto, which means "I forbid" in Latin, can be traced to the Roman Empire. Roman consuls had to act unanimously, so one essentially held veto power over the other, while tribunes held veto power over the Roman Senate. In the British-based Westminster system of government, the power of the veto is held by the monarch. All legislation passed by parliament must r...
2017-04-0505 minTrivia PeopleTrivia Minute Update: April 4, 2017We'll start off with a random trivia question: Which actors played the character of Jay Gatsby in the 1949, 1974, and 2013 film versions of "The Great Gatsby"? We'll have the answer later in the show. Today is International Landmine Awareness Day, Children's Day in Hong Kong and Taiwan; Independence Day in Senegal. It's unofficially World Rat Day, National Tell a Lie Day, and International Carrot Day. It's the birthday of musician Muddy Waters, who was born in 1915; writer Maya Angelou, who was born in 1928; and actor Robert Downey Jr., who is 52. ...
2017-04-0402 minTrivia People1860: Pony Express Begins OperationsOn this date in 1860, the Pony Express began operations. Here are some things you may not have known about the Old West mail service. After the discovery of gold in 1849 and the admission of California as a state in 1850, a faster way to deliver transcontinental mail was needed. At the time, mail could take up to a month to travel from coast to coast. The Pony Express was founded with the goal of cutting that time to 10 days between St. Joseph, Missouri and San Francisco, California. The goal was thought impossible by many.
2017-04-0304 min2017-03-3100 minTrivia PeopleMarch 30, 2017: Trivia Minute UpdateWe'll start off with a random trivia question: What are the three sites at which U.S. space shuttles have landed? We'll have the answer later in the show. Today is unofficially National Doctors' Day, Pencil Day and World Bipolar Day. It's the birthday of musician Eric Clapton, who is 72; rapper MC Hammer, who is 55; and musician Tracy Chapman, who is 53. Now, we'll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1985, the top song in the U.S. was "One More Night" by Phil Collins.
2017-03-3002 minTrivia People1806: America's First HighwayOn this date in in 1806, the first major improved highway in the United States was authorized. Here are some things you might not know about The National Road. The National Road began in 1751 as the Braddock Road, which ran from Fort Cumberland, Maryland, which is navigable limit of the Potomac River, to Fort Duquesne at the site of modern-day Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1806, President Thomas Jefferson authorized construction of a road between the Potomac and Ohio River at what is now Wheeling, West Virginia. Construction began in 1811 and the road reached Wheeling in 1818.
2017-03-2904 minTrivia PeopleMarch 28, 2017: Trivia Minute UpdateOn this date in 1979, the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania suffered a partial core meltdown. What is the name of the river in which Three Mile Island is located? We'll have the answer later in the show. Today is Teachers' Day in the Czech Republic and Slovakia and Serfs Emancipation Day in Tibet. It's unofficially National Hot Tub Day, National Children's Picture Book Day, and National Something on a Stick Day. It's the birthday of musician Reba McEntire, who is 62; actor Vince Vaughn, who is 47; and m...
2017-03-2802 minTrivia People1977: Tenerife Airport DisasterOn this date in 1977, 583 people died in the deadliest accident in aviation history. Here are some things you may not have known about the Tenerife Airport Disaster. KLM Flight 4805 from Amsterdam, and Pan Am Flight 1736 from Los Angeles via New York, were both traveling to Gran Canaria Airport at Las Palmas in the Canary Islands. A bomb explosion at Gran Canaria Airport forced five large airliners, including the two 747s, to be diverted to the smaller Los Rodeos Airport on the island of Tenerife. As the airport was not equipped to handle so m...
2017-03-2706 minTrivia PeopleAnswering This Week's QuestionI am a bit under the weather today, so there won't be a show today, but I wanted to make sure we answered this week's question. The question was: How much did the United State pay per acre for Alaska in 1867? Listen to the show for the answer! The first correct answer was from Kevin Lazar. We also had correct responses from Trent Harris, Alex Thompson, Jim Cardillo, Tom (who didn't give his last name), Jeff Toro and Doug Button.
2017-03-2401 minTrivia PeopleAn All-New Abbreviated Thursday Show!We'll start off with a random trivia question: What university was founded on this date in 1868? Today is World Meteorological Day, Day of Hungarian-Polish Friendship, and Day of the Sea in Bolivia. It's unofficially National Puppy Day, National Chip and Dip Day, and National Melba Toast Day. It's the birthday of actress Joan Crawford, who was born in 1905; film director Akira Kurosawa, who was born in 1910; and actress Keri Russell, who is 41. Now, we'll spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1973, the top song...
2017-03-2302 minTrivia People1894: The First Stanley Cup PlayoffOn this date in 1894, the first Stanley Cup playoff game was held. Here are a few things you may not have known about the oldest trophy in North American professional team sports. The cup was commissioned as the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup by Lord Stanley of Preston, who was then the governor general of Canada. It was awarded for the first time in 1893 to the Montreal Hockey Club based on league standings, not on a playoff victory. As a challenge cup, the team which won the cup the previous year was allowed to defend it...
2017-03-2205 minTrivia PeopleA New Abbreviated Tuesday Show!We'll start off with a random trivia question: What is the largest city named after a U.S. President? Today is International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, International Color Day, International Day of Forests, World Down Syndrome Day, World Poetry Day and World Puppetry Day. It's Independence Day in Namibia, and Human Rights Day in South Africa. It's unofficially National Flower Day, National Teenager Day, and National French Bread Day. It's the birthday of former Mexican president Benito Juarez, who was born in 1806; musician and minister Solomon Burke, who was born...
2017-03-2102 minTrivia PeopleIditarod: Racing Across AlaskaOn this date in 1985, Libby Riddles became the first woman to win the Iditarod Trail sled dog race. Here are some things you might not have known about the annual tradition. The Iditarod is run in honor of the 1925 serum run, which was a sled dog relay to deliver a diphtheria antitoxin to the town of Nome during an outbreak. 20 mushers combined to haul 20 pounds of serum 674 miles in about five and a half days. A particularly treacherous leg of the route was run by Norwegian Leonhard Seppala and his lead dog Togo. The final...
2017-03-2004 minTrivia PeopleSt. Patrick's Day: Common MisconceptionsToday is St. Patrick's Day. Here are some things you should know. While a four-leaf clover may be lucky, it's not a shamrock. Shamrocks have three leaves and are more common than their quad-leaved brethren. It's said that St. Patrick used the three leaves of the shamrock to help explain the Christian Holy Trinity to the pagan Irish. St. Patrick is often depicted as holding a cross in one hand and a bundle of shamrocks in the other. St. Patrick didn't drive the snakes out of Ireland, as told in legend. There have...
2017-03-1704 minTrivia PeopleMarch 16, 2017: An Abbreviated Thursday ShowToday is Day of the Book Smugglers in Lithuania, and Latvian Legion Day. It's unofficially National artichoke heart day, national orange and lemon day, freedom of information day, and black press day. It's the birthday of former US President James Madison, I was born in 1751; actor and comedian Jerry Lewis, who is 91; and actor Erik Estrada, who is 68. Now, let's spin the wheel to pick a year at random. This week in 1980, the top song in the U.S. was "Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)" by Pink Floyd. T...
2017-03-1602 minTrivia People1820: Maine, America's VacationlandOn this date in 1820, Maine was admitted to the Union. Here are some things you may not have known about the 23rd state. The first inhabitants of what would become Maine was a loose confederacy of Algonquin-speaking people, called the Wabanaki. The first European contact came about 800 years ago when Norwegians arrived on the coast. The Norwegians didn't settle in the area, but returned over the next few centuries to trade and collect timber. A 10th-century Norwegian coin was discovered during 1954 archeological dig in the state. The first European settlers came...
2017-03-1504 minTrivia PeopleMarch 14, 2017: A Tuesday Short ShowFor the foreseeable future, we'll be scaling back our episodes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We'll still bring you all the features that usually run in the second half of the show. Today is Pi Day, in celebration of the mathematical constant pi, the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter. In several Asian countries, it's White Day, where men give gifts to women in a reversal of local Valentine's Day customs. It's unofficially Learn About Butterflies Day, National Potato Chip Day, and National Save a Spider Day. It's t...
2017-03-1402 minTrivia People1930: Pluto Discovered, Controversy EnsuesOn this date in 1930, the dwarf planet Pluto was discovered. Here are some things you may not have known about what was once considered the ninth planet in the solar system. Although it wasn't discovered until 1930, astronomers had predicted in the late 19th century that something besides the newly discovered Neptune was disturbing the orbit of the seventh planet, Uranus. Between 1909 and 1930, there were 16 prediscovery observations of Pluto in which the observer didn't realize what was there. Clyde Tombaugh, a 23-year-old astronomer was hired by the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, to lead...
2017-03-1305 minTrivia People1926: Book of the Month Club Starts DeliveringOn this date in 1926, the first Book of the Month Club selection was published. Here are some things you might not have known about it. The Book of the Month Club was founded by Harry Scherman in New York. Scherman had earlier success selling a collection of 30 leather-bound books for just under $3. Over the course of five years, he sold more than 40 million copies. The club was started as a way to introduce new books to readers. Scherman saw the club as a way to become a tastemaker or what he called a "...
2017-03-1004 minTrivia PeopleAn Abbreviated Thursday ShowToday is Teachers' Day in Lebanon. It's unofficially False Teeth Day, Barbie Day, and National Meatball Day. It's the birthday of cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, who was born in 1934; actor Raul Julia, who was born in 1940; and actress Juliette Binoche, who is 53. This week in 1967, the top song in the U.S. was "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone" by The Supremes. The No. 1 movie was "Hurry Sundown," while the novel "The Secret of Santa Vittoria" by Robert Crichton topped the New York Times Bestsellers list. Now for our w...
2017-03-0902 min2017-03-0801 minTrivia People1985: "We Are The World" Helps Fight Famine in EthiopiaOn this date in 1985, the charity song "We Are The World" was released. Here are some things you may not have known about it. More than a million people died as a result of a widespread famine in Ethiopia between 1983 and 1985, in the midst of more than two decades of insurrection and civil war. In response to this, musician Bob Geldof organized a supergroup of mostly British and Irish musicians called Band Aid to record a charity single called "Do They Know It's Christmas." The song ended up raising 8 million pounds...
2017-03-0705 minTrivia People1899: The History of AspirinOn this date in 1899, Bayer registered the name "Aspirin" as a trademark. Here are some things you might not have known about aspirin. Aspirin is also known as acetylsalicylic acid. People have been using willow and myrtle trees, both rich in salicylate for thousands of years to treat pain and fever. Aspirin is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, in the same class as ibuprofen and naproxen. It's a pain reliever, fever reducer and it fights inflammation. It works by suppressing the production of prostaglandins and thromboxanes. Prostaglandins are involved in the transmission of pain...
2017-03-0505 min2017-03-0500 minTrivia PeopleAustralia Act of 1986: Full Independence Down UnderOn this date in 1986, the Australia Act of 1986 came into effect. Here are some things you may not have known about Australia's independence from the United Kingdom. The Australia Act of 1986 cut the last constitutional ties between Australia and the UK. The process began in 1901 with the creation of the Dominion of Australia. Dominions were semi-independent, self-governing parts of the British Empire. Dominion status was somewhere between that of a colony and a full-fledged state. The first country to be called a dominion was Canada in 1867. Australia was second, followed by New Zealand a...
2017-03-0305 minTrivia People1933: "King Kong" Premieres in New YorkOn this date in 1933, the film "King Kong" premiered in New York. Here are some things you may not have known about it. "King Kong" is the tale of a wildlife filmmaker and his crew, who stumble upon an enormous gorilla-like ape on an uncharted island off of Indonesia. The ape falls in love with the actress, Ann Darrow, played by Fay Wray. The ape is brought to New York City to be displayed, where he escapes and kidnaps Ann and climbs to the top of the Empire State Building. At...
2017-03-0205 minTrivia People1954: Five Congressmen Shot by Puerto Rican NationalistsOn this date in 1954, four Puerto Rican nationalists opened fire in the House of Representatives chamber in the United States Capitol building. Here are some things you may not have known about it. The Puerto Rican Nationalist Party was founded in the 1920s in an attempt to secure the island's independence from the United States. The U.S. had gained possession of Puerto Rico as part of the Treaty of Paris of 1898, which ended the Spanish-American War. The U.S. also acquired Guam, the Philippines and Cuba as part of the treaty. An amendment to...
2017-03-0106 minTrivia PeopleMost-Watched TV ProgramsOn this date in 1983, the series finale of the television show "MASH" aired in the United States. Here are some things you may not have known about the most-watched scripted television episode in American history. The final episode of the series was called "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen." The comedy/drama ran for 11 seasons, eight years longer than the Korean War in which it was set. The 2 1/2-hour episode begins with Hawkeye Pierce suffering from a nervous breakdown. During the episode he recovers and rejoins the 4077th as the news of a ceasefire reaches...
2017-02-2804 minTrivia PeopleBattle of Los Angeles: Fear and AnxietyOn this date in 1942, anti-aircraft guns blazed over the city of Los Angeles during what was eventually determined to be a false alarm. Here are some things you might not have known about "The Battle of Los Angeles." The United States was three months into its involvement in World War II following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. California was especially on edge, as the night before a Japanese submarine opened fire on an oil refinery near Santa Barbara, California. Air raid sirens began sounding in Los Angeles County on...
2017-02-2404 minTrivia PeopleAluminum: The Modern MetalOn this date in 1886, Charles Martin Hall used an economical method to produce aluminum for the first time. Here are some things you may not have known about it. Aluminum is the third most common element in the Earth's crust, and the most common metal. Aluminum compounds occur naturally, and have been used in clay pottery for thousands of years. However aluminum proved difficult to isolate because of its high affinity for oxygen. Metallic aluminum never occurs in nature. In the first half of the 19th century, scientists made strides in isolating aluminum, bu...
2017-02-2304 minTrivia PeopleDaytona 500: Stock Car Racing's Biggest SpectacleOn this date in 1959, Lee Petty won the first Daytona 500. Here are some things you may not have known about stock car racing's crown jewel. The Daytona 500 is the direct descendant of earlier races held on the Daytona Beach Road Course. Stock car races were held on a stretch of Daytona Beach and an adjacent stretch of highway. The first stock car race held on the course took place in 1936. NASCAR, the stock car sanctioning body, was formed in 1948, and its top series included races on the beach course until 1958. Five years prior...
2017-02-2204 minTrivia PeoplePolaroid Cameras: Photos in an InstantOn this date in 1947, Edwin Land demonstrated the first instant camera. Here are some things you may not have known about the Polaroid Land Camera. Edwin Land was born in 1909 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. After one year of studying chemistry at Harvard, he dropped out to move to New York and work on his own. While in New York, he invented an inexpensive way of polarizing light for sunglasses and scientific work. He did this despite not having a laboratory of his own by sneaking into Columbia University late at night and doing his reading in...
2017-02-2105 minTrivia PeopleGood Vibrations: A Musical MilestoneOn this date in 1966, Brian Wilson began recording what would come to be the Beach Boys single "Good Vibrations." Here are some things you may not have known about the song. "Good Vibrations" was recorded while the Beach Boys were working on their album "Pet Sounds." At some point, the song was intended to appear on the album, but was later held back as Brian Wilson continued to work on it. The recording and production of "Good Vibrations" took seven months and cost an estimated $50,000 to $75,000, making it the most expensive single ever...
2017-02-1704 minTrivia PeopleMASH Units: Separating Fact From Television On this date in 2006, the last American mobile army surgical hospital was deactivated. Here are some things you may not have known about MASH units. The inspiration for MASH units came during World War II. At the time, the U.S. military used a system that required injured troops to be transported long distances to receive surgical treatment. MASH units allowed surgical intervention to happen much closer to the front lines, helping to save many lives. Casualties were first treated by buddies or by unit medics. If they needed further help, they were s...
2017-02-1604 minTrivia PeopleENIAC: One Of The First Computers Two programmers work on the ENIAC. (U.S. Army Photo via Columbia University) On this date in 1946, ENIAC, one of the first electronic computers was dedicated. Here are some things you may not have known about it. ENIAC stands for Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer. It was designed to calculate artillery firing tables for the U.S. Army's Ballistic Research laboratory. It was literally a computer. It could solve numerical problems, which were usually done by people, who were also called computers. Design and construction began in 1943 at the University of P...
2017-02-1504 minTrivia PeopleYouTube: Streaming Since 2005On this date in 2005, YouTube was founded. Here are some things you might not have known about the video-sharing site. It was created by three former PayPal employees named Chad Hurley, Steve Chen and Jawed Karim. The three differ on their inspiration for starting the company. Karim said it was because he couldn't find video online of Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction during halftime of the 2004 Super Bowl or of the Indian Ocean tsunami later that year. Hurley and Chen say the original idea was for a video version of a dating site.
2017-02-1403 minTrivia PeopleLouisville Sewer ExplosionsOn this date in 1981, more than two miles of streets in Louisville, Kentucky, were destroyed by a sewer explosion. Here are some things you might not have known about the incident. A Ralston Purina soybean processing plant suffered a massive leak of hexane, which was used as a solvent to extract soybean oil. Hexane is a highly flammable chemical that is a component of gasoline. The hexane entered the city's sewer and gradually spread through the system, just waiting for a spark. At 5:16 a.m., a car near the intersection of 12t...
2017-02-1303 minTrivia PeopleGold Records: Marking a MilestoneOn this date in 1942, the first gold record was awarded to Glenn Miller and his Orchestra. Here are some things you may not have known about certification of record sales. The record given to Miller was from his record company, RCA Victor, to celebrate the sales of 1.2 million copies of the single "Chattanooga Choo Choo." Other gold records awarded by companies were to Elvis Presley in 1956 after selling 1 million copies of his single "Don't Be Cruel." A year later RCA Victor game Harry Belafonte a gold record for selling 1 million copies of his album "Calypso."
2017-02-1004 minTrivia PeopleDaylight Saving TimeOn this date in 1942, year-round Daylight Saving Time was reinstated in the United States during World War II. Here are some things you may not have known about Daylight saving time. It was not originally proposed by Benjamin Franklin. Despite his enthusiasm for working in the early morning, most of the world did not keep precise schedules in his day. The rise of railroads and the telegraph required standardizing the time, so trains could stay on schedule, and most importantly, not collide with each other. Before the standardization of time, each city and...
2017-02-0905 minTrivia PeopleNASDAQ: Taking Stock of its HistoryOn this date in 1971, trading began on the NASDAQ stock market. Here are some things you may not have known about what is now the second-largest stock exchange in the world. Originally, NASDAQ was an acronym that stood for "National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations." It was the first electronic stock market, but served only a quotation system, and didn't provide a way to perform electronic trades. Its implementation helped lower the spread between the bid price and the asking price, which made it unpopular with brokers, who made a lot of m...
2017-02-0803 minTrivia PeopleBananas: America's Second Most Popular FruitApropos of nothing, we're going bananas today. Here are some things you may not have known about the second most popular fresh fruit in America. Bananas are technically berries which grow on large herbaceous plants, not trees. Herbs differ from trees in that they have no persistent woody stem above ground. The species of banana that is most popular today is native to Indonesia, Malaysia and Australia, and was likely first domesticated in Papua New Guinea. Until the 1950s a variety called Gros Michel or "Big Mike" was the only type...
2017-02-0704 minTrivia PeopleQueen Elizabeth II: Reigning for 65 YearsOn this date in 1952, Elizabeth II became queen regnant of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms when her father, George VI, died. Here are some things you may not have known about Queen Elizabeth II. She was born by cesarean section on April 21, 1926, at her maternal grandfather's home in Mayfair, London. Her full name, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, is in honor of her mother, her paternal great grandmother, and her paternal grandmother, respectively. Early, she had difficulty pronouncing her name and called herself "Lilibet," which is what her immediate family ended up calling her. As...
2017-02-0605 minTrivia PeopleWedding Rings: A Long HistoryToday is unofficially National Wedding Ring Day in the United States. Here are some things you may not have known about wedding rings. Experts believe the tradition of exchanging rings during a wedding dates back to ancient Egypt. Evidence shows braided rings of hemp and reeds were exchanged by marrying couples. Ancient Egyptians saw the circle as a symbol of eternity and rings signified the unending love between the bride and groom. The tradition of wearing the wedding ring on the ring finger of the left hand also began with the Egyptians. They believed the...
2017-02-0304 minTrivia PeopleOxford English DictionaryToday is the 133rd anniversary of the publication of the first volume of the Oxford English Dictionary. Here are some things you may not have known about the dictionary. It's a descriptive dictionary, meaning it describes word usage and variations. Descriptivism is the opposite of prescriptivism, which aims to establish a standard of usage. The dictionary also shows the historical development of English though the ages. In 1844, three members of the Philological Society were unsatisfied with current dictionaries and wanted to create one of their own that addressed what they perceived as shortcomings...
2017-02-0105 minTrivia PeopleHistory of Soap OperasOn this date in 1949, the first daytime television soap opera was broadcast. Here are some things you may not have known about American soap operas. They're called soap operas because soap companies were common early sponsors of the shows. The first soap operas appeared on radio. "Painted Dreams" is considered the first, and it premiered on Oct. 20, 1930, on Chicago radio station WGN. It started as a 15-minute show that ran every day except Sunday. The show was created by Irna Phillips, who also acted on the show. Phillips created many of the techniques that are s...
2017-01-3104 minTrivia PeopleThe Beatles' Final Performance On this date in 1969, The Beatles had their last public performance, playing on their record company's roof in London. Here are some things you may not have known about the concert. The performance was unannounced and caught the lunchtime crowd of office workers on the streets below by surprise. The previous year, The Beatles had started a multimedia corporation called Apple Corps Limited. The concert was conducted on the roof of the company's headquarters at 3 Saville Row, during recording sessions for the album that eventually became "Let it Be." The album was originally in...
2017-01-3004 minTrivia PeopleBonus Episode: Apollo 1 Disaster, 50 Years Ago On this date in 1967, three American astronauts died in a training accident on the launch pad in Florida. Here are some things you may not have known about Apollo 1. Following the successes of the Mercury and Gemini programs, the next step in landing a man on the moon was the three-man Apollo program. The astronauts chosen as the first crew for the Apollo program were Gus Grissom, one of the original Mercury Seven astronauts, Ed White, who had been the first American to walk in space, and rookie Roger B. Chaffee. Chaffee's spot had originally b...
2017-01-2805 minTrivia PeopleSumo WrestlingOn this date in 1993, the American-born sumo wrestler Akebono became the first foreigner promoted to the highest rank of yokozuna. Here are some things you may not have known about sumo, and Akebono. Sumo is a wrestling sport where opponents try to force each other to be the first to step out of the ring, or touch the floor with anything but the soles of their feet. One strategy is to simply be the larger participant. Sumo wrestlers are known for their sometimes enormous weight. There are no weight divisions in professional sumo...
2017-01-2705 minTrivia PeopleAustralia DayToday is Australia Day. Here are some things you may not have known about Australia's national holiday. Australia Day marks the 1788 arrival of the British First Fleet near Sydney, about 18 years after the first European set foot there. The fleet was sent to Australia to establish a penal colony on the coast of New South Wales following the loss of the British colonies that became the United States. The fleet arrived at Botany Bay on about a week before, but realized that the land there was unsuitable for a prison colony. After weathering...
2017-01-2604 minTrivia PeopleNellie Bly: Around the World in 72 DaysOn this date in 1890, journalist Nellie Bly arrived back in New York after a record-breaking 72-day trip around the world. Here are some things you may not have known about Bly and her journey. Elizabeth Jane Cochran was born in 1864 near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. At the age of 16, she replied to a misogynistic column in the Pittsburgh Dispatch newspaper. The editor of the paper was so impressed with her ability that he gave her a full-time job. The editor assigned her the pen name "Nellie Bly" after the title character in a popular song by Stephen...
2017-01-2505 minTrivia PeopleJapanese World War II HoldoutsOn this date in 1972, Shoichi Yokoi, one of the last Japanese holdouts from World War II was discovered hiding in Guam. Here are some things you may not have known about Japanese holdouts, including Yokoi. Corporal Shoichi Yokoi served in the 38th Regiment and arrived on Guam in February 1943. After the Americans captured Guam in 1944, Yokoi and nine other soldiers went into hiding. Seven of the 10 eventually left on their own, but three remained behind. The three lived on their own near each other until two of them died in a flood in 1964 after 20 years...
2017-01-2404 minTrivia PeopleFrisbee: The Definitive Flying DiscOn this date in 1957, inventor Fred Morrison sold the rights to his flying disc to the Wham-O company. Here are some things you may not have known about the Frisbee. Morrison said the idea came to him while he and his future wife, Lucille, were tossing a cake pan back and forth on a beach in 1938. Another person offered them 25 cents for the pan. As the pan cost just 5 cents, Morrison figured there might be a business opportunity there. Following World War II, Morrison designed a more aerodynamically stable disc he called the...
2017-01-2305 minTrivia PeoplePresidential Inaugurations: A Short HistoryToday is Inauguration Day in the United States. Here are some things you may not have known about The swearing in of presidents. Usually we end of this segment with a trivia question, but today let's start with one. Besides George Washington, who is the only president to have been sworn in in different months following his election? The answer is Franklin Roosevelt, who was sworn in for his first term on March 4, 1933 and was sworn in for his second term on January 20, 1937. The reason for the different inauguration date was...
2017-01-2004 minTrivia PeopleVolkswagen Beetle: Our 500th Episode!On this date in 1978, the last original Volkswagen Beetle made in Germany rolled off the production line in Emden. Here are some things you may not have known about the Beetle. It was designed under specific orders from Adolf Hitler. In 1934, Hitler wanted car designer Ferdinand Porsche to come up with a car the could transport two adults and three children at 62 miles per hour, with fuel mileage of 32 miles per gallon or better. He also demanded the engine be air cooled, because water-cooled engines needed antifreeze, which was only just coming into...
2017-01-1904 minTrivia PeopleBASE Jumping: Life Over the EdgeOn this date in 1981, Phil Smith and Phil Mayfield parachuted off a Houston skyscraper, becoming the first BASE jumpers. Here are some things you may not have known about BASE jumping. BASE is an acronym. The letters stand for buildings, antennas, spans and earth, from which the jumpers must parachute or fly off of with a wingsuit. The acronym was coined by filmmaker Carl Boenish and his wife, Jean. Jumpers earn a BASE number by completing jumps in each of the categories. Smith was BASE No. 1, while Mayfield is BASE No. 2. A separate...
2017-01-1804 minTrivia PeopleBetty White: America's Favorite NonagenarianToday is the 95th birthday of television personality Betty White. Here are some things you may not have known about her. She was born in Oak Park, Illinois, in 1922. Betty is her given name, and not a shortened form of Elizabeth. During the Great Depression, her family moved to California, where her father built radios, which he would occasionally exchange for dogs. While at Beverly Hills High School, White wanted to be a forest ranger, but because women weren't allowed to be rangers at the time, she pursued an interest in writing. It...
2017-01-1705 minTrivia PeopleHow Did Jazz Get to Carnegie Hall? PracticeOn this date in 1938, Benny Goodman and his band played the first jazz concert at Carnegie Hall in New York. Here are some things you may not have known about the concert, the landmark recording of it and Carnegie Hall in general. Until 1938, Carnegie Hall had been been a venue exclusively for classical music. It opened in 1891, built by Andrew Carnegie, who pronounced his name slightly different from the common name of the hall. It was built as the venue for the Oratorio Society of New York and the New York Symphony. Its...
2017-01-1606 minTrivia PeopleFriday Wrap-up ShowWe're going to wrap up the week with a shorter show than normal, because I'm making some podcast studio updates, and all the equipment isn't quite hooked up yet. Today is Constitution Day in Mongolia, Democracy Day in Cape Verde and Liberation Day in Togo. It's unofficially International Skeptics Day, National Rubber Ducky Day, and Public Radio Broadcasting Day. It's the birthday of former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Salmon P. Chase, who was born in 1808; comedian Rip Taylor, who is 83; and actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who is 56. Because we didn't have...
2017-01-1302 minTrivia PeopleEiffel Tower: Surpassing Expectations On this date in 1908, the first long-distance radio signal was sent from the Eiffel Tower. Here are some things you may not have known about the Paris landmark. It was constructed as the entrance to the 1889 World's Fair and was designed and built by the company owned by Gustave Eiffel. The tower cost an estimated 6.5 million francs, of which the World's Fair organizers paid only 1.5 million. In exchange, they allowed Eiffel to have the commercial rights to the tower during the exposition and for the next 20 years. After those 20 years expired, Eiffel was supposed to...
2017-01-1204 minTrivia PeopleGrand Canyon: America's Greatest Natural Wonder The Grand Canyon as seen from the South Rim. (Photo by Roger Bolsius via Wikimedia Commons) On this date in 1908, the Grand Canyon was designated a national monument. Here are some things you may not have known about the natural wonder. The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long, its width varies from four to 18 miles across and it is more than 6,000 feet deep at some points. The canyon was created by erosion caused by the Colorado River and uplift of the surrounding plateau over the course of 5 to 6 million years. The Grand...
2017-01-1104 minTrivia PeopleDavid Bowie: One Year GoneOne year ago today, rock icon David Bowie died at the age of 69. Bowie was born David Jones in Brixton, South London on January 8, 1947. His mother worked as a waitress and his father worked for a charity. At the age of nine, Bowie's father brought home a collection of American records, including some by artists like Elvis Presley, Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, the Platters, Fats Domino and Little Richard. It was Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti" that had a particular impact on the young Bowie's life. He would later say, "I...
2017-01-1007 minTrivia PeopleiPhone: 10 Years of Leading the WayOn this date in 2007, Apple announced the iPhone. Here are some things you may not have known about the smartphone. The iPhone wasn't Apple's first foray into the portable communications market. The company introduced the Newton MessagePad in 1993. The Newton was a personal digital assistant, which was an electronic calendar, contact list and notebook. The Newton interface was based on handwriting recognition, which led to its limited appeal. The first Newton had 640 kilobytes of RAM and was powered by four AAA batteries. The Newton was discontinued in February 1998. Later that year, Apple introduced...
2017-01-0904 minTrivia PeopleUnsportsmanlike Conduct: The Ballad of Tonya Harding and Nancy KerriganOn this date in 1994, American figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was attacked by a man hired by the husband of her main competitor, Tonya Harding. Here are some things you may not have known about the skaters and the attack. Nancy Kerrigan was born in 1969 in a suburb of Boston. She began skating at the age of six and won her first competition at age nine. She placed fourth in the junior competition at the U.S. championships in 1987, and made her senior debut the next season. She placed third at the 1991 U.S. Championships and...
2017-01-0605 minTrivia PeopleNellie Tayloe Ross: America's First Female GovernorOn this date in 1925, Nellie Tayloe Ross was sworn in as governor of Wyoming. Here are some things you may not have known about the first woman to serve as governor in the United States. Nellie Tayloe was born in St. Joseph, Missouri in 1876. She graduated from high school in Kansas and became a kindergarten teacher for four years. While visiting relatives in Tennessee, Tayloe met William Bradford Ross, a lawyer whom she married in 1902. Soon after, they moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming, where William became a leader in the state's Democratic Party. In 1922...
2017-01-0504 minTrivia PeopleElectrocution of Topsy the ElephantOn this date in 1903, Topsy, an Asian elephant was euthanized by electrocution at Coney Island, New York. Here are some things you may not have known about the incident. Topsy was brought to the United States and performed in the Forepaugh Circus, where she gained a reputation as a bad elephant after killing a spectator in 1902. The next year, she was sold to Coney Island's Sea Lion Park, which was redeveloped as Luna Park by new owners Frederick Thompson and Elmer Dundy. At Luna Park, Topsy was used to move timbers and power a carnival...
2017-01-0405 minTrivia PeopleFormation of the Soviet UnionOn this date in 1922, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was formed following the Russian Revolution of 1917. Here are some things you may not have known about the formation of the Soviet Union. On December 30, 1922, the leaders of the Russian Republic, Transcaucasian Republic, Ukrainian Republic and Byelorussian Republic met in the first Congress of Soviets, two days after signing the Treaty on the Creation of the USSR. The main function of the treaty was to centralize the federal government in Moscow. Earlier in 1922, Vladimir Lenin suffered the first of a series of stokes, allowing Joseph...
2016-12-3004 minTrivia PeopleThomas Becket: The Tale of the "Turbulent Priest"On this day in the year 1170, Thomas Becket was killed by supporters of King Henry II of England during a conflict over the rights of the Catholic Church in England. Here are some things you may not have known about Thomas Becket. He was born around the year 1120 in London. His father was a merchant and property owner originally from the Normandy region. He studied the trivium and quadrivium and then spent a year in Paris. His father soon suffered a financial setback and Becket was forced to get a job as a clerk. Eventually he worked...
2016-12-2905 minTrivia PeopleWestminster Abbey: London's Iconic ChurchOn this date in 1065, Westminster Abbey was consecrated. Here are some things you may not have known about the landmark London church. Since the year 1560, the building's common name has been a misnomer. Before 1560, it did serve as an abbey, which is a facility where monks or nuns work and live, overseen by an abbot or abbess. In this case, it housed Benedictine monks. For a short time it served as a cathedral, the definition of which is a church which is the seat of a bishop, making it the main...
2016-12-2804 minTrivia PeopleLady Bird Johnson: A First Lady of the First OrderToday is the birthday of Lady Bird Johnson, the wife of U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson. Here are some things you may not have known about her. She was born Claudia Alta Taylor in Karnack, Texas in 1912. When she was a baby, her nurse said that she was as "purty as a ladybird" and the nickname stuck. Her father was the son of a sharecropper, who became a wealthy landowner and businessman. Her mother died when Lady Bird was five years old of complications from a miscarriage suffered after she fell down a flight of stairs...
2016-12-2205 minTrivia PeopleCrosswords: Puzzling Since 1913 On this date in 1913, the first crossword puzzle was printed in the New York World newspaper. Here are some things you may not have known about crossword puzzles. The first puzzle was actually called a word-cross puzzle. It was created by Arthur Wynne, who was a journalist from Liverpool, England. It was based on earlier puzzles, such as the word diamond, but also included many of the features of the modern crossword puzzle, such as black squares to separate some answers. It came to be known as a crossword puzzle early on as a result o...
2016-12-2105 minTrivia People"It's a Wonderful Life" Turns 70On this date in 1946, "It's a Wonderful Life" was released in the United States. Here are some things you may not have known about the classic Christmas movie. It's based on a story called "The Greatest Gift" by Philip Van Doren Stern, who wrote it in 1939. After failing to sell the story, he made it into a Christmas card and send copies to friends and family in 1943. One of these cards came to the attention of a producer at RKO Pictures, which bought the story intending to make it into a movie starring Cary Grant. ...
2016-12-2005 minTrivia PeopleBBC World Service: Spanning the Globe Since 1932On this date in 1932, the BBC Empire Service radio system went on the air for the first time. Here are some things you may not have known about what is now called BBC World Service. The Empire Service began as a shortwave service aimed at English speakers in the far-flung reaches of the British Empire. It would take weeks for letters to reach some points by mail, while radio could reach them instantly. King George V said the service was intended for "men and women, so cut off by the snow, the desert or the...
2016-12-1905 minTrivia PeopleBill of Rights, Part TwoThursday's episode ended with 12 proposed amendments to the U.S. Constitution being sent to the states for ratification. What we now know as the First Amendment was actually the third proposed article of the Bill of Rights. The first article dealt with how to determine the size of Congress. Because it was never ratified, the total number of seats in the House of Representatives has been determined by specific acts of Congress. The most recent, in 1929, capped the size of the House at 435 seats. We'll come back to the second proposed amendment in a moment.
2016-12-1606 minTrivia PeopleBill of Rights: Part OneThis is part one of a a two-part episode. On this date in 1791, the United States Bill of Rights became law when the state of Virginia ratified it. Here are some things you may not have known about the story behind the first 10 amendments to the Constitution. The Constitution of the United States is the result of hard fought negotiations between federalists and antifederalists during the summer of 1787. Originally, the meeting that became the Constitutional Convention was intended to revise the Articles of Confederation, which had been in place since 1777. The Articles of...
2016-12-1505 minTrivia PeopleThe Last Man on the Moon -- So FarOn this date in 1972, Eugene Cernan became the last man to walk on the moon. Here are some things you may not have known about Apollo 17. Apollo 17 was the first mission to be commanded by someone who was not a test pilot. Gene Cernan was a fighter pilot in the navy, and had more than 200 aircraft carrier landings. He served as pilot on Gemini 9A and lunar module pilot on Apollo 10, which was the dress rehearsal for the first moon landing. Cernan was joined on Apollo 17 by fellow naval aviator Ron Evans and Jack Schmitt...
2016-12-1404 minTrivia PeopleFrancis Drake: An Around the World Pirate VoyageOn this date in 1577, Francis Drake set off from Plymouth, England, on his around-the-world voyage. Here are some things you may not have known about Drake and his voyages. Francis Drake was born around 1540 in Devon, England. His father was a farmer. As a youth, Drake was apprenticed to a neighbor, who captained a trading ship between Britain and France. The neighbor, who had no heirs of his own, bequeathed the ship to Drake upon his death. Drake set sail for the Americas for the first time at the age of 23. He sailed with his...
2016-12-1305 minTrivia PeopleMonarch Nicknames: From Fat to TerribleOn this date in year 884, Charles the Fat became emperor of the Frankish Empire. Here are a few historical monarchs with less-than-flattering nicknames, and the stories behind them. Charles the Fat was a great-grandson of Charlemagne, and reunited his forebear's empire for a short time. There's some disagreement over whether he fully qualifies as a Holy Roman Emperor, but he was crowned by Pope John VIII. His empire consisted of large parts of what is now western Europe. He was considered lethargic and inept. He is also believed to have suffered from epilepsy. He was overthrown by...
2016-12-1204 minTrivia PeopleJohn Glenn: First American in Orbit On Thursday, John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth and a longtime senator from Ohio died at the age of 95. Here are a few things you may not have known about him. John Glenn was born on July 18, 1921, in Cambridge, Ohio, in the southeastern part of the state. In 1941, he earned his private pilot license for credit in a physics class at Muskingum College. He didn't complete his degree at that time because he quit college to enlist in the Army Air Corps. He was never called to duty, so he e...
2016-12-0906 minTrivia PeopleFamous Speeches: "A Date Which Will Live in Infamy" On this date in 1941, U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt gave what has become one of the most famous speeches in American history. Here are a few things you may not have known about the "Infamy Speech." On December 7, 1941, Japanese forces attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, sinking six American ships and killing almost 2,500 U.S. soldiers, sailors, Marines and civilians. The next day, Roosevelt spoke before a joint session of Congress. He described the events of the previous day as "a date which will live in infamy." Th...
2016-12-0804 minTrivia PeopleWashington Monument: A Slow ProcessOn this date in 1884, the Washington Monument was completed. Here are some things you may not have known about the memorial to the first American President. Proposals for a monument to George Washington started at the end of the Revolutionary War. However, Congress didn't act until after his death in 1799, when it authorized a memorial in the national capital, which was under construction at the time. However, this decision was overturned by the Jeffersonian Republicans who didn't want to build a monument to any man, much less one that was the hero of the opposition Federalist Party.
2016-12-0605 minTrivia PeopleLaGuardia Airport: New York's First Major AirportOn this date in 1939, LaGuardia Airport in New York opened. Here are some things you may not have known about the closest airport to Manhattan. LaGuardia was the city's first major airport. Until that time, the only commercial airport in the New York region was in Newark, New Jersey. Supposedly, the decision to develop the small North Beach Airport into a commercial terminal came when New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia refused to leave the plane in Newark when his ticket said New York. He demanded to be flown to Brooklyn's Floyd Bennett Field. At...
2016-12-0205 min