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196: Birthday of Author P.G. Wodehouse
Today is the birthday of English author P.G. Wodehouse, the creator of the character “Jeeves” the quintessential English butler, who actually wasn’t a butler at all. Here are some things you may not have known about Wodehouse, Jeeves and the difference between a butler and a valet or — more properly pronounced — valet (with…
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195: Chuck Yeager Breaks the Sound Barrier
On this date in 1947, Chuck Yeager became the first person to break the speed of sound in an airplane. Here are some facts you may not have known about Yeager and supersonic flight. Charles Elwood Yeager was born in West Virginia in 1923. He joined the U.S. Army Air Forces at the age of…
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194: Paddington Bear is Published For the First Time
On this date in 1958, Paddington Bear made his debut in the children’s book “A Bear Called Paddington.” Here are some facts you may not have known about Paddington. Paddington was created by Michael Bond, who saw a single teddy bear for sale on a shelf in a shop near Paddington Station in London. He…
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193: A Whole Lot of Dam Facts About Hoover Dam
On this date in 1936, what is now called Hoover Dam began producing electricity. Here are some things you may not have known about the dam. The Hoover Dam was built between 1931 and 1936 on the Colorado River at Black Canyon on the state line between Nevada and Arizona, about 30 miles southeast of…
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192: Don Larsen of the Yankees Throws a Perfect Game in the World Series
On this date in 1956, Don Larsen of the New York Yankees threw a perfect game in Game 5 of the World Series. Here are a few facts about Larsen and the only perfect game in World Series history. Larsen was born in 1929 in Michigan City, Indiana. His family moved to San Diego, California…
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191: Death of Edgar Allan Poe
On this date in 1849, Edgar Allan Poe died in Baltimore, Maryland. Here are some facts you may not have known about Poe and his death. Edgar Poe was born in 1809 in Boston. At the age of two, he was orphaned when his mother died of tuberculosis. He was taken in by John Allan…
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190: The Chicago Cubs and the Curse of the Billy Goat
70 years ago today, a man and his goat were kicked out of a World Series baseball game, which some believe led to one of the great curses in sports history. Here are a few facts you may not have known about the Curse of the Billy Goat. Chicago bar owner Billy Sianis , who…
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189: “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” Premieres on Television
On this date in 1969, “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” premiered on BBC 1 in the United Kingdom. Here are a few facts you may not have known about the show and its creators. The six members of the troupe worked together on several British television shows before creating their own show in 1969. Five of…
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188: Rod Serling’s “The Twilight Zone” Premieres
On this date in 1959, “The Twilight Zone” premiered on CBS television in the United States. Here are some facts you may not have known about the show and its creator, Rod Serling. Rod Serling was born in Syracuse, New York in 1924 and grew up in Binghamton, New York. He enlisted in the army…
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187: Thrilla in Manila
Today is the 40th anniversary of the third bout between boxers Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali. Here are a few things you may not have known about the “Thrilla in Manila.” Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali split their first two matchups. Frazier won the first, known as the “Fight of the Century” in 1971, handing…