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Posts Tagged ‘anniversary’

Happy 120th Birthday North and South Dakota!

Posted by Josh on November 02, 2009 in General

Dakota-TerritoryOn this day in 1889 North Dakota and South Dakota became the 39th and 40th states to be admitted into the Union, so today marks their 120th birthday. Here are a few quick facts on the founding of the Dakota Territory and their admittance as states. For more information on their history, check out the Website of the Library of Congress:

The first European explorers, Louis Joseph and François de La Vérendrye, entered the region in 1742 and 1743. At that time, at least eight Native American tribes populated the vicinity including the Mandan, Arikara, Kidatsa, Assiniboin, Crow, Cheyenne, Cree, and the Dakota (Santee Sioux).

From 1868 until the late 1880s, controversy over the location of the capitol divided citizens of Dakota Territory. Northerners named Bismarck their capitol in 1883, while Southerners created their own constitution that year selecting Pierre as the capitol. In February 1889, shortly before statehood was granted, congressional legislation officially divided the Territory.

The New York City Subway turns 105

Posted by Josh on October 27, 2009 in General

nyctransit051223apOn this day in 1904, the New York City Subway opened to the public. The subway is both a must-see attraction for tourists visiting from around the globe and a lifeline for the city that never sleeps. Here’s a bit of background on the events leading up to the subway’s construction, from the Library of Congress:

An underground transportation system for New York City had been proposed as early as 1868. Even then, navigating city streets clogged with pedestrians, horses, wagons and carriages proved dangerous and frustrating. Between 1870 and 1900 many private companies attempted to take on the project, but each time, legal, political, and financial obstacles proved insurmountable. While completion of the Brooklyn Bridge in 1883 and the Williamsburg Bridge in 1903 eased traffic moving into Manhattan, congestion within the city remained a problem.

In the fall of 1894, New Yorkers voted overwhelmingly for municipal ownership of the subway system, clearing some of the legal and political hurdles. However, funding and organizing such a tremendous construction project continued to pose a challenge. Finally, financier August Belmont organized the Rapid Transit Subway Construction Company, and, in March 1900, ground-breaking ceremonies were held at Borough Hall in Manhattan.

Today, the subway system has 468 stations, 842 miles of track, and carries over 1.45 billion people per year – wow! So the next time you’re in town take a ride on one of the oldest and largest public transportation systems in the world… just be sure to “stand clear of the closing doors”.

Happy Birthday, United Nations!

Posted by Josh on October 26, 2009 in General

general_assemblyThe United Nations Charter went into effect on this day in 1945, officially bringing the United Nations into existence. The United Nations replaced the failed League of Nations as the main body for coordinating matters of concern to the world as a whole. In the wake of World War II, organizers saw the UN as a means to ensure that no such war would ever happen again.

They enshrined this hope in the charter, the preamble of which reads in part:

WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and

to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and

to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and

to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,

…have agreed to the present Charter of the United Nations and do hereby establish an international organization to be known as the United Nations.

Read the whole charter at the UN website. Singing ‘Happy Birthday’ is a little tricky when you represent all the people of the world, however. At the UN’s 60th birthday celebration in 2005, children sang the song in all six official languages of the organization: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

This Old House turns 30

Posted by Josh on October 09, 2009 in General

This Old HouseIt seems like a bit of a coincidence that recent news about stabilizing home prices falls on the same month as the 30th anniversary of the Emmy Award-winning TV series, This Old House. The popular home improvement series was originally broadcast locally on WGBH Boston in 1979 before going national the following year on PBS. Throughout the show’s 30 year history it’s seen 3 different hosts, but master carpenter Norm Abram has always been there to provide expert advice. Examiner.com has the info on the anniversary season starting this month:

This season, This Old House will start with a two-story, 330 square foot addition to a 1915 Dutch Colonial Revival in Newton Centre, illustrating challenges and trade-offs that many homeowners face in the present economic environment.  In January, a foreclosed 1870 Second Empire residential structure in need of extensive renovation will be tackled in Roxbury, alongside nonprofit Nuestra Comunidad Development Corporation.

While maybe not as funny as Flipping Out on Bravo, This Old House has always provided good advice and inspiration to do-it-yourselfers looking for a weekend project to tackle.

A good day for children’s television

Posted by Josh on October 05, 2009 in General

MickeyMouseClub1On this day 54 years ago, both Captain Kangaroo and The Mickey Mouse Club debuted on television.

Captain Kangaroo was a huge success, running for 38 years on CBS and the American Program Service (now American Public Television, Boston). The children’s show focused on “the warm relationship between grandparents and children” and featured a mix of humans and puppets.

During the show, The Captain (whose name came from the big pockets in his coat) would tell stories and indulge in fun tricks and silly stunts with regular guests.

The Mickey Mouse Club was produced by Walt Disney Productions, and aired on ABC. The club was a variety show for children featuring teenage performers. In addition to recurring features such as a newsreel, cartoon, and serial, the show also featured music, talent and comedy segments. The main cast were called the “Mouseketeers” and many went onto become prominent entertainers.

While the show initially ran from 1955-1959, it was revived several times, once in the 1970’s and again in the 1990’s, featuring some people you might have heard of (do the names Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera or Britney Spears ring a bell?).

So happy birthday to some classic kids programming, and here’s to many more.

‘Tighty-whiteys’ turn 75

Posted by Josh on September 27, 2009 in General

jockey25p8It must have been an odd event – 350 people gathered, looked into the camera, and shouted “Briefs!”. The 350 people were employees of Jockey International Inc., and they were celebrating the 75th anniversary of the invention of men’s briefs.

Otherwise known as “Tighty-whiteys”, briefs were invented after an executive of the company received a postcard from the French Riviera showing a man wearing a bikini-style swimsuit. The executive, Arthur Kneibler, thought the style would work as underwear, and a legend was born.

But how does one celebrate the birthday of an underwear type? The Milwaukee Sentinel was there to report:

The celebration at the company’s Kenosha headquarters included a fried chicken lunch, a ceremonial signing by employees of several pairs of the largest briefs Jockey makes (waist size: 60), and the group photo. Everyone received free mini-brief key rings and folding chairs, which they used to view an outdoor “Jockey’s got talent” show in the park across from the headquarters.

So here’s to the venerable “tighty-whitey” (I never thought I’d say that), and many more birthdays.

'The Wizard of Oz' turns 70 with fanfare

Posted by Josh on September 24, 2009 in General

ozx-largeIt’s been 70 years since Dorothy first set foot on a yellow brick road, a house landed on a wicked witch, and a grand adventure reminded us that there’s no place like home. That’s right, the 1939 film ‘The Wizard of Oz’ turns 70 today. And to say there’s going to be a big party is an understatement, here’s what’s in store:

  • Designers such as Christian Louboutin, Diane von Furstenberg, Manolo Blahnik and Betsey Johnson were asked to reimagine Dorothy’s slippers for the 21st century. Their creations will be auctioned off at www.rubyslipperauction.com
  • A 71/2-story hot-air balloon that began touring the country since taking off May 13 from Kansas City, Kan., stops Thursday at New York’s Tavern on the Green. The gala features Judy Garland’s daughter Lorna Luft, surviving Munchkins and Ashanti, who plays Dorothy in New York City Center’s production of The Wiz. All this and a yellow brick carpet, too.
  • Before the gala, Ashanti will light the Empire State Building — Emerald City-green, of course.

I know I’ll be off to a theater to see this classic on the big screen, it’s coming back with a one-shot theatrical run in nearly 400 cities! Here’s to many more years of Dorothy, Glinda, Toto… even the Wicked Witch.

Playbill turns 125

Posted by Birthday Cate on September 23, 2009 in Health Tips

playbillbanners200Playbill magazine, the booklet explaining to New York audiences who’s who in Broadway casts, celebrated its 125th birthday. As to be expected, the magazine celebrated in style, with a by-invitation-only to-do at the Bon Appétit Supper Clubin Manhattan with special performances by Golden Globe and two-time Tony Award winner Bernadette Peters and Allie Trimm, who plays Kim MacAfee in the current revival of Bye Bye Birdie.

Playbill.com has a good history of the magazine. Here’s a excerpt:

For 125 years the Playbill company, under different names and owners, has shared Broadway’s journey, surviving depressions, World Wars, and even Moose Murders. There have been many outward changes over the years, but the basic formula of free, ad-supported programs with lists of actors and creators has stayed remarkably similar to the earliest ones conceived and handcrafted by company founder Frank Vance Strauss. [read more]

Here’s to many more years of broadway shows and the Playbills that accompany them. See you at the theater!

The little blue box turns 172

Posted by Josh on September 19, 2009 in General

tiffanysFor most people, birthdays are synonymous with gifts. Well today the gift maker becomes the giftee, because the venerable Tiffany & Co. is celebrating its very own birthday. Renowned for making fine jewelry, Tiffany & Co. was originally opened on September 18th, 1837 as a “stationery and fancy goods emporium” and was initially named Tiffany and Young. It wasn’t until 1853 when Charles Tiffany took over the company that it was renamed Tiffany & Co. and began focusing on jewelry.

Tiffany‘s website even has a whole timeline outlining the rise of the company from it’s opening day 172 years ago when the day’s sales totaled $4.98.

Here’s an interesting fact: The proprietary color “Tiffany Blue” originates from Tiffany & Co.’s birthday. The color was developed by Pantone who used the year 1837 to derive the color using its Pantone Color Matching System. The color “Tiffany Blue” is even a registered trademark in the United States.

So here’s a happy 172nd birthday to Tiffany’s, and many more years of jewelry (and blue boxes).

Fun Fact Friday: Floating away…

Posted by Josh on September 18, 2009 in Fun Fact Friday

hot-air-balloonFrom the picture of Pooh Bear drifting away holding onto his red balloon to the colorful giant hot-air balloons that drift across the sky on a calm day, balloons are a festive way to celebrate any birthday.  Coincidentally, today also happens to be the 25th anniversary of the first solo balloon journey across the Atlantic Ocean by Joseph Kittinger.

So thinking about that spectacular feat, I was curious as to the origin of the balloon.  It so happens that the first rubber balloon was made in 1824 by Professor Michael Faraday for use in experiments with the gas, hydrogen, at the Royal Institution in London.

Now I’ve been known to daydream, and on occasion my thoughts turn to all the adventures I could have in a hot-air balloon — I must say that the idea of actually making a trans-Atlantic journey is really inspiring.  I would note that Kittinger, unlike myself, wasn’t without flying experience however, having been a career military officer in the United States Air Force when he completed his trans-Atlantic journey.  However, if you do think about planning any balloon trips, it may be helpful to know that a 100-foot-diameter balloon can lift 33,000 pounds (so go get your calculators).

In the end, I’d take the wise advice of the lovable Winnie the Pooh: “Nobody can be uncheered with a balloon.”  So for your next celebration, find yourself some colorful balloons and just be careful not to float away.

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