This Day in Pop Culture for January 30

On this day in pop culture history, The Rubik’s Cube was “born”, The Lone Ranger aired on the radio and Yogi Bear appeared on TV.

January 30, 2020

2–4 minutes

1975: When the Rubik’s Cube was Just the Magic Cube

In the mid 1970s, Ernő Rubik, who worked at the Academy of Applied Arts and Crafts in Budapest, created a cube puzzle that was built to be used as a teaching tool for his students to help them understand 3D objects.

Apparently, it wasn’t meant to be a puzzle at all. It was just supposed to help solve a structural problem of moving parts individually without having the entire block falling apart. However, after he scrambled it for the first time, he soon discovered how difficult it was to put back together again. He applied for a patent for his “Magic Cube” on January 30, 1975.

The first cubes didn’t roll out the assembly line until late 1977. After promoting the puzzle at a toy fair, the Magic Cube was sold to Ideal Toys who in 1979, changed the name to Rubik’s Cube, named after its inventor. (Image: Wikimedia)

1933: ‘The Lone Ranger’ Debuts on Radio

Who was that masked man? Brace Beemer was for time. *(Wikimedia Commons)*

On this day, January 30, 1933, The Lone Ranger made its’ debut on Detroit, Michigan’s WXYZ radio station. It was a creation of the station-owner George Trendle and fellow writer, Fran Striker.

The masked man was voiced by various actors including John L. Barrett, George Seaton and most notably, Earle W. Graser and Brace Beemer who took on the role in 1941 until the radio show ended its run.

With no knowledge about cowboys and Indians, the writers wanted to create an American version of Zorro. As one of the original good guys, The Lone Ranger never smoked, swore, or drank alcohol and he never shot to kill. Tonto was cursed with uttering phrases that never would have been spoken by any native American.

After the radio show aired its last show on May 17, 1956, the popular series went to the movies and TV, becoming ABC’s first hit show in the early 1950’s. Disney tried the most recent revival of the story with a movie in 2013. It starred Armie Hammer and Johnny Depp as Tonto, but it received bad reviews and failed to capture an audience.

1961: Falling Apart

Patsy Cline releases her single, “I Fall to Pieces” which later became the Billboard Song of the Year.

1969: Falling Away

The Beatles performed together for the last time on the roof of the Apple Corps building.

1986: Falling Forward

Steve Jobs buys out part of Lucasfilm’s computer graphics division, renames it The Graphics Group which later became Pixar.

1961: The Yogi Bear Show

Ranger Smith, Boo-Boo and Yogi Bear *(TVDB)*

This Hanna-Barbera syndicated cartoon series featured the voices of Daws Butler as the sneaky bear always on the lookout for pick-a-nick baskets and Don Messick as little Boo Boo Bear. The pair were often scolded by Ranger Smith and visited by Cindy Bear. The series also featured episodes of the pink mountain lion Snagglepuss who spent most of his time avoiding the hunter, Major Minor and Yakky Doodle, a duckling and his best friend and protector, bulldog Chopper.