This Day in Pop Culture for February 22

1959: The Inaugural Daytona 500

The Inaugural Daytona 500 was held on this day at the Daytona International Speedway in 1959. It is estimated that 41,921 spectators were there to see Lee Petty and Johnny Beauchamp pass the finish line so close together that it took Bill France, Sr., the NASCAR founder, three days to declare that Petty was the winner of the race. Petty is also the father of Richard Petty, another successful stock car racer. (Image: Wikipedia)

1980: The Miracle on Ice

The term, “Miracle on Ice” references when the U.S. hockey team won the gold medal during the 1980 Winter Olympics on this day in Lake Placid, New York. Previously, the Soviet Union had won the gold medal in six of the seven previous Winter Olympic Games. The Soviet Union team consisted of professional players while the American team consisted of only amateur players who were also collectively, the youngest team in the tournament. During the final seconds of the game, Al Michaels (reporting for ABC) uttered the phrases, “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!” The event won the praise of Sport Illustrated who in 1999 named the event as the #1 top sports moment of the 20th century. (Image: Feline Groovy/Flickr)

1983: Infamous Play Opens and Closes in One Night

Moose Murders, a play by Arthur Bicknell has the unique distinction of opening and closing on Broadway on the same night, this day in 1983. Moose Murders is also a term used in the industry to describe a really bad play. Originally, Eve Arden was to star in the murder mystery farce, but dropped out after the second preview due to “artistic differences.” New York Post’s Clive Barnes said that it was “so indescribably bad that I do not intend to waste anyone’s time by describing it.” He commended Eve Arden for leaving it before it opened and commented: “Some people have all the luck.”

1934: The First Movie to Win Five Major Oscars

Directed and co-produced by Frank Capra, the screwball comedy, It Happened One Night, opened in theaters on this day. The story was about a pampered socialite who falls for a roguish reporter. It starred Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert, who neither was the first choice to play the parts. Colbert wasn’t even a fan of the film. She was quoted saying to her friend after filming, “I just finished the worst picture in the world.” Boy was she wrong. It was the first film to win to win all five major Academy Awards (Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress and Adapted Screenplay).

In one scene, while getting ready for bed, Gable is seen unbuttoning his shirt to reveal – gasp – no undershirt! It has been widely believed that sales of undershirts dropped 75% due to his bare chest on the big screen. However, according to Snopes, nobody really knows if this is true or not.

It is also believed that the film had a direct influence on animator Friz Freleng who was a fan of the movie. The character Oscar Shapely called Gable’s character “Doc” numerous times in the film and in one scene, he ate a carrot with his mouth full – much like Bugs Bunny, who appeared in his first cartoon six years later.