Writer of Pop Culture

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This Day in Pop Culture

This Day in Pop Culture for May 8

Coca-Cola, Paramount Pictures, Betty White and a teenager who pretended to be a train operator.

May 8, 2020

2–3 minutes

1886: Coca-Cola is Created

John S. Pemberton created what is now known as Coca-Cola. According to the company, he carried a jug of the beverage to Jacob’s Pharmacy in Atlanta, Georgia where it was pronounced “excellent” and was first offered at the store’s soda fountain on this day in 1886.

Initially, the beverage was sold as a medicine. Some people believed that carbonated water was good for one’s health and Pemberton began claiming that the tonic cured numerous diseases including morphine addiction, dyspepsia, neurasthenia, headache, and impotence. The cola sold for five cents a glass. Nine drinks a day were served that first year.

It was Frank Robinson, the company’s accountant, who was responsible for calling the drink “Coca-Cola” and thought that the two “C’s” would look well in advertising. The very first newspaper ad for the product described the beverage as “Delicious and Refreshing Beverage.” (Image: Wikimedia)

1912: Paramount Pictures in Born

In 1912, an investor in nickelodeons, Adolph Zukor created Famous Players with the intend of presenting feature-length movies that would appeal to working-class families with the slogan “Famous Players in Famous Plays.”

In 1913, Jesse L. Lasky created the Lasky Feature Play Company with money that he borrowed from his brother-in-law Samuel Goldfish, aka Samuel Goldwyn. In 1914, the two released their films through the startup, Paramount Pictures Corporation.

By 1916, the three companies became one. Famous Players-Lasky Corporation released their films under the banner of Paramount Pictures. It is the second oldest film studio in the United States after Universal Studios.

1993: That Day When a Teen Pretended to be a Train Operator

After moving to New York from Trinidad, Keron Thomas became fascinated with trains. He spent hours studying the rules and regulations of the New York Transit Authority in hopes of passing the train operators Civil Service test in 1992. Instead, he was arrested for trespassing.

The next year on this day, he signed into the 207th Street Yard and began to operate the train from the station. He did so for three and a half hours before his actions of going too fast around a corner tripped the emergency brakes of the train. When he was investigated, it was discovered that he was just 16 years old. (Image: Wikipedia)

2010: Live from New York, it’s…Betty White!

In early 2010, a Facebook group was formed called “Betty White to Host SNL…Please?” The request proved so popular, executive producer Lorne Michaels took it as a sign that he needed to get that gal signed up for the gig pronto.

She hosted the show on this day when she was a young 83 years old. Not only was she the oldest person to host the show, she also won an Emmy.