Writer of Pop Culture

Cool and refreshing news about pop culture and entertainment.

This Day in Pop Culture for May 14

The first Olympics games hosted by the USA, “National Dance Like a Chicken Day”, Seinfeld and the oldest movie theater in the world

May 14, 2020

2–3 minutes

1904: America Hosts Its First Olympic Games

It was on this day in 1904 that the United States hosted its first Olympic Games in St. Louis, Missouri. Originally, the games were supposed to be held in Chicago, Illinois but plans were changed since next World Exposition was to be held in the city as well. As it turned out, the games were poorly organized, and the Expo overshadowed the events. And it was hardly a time for the world to come together. Most of the athletes competing were Americans and of course, the U.S. won the majority of the medals too. (Image: Wikimedia)

National Dance Like a Chicken Day

A favorite at skating rinks and wedding receptions everywhere, “The Chicken Dance” was written by Werner Thomas, a Switzerland accordion player, in the 1950’s.

However, its original name was “Der Ententanz” which actually means “The Duck Dance.” Thought to have been a drinking song, the song got a new name (“Vogerltanz” or “The Bird Dance”) in the late 1970’s.

Over 140 versions of the song have been recorded worldwide. There is a story that during an Oktoberfest celebration in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a German band wanted to demonstrate how to perform the dance, but they couldn’t find a duck costume to use, so they used a chicken costume instead and it has been called “The Chicken Dance” ever since. (Image: Wikimedia)

1908: First Rider in the Sky

Mechanic Charles Furnas became the first airplane passenger to ride with Wilbur Wright aboard his 1905 Flyer. It flew 1,968 feet in 29 seconds.

1804: First Day on the Road

Meriwether Lewis and William Clark began their expedition from St. Louis to the Pacific Coast as commissioned by Thomas Jefferson.

1998: Last Show in the Series

76.3 million viewers watched Seinfeld’s final two-part episode but were disappointed that the four main characters ended up in jail.

1893: The Oldest Movie Theater

The Graham Opera House opened in Washington Iowa in 1886 but was destroyed by fire in 1892. A replacement was built in 1893, and the opera house showed its first movie on this day in 1897. From there on out it became a mixed used facility. In 1931, it was remodeled and became the State Theatre. In 2016, Guinness World Records certified that the State Theatre became the oldest continuously operating movie theater in the world!