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This Day in Pop Culture

This Day in Pop Culture for June 12

“Raiders of the Lost Ark”, Popeye’s, Anne Frank, Mariah Carey and the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

June 12, 2020

2–3 minutes

1981: Indiana Jones Begins His Adventures

Harrison Ford donned his now trademark hat for the first time on this day in 1981 for the film, Raiders of the Lost Ark. The first of four films directed by Steven Spielberg, Raiders was an instant hit and soon everyone knew of the character of Indiana Jones. The story pitted Jones against Nazi’s both looking for the Ark of the Covenant and co-starred Karen Allen, Paul Freeman and John Rhys-Davies. Raiders was nominated for nine Academy Awards and won four for Best Art Direction, Film Editing, Sound and Visual Effects.

1942: Anne’s Diary

For her 13th birthday, Anne Frank received a red-and-white checkered autograph book. She decided that it would become her diary.

1939: Baseball’s Museum

The National Baseball Hall of Fame opened in Cooperstown, New York where it is said was the birthplace of the sport.

1990: Mariah’s Album

Mariah Carey released her debut album. It topped the Billboard 200 album chart for 11 weeks. In 1991 it was the best-selling album in the U.S.

1972: Popeye’s Opens Its Doors for the First Time

Though not available in all 50 states, Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen opened its first store in Arabi, Louisiana by Alvin C. Copeland Sr. who originally called the restaurant Chicken on the Run. Today, it is America’s second-largest chicken fast food restaurant chain behind that Colonel from Kentucky.

Despite what many think, the chain was actually named after Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle from the movie, The French Connection, not Popeye the Sailor Man. Ironically, the chain later developed a partnership with the animated character, but that agreement with King Features Syndicate ended in 2006. It is interesting to note that Wimpy’s restaurants, named after the burger-loving character from the cartoons, opened its doors in the UK in 1954.