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This Day in Pop Culture

This Day in Pop Culture for June 16

Stan Laurel, the first roller coaster, “Grease”, Lilo, Stitch and TV’s most boring game show.

June 16, 2020

2–3 minutes

1890: Stan Laurel is Born

Stan Laurel, half of the comedy duo, Laurel and Hardy, was born on this day in 1890 in Lancashirem now Cumbria, England. He with his bowler hat and comedic expressions and his good friend, Oliver Hardy, starred in 107 short films throughout their career. Their last film together was the French film Atoll K (known as Robinson Crusoe-land and/or Utopia in the United States) which was released in 1951.

Though the pair had planned to star in a new TV project for NBC, both were quite ill during their later years. Hardy suffered two massive strokes and would never work again. He died in 1957. Though Laurel was given numerous opportunities to act in other film projects, he refused to do any acting without his friend. A bronze statue of the pair was placed in Laurel’s hometown in 2009. (Image: Wikimedia)

1990: TV’s Most Boring Game Show

Merv Griffin struck gold when he created Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune, but not so much on this day when his Monopoly-themed game show aired on ABC.

Although the giant game board looked pretty cool, the quiz show was pretty dull. Three contestants competed traveling the board and answering a series of trivia questions.

Monopoly was hosted by Mike Reilly but went through three co-host/dice rollers during its short three-month run.

Unfortunately, the game show was about as much fun as watching other people play a game of Monopoly. (Image: Hasbro)

1978: Grease was the Word

John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John starred in the film version of the 1971 musical Grease.

2002: ‘Ohana’ Means Family

Disney’s Lilo and Stitch opened in theaters and sold 25 million tickets during its original run.

2006: Ignacio the Free Man

Jack Black played Nacho Libre, an Oaxaca monastery cook who dreams of becoming a luchador.

1884: The Very First Roller Coaster

America’s thrill seekers were treated to the very first roller coaster which opened on this day in 1884 at Coney Island, in Brooklyn, New York – although it didn’t quite resemble the thrills we are used to today.

The switchback railway, invented by LaMarcus Thompson, traveled at a top speed of just six mile per hour. Still, it was an instant success and by the turn of the century, hundreds of other roller coasters had popped up across the country.

In 1927, the historic Cyclone wooden coaster made its debut at the Coney Island and despite plans for new 4,000-foot-long coaster, it is reported that the Cyclone will continue to operate. (Image: Wikimedia)