This Day in Pop Culture for June 26

2002: National Stitch Day

Disney’s original Lilo and Stitch movie opened in theater on June 16, 2002. However, today is dedicated to the “cute and fluffy” blue one which is fitting because Stitch is also known as “Experiment 626”. For 2025, Stitch will be celebrating the fact the live action version of Lilo and Stitch is poised to reach $1 billion in ticket sales. The movie was made with a mere $1 million.

1948: ‘The Lottery’ Ruffles Feathers

The disturbing fictional short story, The Lottery, written by Shirley Jackson, was published for the first time in The New Yorker magazine on this day in 1948. It is known as “one of the most famous short stories in the history of American literature” but not necessarily in a favorable sense.

The story tells of a small community of 300 or so residents who each year hold a lottery in which one town member gets stoned to death. Both Jackson and The New Yorker were surprised by the negative reaction of readers who cancelled their subscriptions and sent hate mail to the magazine.

A month later, Jackson gave an explanation for the story: “Explaining just what I had hoped the story to say is very difficult. I suppose, I hoped, by setting a particularly brutal ancient rite in the present and in my own village to shock the story’s readers with a graphic dramatization of the pointless violence and general inhumanity in their own lives.”

Ironically, some of the letters were from curious readers who wanted to know where these lotteries were held and if they would be allowed to watch!

1963: ‘Tom Jones’ Remake Wins Big

Based on Henry Fielding’s 1749 novel, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, Hollywood produced the movie, Tom Jones in 1917. In 1963, a remake which starred Albert Finey was released on this day.

The movie was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and won four Oscars for Best Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay and Original Score.

2008: Kathryn Bigelow to Win Big with ‘The Hurt Locker’

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker tells the tale of an Iraq War Explosive Ordnance Disposal team. The fictional story was written by journalist Mark Boal who wrote about his time embedded with bomb squads during the war. The movie stared Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Ralph Fiennes, David Morse and Guy Pearce. The Hurt Locker was nominated for nine Academy Awards and won six Oscars for Best Picture, Director, Original Screenplay, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing and Film Editing.

1870: Merry Christmas

The Christmas holiday was formally declared a United States federal holiday.

1927: A Cyclone is Built

The wooden roller coaster known as the Cyclone was built at Luna Park in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City.

1977: Elvis Left the Building

Elvis Presley held is last concert in Indianapolis, Indiana. He later died on August 16, 1977.

1999: Take Your Dog to Work Day

Move over kids, “take your child to work day” has gone to the dogs. It was on this day in 1999 when Pet Sitters International created the unofficial holiday, “Take Your Dog to Work Day” and it has been celebrated by many ever since. Celebrated the Friday after Father’s Day, the purpose of this day is to celebrate pooches and encourage pet adoptions. Pet Sitters is also responsible for creating Bring Your Cat to Work Day (celebrated on the Monday after Father’s Day) and Take Your Pet to Work Week (which runs the whole week before).