This Day in Pop Culture for December 29

1967: The Tribbles attack ‘Star Trek’

Even the most remote Star Trek fan is familiar with the fifteenth episode of the show’s second season titled, “The Trouble with Tribbles” which aired on this day in 1967. Written by David Gerrold and directed by Joseph Pevney, it was first broadcast on December 29, 1967. This was more of a comic episode of the series where the starship Enterprise becomes overly crowded by cute yet rapidly-reproducing critters called “tribbles”. At one point, William Shatner was covered with five hundred tribbles in eight different scenes. The tribbles attacked again during an episode of Star Trek: The Animated Series as well as the episode, “Trials and Tribble-ations” for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine in 1996.

1896: Lava Soap is Trademarked

Sold with the slogan “Gets Grimy Dirt Fast – Kind to Hands,” Lava soap was trademarked on this day in 1896. The heavy-duty hand cleaner in soap bar form was first created in 1893 by William Waltke Co. It contains pumice which helps to rid dirty hands of grease, grime and tar. The original bar was beige in color and did not contain moisturizers and is no longer manufactured. In 1995, Procter & Gamble sold the product to Block Drug which later sold it to WD-40 Company in 1999.

1844: The YMCA Opens its Doors for the First Time

The Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) was founded in 1844 by George Williams in London, but on this day in 1851, the first YMCA was opened in the USA. Boston, Massachusetts was the chosen spot to put “Christian principles into practice by developing a healthy body, mind and spirit.” Those are the three sides of the YMCA triangle logo. The first YMCAs were heavily concerned with Bible study and Christian discipleship, but today, the Christian influence has taken a step back. In America, there are 2,700 YMCAs that involve 21 million men, women and children.