Aww…the pause that refreshes! Coca-Cola became the real thing on May 8, 1886, when it was served for the first time in Atlanta. It put the “pop” in the history of pop culture.

Today is also know for the start of Paramount Pictures, a day where a teenager pretended to be a train operator and Betty White became the oldest guest host of Saturday Night Live.

1886: Coca-Cola is Created

Coca-Cola became the country’s first cola beverage on this day in 1886 when it was served for the first time at Jacob’s Pharmacy in Atlanta, Georgia. John S. Pemberton created what is now known as Coca-Cola. According to the company, John S. Pemberton created the beverage and carried a jug of it to the pharmacy where it was pronounced “excellent”.

Initially, Coke was sold as a medicine. Some people believed that carbonated water was good for one’s health and Pemberton began claiming that the tonic cured numerous diseases including morphine addiction, dyspepsia, neurasthenia, headache, and impotence. The cola sold for five cents a glass. Nine drinks a day were served that first year.

It was Frank Robinson, the company’s accountant, who was responsible for calling the drink “Coca-Cola” and thought that the two “C’s” would look well in advertising. The very first newspaper ad for the product described the beverage as a “Delicious and Refreshing Beverage.” Many people today still agree.

Other Unlikely Pop Culture History Moments for May 8

1912: Paramount Pictures in Born

On this day in 1912, Adolph Zukor, an investor in nickleodeons, released the first full-length drama, Queen Elizabeth and created the Famous Players Film Company. In 1913, he began distributing movies with the name Paramount Pictures.

In 1916, Famous Players merged with the Jesse L. Lasky Company (whose first movie director was Cecil B. DeMille.) They also produced The Squaw Man, the first feature-length movie produced in Hollywood which was distributed by Paramount Pictures as well. It didn’t take long for the three companies to merge together under one umbrella.

Today, Paramount Pictures in the second oldest film studio in the United States after Universal Studios and the last major studio to continue working in Hollywood.

1993: That Day When a Teen Pretended to be a Train Operator

After moving to New York from Trinidad, Keron Thomas became fascinated with trains. He spent hours studying the rules and regulations of the New York Transit Authority in hopes of passing the train operators Civil Service test in 1992. Instead, he was arrested for trespassing.

The next year on this day, he signed into the 207th Street Yard and began to operate the train from the station. He did so for three and a half hours before his actions of going too fast around a corner tripped the emergency brakes of the train. When he was investigated, it was discovered that he was just 16 years old.

2010: Live from New York, it’s…Betty White!

In early 2010, a Facebook group was formed called “Betty White to Host SNL…Please?” The request proved so popular, executive producer Lorne Michaels took it as a sign that he needed to get that gal signed up for the gig pronto.

She hosted the show on this day when she was a young 83 years old. Not only was she the oldest person to host the show, she also won an Emmy.