'Cars' Introduces Radiator Springs (May 26)

After telling stories about the secret lives of toys, bugs, monsters, fish and even superheroes, Pixar decided it was time for Cars. It was John Lasseter’s love letter to the iconic Route 66 and the small towns along the way seen through the eyes of automobiles.

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

2006: Disney/Pixar’s ‘Cars’ Hits the Roadway

The animated cast of "Cars" — The cast of *Cars* *(TVDB)*

Directed by John Lasseter, Cars was Pixar’s 7th film. The animated story is set in a fictional world where everything revolves around vehicles and is only populated by automobiles. The movie was the last Pixar film made before the company was purchased by Disney.

Although the film contains a large cast of characters, the main storyline for Cars centers on the unlikely friendship between the young and selfish racecar Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) and the slow, easy-going Tow Mater (Larry the Cable Guy). Through this partnership, Lightning sees the importance of friendship and helps to revitalize the town of Radiator Springs, Arizona, right off Route 66.

It was on this day that the Disney/Pixar’s film premiered at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina. (The movie didn’t come to theaters until June 9.) A number of racing stars including Richard Petty and Darrell Waltrip were there. Those two also voiced roles in the animated film as well.

Cars has the distinction of being Paul Newman’s last acting role. Other voice talents in the movie include Bonnie Hunt, Tony Shalhoub, Cheech Marin, Michael Wallis, George Carlin, Paul Dooley, Jenifer Lewis, Guido Quaroni, Michael Keaton, Katherine Helmond and John Ratzenberger.

Cars was nominated for two Academy Awards including Best Animated Feature, but it lost to the Warner Bros.’ / Village Roadshow Pictures, Happy Feet.

Cars led to two sequels, a series of shorts and its own “land” at Disney’s California Adventure theme park in Anaheim, California bringing the fictional town of Radiator Springs to life. A second Cars-themed land is currently being developed for Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida.

1989 – Radio Silences

Radio waves coming off a radio tower — *(Pixabay)*

In what was coined as “The Day Radio Stopped”, many radio listeners woke up to the voice of James Earl Jones at 7:42 a.m. saying “Here is what life would sound like without the radio” and then about 10,000 radio stations went silent for 30 seconds.

“The point of this is to prove how important radio is,’ said Joan Voukides, an organizer of the event at the Radio Advertising Bureau. ‘We want to get people talking about radio, about the fact that radio was not there for 30 seconds. We want to point out the ways that people rely on radio.”

The stunt was short but sweet making headlines and causing some curiosity. Although radio had taken a beating in recent years due to technology changes, the stunt showed that radio had not died after all.

1897: Stoker

Book cover for "Dracula" — *(Wikipedia)*

The novel, Dracula, written by Bram Stoker is published.

1927: Ford

The Ford Motor Company produces the last Model T Ford automobile.

1967: Beatles

Cover of the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album — *(Wikipedia)*

The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album is released.

1977: ‘Spiderman’ Climbs the World Trade Center

On this day in 1977, about two and half years after Philippe Petit used a tightrope to travel between the twin towers of the World Trade Center, George Willig thought it would be a good time to climb the south tower.

It took the toymaker and mountain climber about three and half hours to scale the tower which at the time was world’s third tallest. When he made it to the top, Willig was arrested. At the time, New York City threatened to fine “The Human Fly” $250,000 for the stunt but on the next day, Mayor Abraham Beame only fined the man only one cent for every one of the skyscraper’s stories coming to a whopping $1.10.

After making numerous TV talk show appearances, Willig changed careers to work as a stuntman for a number of TV series including the Six Million Dollar Man, Trauma Center and Hollywood Beat.

What Else Happened on May 26?

1975 – Glen Campbell’s “Rhinestone Cowboy” becomes Billboard’s Country Song of the Year.
1998 – The United States Supreme Court rules that Ellis Island is mostly found in New Jersey not New York.
2012 – The butler of Pop Benedict XVI is arrested for allegedly leaking documents that are confidential.