1881: Greatest Show on Earth Entrepreneur P.T. Barnum, became a natural salesman at the age of 12 selling lottery tickets and cherry rum to soldiers. Later, he tried out a variety of businesses, including newspaper publishing and running a boarding house. But he didn’t find his true calling until 1871. His new venture was called “P.T. Barnum’s Grand Traveling Museum,
Read more1915: Something About (Typhoid) Mary In 1900, Mary Mallon worked as a cook for a family in New York City. Within two weeks, some of the residents there developed typhoid fever. In 1901, she moved to Manhattan to work as a cook for another family where some developed fevers and one died. She then went to work for another family
Read more1982: Ebony & Ivory Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder once teamed up to sing the song “Ebony & Ivory” which uses piano keys as a metaphor for racial equality. Ironically, due to their personal work obligations, the two didn’t actually sing the duet and had to record their parts separately. Written by Paul, the song was released on this day
Read more31: The First Easter Easter and its’ surrounding holidays are considered to be “moveable feasts” in that they do not adhere to a fixed date like Christmas or Valentine’s Day. It is believed that the very first Easter was held on this day in the year 31 AD according to calendar-maker Dionysius Exiguss. In Western Christianity, using the Gregorian calendar,
Read more1958: Elvis in the Army On this day in 1958, hip-swinging Elvis Presley was inducted into the United States Army and since publicity makes the world go round, Elvis’ manager was on hand with a photographer to capture this historic day. Always the professional, the 23-year-old showed no nervousness or sadness unlike his mother, Gladys, who was visibly upset. While
Read more2006: National Puppy Day The very first National Puppy Day was celebrated on this day in 2006. It was created by animal behaviorist Coleen Paige. In addition to awareness of just of lovable puppies and worthy of adopting, the day also serves as an awareness of puppy farms and mills. 1857: Going Up? In 1852, inventor Elisha Otis created the
Read more2014: No More Toys R Us Today Charles P. Lazarus, the founder of Toys R Us passed away at the age of 94 one week after the company announced that it was shutting down all U.S. operations. “There have been many sad moments for Toys R Us in recent weeks, and none more heartbreaking than today’s news about the passing
Read more1980: Who Shot J.R.? It was the shot heard around the world: J. R. Ewing, the lead character of the CBS evening soap opera Dallas was shot on this day in 1980 leaving viewers to wrestle their thoughts on who the culprit might be for eight months when the show returned in November. The phrase “Who Shot J. R.” became
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