Arts & Culture

What Happened On July 2nd? July 2, 1843, seemed like any other summer day in Charleston, South Carolina. However, by afternoon, dark clouds gathered over the city, foretelling a severe thunderstorm. Now, what happened next was far from ordinary. Amidst the storm’s fury, an alligator fell from the sky. Charleston Braces For A 'Gator-ific" Storm Temperatures soared that day, pressing the heavy air down on the city. By mid-afternoon, the sky turned a shade of gray, and the first rumbles of thunder echoed across the rooftops. Residents hurried to close their windows and secure their belongings, preparing for a typical summer storm. However, this storm would prove anything but typical. A Gator From The Heavens As the storm raged, witnesses reported seeing a small alligator fall...

What Happened On June 7th? In Billund on a sunny June 7th, 1968, a quiet town turned into a global destination. On this day, Denmark held the grand opening of the world's first Legoland resort. The extraordinary theme park was dedicated entirely to the colorful, interlocking plastic bricks that had enchanted children and adults since their creation in 1958. Workshop To Bricktopia The story of Legoland begins with Ole Kirk Christiansen, a Danish carpenter who founded The LEGO Group in 1932. Initially, the company produced wooden toys, but in 1949, they began manufacturing the iconic plastic bricks known today. By the mid-1960s, LEGO bricks had gained immense popularity, prompting Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, Ole’s son, to envision a theme park that could showcase the endless p...

What Happened On May 31st? On May 31, 1859, the Great Clock of the Palace of Westminster, famously known as Big Ben, began its role in keeping time. This day was not just the start of a clock; it began a culmination of years of innovation and engineering brilliance in Great Britain. Crafting The Clock The story of Big Ben began in 1834 when a devastating fire destroyed much of the Palace of Westminster. In response, Charles Barry was appointed to design the new Houses of Parliament, envisioning a grand clock tower as a focal point. However, it was Sir Edmund Beckett Denison, a lawyer with a keen interest in horology, brought the clock to life. Denison collaborated with clockmaker Edward John Dent, and together they created one of the most precise and large mechanical clocks ...

What Happened On May 22nd? On May 22, 1980, Namco officially released the arcade game Pac-Man in Japan. Created by game designer Toru Iwatani, Pac-Man introduced a unique maze chase format. Players would have to guide the titular character through a labyrinth to eat pellets and avoid ghosts. The game was later distributed by Midway in North America, and it rapidly became a cultural phenomenon. The Conception Of Pac-Man Toru Iwatani, a young game designer at Namco, was seeking to create a game that would appeal to a broader audience, including women and younger players. Iwatani’s inspiration came from a simple yet universally relatable experience: eating. The now-iconic character design of Pac-Man was reportedly inspired by a pizza missing a slice, a visual that struck Iwatan...

What Happened On May 16th? On May 16, 1929, Hollywood gathered for a legendary evening in the annals of cinema. The first Academy Awards ceremony took place at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles, where about 270 attendees, including industry luminaries, gathered for a private dinner. To celebrate the highest achievements in filmmaking, this event would grow into one of the most prestigious awards ceremonies in the world, the Oscars. The Inception Of The Academy Awards The idea for the Academy Awards was conceived by Louis B. Mayer, head of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), who sought to create an organization that would mediate labor disputes and improve the industry’s image. In 1927, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) was formed, and the concept of award...

What Happened On May 15th? On May 15, 1940, Richard and Maurice McDonald opened the doors of their first restaurant, McDonald's Bar-B-Q, in San Bernardino, California. The brothers introduced a simple menu featuring 25 items. This small drive-in restaurant would lay the foundation for what would become a global fast food empire. Who Were The McDonalds? Later in 1948, Richard and Maurice McDonald revolutionized their drive-in restaurant in San Bernardino, California, by introducing the "Speedee Service System." This system emphasized quick service and high efficiency. From the get-go, their innovative kitchen design allowed for a rapid assembly of food, drastically reducing wait times and costs. This system caught the attention of Ray Kroc, who saw potential in their operation...

What Happened On May 11th? On May 11th, 1981, the king of reggae, the man who brought the sounds of Jamaica to the world, had passed away at the young age of 36. Marley was born in Nine Miles, Jamaica in 1945, but he grew up on the streets of Kingston. In this district, Jamaican music genres, ska and rocksteady were prominent.  Growing up, he was derogatorily nicknamed “White Boy,” as he was mixed. His father was a white British naval captain, who was nearly 60 years of age at the time. On the other hand, his mother was a 19-year-old country village girl. Photo credit: Stephen Barnes via Getty Images In Kingston, he formed The Wailers, a group that would become the face of reggae music. Their infectious rhythms gave way to their fame. Marley was ...

What Happened On April 8th? On April 8th, 1973, nestled amidst the rolling hills of Mougins, France, one of the greatest artists of all time had his final moments. In his beloved Notre Dame de Vie residence, Pablo Picasso, the titan of 20th-century art, took his final breaths at the age of 91. Despite his advanced age, Picasso remained remarkably active in the days leading up to his passing. Accounts suggest he actually continued to work on new pieces, and that his artistic spirit seemed un-phased by time. However, it was only a matter of time before his health had begun to decline, and he was no longer able to venture out of his home. His Passing Sunday, April 8th, was a quiet one. Picasso spent his final hours surrounded by his loved ones, including his second wife, Jacque...

What Happened On April 5th? Easter Island, a speck of volcanic rock adrift in the South Pacific Ocean, has intrigued imaginations for centuries. More specifically, the colossal, enigmatic statues on the island – the moai – have fueled theories of lost civilizations and extraterrestrial intervention. However, the island's true history remained a mystery until April 5th, 1722, when European explorers found the isolated paradise. Now, Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen wasn't specifically searching for Easter Island. Rather, he was leading a squadron of three ships on a chartered mission for the Dutch East India Company, tasked with finding a rumored continent south of South America. Lost and running low on supplies, Roggeveen and his crew veered off course, their instruments failing t...

What Happened On March 31st? On March 31st, 1889, Parisians prepared for a grand opening of a structure unlike anything ever seen before – the Eiffel Tower. This colossal iron latticework behemoth, designed by engineer Gustave Eiffel, was a marvel of engineering and a bold statement about French ingenuity. Towering over the city at a staggering 324 meters (1,063 feet), it was not only the tallest structure in the world at the time, but also a controversial addition to the Parisian skyline. It was not until 2010 that the Burj Khalifa was opened to the public, exceeding the French tower's height by over 500 meters! Who Was The Genius? Gustave Eiffel, the mastermind behind the Eiffel Tower, was already a renown engineer by 1889. He had made his name designing innovative bridges and ...