The Brighter Side of History


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1831 Québec & Montréal incorporated
1841 First performance of Robert Schumann's first Symphony in B
1880 First town completely illuminated by electric lighting (Wabash IN) More ...
1889 French engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel unfurled the French tricolor atop the Eiffel Tower More ...
1896 Whitcomb Judson, Chicago IL, patents a hookless fastening (zipper) More ...
1900 First automobile company to advertise in a national magazine More ...
1903 Richard Pearse flies monoplane several hundred yards (New Zealand) More ...
1909 Baseball rules players who jump contracts are suspended for 5 years More ...
1918 First daylight savings time in US goes into effect More ...
1923 First dance marathon-NYC-Alma Cummings sets record of 27 hours More ...
1932 Ford publicly unveils its V-8 engine
1933 First newspaper published on pine pulp paper, "Soperton News" (Georgia) More ...
1933 Congress authorizes Civilian Conservation Corps More ...
1937 Phil Harris recorded "That’s What I Like About the South" More ...
1943 Rodgers & Hammerstein musical "Oklahoma!" opens on Broadway More ...
1952 "Wheel of Fortune" by Kay Starr topped the charts More ...
1953 Department of Health, Education & Welfare established
1953 "Cavalcade of America" was heard for the final time on network radio More ...
1956 "The Poor People of Paris" by Les Baxter topped the charts More ...
1958 US Navy forms atomic sub division More ...
1962 "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You" by Connie Francis topped the charts More ...
1966 USSR launches Luna 10 - first spacecraft to orbit moon More ...
1967 Jimi Hendrix begins his tradition of burning his guitar More ...
1968 President Lyndon Johnson will not seek re-election as a result of the Vietnam conflict More ...
1970 Federal bankruptcy court allows Seattle Pilots to be sold to Milwaukee More ...
1972 Official Beatles Fan Club closes down
1973 "Killing Me Softly with His Song" by Roberta Flack topped the charts More ...
1976 Cleveland Cavaliers clinch their first ever NBA playoff berth
1979 "Tragedy" by Bee Gees topped the charts More ...
1981 Ananda Chakrabarty patented a new single cell life form More ...
1984 "Footloose" by Kenny Loggins topped the charts More ...
1990 "Black Velvet" by Alannah Myles topped the charts More ...
1991 The Soviet Republic of Georgia declares its independence More ...
1995 First game at Coors Stadium Colorado (replacement Rockies beat Yankees 4-1)
1995 Federal judge orders injunction to end baseball strike More ...
1996 First Opening Day in history in March takes place in Seattle More ...

In 1889, the Eiffel Tower was inaugurated, becoming the world's tallest tower of its era. The designer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, 56, celebrated by unfurling a French flag at the top of the tower. Construction time was 2 years, 2 months and 2 days.
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In 1896, the first U.S. patent for a hookless fastener based on a slider was issued to Whitcomb L. Judsen of Chicago IL. Itwas designed for fastening shoes, whereby two metal chains were fastened together by the movement of a slider. He held a previous patent for a hookless fastening design for shoes, which used a clasp locker and unlocker.
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In early March, 1933 FDR summoned Congress to our nation's capitol and in an emergency session on March 9th Congress heard his plan to enlist 250,000 men in an effort to "preserve the natural resources of these United States." Surprisingly, organized labor mounted a campaign against FDR's proposal, however, the bill was signed into law on March 31, 1933.
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While the Jimi Hendrix Experience toured the United Kingdom and parts of Europe, Hendrix developed his stage presence, which reached a high point on March 31, 1967 when he set his guitar on fire. Later, after causing damage to amplifiers and other stage equipment at his shows, Rank Theatre management warned him to "tone down" his stage act.
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