Paul’s Blog Archives

“Way Back When” TODAY!

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Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022 1882 The first Christmas Tree with electric lights. Edward H. Johnson used a set of 80 red, white, and blue electric incandescent light bulbs wired together. Johnson

“Way Back When” TODAY!

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Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Weds., Dec. 21, 2022 Happy First Day Of WINTER! 1937 Walt Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs premiered. It was his first feature-length animation and the world’s first animated feature made in

“Way Back When” TODAY!

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Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022 1891 YMCA instructor Dr. James Naismith organized the first basketball game between his students in Springfield, Massachusetts. The original game used a soccer ball and a peach basket with

“Way Back When” TODAY!

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Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Monday, Dec. 19, 2021   1865 The 13th amendment abolished slavery in the U.S. 1917 Prohibition began with the 18th amendment prohibiting liquor in the U.S. It did not prohibit the

“Way Back When” TODAY!

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Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Friday, Dec. 16, 2023 1901 Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Peter Rabbit was first released. The story is about Peter Rabbit and his triplet siblings. 1951 The TV series Dragnet debuted on NBC. Contrary to

“Way Back When” TODAY!

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Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022 1972 Eugene Cernan reentered the lunar module after making the last moon walk. 1986 Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager flew the aircraft Voyager on the first nonstop

“Way Back When” TODAY!

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Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2022 1791 The Bill of Rights was ratified, providing the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution. 1939 The film version of Margaret Mitchell’s American Civil War drama “Gone

“Way Back When” TODAY!

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Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021 1782 Brothers Joseph and Jacques Montgolfier tested their first balloon. They built a large box out of thin wood and lit a fire beneath it. The unmanned balloon took

“Way Back When” TODAY!

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Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Monday, Dec 2, 2022  1927 Henry Ford introduced the Model A. It had a 200.5 cubic inch motor that delivered 40 hp and came in nine body styles, with a starting price

“Way Back When” TODAY!

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Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Friday, Dec. 10, 2022 1907 The First U.S. Christmas Seals went on sale. The proceeds went to the fight against tuberculosis. 1965 “A Charlie Brown Christmas”, the first in a series

“Way Back When” TODAY!

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Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022 1857 New York businessman Joseph Gayetty began marketing toilet paper.  It was made of pure Manila hemp paper and contained aloe and remained in use until 1935

“Way Back When” TODAY!

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Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022 1941 Pearl Harbor was attacked. “A Day that will live in Infamy” 1963 CBS first used ‘instant replay’ in a game between Army and Navy. 1973 Apollo

“Way Back When” TODAY!

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Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022 345 A.D., the real St. Nicholas died. He secretly gave gifts to poor brides-to-be. 1884, the Washington Monument was completed.  1964, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” first aired on NBC.

“Way Back When” TODAY!

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Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Monday, Dec. 05, 2022 1933 Prohibition was repealed when Utah becomes the 36th state to ratify the 21st Amendment giving it the necessary 75% of states needed to enact it. 1952

“Way Back When” TODAY!

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Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Friday, Dec 2, 2022  1927 Henry Ford introduced the Model A. It had a 200.5 cubic inch motor that delivered 40 hp and came in nine body styles, with a starting price

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Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Thursday, Dec. 01, 2022  1942 In order to conserve gas and rubber for the war effort, nationwide gas and tire rationing went into effect in the US. Families were allowed 3

“Way Back When” TODAY!

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Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2021 1940 Comedienne Minnie Pearl made her first appearance on the radio show Grand Ole Opry. She would continue making appearances for over 50 years. Minnie Pearl was

“Way Back When” TODAY!

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Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2021 1934 The Chicago Bears beat the Detroit Lions in the first NFL game broadcast. 1942 The U.S. began rationing coffee as a result of World War II. Coffee

“Way Back When” TODAY!

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Monday, Nov. 28, 2022 1922 Royal Air Force Capt. Cyril Turner writes “Hello USA Call Vanderbilt 7200” 10,000 feet above Times Square in New York City. The half-mile-high letters generated 47,000

“Way Back When” TODAY!

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Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Weds., Nov. 23, 2022 1889 The first jukebox was installed, in the Palais Royale Saloon in San Francisco. It was an Edison phonograph modified with a coin slot and installed inside

“Way Back When” TODAY!

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Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2021  1718 British soldiers boarded the ship of Blackbeard the Pirate and shot him. They then cut off his black beard and flew it from the ship’s bow.

“Way Back When” TODAY!

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Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Monday, Nov. 29, 2021 1877 Thomas Edison announced the invention of the phonograph. 1934 The New York Yankees purchased the contract of Joe Di Maggio from San Francisco. 1980 An estimated

“Way Back When” TODAY!

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Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Friday, November 18, 2022  1928 Steamboat Willie, Disney’s first cartoon with synchronized sound, was released. Mickey’s voice was provided by none other than Walt Disney himself! 1949 The great Jackie Robinson

“Way Back When” TODAY!

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Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022  1800 The first meeting of the U.S. Congress in the newly formed Capital city of Washington D.C. 1970 A patent was issued to Douglas Engelbart for the

“Way Back When” TODAY!

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 Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022 1904 British electrical engineer John Fleming filed a patent for his “thermionic valve” also known as a vacuum tube which ushered in the modern era of electronics. 1959

“Way Back When” TODAY!

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Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Monday, Nov. 14, 2022 1889 New York World reporter Nellie Bly set sail from New York in an effort to beat Philéas Fogg’s (from Jules Verne’s novel) time of 80 days for a 24,899-mile

“Way Back When” TODAY!

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Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022  1885 The poem that inspired the comic strip “Little Orphan Annie” was first published. It was also the inspiration for the Broadway musical “Annie” which opened in

“Way Back When” TODAY!

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Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Friday, November 11, 2022  1919 Veterans Day was established as a U.S. federal holiday honoring military veterans. 1921 The remains of an unidentified American serviceman from World War I was interred at

“Way Back When” TODAY!

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Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022  1969 The long-running children’s educational program Sesame Street debuted on public TV with Jim Henson’s Muppets. 1975 The ore carrier “Edmund Fitzgerald” sank during a storm on Lake

“Way Back When” TODAY!

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 Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022 1799 Napoleon became the first dictator of France. 1989 The 28-year-old Berlin Wall was opened to the West. It was one of the most iconic symbols of