Paul’s Blog Archives

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

 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

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

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

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

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

 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

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022  1887 The first flat disc record player was patented by Emile Berliner. Earlier recording devices by Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell used cylinders that were difficult

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Monday, Nov. 7, 2022  1972 Despite the ongoing Watergate proceedings, President Richard Nixon was re-elected by a landslide. He received almost 18 million more popular votes than his Democratic opponent Senator

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Friday, November 4, 2022  1879 Thomas Edison filed for a patent for his incandescent electric lamp. Note: Joseph Swan had also patented an incandescent light in Great Britain the previous year. 1939

 Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Thursday, Nov. 3 2021 1993 Polly Wants Justice. The parrot knew who the murderer was, but would anybody listen… Jane Gill was murdered in her mansion. Gary Rasp, her business partner

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022 1896 The first automobile insurance was sold, by General Accident Co. in Britain. 1988 The first Internet worm is released by Robert Tappan Morris, a Cornell graduate

  Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022 1800 U.S. President John Adams moved into what was at the time known as the “President’s House”, located in Washington D.C. George Washington is the only U.S. president who

  Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Monday, Oct. 31, 2022 1517 Reformer Martin Luther started the Protestant reformation when he nailed his 95 theses against the corruption of the papacy in Rome to the door of the

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Friday, Oct. 28, 2022  1636 The first US College was founded. Harvard. 1793 Eli Whitney applied for a patent for the Cotton Gin 1904 The first use of ‘finger printing’ to

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Thursday, October 27, 2022  1858 RH Macy Department Store opened in New Your City. 1904 New York opened the first section of the underground railway. 1947 The first episode of “You

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Wednesday, Oct 26, 2022   1774 The first Continental Congress adjourned in Philadelphia.   1941 U.S. Savings Bonds went on sale.   1970 The Doonesbury Comic Strip was first published. Music

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022 1854 This was the day of the “Charge of the Light Brigade” in the battle of Baklava in the Crimean War. 1930 The first transcontinental air service

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Mnday, Oct. 24, 2022  1861 The first U.S. Transcontinental Telegraph message was sent, from San Francisco to Washington D.C. It provided instant communication between the east and west coasts, which previously

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Friday, Oct. 21, 2022 1879 Thomas Edison succeeded in making his electric light. It had taken about 1,200 experiments and cost more than $40,000 (about $850,000 in today’s money). It operated for

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Thursday, October 20, 2022 1910 The first use of a cork-centered baseball in a World Series game. Before that it had a feather center. 1954 The musical “Peter Pan” opened at