Paul Layendecker

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” Weds., Jan. 28, 2026 1915 The U.S. Coast Guard was established, when Congress combined the Revenue Cutter Service and the U.S. Life-Saving Service. 1978 The TV series Fantasy Island debuted on ABC. “Boss, de plane, de

  Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026 1880 Thomas Edison was granted a patent for an electric incandescent light. 1948 The first of John Mullin’s invention, the magnetic tape recorder was sold in

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Monday, Jan. 26, 2026 1784 Ben Franklin wrote a letter to his daughter expressing his disapproval of the eagle as our nation’s symbol. He thought the bald eagle was of bad

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Thurs., Jan. 22, 2026 1946 The Central Intelligence Group (CIG) is established by U.S. President Harry S. Truman. It was later replaced by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Truman reportedly gave

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Weds., Jan. 21, 2026 1813 The Pineapple was introduced to Hawaii. In 1992, Dole purchased the Island of Lenai and turned it into the largest pineapple plantation in the world. 1915

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026 1954 The lowest recorded temperature in the continental U.S. Rogers Pass, Montana dipped to -69.7°F 1982 The late heavy-metal musician Ozzy Osborne bit the head off a bat

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Monday, Jan. 19, 2026 1825 The first U.S. patent for preserving food in tin cans was granted. Thomas Kensett set up a small canning plant on the waterfront selling America’s first

WAY BACK WHEN for Friday, January 16, 2026 1919, the 18th Amendment was ratified, which banned the manufacturing, sale, or transportation of alcohol in the U.S.  The actual enforcement of Prohibition didn’t start until the following year. 1973, NBC aired the 440th

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Thurs., Jan. 15, 2026 1927 The case against John Scopes was dismissed by the Tennessee Supreme Court. He had been convicted of teaching evolution. 1929 American Nobel Peace Prize-winning civil rights leader

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Weds., Jan. 14, 2026 ALL TV today… 1952 Network TV’s first early-morning show, Today, debuted on NBC. Still running, it is now the fifth-longest-running U.S. television series hosted by Savannah Guthrie, Carson

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Tuesday. Jan 13, 2026 1920 A New York Times editorial said rockets could never fly. Obviously, they were proved wrong and eventually issued an apology in 1969 after the Apollo 11

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Monday, Jan 12, 2025 1854 Anthony Faas from Philadelphia patented the accordion. 1966, Batman with Adam West premiered on ABC! Burt Ward played Robin the Boy Wonder. The caped crusaders fought crime for three

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Friday Jan 9, 2026 1811 The first women’s golf tournament was held in Scotland. 1949 The new 7-inch 33 1/3 rpm micro-groove record format was announced by Columbia. 2007 Apple’s iPhone

  Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Thursday, Jan 8, 2026   In 1835, the U.S. National Debt was completely PAID OFF under Andrew Jackson, giving us a zero balance for the first and ONLY time in history. 1958, Bobby Fischer won his

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Weds. Jan 7, 2026 1610 Astronomer Galileo Galilei observed three points of light near the planet Jupiter. Subsequent observations over the next several months led him to the realization that they were

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026 1945 The Looney Tunes cartoon skunk Pepé Le Pew made his first appearance. Pepé Le Pew was voiced by Mel Blanc. 1969 Future U.S. President, Jimmy Carter

  Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Monday, Jan 5, 2026 1914 The automaker Henry Ford announced an unprecedented five-dollar-a-day minimum wage for his employees, doubling the current wages of his assembly line workers. Five dollars in 1914

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Friday, Jan. 2, 2026 1939 Adolf Hitler was named Time magazine’s 1938 Man of the Year in their January 2, 1939, issue. The title was not given as an honor, but to the

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026 1929 The worst ‘blunder’ in College Football history. When during the Rose Bowl game, California Golden Bear’s center Roy Reigels ran 65 yards the wrong way during the

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Weds., Dec. 31, 2025  1879 Thomas Edison gave the first public demonstration of the incandescent light. 1974 U.S. Citizens were allowed to buy and own gold for the first time in