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Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021  1814 Francis Scott Key wrote the poem that would become the national anthem, after seeing the American flag flying following the British bombarding of Ft. McHenry during

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Monday, Sept. 13, 2021  1788 New York City was established as the capital of the U.S. by Congress. 1969 The Mystery Machine gets rolling when the TV series Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! Premiered.

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Friday, Sept. 10, 2021  1922 The first release of the Our Gang Little Rascals comedy shorts, One Terrible Day, debuted in theaters. 1955 Gunsmoke debuted on CBS-TV. BTS: John Wayne had turned down the role of

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021  1890 John Boyd Dunlop received a patent for his pneumatic rubber tire pressurized by air. 1947 A team led by American computer pioneer Grace Hopper found a moth trapped

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2021  1892 The Pledge of Allegiance was first published, in The Youth’s Companion. Francis Bellamy wrote the original 1892 version: “I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021  1921 The “Inner-City Beauty” pageant was won by 16-year-old Margaret Gorman (Miss Washington, D.C.). A newspaperman coined the term “Miss America” for the winner and the following year

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Thursday, Sept. 3, 2021  1789 The U.S. Department of Treasury was established. 1901 Expressing his desire for a strong foreign policy, U.S. Vice President (soon to be President) Theodore Roosevelt made his

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021  1651 According to the book, the fictional character Robinson Crusoe embarked on his first sea voyage, from Hull to London. Daniel Defoe’s story was based on the real-life

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Wednesday, August 31, 2021  1798 The first ever bank robbery as $162,821 was taken from vaults of the Bank of Pennsylvania at Carpenters’ Hall during the night. One of the bank

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Monday, August 30, 2021  1963 The famous “Red Phone hotline” a direct communications line between Washington D.C. and Moscow opened. It provided emergency communication in the event of a crisis.  1983

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Thursday, August 26, 2021  1920 The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution granting American women the right to vote was enacted. 1939 The first televised Major League baseball game. A doubleheader

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Wednesday, August 25, 2021  1609 Galileo Galilei demonstrated one of his early telescopes to Venetian lawmakers. It had a magnification of about 8 or 9. 1939 The film adaptation of L.

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Wednesday, August 24, 2021  1814 The Capitol and White House were burned during the War of 1812. While senior officials fled to Virginia, First Lady Dolley Madison stayed behind to save

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Monday, August 23, 2021  1859 Installation of the first hotel elevator was completed in the Fifth Avenue Hotel, New York. 1913 The mermaid statue in the harbor of Denmark, Copenhagen was

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Friday, August 20, 2021  1920 The first commercial radio station went on the air. WWJ in Detroit. 1920 A meeting was held by representatives of the football teams the Akron Pros,

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Wednesday, August 18, 2021  1872 Montgomery Ward issued his first catalog. It consisted of 163 items for sale and included a money-back guarantee. 1920 The 19th Amendment to the U.S. constitution granting

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Tuesday, August 17, 2021  1908 “Fantasmagorie” by Emile Cohl was shown at the Théâtre de Gymnase in Paris. It was the first fully animated motion picture. 1945 After being rejected by

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Monday, August 16, 2021  1858 U.S. President James Buchanan sent the first transatlantic telegraph message to Queen Victoria in England. It was a Christmas wish. 1954 First issue of Sports Illustrated hit magazine

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Friday, August 13, 2021  1889 Hanson Goodrich patented the modern stove-top coffee pot. It had a broad base for boiling, an up flow central tube and a perforated basket hanging on