Paul’s Blog Archives

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Wednesday, August 31, 2022  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 Tuesday, August 30, 2022  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 Monday, Aug. 29, 2022  1896 Li Hongzhang, a diplomat from China, was visiting the city and hosting American guests for dinner. Rather than risk preparing authentic Chinese food for them, Hongzhang

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Friday, August 26, 2022  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 Thursday, August 25, 2022  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, 2022  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 Tuesday, 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 Monday, August 22, 2021 1864 – The International Red Cross was founded in Geneva Switzerland. 1865 – inventor William Sheppard of New York City patented Liquid Soap. 1902 – Theodore Roosevelt

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Friday, August 19, 2022  1856 Gail Borden receives a patent for his improved process of making evaporated milk. 1909 The first race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Home of

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Thurs., August 18, 2022  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 Weds., 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 Tuesday, August 16, 2022  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 Monday, August 15, 2022  1914 The Panama Canal was declared open to world commerce. The first ship to cross after the official opening was the cargo ship SS Ancon. 1946 Allen DuMont’s

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Friday, August 12, 2022  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

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Weds., August 10, 2022  1927 The Mount Rushmore memorial was dedicated. It was completed in 1941. The sculpture features U.S. Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. They

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Tuesday, August 9, 2022  1936 Jesse Owens won his fourth gold medal at the Berlin Olympics. 1974 “Michigan’s favorite son,” Vice President Gerald R. Ford of Michigan was sworn in as the 38th

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Monday, August 8, 2022 1876, Thomas Edison received a patent for his mimeograph. (We knew them as ‘dittos.’ The ones with the purple ink that you usually couldn’t read, but smelled great!) 1963

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Friday, August 5, 2021  1914, the world’s first electric traffic light was installed in Cleveland, 1921 KDKA of Pittsburgh broadcast the first baseball game on the radio. The Pittsburgh Pirates beat

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Thursday, August 4, 2022 1821 The first Issue of The Saturday Evening Post was published. 1916 The U.S. signed the treaty to purchase the Virgin Islands from Denmark for $25,000,000 in gold. The

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Weds, August 3, 2022 1492 Christopher Columbus set sail for the Indies. He reached the New World of the Americas instead, landing in the Bahamas in October. 1949 The National Basketball

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Tuesday, August 2, 2022 1776, members of the Continental Congress began signing the official Declaration of Independence.  The July 4th printings that were first sent out only had the names of John Hancock (President of

WAY BACK WHEN for Monday, August 1, 2022 1936, the Olympic Torch appeared for the first time, at the opening ceremonies in Berlin.  The ceremony was presided over by Adolph Hitler. 1971, “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Thursday, July 28, 2022     1868 Following its ratification by the necessary three-quarters of U.S. states, the 14th Amendment, granting citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Weds, July 27, 2022  1869 Amos Tyler received the first patent for chewing gum. Tyler’s gum consisted of white rosin and olive oil. 1953 The three-year Korean War officially ended with

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Tuesday, July 26, 2022  1775 the U.S. Postal system was established by the second Continental Congress. 1908 the Federal Bureau of Investigation was founded. 1990 the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Monday, July 25, 2022  1946 The legendary comedy duo made their official debut together. Their act at the Atlantic City’s 500 Club consisted or Dean Martin trying to sing while Jerry Lewis constantly

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Friday, July 22, 2022 1933 Pilot Wiley Post completed the first solo global airplane flight. 1934 John Dillinger, the bank robber noted for his daring prison escapes, was reportedly killed outside

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Thursday, July 21, 2022 1861 The Battle of Bull Run, the first major land battle of the Civil War. More than 50,000 fought costing some 3,000 Union casualties, 1,750 for the

Paul Layendecker’s “WAY BACK WHEN” for Weds., July 20, 2022  1903 The soon to be auto giant Ford Motor Company shipped its first car, The Model A. 1940 Billboard Magazine released their first music popularity chart: Frank Sinatra was at