Today's Trivia and What Happened on April 24

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The word "the" is repeated twice.

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Quote: Don't write so that you can be understood, write so that you can't be misunderstood. - William Howard Taft, 27th U.S. President

Quote: Don't write so that you can be understood, write so that you can't be misunderstood. - William Howard Taft, 27th U.S. President Close Large View

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What Happened On

Hubble Space Telescope

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Hubble Space Telescope

April 24, 1990

NASA launches their $1.5 billion Earth-orbiting telescope into space. Although designed to view farther into space than any telescope on Earth, a flawed lens greatly reduced it capabilities. The telescope is named after astronomer Edwin Hubble.

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Iranian Hostage Crisis - Rescue Disaster

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Iranian Hostage Crisis - Rescue Disaster

April 24, 1980

An attempt to rescue the hostages of the Iranian hostage crisis ends in disaster when a helicopter crashes into a transport plane killing eight Americans and wounding five others. The secret rescue mission, codenamed "Eagle Claw", had already been aborted due to equipment failures from severe dust storms. The helicopters were repositioning themselves for refueling when the crash occurred.
The embassy had been taken over by Iranian students who believed the U.S. was attempting to undermine the Iranian Revolution. They also opposed U.S. support of the Shah of Iran who, after being overthrown, went to the U.S. for cancer treatment. They wanted him returned to stand trial for crimes against the Iranian people.

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First Person to Die During a Space Mission

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First Person to Die During a Space Mission

April 24, 1967

Soviet cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov dies when his spacecraft becomes entangled in its parachute and plummets to Earth.
Three U.S. astronauts had died during a simulation on the launch pad three months earlier in the Apollo 1 disaster.

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Monkey Trial

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Monkey Trial

April 24, 1925

John Scopes teaches Darwin's Theory of Evolution in a Dayton, Tennessee high school class, in violation of Tennessee law. This would lead to the famous Scope's Monkey Trial.
The previous month, Tennessee had made it a misdemeanor to "teach any theory that denies the story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals." High school teacher John Scopes defied this law by teaching evolution in his classroom. Famous lawyer, and three-time U.S. presidential candidate, William Jennings Bryan volunteered for the prosecution. Attorney Clarence Darrow joined the ACLU for the defense. Darrow called as his sole witness for the defense the prosecuting attorney Bryan, in an attempt to discredit his literal interpretation of the Bible. Bryan was ridiculed and forced to make contradictory statements. In an unusual twist, the defense attorney in his closing remarks asked the jury to convict his client. This accomplished two things: It allowed the case to be taken to the Tennessee Supreme Court and it prevented the prosecutor from delivering his closing speech that he had spent weeks preparing. Scopes was found guilty and ordered to pay a fine of $100. Even though Bryan the prosecutor won, he was publicly humiliated and many believe the public ridicule contributed to his death six days later. The conviction was eventually overturned by the Tennessee Supreme Court.

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Underconstruction (left) and completed in 1913 Underconstruction (left) and completed in 1913

Underconstruction (left) and completed in 1913 Underconstruction (left) and completed in 1913
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Woolworth Building

April 24, 1913

What was at the time the world's tallest building, is opened, holding the record until the construction of the 40 Wall Street building and the Chrysler Building in 1930. It was 792 feet (241.4 meters) high and is located at 233 Broadway in Manhattan, New York City. It consists of a 30-story base topped by a 30-story tower. In 2012, the top 30 floors were converted into residences. The building has its own zip code of 10279.

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Ads from 1888 and 1900 Ads from 1888 and 1900

Ads from 1888 and 1900 Ads from 1888 and 1900
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Kodak

April 24, 1888

The Eastman-Kodak company is founded. The Kodak camera was soon introduced with the slogan, "You press the button - we do the rest".
In 1879, founder George Eastman had invented an emulsion-coating machine which enabled him to mass-produce photographic dry plates and he began selling them in 1880 in New York. Before dry plates, wet plates had to be coated, immediately exposed, and then developed while still wet. Dry plates could be exposed and then developed later.

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Trojan War

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Trojan War

April 24, 1184 

The Greeks enter Troy hidden inside a giant wooden horse (traditional date).

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David Bowie Marries Iman

April 24, 1992

Singer David Bowie marries supermodel Iman.

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Lottery Comes Up 666

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Lottery Comes Up 666

April 24, 1980

In an attempt to cheat the system, the host of the Pennsylvania lottery had weighted certain balls to increase the probability that fours and sixes would be selected. The film Lucky Numbers (2000), starring John Travolta and Lisa Kudrow, was loosely based on this event.

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Spanish-American War

April 24, 1898

Spain declares war on the U.S. The U.S. Congress would declare war on Spain the following day, declaring that a de facto state of war had existed since April 21.

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Library of Congress

April 24, 1800

Library of Congress is established. It was started with the library of Thomas Jefferson.

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Highest Recorded Tidal Wave

April 24, 1771

The Highest recorded tidal wave, 278 ft., off Ishigaki Island, Ryukyu Chain. Source: Guinness Book of World Records

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First Professionally-Performed Play in America

April 24, 1767

First Professionally-Performed Play in America The Prince of Parthia performed in Philadelphia.

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First Regularly-Published American Newspaper

April 24, 1704

The Boston News Letter by John Campbell is founded. It was published until Feb. 22, 1776.

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Birthdays

William Castle

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William Castle (William Schloss)

Born April 24, 1914 d. 1977

American film producer, director. Known for the use of gimmicks to promote his horror films, such as hot-wiring theater seats and issuing "life insurance" to patrons in case they should die of fright while watching the movie. During viewings of House on Haunted Hill (1959) a plastic skeleton was rigged to fly over the audience during the corresponding scene in the movie, in an effect Castle called "Emergo". The low-budget House on Haunted Hill was made on a budget of about $200,000 and made over $2.5 million at the box office. Its huge success inspired Alfred Hitchcock to make his own low-budget horror movie Psycho.
Film: Macabre (1958, "So terrifying we insure you for $1,000 against death by fright!"), House on Haunted Hill (1959, which featured a glowing-eyed skeleton that floated over the movie goers), The Tingler (1959, the seats were wired to vibrating shock devices), and Homicidal (1961, with a "Fright Break," where those too frightened to watch could go to "Coward's Corner," with the words, "Watch the chicken! Watch him shiver in Coward's Corner!" blaring over the loudspeaker).

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Gideon Sundback

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Invented the Zipper

Gideon Sundback

Born April 24, 1880 d. 1954

Swedish-American electrical engineer. Sundback invented the modern zipper (1917).

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Kelly Clarkson

Born April 24, 1982

American Grammy-winning pop singer, first American Idol winner (2002).

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Cedric the Entertainer (Cedric Kyles)

Born April 24, 1964

American comedian.

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Doug Clifford

Born April 24, 1945

American drummer with Creedence Clearwater Revival.

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Barbra Streisand

Born April 24, 1942

American Oscar-Emmy-winning actress, singer. Film: Funny Girl (1968, Oscar), What's Up Doc? (1972), The Way We Were (1973), and A Star is Born (1976, Oscar).

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Sue Grafton

Born April 24, 1940 d. 2017

American author. Writings: A is for Alibi (1983), B is for Burglar (1985), C is for Corpse (1986), etc.

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Jill Ireland

Born April 24, 1936 d. 1990

British-born American actress. After being diagnosed with cancer she became a spokesman for victims of the disease. Film: Death Wish II (1981).

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Shirley MacLaine (Shirley Beaty)

Born April 24, 1934

American Oscar and Emmy-winning actress. Film: Terms of Endearment (1983).

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John Barbour

Born April 24, 1933

Canadian-born actor, comic. TV: Real People (host).

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Bodnar receiving Calder Memorial Trophy in 1944 Bodnar receiving Calder Memorial Trophy in 1944

Bodnar receiving Calder Memorial Trophy in 1944 Bodnar receiving Calder Memorial Trophy in 1944
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Gus Bodnar

Born April 24, 1923 d. 2005

Canadian hockey player. Bodnar scored a goal 15 seconds into his first NHL game (1943), setting the record for fastest goal by a player in his first NHL game.
He played 12 seasons in the National Hockey League.

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Fred Gehrke

Born April 24, 1918 d. 2002

American NFL football player (1940-50). He designed the first NFL football helmet logo (Los Angeles Rams, 1948). He is also credited with creating the first helmet with a full facemask. This was after having broken his nose three times during the 1946 season.

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Robert Porter Allen

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Robert Porter Allen

Born April 24, 1905 d. 1963

American conservationist. He saved the whooping crane from extinction by discovering the last remaining flock near the Arctic Circle (1955).

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Robert Penn Warren

Born April 24, 1905 d. 1989

American author, first U.S. poet laureate, and the only person to win the Pulitzer for both fiction (All the King's Men, 1946) and poetry (Promises, 1958).

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Anthony Trollope

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Anthony Trollope

Born April 24, 1815 d. 1882

English novelist. He was one of the most successful and prolific English novelists of the Victorian era. Writings: Chronicles of Barsetshire. He is also responsible for introducing the familiar red pillar mailboxes in Britain (1853).

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Robert Bailey Thomas

Born April 24, 1766 d. 1846

American publisher. Founder of The Farmer's Almanac (1792, later called The Old Farmer's Almanack), which he published until his death.

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John Trumbull

Born April 24, 1750 d. 1831

American poet. He was a political satirist during the American Revolution, with his epic satirical piece M'Fingal.

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Edmund Cartwright

Born April 24, 1743 d. 1823

English inventor. He revolutionized weaving with his invention of the power loom (1785).

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John Graunt

Born April 24, 1620 d. 1674

English statistician. He co-wrote the world's first book of statistics and is the founder of the science of demography (the statistical study of human populations).

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Saint Vincent de Paul

Born April 24, 1581 d. 1660

French ecclesiastic. He founded the Vincentian Congregation and the Sisters of Charity.

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Deaths

Vladimir Mikhaylovich Komarov

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First Person to Die During a Space Mission

Vladimir Mikhaylovich Komarov

Died April 24, 1967 b. 1927

Soviet cosmonaut. He became the first person to die during a space mission when his spacecraft became entangled in its parachute and plummeted to the Earth.

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Andrew Smith Hallidie

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Andrew Smith Hallidie

Died April 24, 1900 b. 1836

English-born American engineer. He invented the first cable streetcar (1871, San Francisco).

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Daniel Defoe

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Daniel Defoe

Died April 24, 1731 b. circa 1660

English author. Writings: Robinson Crusoe (1719) and Moll Flanders (1722). The character of Robinson Crusoe was based on the real-life adventures of Alexander Selkirk. Defoe died broke and in hiding from his debtors.

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Andrew Woolfolk

Died April 24, 2022 b. 1950

American reeds player, with Earth, Wind & Fire. Music: Shining Star (1975, #1, Grammy), Best of My Love (1977, #1), and After the Love has Gone (1979, #2, Grammy).

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Estée Lauder (Josephine Esther Mentzer)

Died April 24, 2004 b. 1908

American cosmetics executive. Quote: "There are no ugly women - only women who don't care or who don't believe they are attractive."

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Wallis Warfield Simpson

Died April 24, 1986 b. 1896

Duchess of Windsor, American divorcee, for whom King Edward VIII in 1936 abdicated his throne to marry. Famous quote: "A woman can't be too rich or too thin."

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Alice Lon

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Alice Lon (Alice Lon Wyche)

Died April 24, 1981 b. 1926

American singer, TV personality. Lawrence Welk's original Champagne Lady (1955-59). Welk fired her for showing too much knee on camera.

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Bud Abbott (William Alexander Abbott)

Died April 24, 1974 b. 1897

American comedian. Lou Costello's partner.

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Gerhard Domagk

Died April 24, 1964 b. 1895

German bacteriologist. He was the first person to refuse a Nobel Prize (1939). He was awarded the prize for his discovery of the antibacterial effects of Prontosil, the first of the sulfonamide drugs. He used the drug to save his own daughter's arm from amputation. He was forced to refuse the award due to pressure from the Nazi government during WWII. He was able to accept the award after the war.

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Finley Peter Dunne

Died April 24, 1936 b. 1867

American humorist, creator of Mr. Dooley.

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Granville Stanley Hall

Died April 24, 1924 b. 1844

American psychologist, founder of child psychology. He was the first president of the American Psychological Association, the first president of Clark University, and founder of the American Journal of Psychology (1887).

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