Episodes
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A laugh track is used in a TV show for the first time - September 9th, 1950
On this day in 1950, the laugh track made its TV debut on “The Hank McCune Show.”
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Carnation processes its first cans of evaporated milk - September 6th, 1899
On this day in 1899, Carnation evaporated milk was produced for the first time in Kent, Washington.
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AIDS activists wrap a giant condom over Senator Jesse Helms’ house - September 5th, 1991
On this day in 1991, a group of AIDS activists draped a giant, inflatable condom over the home of North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms.
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Barney Flaherty becomes America's first paperboy - September 4th, 1833
On this day in 1833, a 10-year-old boy named Barney Flaherty took a job as America’s first newsboy.
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Flashback episode - September 3rd
Please enjoy these September 3rd flashbacks from the TDIHC vault, and we will see you soon for a brand new episode!
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Flashback episode - September 2nd
Please enjoy these September 2nd flashbacks from the TDIHC vault, and we will see you soon for a brand new episode!
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The Moscow-Washington hotline is established - August 30th, 1963
On this day in 1963, the first message was sent on the Moscow-to-Washington hotline.
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British women join the war effort - August 29th, 1914
On this day in 1914, the Women’s Defense Relief Corps was established in Britain.
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The "Tom Thumb" locomotive races a horse-drawn railroad car - August 28th, 1830
On this day in 1830, American engineer Peter Cooper raced his "Tom Thumb” locomotive against a horse-drawn railroad car.
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"The Guinness Book of Records” is published - August 27th, 1955
On this day in 1955, the first copies of “The Guinness Book of Records” were printed and distributed for free in pubs across England and Ireland.
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A Major League baseball game is televised for the first time - August 26th, 1939
On this day in 1939, the first televised professional baseball game was broadcast from an experimental TV station in New York City.
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The state of Franklin declares independence - August 23rd, 1784
On this day in 1784, four counties in western North Carolina declared their independence as the State of Franklin.
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Walt Disney's "The Skeleton Dance" premieres in theaters - August 22nd, 1929
On this day in 1929, the animated short “The Skeleton Dance” held its official premiere at the Roxy Theatre in New York City.
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An F5 tornado strikes Rochester, Minnesota - August 21st, 1883
On this day in 1883, three powerful tornadoes wreaked havoc in southeast Minnesota.
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NASA launches the Voyager 2 spacecraft - August 20th, 1977
On this day in 1977, a NASA rocket launched the Voyager 2 space probe from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
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Benjamin Banneker writes to Thomas Jefferson in support of abolition - August 19th, 1791
On this day in 1791, American author and astronomer Benjamin Banneker wrote a 1,400-word letter to Thomas Jefferson, challenging his views on slavery.
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Flashback episode - August 16th
Please enjoy these August 16th flashbacks from the TDIHC vault, and we will see you soon for a brand new episode!
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Tivoli Gardens opens in Copenhagen, Denmark - August 15th, 1843
On this day in 1843, the Tivoli Gardens amusement park opened its gates for the first time.
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Ethel Lois Payne is born - August 14th, 1911
On this day in 1911, pioneering Black journalist Ethel Lois Payne was born in Chicago, Illinois.
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German acrobat Otto Witte is allegedly crowned King of Albania - August 13th, 1913
On this day in 1913, according to German legend, a circus performer named Otto Witte conned his way onto the Albanian throne.
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Joseph Lister performs the first antiseptic surgery - August 12th, 1865
On this day in 1865, British surgeon Joseph Lister introduced a new technique to help prevent surgical infections.
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Henry David Thoreau's "Walden" is published - August 9th, 1854
On this day in 1854, Henry David Thoreau’s classic book “Walden, or, A Life in the Woods” was published for the first time.
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Brian Hyland’s “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” tops the Billboard Hot 100 - August 8th, 1960
On this day in 1960, the novelty song “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” hit No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart.
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Alice Ramsey becomes the first woman to drive across the United States - August 7th, 1909
On this day in 1909, New Jersey homemaker Alice Ramsey completed her historic cross-country road trip.
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William Kemmler is executed by electric chair - August 6th, 1890
On this day in 1890, convicted killer William Kemmler became the first person to be executed by electrocution.
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Ronald Reagan fires more than 11,000 air traffic controllers - August 5th, 1981
On this day in 1981, President Ronald Reagan fired more than 11,000 air traffic controllers.
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Jackie Joyner-Kersee wins her second gold medal in the heptathlon - August 2nd, 1992
On this day in 1992, American athlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee became the first woman to win two consecutive Olympic gold medals in the heptathlon.
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Vigdís Finnbogadóttir becomes president of Iceland - August 1st, 1980
On this day in 1980, Icelandic politician Vigdís Finnbogadóttir became the first woman in the world to be elected president.
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MGM’s Leo the Lion roars for the first time - July 31st, 1928
On this day in 1928, MGM Studios’ mascot Leo the Lion roared for the first time on the big screen.
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The USS Indianapolis is torpedoed by a Japanese submarine - July 30th, 1945
On this day in 1945, the USS Indianapolis was torpedoed and sunk by a Japanese submarine.
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Flashback episode - July 29th
Please enjoy these July 28th and July 29th flashbacks from the TDIHC vault, and we will see you soon for a brand new episode!
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Grasshoppers devastate Midwestern crops - July 26th, 1931
On this day in 1931, massive swarms of grasshoppers created chaos for Midwestern farmers.
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Bob Dylan goes electric at the Newport Folk Festival - July 25th, 1965
On this day in 1965, singer-songwriter Bob Dylan created controversy by using an electric guitar at the Newport Folk Festival.
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The first all-star baseball team plays the Addie Joss Benefit Game - July 24th, 1911
On this day in 1911, an all-star baseball team played a benefit game for the family of fallen pitcher Addie Joss.
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Comet Hale-Bopp is discovered - July 23rd, 1995
On this day in 1995, amateur astronomers Alan Hale and Thomas Bopp independently and simultaneously discovered a comet.
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The Duke of Wellington defeats “40,000 Frenchmen in 40 minutes” - July 22nd, 1812
On this day in 1812, the Duke of Wellington’s British forces defeated the French at the Battle of Salamanca in Spain.
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The Rosetta Stone is found in Egypt - July 19th, 1799
On this day in 1799, French soldiers discovered a stone slab inscribed with ancient writing near the town of Rosetta, Egypt.
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Nadia Comăneci scores a perfect 10 at the Olympic Games - July 18th, 1976
On this day in 1976, Romanian athlete Nadia Comăneci became the first female gymnast in Olympic history to score a 10 for her performance.
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Douglas “Wrong Way” Corrigan flies across the Atlantic - July 17th, 1938
On this day in 1938, American aviator Douglas Corrigan began his “wrong way” flight from New York to Ireland.
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The world’s first parking meter is installed in Oklahoma City - July 16th, 1935
On this day in 1935, the first mechanical parking meters were installed in downtown Oklahoma City.
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The platypus makes its U.S. debut - July 15th, 1922
On this day in 1922, the duck-billed platypus was exhibited for the first time in the U.S. at the Bronx Zoo.
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"Family Feud" premieres on ABC - July 12th, 1976
On this day in 1976, the long-running TV game show “Family Feud” aired for the first time on ABC.
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The Skylab space station crashes over Australia - July 11th, 1979
On this day in 1979, the burning wreckage of America’s first space station crashed into the Indian Ocean and across Western Australia.
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Nils Bohlin patents the three-point seatbelt - July 10th, 1962
On this day in 1962, Swedish engineer Nils Bohlin patented the V-shaped three-point safety belt.
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A statue of King George III is pulled down in New York City - July 9th, 1776
On this day in 1776, the New York Sons of Liberty tore down a statue of British monarch George III.
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Ed Berners allegedly invents the ice cream sundae - July 8th, 1881
On this day in 1881, according to culinary legend, the first ice cream sundae was made at Ed Berners’ soda fountain in Two Rivers, Wisconsin.
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Flashback episode - July 5th
Please enjoy these July 5th flashbacks from the TDIHC vault, and we will see you soon for a brand new episode!
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Flashback episode - July 4th
Please enjoy these July 4th flashbacks from the TDIHC vault, and we will see you soon for a brand new episode!
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The Great Auk goes extinct - July 3rd, 1844
On this day in 1844, Icelandic fishermen killed the last remaining pair of great auk seabirds.
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"Lawnchair Larry" takes flight in a homemade airship - July 2nd, 1982
On this day in 1982, amateur pilot Larry Walters launched himself skyward using a lawn chair and several dozen weather balloons.