History: The world's first opera premiered in 1607 Written by Claudio Monteverdi, L'Orfeo is based on the Greek legend of Orpheus and tells the story of his descent to Hades and his fruitless attempt to bring his dead bride Eurydice…
History: David Klein born in 1918 On this day in 1918, the American advertising designer David Klein was born in El Paso, Texas. Klein is probably best known for the iconic travel posters he created for Trans World Airlines (TWA)…
History: Polaroid introduces the instant camera in 1947 On this day in 1947, Polaroid founder Edwin Land first demonstrated the instant camera at a meeting of the Optical Society of America in New York City. The American scientist got his…
History: Andy Warhol died in 1987 On this day in 1987, one of the most influential artists of the second half of the 20th century, passed away. Andy Warhol (born Andrew Warhola in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) was a pioneer of the…
Today is Mardi Gras! Mardi Gras (also known as Fat Tuesday) is the last day of the Carnival season—a period of raucous merry-making in the weeks leading up to Lent. In countries all across the world, people will celebrate extravagant…
Today is Presidents Day Presidents Day is a federal holiday which, in the United States, is observed on the third Monday in February. This day is set aside, by more and more of America’s population, to honor all of the…
History: North German Lloyd founded in 1857 On this day in 1857, the German shipping company Norddeutscher Lloyd (NDL) (North German Lloyd) was founded by Henrich Meier and Eduard Crüsemann in Bremen. NDL became one of the most important German…
History: Thomas Edison patented the phonograph in 1878. It was the first machine able to reproduce recorded sound. In its later forms, the device was also called a gramophone, record player (since the 1940s), or, more recently, a turntable. Inquiries…
Today in History: First Ironman in Hawaii in 1978 On this day in 1978, the first "Ironman Triathlon" was held in Kailua-Konain, The world championship has been held annually since 1978 (with an additional race in 1982) and is preceded…
History Today: Premiere of "Madame Butterfly" It was not all smooth sailing for Giacomo Puccini's opera "Madame Butterfly" at its world premiere at La Scala in Milan, Italy in 1904. Quite the opposite, the opening was interrupted by its hostile…