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Author Archives: GilPress
Library of Congress Established
Today in 1800, The Library of Congress was established by an act of Congress, with an appropriation of $5,000, when President John Adams signed a bill providing for the transfer of the seat of government from Philadelphia to the new … Continue reading
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First U.S. Newspaper
Today in 1704, the first continuously-published newspaper in the United States, the Boston News-Letter, was published for the first time.
Posted in Censorship, News, This day in information
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The King’s Speech
Today in 1924, the first broadcast made by King George V was transmitted from the opening ceremony of the British Empire Exhibition. An estimated 10 million people heard the transmission and many events around the country were suspended so that … Continue reading
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First Showing of Vitascope
Today in 1896, the Vitascope was introduced to the public for the first time at Koster and Bial’s Music Hall in New York City.
Posted in Film, This day in information
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Whirlwind, the First Real-Time Computer
Today in 1951, MIT’s Whirlwind computer first came online.
The Day The News Died
Today in 1930, according to the BBC, listeners who tuned in to hear the news bulletin on Good Friday were informed: “There is no news.” Piano music followed.
Posted in News, Radio, This day in information
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Betamax Launched
Today in 1975, Sony announced the launch of the Betamax videocassette format in Japan. Sony’s corproate history explains the origins of the name: “‘Beta’ is the Japanese word used to describe the way signals were recorded onto the tape. From this … Continue reading
Posted in This day in information, Video
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First Showing of Films with Synchronized Sound
Today in 1923, Lee DeForest premiered 18 short films made in the Phonofilm system, which recorded synchronized sound directly onto film, at the Rivoli Theater in New York City.
Posted in Film, This day in information
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First Showing of Commercial Motion Pictures
Today in 1894, the first commercial exhibition of motion pictures in history was given in New York City, using ten Kinetoscopes.
Posted in Film, This day in information
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Ranking Innovations: Friction Matches
Today in 1827, English pharmacist John Walker sold the first friction matches, which he called “Friction Light,” from his pharmacy in Stockton on Tees.
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