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Star Wars, Empire State Building, and Batman: April 30-May 6 Week in History



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This week in history focuses on United States history in the early 1900s, with the spotlight shining on the Empire State Building, Batman, baseball, and more! And…May the 4th Be With You on Star Wars day!

April 30, 1952: Mr. Potato Head Advertised on Television

Hasbro released its Mr. Potato Head toy in 1952, and on April 30 of that year, Mr. Potato Head became the first toy advertised on television. It was also the first marketing campaign targeted directly at children. It revolutionized the industry; Hasbro sold over a million kits in the first year.

Initially, Mr. Potato Head toys were sold as a set of plastic accessories designed to be inserted into an actual potato. Changing safety regulations led Hasbro to provide a plastic potato body with the set in 1964 so the accessories no longer needed sharp ends.

May 1, 1926:Hall of Famer Satchel Paige Debuts

On May 1, 1926, pitcher Satchel Paige debuted for the Chattanooga White Sox of the Negro Southern League. He would pitch in the negro and international leagues until 1948 when he made his major league debut for the Cleveland Indians at age 42. He was the first African American to pitch in the major leagues, playing for both Cleveland and the St. Louis Browns until 1953. He continued pitching in minor and international leagues until 1965, when he signed a one-day contract to pitch for the Kansas City Athletics, after which he officially retired at age 59.

Paige was one of the most dominant pitchers to ever play the game, and his showmanship was well-known throughout baseball. He often had his infielders sit on the ground while he struck out the side. Team owners would rent him out to pitch for other teams to draw bigger crowds. Joe DiMaggio once said Paige was the greatest pitcher he ever faced.

May 1, 1931: Empire State Building Opens

empire state building, a week in history, history,

On May 1, 1931, the Empire State Building opened in midtown Manhattan. It stands 102 stories tall and was the world’s tallest building until 1970. Today, the Empire State Building is the 9th-tallest building in the U.S. and 54th-tallest in the world. The building with its Art Deco style is an international cultural icon and a symbol of New York City itself. Around four million tourists visit its observation decks every year; the building is featured in over 250 movies and television shows.

The Empire State Building is actually built on the site of the renowned Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, which was demolished to make room for the skyscraper. The project took just 18 months to complete, including the demolition of the Waldorf-Astoria. Up to 3,500 workers labored on the project every day; most were Irish and Italian immigrants. Local newspapers offered conflicting reports of anywhere from 14 to 42 workers dying during construction.
The spire on top of the Empire State Building was designed as a docking station for dirigibles, with ticketing offices and waiting rooms on the top floors. But updrafts, wind currents, and other nearby skyscrapers made using the building in this manner impractical and dangerous.

May 4, 1932: Al Capone Enters Prison

Al Capone, one of America’s most notorious criminals and leader of the mafia organization the Chicago Outfit, entered the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary on May 4, 1932. Capone made a vast fortune transporting and selling bootleg liquor during prohibition and was involved in countless violent crimes like the Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre. Despite this, when Capone was finally sent to prison it was for was tax evasion.
The Chicago Outfit continued on without Capone’s leadership but in a reduced capacity, as prohibition was repealed in 1933 and other mafia bosses learned from Capone’s mistakes and kept a lower profile.

May 6, 1937: Hindenburg Disaster

On May 6, 1937, the commercial zeppelin the Hindenburg, en route from Germany, caught fire over New Jersey and exploded, crashing into the ground and killing 35 people. Zeppelins closely resemble modern-day blimps, although their design and construction are very different. Zeppelins were one of the first successful commercial airships, flying passengers around the world starting in 1910. The Hindenburg was filled with hydrogen to provide it with lift, which is what exploded and caused the disaster. The public lost confidence in zeppelin travel after the Hindenburg crash. That, along with the looming threat of WWII, caused commercial zeppelins to disappear within two years of the disaster.

Batman First Appears

 a week in history, history, batman

In the May 1939 issue of Detective Comics, the iconic Batman made his first-ever appearance. A creation of comic writers Bob Kane and Bill Finger, Batman was an attempt to capitalize on the early success of Superman while expanding DC’s trove of characters. Batman was instantly popular and earned his own dedicated comic book series in 1940.

Since his creation, Batman has become one of the most recognized figures in modern American fiction. He played a prominent role in thirteen live-action movies, the first appearing in theaters in 1943. The Batman character featured in his own live-action and animated television series, along with countless print comics and video games.

Construction Begins on Panama Canal

 a week in history, history, panama canal

This week in 1904 the United States broke ground on the Panama Canal. Construction of the 51-mile-long canal took ten years and included a series of locks that raise and lower ships on their way across. It also involved damming the Chagres River to create Gatun Lake. Today, around 14,000 ships traverse it every year.

Several countries attempted to build a canal across Panama in the 1800s. France tried from 1881 to 1899 but struggled with fundraising problems and the death of roughly 200 workers every month due to the dangers found in the rainforest.

President Theodore Roosevelt then made it his mission to get the canal built. He first proposed leasing the land from Colombia. When Colombia refused, he backed Panamanian rebels wanting to break away from Colombia. He sent ships and soldiers to protect the rebels, helping establish Panama as an independent nation. Afterward, Roosevelt famously said: “I took the Canal Zone and let Congress debate; and while the debate goes on, the canal does also.”

Your obscure holidays of the week:

This week is Cinco de Mayo, which commemorates the defeat of French Imperialists in Mexico in 1862. Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico’s Independence Day, nor is it even a national holiday. It is primarily a celebration in the United States of Mexican-American culture.

Star Wars Day is May the Fourth, followed the next day by Revenge of the Fifth. Lumpy Rug Day has several interpretations: some view it as a chance for deeper spring cleaning, others use it to acknowledge everything metaphorically swept under the rug. Both Garden Meditation Day and Naked Gardening Day are this week, so get outside and enjoy the sunshine in your own way.

April 30: Bugs Bunny Day, Bubble (Boba) Tea Day, Honesty Day, Raisin Day, Jazz Day, Adopt a Shelter Pet Day, Mahjong Day, Hairstyle Appreciation Day

May 1: Hug Your Cat Day, Batman Day, Bubba Day, May Day, Global Love Day, Mother Goose Day, Hawaiian Lei Day, Purebred Dog Day, School Principals Day, Skyscraper Day, Stepmothers Day, Save the Rhino Day, Loyalty Day

May 2: Life Insurance Day, Robert’s Rules of Order Day, World Tuna Day, Foster Care Day, Baby Day, Brothers and Sisters Day

May 3: Garden Meditation Day, Lumpy Rug Day, Paranormal Day, Two Different Colored Shoes Day, Public Radio Day, Wild Koala Day, World Press Freedom Day, Bike to School Day

May 4: Respect for Chickens Day, Intergalactic Star Wars Day, Firefighters Day, Petite and Proud Day, World Giving Day, Day of Reason, Password Day, Candied Orange Peel Day, Renewal Day

May 5: Cinco de Mayo, Cartoonists Day, Revenge of the Fifth, Roller Derby Day, Tuba Day, Space Day, Hoagie Day, Oyster Day

May 6: Naked Gardening Day, No Homework Day, No Diet Day, Herb Day, Auctioneers Day, Fitness Day, Home Brew Day, Bombshell Day, Play Outside Day, Scrapbooking Day, Free Comics Day, Mariachi Day, Learn to Ride a Bike Day, Dog Doodle Day, Nurses Day, Tourist Appreciation Day, Kentucky Derby Day

What was happening in history April 23-April 29, 2023?


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