1970 – AT&T Introduces A Phone With Video – Picturephone

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AT&T and The Bell Company Develop Modern Video Phone Calling WIth Picturephone

For nearly 20 years, hundreds of millions of people have been using Facetime, Skype, Zoom or similar services to make video calls or teleconference without ever thinking twice about the technology behind it.

The melding of video with a phone call was an astounding technological breakthrough. But, the initial use of video calls is older than you might realize.

This 1970 New Yorker Magazine ad shown above announces the introduction of American Telephone and Telegraph (AT&T) and the Bell System’s Picturephone. Continue reading →

100 Years Ago – How Did Houdini Die? A Legend Begins

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Didi Houdini Die From A Punch In The Stomach?

Doctor In New Book Tells A Different Story

Harry Houdini (l) with Senator Arthur Capper at Senate hearings on spiritualism February 26, 2926,  photo: National Photographic Company via LOC

If Harry Houdini is not still the world’s most famous magician, I’m not quite sure who is. David Copperfield? David Blaine? Penn and Teller?

To add to Houdini’s fame as an entertainer, he spent many year’s of his life debunking spiritualists and psychics. Houdini believed spiritualists were con artists and parasites preying upon the troubled and grief-stricken.

It is ironic that seances are now held every Halloween to try and communicate with Houdini on the anniversary of his death October 31, 1926.

Houdini And A Punch

The story of the event that reportedly led to Houdini’s death remain murky.

Before a performance at a vaudeville show in Montreal on Friday, October 22, magician and escape artist Harry Houdini was being visited by two students from McGill University in his dressing room at the Princess Theatre. Continue reading →

In The United States Idiots Can Vote – Except In These Three States

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What Is An Idiot And Why Can They Vote?

On November 3, 2026 idiots will flock to the polls to cast their votes. I am not talking about the legal defined term for idiot that three states prohibit from casting a ballot. No, I’m Just referring to people voting for politicians and policies advocating the destruction of the republic.

Since no one will admit to being an idiot, it would be wise to examine the word “idiot”.

In the 1948 film The Three Musketeers the Duke of Buckingham (John Sutton)  says to Queen Anne (Angela Lansbury) that her husband, King Louis XIII, is an “idiot.”

Was “idiot” really used to describe someone in 18th century France or was the screenwriter putting an anachronistic term in the film?

Revisiting the etymology of “idiot” it is possible that idiot may have been used in the 1700s. Continue reading →

Color Photos From Game 7 Of Cardinals 1964 World Series Victory

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Marvin E. Newman’s Color Photography Of Game 7 Of The 1964 World Series

Entrance to St. Louis’ Sportsman’s Park Game 7, 1964 World Series photo: Marvin E. Newman

Marvin E. Newman was a photographer who took thousands of baseball photographs, many for Sports Illustrated during the 1950s -1970s.

The 1964 World Series was the last World Series played at the iconic Sportsman’s Park. Although Cardinals owner August Busch Jr. of Budweiser brewery fame renamed the ballpark for himself in 1953, most St. Louis fans still called it Sportsman’s Park until the ballpark closed in 1966. Continue reading →

First Fan In Line For World Series Tickets 1928

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Waiting To Buy Tickets To The 1928 World Series

Want to Get Good Seats? Be First In Line

Brooklynite Has Food Supply To Wait All Night For World Series
New York: Photo shows Arthur Jones of 913 East 12th St., Brooklyn, N.Y. with a supply of sandwiches, all ready to spend the night outside the Yankee Stadium to wait for the World series to begin. Arthur is the first on line having found his position at nine A.M. the day before the series opens. credit International News, 10-3-1928

Living in New York if you wanted to experience the 1928 World Series live you had only two choices. Continue reading →

Classic Hollywood #198 – Flapper Star, Alice White

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The Many Loves & Affairs Of Alice White

A Pensive Alice White In “Show Girl” -1928

Once again we feature a forgotten movie star of the silent and early sound era – Alice White seen here in pensive mood in Show Girl (1928).

Born Alva White August 25, 1904 in Paterson, NJ, Alice was first in the employ of director Tom Forman as a script girl. Alice moved on to be an assistant  to director Josef Von Sternberg. Later she worked for Charlie Chaplin.  It was Chaplin Continue reading →

Al Kaline Connects For His 3,000th Career Hit

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Al Kaline Becomes The First A.L. Player In 49 Years To Get 3,000 Hits – 1974

Baltimore, MD,  Sept. 24 – KALINE GETS HIT NO. 3,000 — Al Kaline swings at the first pitch in the fourth inning and lashes a double to right field for the 3,000th hit of his major league career. The hit came off Baltimore pitcher Dave McNally and enabled Kaline to become the 12th player in major league history to reach the 3,000 hit plateau. He was the first American Leaguer to reach that mark since 1925. credit AP Wirephoto, September 29, 1974

In August 1974 Kaline told San Francisco Examiner sports editor Roger Williams of his goal. “If I get my 3,000 hits, I’ll definitely quit after this season.”

But what if he did not get to 3,000 he was asked. Continue reading →

The World’s Smallest Horse

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Woman Riding Shorty, The World’s Smallest Horse 1953

NOT FOR GROWNUPS
New York; – Pat Powell, an airline passenger service representative, tries to take a ride on “Shorty,” the world’s smallest horse, who is enroute from London to Atlanta, GA., where he will go on exhibition at a children’s playground. “Shorty” weighs 59 pounds and is just 30 inches long, although he is full grown. Credit: United Press 3/26/1953

Shorty, the two-year-old, fully ground stallion was 7 hands high (28 inches) and was purchased for $500.

Virginia Hyde & Thistle May 23, 1966 credit: Montreal Gazette

After Continue reading →

The Future “Gay” King of France 1894

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Louis Philippe Robert d’Orléans – In Line To Be King OF France

While paging through the New York Evening World of October 4, 1894 this portrait and blurb stood out. This is Louis Philippe Robert d’Orléans.

The fact that Louis (born 1869) is described as having a reputation as a “gay boy” does not translate today the same as it did in 1894.

The gay here refers to happy, merry or jovial, not a homosexual. Continue reading →