30 Day Challenge 3

OK, this will take a little digging on your part. Fun, ja? Research first thing in the morning?

Day 3
List five interesting facts about the year you were born.

I know BoomR, Suzanne and I share the same birth year, so I’ll try not to take all the cool ones. :-)

In 1959…

  1. Bonanza premiered on NBC. It was the first weekly television series broadcast completely in color.
  2. The average cost of a new home was $12, 400.
  3. Ben Hur won Best Picture at the Oscars.
  4. On 3 February, the music died.
  5. Dwight D. Eisenhower was president — the last US president to be born in the 19th century (1890). His vice president was Richard Nixon.

Interesting, I know. :P  Who says you don’t learn anything by reading  the Fink? OK, let’s get crackalackin’. Click here and have at it.

28 thoughts on “30 Day Challenge 3

  1. Meg's Mom

    OK, I’ll try…but not disclosing the year…just admittin’ that you and I are might close, girlie!

    1. Theodore Geisel wrote The Cat in the Hat as Dr. Seuss.
    2. American Bandstand went national with Dick Clark as host.
    3. Frozen Pizza was first introduced to the supermarket shelves.
    4. Velcro was patented.
    5. The average American production worker made $82.32 per week.

    Reply
  2. Country Mouse

    In 1965…..

    1. The Top Selling Movie was “The Sound of Music”.
    2. A movie ticket to that movie would have cost $1.01.
    3. Lyndon Johnson was sworn in to his own term as President.
    4. The Voting Rights Acts was signed into law.
    5. “I Dream of Jeannie” premieres.

    Reply
  3. Rae

    In 1986:

    1. The Phantom of the Opera (which ended up being the longest running Broadway show in history) opened in London.
    2. The first computer virus started to spread. It was called “Brain”.
    3. The U.S. (finally) approves the treaty to outlaw genocide.
    4. The Council on Competitiveness was founded (it’s not what you think… but it would be hilarious if it had nothing to do with politics).

    …and most important…ly….
    5. Mark Harmon was voted Sexiest Man of the Year. A fact that still remains true today.

    Reply
    1. Rat Fink Post author

      I liked Mark Harmon when he was on St. Elsewhere. That was probably around the time you were born…

      Reply
  4. PKPudlin

    OK, I’ll Bite.
    The year I was born:
    1. The average house price was $18,200.
    2. Elvis Presley entered the Army
    3. Bobby Fischer, age 14, won the American Chess Championship
    4. The number one bestseller was Dr. Zhivago
    5. The number one song on the day I was born was ‘Tequila’ by The Champs

    PK

    Reply
  5. Kay

    OK so now I HAVE to do research for your site!!
    So 1950 “twas a very good year”
    1. Cinderella was in the theaters – Is that why I have an aversion to anything Disney?
    2. Sunset Boulevard “I’m ready for my closeup Mr. De Mille ” – Is that why I adore that movie?
    3. Korean War started, the Chinese invaded Tibet [wow that has been a struggle for-ever], and development of the Hydrogen Bomb was ordered by Truman. – Is that why I am a pacifist?
    4. New York Yankees won the World Series. – Is that why I hate baseball?
    5. and …… good kids stuff – Peanuts cartoon was started and Saturday Morning children’s TV. – I still love kids stuff [as long as it is not Disney].

    So I am throwing out a question possibility – What were your favorite Sat. morning TV shows? [mine are a secret until you ask the question ;)]

    This is fun – Do I get a prize for being the oldest responder??????

    Reply
    1. Rat Fink Post author

      Ding ding! You win, BFF. But you don’t look a day over 49 and a half, and you act 21. And YOU DON’T HATE BASEBALL!!

      Reply
      1. Rat Fink Post author

        PS — my fave Saturday morning cartoon was anything Merrie Melodies: Daffy, especially. But I liked Bugs, Elmer, Yosemite Sam, Prissy, Foghorn Leghorn…all the good ones.

        Reply
          1. Rat Fink Post author

            No doll — Bugs, Daffy, et al are Warner Bros. cartoons. I can’t abide the Mickey, Minnie and Donald crowd. I’m still yer BFF! :-)

            Reply
  6. BoomR

    WAIT…1959? Surely you have me confused with someone else – I was born in 1969! [[ducking]] OK…OK… I’ll cop to it – 1959 was a WONDERFUL vintage year!! :-)

    Behold – I begin our sacred task on a somber note:

    1. 1959 is the year we lost famous actors/movie industry folks such as George Reeves (the original TV “Superman”), Cecil B. DeMille (famous movie producer-The 10 Commandments, et. al), Lou Costello (Abbot & Costello), Ethel Barrymore, Carl Switzer (Alfalfa-Our Gang), Errol Flynn (swash-buckling movie star of Captain Blood),

    2. 1959 is the year we lost some famous musicians: Billie Holiday, Frankie Valens, Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper (you cited these 3 as “the day the music died” I just realized!), jazz saxophonist Lester Young, Sidney Bechet (US jazz clarinetist. saxophonist, bandleader), Mario Lanza (opera singer)

    3. We lost other notables in 1959 as well: Frank Lloyd Wright (famous architect-Guggenheim Museum NY), Tim Mara (co-founder of NFL’s NY Giants). Hinsdale Smith, (developer of roll-down auto windows!), Gordon Armstrong (inventor of the baby incubator), John Foster Dulles, US Secretary of State (namesake for Washington Dulles Airport)

    Now on a more uplifting note….

    4. Born in 1959 were the following notable actors and musicians: Linda Blair (Exorcist), John McEnroe (tennis star), Clint Howard (child star & now mega-famous director), Sheena Easton, Randy Travis, Kevin Spacey (me likey!!), Danny Bonaduce (Partridge Family), Magic Johnson, Marie Osmond, “Wierd” Al Yankovic, Bryan Adams, Tracey Ullman, and Val Kilmer (me likey, too!!).. oh, yeah…and Ratfink, Suzanne, and MOI!! :-)

    5.Some random events: Sony introduces the first transistorized TV (before they had lots of vacuum tubes), Alaska & Hawaii are admitted to the US as states (Yes, Obama WAS born in the US :-) ), 2 engineers invented the micro-chip that lead to the founding of Intel, the Ford Falcon, and AMC Rambler hit the streets, and Tang drink mix hits the shelves!

    BONUS: Mattel introduces “Barbie” doll!!!!

    PS…**some** of you are not disclosing the year you were born – not fair!! :-)

    BoomR

    Reply
    1. Rat Fink Post author

      Barbie! And I remember Clint Howard in Gentle Ben. Did you ever watch that show?

      Reply
      1. BoomR

        Sure did! Oh, wait… you know what? I think I was confusing him with Ron Howard (with my remarks in the post above). But definitely still a child star :-)

        Reply
  7. Suzanne

    Hello! I was born in 1959 and am proud of it! Have the grey hairs to prove it! And now…

    1) The first known human with HIV died in the Congo.

    2) Etch A Sketch by was invented by Arthur Grandjean in France

    3) Cost of a gallon of Gas 25 cents

    4) A referendum in Switzerland turns down female suffrage

    5)Een beetje by Teddy Scholten (music by Dick Schallies, text by Willy van Hemert) wins Eurovision Song Contest 1959 for Netherlands

    There’s more. Like a girl named Suzanne, born in January, who isn’t famous but who knows, she’s still young!

    Reply
    1. Rat Fink Post author

      I’m right with you, fellow grayhair. :-) And I HATED Etch-a-Sketch; I could never get the hang of it — still can’t!

      Reply
  8. Kodye

    1987: Other happenings in the world, besides me being born (which is a big deal)

    1.) Wrestlemania III took place just outside Detroit in Pontiac, Michigan at the Pontiac Silverdome. An all time indoor attendance record was broken (93,173), that stood until the 2010 NBA All Star Game in Cowboys Stadium (108,713). The Main event saw Hulk Hogan defeat Andre The Giant.
    2.) The Simpsons premieres as part of the Tracy Ullman Show
    3.) A huge stock market crash took place. Black Monday.
    4.) One of the greatest movies of all time, The Brave Little Toaster, was released in theaters.
    5.) Michael Jordan won his first NBA Dunk Contest.

    Great year.

    Reply
    1. Rat Fink Post author

      Why did I know there’d be something about Wrestlemania in your answer? And truthfully, I totally forgot about the stock market crash in ’87. October is an evil month, apparently…

      Reply
  9. Bando

    1981…I was born during the Jerry Lewis telethon on Labor Day.

    1. There was an assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II (isn’t he “Blessed” now?). Also, there was an attempt on President Reagan’s life.
    2. Delorean cars began rolling off the assembly lines.
    3. MTV was launched.
    4. The first recognized cases of AIDS were diagnosed.

    And for Kodye —
    5. Ric Flair wins his first World Heavyweight Wrestling title.

    Reply
    1. Rat Fink Post author

      I remember #1 clearly — it was shortly afterward that the “Popemobile” was born.

      Reply
  10. Hannah

    I was born in 95…
    1. Microsoft releases Windows 95
    2.Toy Story is released
    3. 168 people including 8 Marshals were killed in the OK city bombing
    4.O.J. Simpson was acquitted
    5.The Ramones release their first album

    Reply
  11. Skylar

    1) The Endeavor safely returned from her maiden voyage.

    2) The first confirmation of the existence of exoplanets.

    3) Bill Clinton became president.

    4) The Mall of America was constructed.

    5) AT&T produced the video phone which sold for $1,499.

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Rat Fink Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.