The Most Popular Toys Throughout the 20th Century

Children with Tamagotchi

The 20th century produced an array of iconic toys that captured the public’s imagination and, in some cases, continue to delight young people worldwide. The Slinky, originating in the 1940s, and the Rubik’s Cube, first sold in the United States in the early 1980s, have remained more or less the same since their invention, invoking a nostalgic simplicity. Other toys, such as LEGO and Barbie, have offered up countless iterations, weathering changing trends to endure in popularity and appeal. The legacy of these toys is in more than just their entertainment value — it’s in the way they reflected or even set cultural trends, interests, and technological advancements. Here are some of the most popular toys throughout the 20th century, many of which are still around today.

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The Slinky

In the early 1940s, United States industry was largely focused on producing goods for the war effort, and it was during this time that the Slinky was accidentally invented. Richard James, a mechanical engineer, stumbled on the idea in 1943 while working with tension springs for naval equipment at a Philadelphia shipyard. After accidentally knocking some of his prototypes off a shelf, James couldn’t help but notice the way one of them “walked” down a stack of books on his desk. He worked on this strange spring — which his wife named “Slinky” after seeing the word in the dictionary — over the next two years. By the end of 1945, James got an initial run of 400 Slinkys into a local department store. It wasn’t until he staged a live demonstration, however, that the product’s popularity picked up, and the toy sold out. Within the first 10 years, he sold 100 million. The Slinky has endured for decades, not only as a popular toy on its own, but also through licensing and its iconic jingle — the longest-running jingle in television advertising history.

LEGO

LEGO is known for its colorful modular plastic bricks, but when the company started in Denmark in 1932, it made wooden toys such as cars and yo-yos. Plastic toys didn’t come along until the late 1940s, when founder Ole Kirk Christiansen developed the forerunner of the buildable bricks we know today, known at the time as Automatic Binding Bricks. In 1958, the modern LEGO brick was patented, with an updated interlocking design that became its signature.

Through a deal with Samsonite, LEGO made its way to Canada and the U.S. in the early 1960s, but the iconic toy didn’t truly find its footing in North America until the early 1970s. The New York Times claimed the toy had been “ineptly marketed” since its stateside arrival, and the then-head of LEGO’s U.S. operations called the deal with Samsonite “a disaster.” In 1973, however, the company took over its own U.S. production and sales and, per the Times, sales “soared.” LEGO grew to be much more than a toy in the ensuing decades — it became an entertainment empire. Throughout it all, the company has stood by its name, which also happens to be its guiding principle: LEGO is an abbreviation of the Danish words “leg godt,” meaning “play well.”

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Barbie

When Mattel released the first Barbie doll on March 9, 1959, it was the first time that most children had seen a three-dimensional, adult-bodied doll — the norm at the time were baby dolls designed to be taken care of. Ruth Handler, the co-founder of Mattel and creator of Barbie, had a different idea. After watching her daughter Barbara, the toy’s namesake, play with paper dolls, Handler envisioned a doll that was a little bit older and could inspire more aspirational play: Young girls could see their future selves in the doll, instead of a child to nurture. Barbie’s initial launch at the New York Toy Fair faced some skepticism from other toy industry executives, but Handler’s instincts were right: Around 300,000 Barbies sold within the first year. As beloved as Barbie was, though, she also courted controversy. Early on, detractors were uncomfortable with the doll’s figure. Barbie was at times criticized for being too conventional; other times, too progressive. But the doll’s popularity endured as the company diversified her looks, skin tones, body types, and, of course, jobs: Throughout her lifetime, Barbie has explored more than 250 different careers. The cultural phenomenon continues to this day: Around 1 billion Barbie dolls have been sold, and in 2023, the first live-action movie based on Barbie became the year’s biggest release.

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G.I. Joe

Following Mattel’s major Barbie breakout, rival toy company Hasbro sought a similar success story. Barbie thrived by marketing primarily to young girls, and Hasbro aimed to fill a gap in the market with a toy made for boys. In the early 1960s, toy maker Stan Weston approached Hasbro with an idea for a military toy, but was turned down. One Hasbro executive, Don Levine, saw the toy’s potential, however, and workshopped the idea until the company approved. It wouldn’t be called a doll, though — Hasbro created the term “action figure” to market the new product, and even forbade anyone in the company from referring to it as a doll. Released in 1964, the original G.I. Joe line consisted of four 12-inch figures, one for each of the U.S. military branches: the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. The action figure took off, and within two years, G.I. Joe accounted for almost 66% of Hasbro’s overall profits. The franchise eventually created less military-centric characters, expanded to comic books and animated series, and embraced sci-fi, espionage, and team-based narratives that have carried the toy as a symbol of adventure and heroism across generations.

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Rubik's Cube

At first glance, a Rubik’s Cube appears simple, but the mathematically complex puzzle is anything but, and solving it is a problem that has captivated the public ever since the toy’s invention. Created by Hungarian architect and professor Ernő Rubik in 1974, the first "Magic Cube," as he called it, resulted from months of work assembling blocks of wood with rubber bands, glue, and paper. After painting the faces of the squares, Rubik started twisting the blocks around, and it took him weeks to get it back to its original state. One month later, he finally did. He patented the toy Rubik’s “Buvos Kocka,” or “Magic Cube,” and it first appeared in Hungarian toy shops in 1977. Within two years, 300,000 Hungarians had bought the puzzling cube. By 1980, an American toy company was on board, and international sales of the renamed Rubik’s Cube took off — 100 million were sold in three years. As quickly as the craze started, however, it seemed to fade. The New York Times reported in 1982 that it had “become passe,” replaced by “E.T. paraphernalia…[and] electronic video games.” But the toy has nonetheless endured, and to date, an estimated 350 million colorful cubes have been sold, making it one of the bestselling puzzles in history.

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Cabbage Patch Kids

Known for their one-of-a-kind features, unique names, and adoption certificates, Cabbage Patch Kids caused a full-on frenzy in the 1980s, leading to long lines at stores — and even riots. Although the dolls are known as the invention of Xavier Roberts, whose signature is on every doll, the origin story reportedly starts with a folk artist named Martha Nelson Thomas. In the late 1970s, Thomas was selling her handmade “doll babies” at craft fairs in Louisville, Kentucky. Roberts reportedly resold the doll babies at his own store for a while, but eventually remade and renamed them Cabbage Patch Kids. (Thomas eventually took Roberts to court over the copyright, but the pair settled in 1985.) In 1982, Roberts licensed his dolls to the Coleco toy company, and the following year, thanks to a robust advertising campaign, demand was much greater than supply , sparking angry mobs of disappointed parents that holiday season. Around 3 million Cabbage Patch Kids had been “adopted” by the end of 1983, and over the next two years, sales topped half a billion dollars. The doll’s popularity faded quickly after that, but Cabbage Patch Kids remain toy store fixtures to this day.

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Tamagotchi

In the early 1990s, video game consoles were household staples, and by the end of the decade, tech toys such as Tickle Me Elmo and Furbies caused consumer crazes. But one pocket-sized toy that combined the best of both worlds was a ’90s must-have: the virtual pet. The handheld pixelated companions required regular feeding and playing, imbuing users with responsibility and emotional attachment, and engaging them in a type of continual play that was relatively new at the time.

The most popular virtual pet was the Tamagotchi, created by Japanese toy company Bandai. It was released in the United States on May 1, 1997, six months after it was launched (and subsequently sold 5 million units) in Japan. After the first day of the toy’s U.S. release, some stores were already sold out. Within the year, there were several competing virtual pets: GigaPets and Digimon offered different pet options and more gameplay. The constant connectivity of the virtual pets led to school bans, and as the internet gained traction in the late ’90s and early 2000s, online versions such as Neopets all but replaced the Tamagotchi. Virtual pets had an undeniable influence on future trends in gaming and handheld electronic devices, and while the toy has gone through several iterations and relaunches over the years, the original Tamagotchi largely remains a nostalgic relic of the ’90s.

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5 Facts About the Golden Age of Advertising

Marlboro billboard ad

The 1960s and ’70s are considered a golden age in advertising, though the industry’s creative revolution arguably started in the 1950s, thanks in part to the rise of television unlocking new forms of storytelling. It was an era of bold ideas, increasingly large budgets, and even bigger personalities — a time when advertising was seen as a glamorous, if maybe unethical, profession populated by well-dressed men and women (but mostly men) profiting from the postwar consumer culture.

At the time, many of the nation's largest ad agencies were located on Madison Avenue in Manhattan, and the street came to be synonymous with American advertising and its unique methodology. Safire’s Political Dictionary, published in 1978, referred to “Madison Avenue techniques” as the “gimmicky, slick use of the communications media to play on emotions.” More recently, the culture surrounding this advertising boom has been portrayed in 2007’s acclaimed AMC series “Mad Men,” centered on the charismatic creative director Don Draper (played by Jon Hamm). Here are five fascinating facts about the golden age of advertising, and the real-life ad men and women of Madison Avenue.

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A “Small” Ad Changed the Way Americans Looked at Cars

In the 1960s, advertising underwent a transformation that became known as the Creative Revolution, shifting the industry’s focus from research and science to an approach that was creative and emotionally driven. For better or worse, this era of advertising owes a lot to the Volkswagen Beetle, and the visionary ad man Bill Bernbach. In 1959, at a time when Americans were buying cars out of Detroit and vehicles were getting bigger and flashier, Bernbach’s agency, Doyle Dane Bernbach (DDB), was contracted to promote the German-made Volkswagen Beetle in the United States. The problem was, Volkswagen’s strong link to Nazi Germany made it a tough sell in the U.S. The challenge called for an unconventional approach. Rather than attempting to duplicate the busy, colorful advertising style of American-made cars, the creative team behind Volkswagen’s campaign went in the opposite direction. The first ad, “Think Small,” featured a small black-and-white image of a Volkswagen Beetle against a backdrop of white space. The now-iconic ad encouraged consumers to look at the car in a new light, from being able to “squeeze into a small parking spot” to having small insurance payments and small repair bills.

An Englishman Was the Wizard of Madison Avenue

The 1960s ushered in a new era of creativity in advertising, delivering advertisements that were brash and irreverent but also respectful of the consumer and entertaining to read. Ironically, one of the biggest players in American advertising was British ad man David Ogilvy, founder of the New York City-based advertising giant Ogilvy & Mather and known today as the “father of advertising.” Ogilvy believed in the importance of creating “story appeal” through the use of unique, unexpected elements or “hooks,” such as the eye patch worn by “The Man in the Hathaway Shirt” ads. “Every advertisement is part of the long-term investment in the personality of the brand,” Ogilvy said, and it was a philosophy that Madison Avenue took to heart. Ogilvy’s portfolio included the first national advertising campaign for Sears, the quirky Commander Whitehead ads promoting Schweppes Quinine Water, and the beautiful tourism ads that helped revitalize the image of Puerto Rico. In 1962, Ogilvy’s creative and innovative vision led TIME magazine to call him “The most sought-after wizard in today’s advertising industry.”

The Three-Martini Lunch May Be a Myth

The “three-martini lunch” — the typically all-male leisurely power lunches where ideas were sparked and deals were made over a few rounds of cocktails — is the stuff of legend today, and an iconic image of the culture surrounding Madison Avenue. And indeed, during the heydey of advertising’s golden age, drinking at lunch was not only acceptable, but expected. According to ad exec Jerry Della Femina, “The bartender would be shaking the martinis as we walked in.” It was accepted that drinking fueled the creative process; David Ogilvy’s advice for tapping into the creativity of the unconscious included “going for a long walk, or taking a hot bath, or drinking half a pint of claret.” Regardless of whether the real ad exes of Madison Avenue were regularly imbibing as much alcohol as Don Draper and his pals on “Mad Men,” there’s one indisputable fact about the so-called three-martini lunch: It was a deductible business expense that symbolized success as much as excess.

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Real Cowboys Were Used to Sell Cigarettes

The Leo Burnett Company was one of the few major advertising agencies not based in Manhattan, but the Chicago agency was responsible for a number of well-known campaigns, including the Pillsbury Doughboy, Tony the Tiger, and one of the most successful campaigns in advertising history, the Marlboro Man. Smokers and non-smokers alike know the iconic cowboy character, who was developed by Burnett in the mid-1950s to rebrand the “mild” feminine cigarette. The ads were a hit and, in the mid-1960s, the team at Burnett went even further in promoting the brand by using real cowboys on a Texas ranch. When tobacco advertising was banned from television and radio in the early 1970s, the Marlboro cowboys still found success in print, making Marlboro the top-selling brand worldwide in 1972.

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The ’60s Saw the First Female CEO of a Major Ad Agency

Throughout the 1950s and ’60s, college-educated women recruited to work on Madison Avenue were more likely to be found sitting behind a typewriter than in the boardroom. In a booklet published in 1963 by the J. Walter Thompson agency (JWT), young women were encouraged to hone their typing and shorthand skills so they could become the “right hand to a busy executive” or “secretary to one of the senior analysts.” But in 1966, Mary Wells Lawrence, the founding president of Wells Rich Greene, became the first woman to found, own, and run a major advertising agency. Two years later, she became the first woman CEO of a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Some of her agency’s most notable campaigns include Alka-Seltzer’s “Plop, Plop, Fizz, Fizz,” Ford’s “Quality Is Job One,” and the “I ❤ New York” tourism campaign.

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5 Secret Societies You’ve Never Heard Of

Candles making one flame

We all know of the Freemasons and the ever-mysterious Illuminati, but throughout history, plenty of other secret societies have flourished under the radar. The western U.S. is home to a long-running, low-key historical society with a unique and eccentric ethos, while northern Spain’s historic food culture has been kept alive through selective supper clubs for more than a century. Though their stories don’t often get told, these clandestine groups have nonetheless left their own obscure marks. Read on to learn about five little-known secret societies.

Order of the Occult Hand

Secret societies typically conjure a dark air of mystery, but the Order of the Occult Hand illustrates the fun side of underground organizations. Its origins can be traced to 1965, when Joseph Flanders, a crime reporter for the Charlotte News, wrote an article about the shooting of a local millworker. “It was as if an occult hand had reached down from above and moved the players like pawns upon some giant chessboard,” Flanders wrote. His colleagues, the legend goes, found the flowery description so funny, they formed the Order of the Occult Hand, a secret society dedicated to sneaking “it was as if an occult hand,” or a similar phrase, into their work.

The mission quickly spread among journalism circles in Charlotte and beyond. By the early 1970s, the mischievous media conspiracy was becoming so prevalent that the Boston Herald reportedly banned “occult hand” from the paper. Over the years, the phrase continued to show up in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the Los Angeles Times. In 2004, writer James Janega published a thorough exposé of the Order in the Chicago Tribune, and in 2006, journalist Paul Greenberg, a long-running member of the society, copped to creating a new secret phrase that went into circulation, even as the “occult hand” keeps going.

The Oculist Order

In 2011, a team of researchers cracked the code of a centuries-old manuscript belonging to a secret society known as the Oculists. The text, known as the Copiale Cipher and believed to date back to between about 1760 and 1780, was discovered in former East Germany following the Cold War. Once the confusing use of Roman and Greek characters, arrows and shapes, and mathematical symbols was deciphered, a ritual manual for an 18th-century German group with a keen interest in eyesight was revealed.

The cipher detailed the Oculists’ initiation ceremonies, oaths, and “surgeries,” which seemed to consist of plucking hairs from eyebrows with tweezers — a nonsurgical procedure, of course, but described by the manuscript as symbolic actions. Another passage described a tobacco ceremony in which the hand pointedly touches the eye; another still told of a candidate kneeling in a candlelit room in front of a man wearing an amulet with a blue eye in the center. Research has suggested that the group’s focus on the eye was simply due to the fact that eyes are part of the symbology of secret societies — the Oculists did not appear to be optometrists, and their ultimate purpose remains a mystery.

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Kañoyetan

Northern Spain’s Basque Country is home to a handful of “txokos” — food-centric secret societies that started as a way to save money on food and drink when dining out of the home. These gastronomic societies function as exclusive clubs; members, often chosen after being waitlisted for years, have access to a fully stocked kitchen and pantry, where they cook for themselves or each other, using the honor system to pay for items needed or used. While it sounds similar to a modern dinner party, many of the txokos have been around for decades, and are still going strong.

Kañoyetan, reportedly the oldest society in the region (founded in 1900), counts renowned local chef Martin Berasategui — a 12-time Michelin star recipient — among its members. Until recently, txokos operated as secret societies only for men; the club claimed to be a place for men to socialize and cook outside of the home, where, according to the BBC, “their wives traditionally called the shots.” Wine and cider are always on hand; these days the dinners can start late in the evening, and have been known to stretch on until the early morning hours.

E Clampus Vitus

The mysterious society known as E Clampus Vitus originated in West Virginia sometime around the mid-1840s. By the early 1850s, the “Clampers,” like many people during the gold rush era, made their way west to California. Many of the fraternal club’s rituals were adopted as a reaction to the formalities of other organizations at the time, such as the Odd Fellows and Freemasons. Clampers, who were primarily miners, wore eccentric clothing and accessories, conducted lighthearted rituals, and adopted the slogan “Credo Quia Absurdum,” or, roughly translated, “I believe because it is absurd.”

The Clampers’ clubs waned around the turn of the 20th century, and by the 1920s, the society was all but defunct. But in the 1930s, the Clampers reestablished themselves with a new objective: to chronicle some of the most obscure details of the history of the American West. In California alone, more than 1,400 historical markers have been installed to commemorate moments in the state’s history that might otherwise go overlooked, including the birthplace of the martini, filming locations, and the “world’s largest blossoming plant.”

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The Divine Brotherhood of Pythagoras

The name Pythagoras likely brings back memories of high school geometry, but the ancient Greek philosopher and mathematician was also the head of a mysterious society. The Divine Brotherhood of Pythagoras was formed in the sixth century BCE. The community may have been based on the study of mathematics, but it operated more like a secret society — or, as some might say, a cult. It’s believed they lived together communally, surrendered their personal possessions, were vegetarians who purportedly did not eat beans because it was believed beans had souls, and followed several strict rituals.

The Pythagoreans’ motto was “all is number,” and their aim was to be pure of mind and soul. Their focus on mathematics and science was a way to achieve purity — as was avoiding wearing woolen clothing, and never stirring a fire with a knife, as laid out in Pythagoras’ rules. The group ultimately had many mathematical achievements, but their selective and rigid way of life contributed to a lingering sense of mystery around the community.

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5 Indigenous Leaders You Should Know

Sacajawea in rocky mountains

November is National American Indian Heritage Month, and provides the perfect opportunity to recognize the contributions made by America’s Indigenous people. The official designation was signed into law by George H.W. Bush in 1990, but the first steps were taken as early as 1916, when American Indian Day was declared in New York. Sixty years later, Gerald Ford commemorated the nation’s bicentennial by proclaiming the second week in October 1976 as Native American Awareness Week, which set the stage for a month rich in history and reflection. To commemorate this important part of America’s heritage, here’s a look at five notable Indigenous heroes and leaders who shaped the nation through their tireless efforts.

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Geronimo (1829-1909)

A medicine man and leader of the Bedonkohe band of the Chiricahua Apache, Geronimo was born on the Gila River in New Mexico, where he was originally given the name Goyahkla, meaning “the one who yawns.” After the United States government forcibly relocated 4,000 Apaches to a reservation in San Carlos, Arizona, Geronimo led dozens of breakouts in an effort to return his community to their nomadic roots. Geronimo’s legacy is vast. His relationship with many American and Mexican civilians was complex, as he fought against colonialism but was made famous after appearing in Buffalo Bill’s “Wild West” sideshow and eventually in Theodore Roosevelt’s election parade. Geronimo’s tireless fight for Apache independence cemented him as a fearless crusader for freedom by the time of his death from pneumonia in 1909.

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Sitting Bull (c. 1831-1890)

The son of a warrior, Sitting Bull was born in what is now South Dakota and was nicknamed “Slow” for his lack of fighting ability — that is, until he was branded Tatanka Yotanka (“Sitting Bull”) at age 14 after “counting coup” in a battle against the Crow Tribe. (“Counting coup” is a way to humiliate an enemy by riding close enough to touch them with a stick.) Sitting Bull eventually rose to become chief of the Hunkpapa Sioux, and fought tirelessly against the U.S. military, who sought to seize Indigenous land.

After fleeing to Canada to escape a vengeful army in the wake of the defeat of General George Armstrong Custer (and his 210 troops) in 1876 at the Battle of Little Bighorn, Sitting Bull returned to the U.S. in 1881 and was held prisoner at Standing Rock Reservation on Dakota Territory. His impact, however, could not be contained: After an Indigenous mystic claimed in 1889 that a ghost dance would eliminate the threat of white settlers on Native land, Sitting Bull allowed his followers to practice the dance — much to the horror of federal officials, who feared another uprising. Sitting Bull was killed by gunfire upon his arrest in 1890, and is remembered as a martyr for freedom.

Crazy Horse (c. 1840-1877)

Born near the Black Hills of South Dakota, Lakota Chief Crazy Horse was the son of a warrior with the same name, and at a young age he began showcasing his capacity for battle and bravery. Having helped lead the Sioux resistance against the U.S. military’s attempts to colonize the Great Plains throughout the 1860s and ’70s, Crazy Horse led a band of Lakota warriors against General Custer's 7th Cavalry Regiment during the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876 (alongside Sitting Bull) before returning to the Northern Plains. Unfortunately, Crazy Horse and his community faced an unwavering enemy; forced to keep moving — and fighting — to evade federal resettlement, the chief and his 1,100 followers ultimately surrendered to the U.S. military at Fort Robinson in May 1877. There, in the wake of his arrest (and under the banner of truce), Crazy Horse was stabbed during a scuffle with U.S. soldiers and died of his injuries. He is remembered for his courage, leadership, and his endless perseverance against the colonizing forces.

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Sacagawea (c. 1788-1812 or 1884)

Sacagawea was only around 16 years old when she carved her place in Native American history through her ability to communicate with different peoples. Kidnapped by the Hidatsa (Indigenous people of North Dakota) at age 12, Sacagawea was then claimed by French Canadian trader Toussaint Charbonneau as one of his wives at age 13. Despite this treatment, upon the arrival of explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to Hidatsa territory in 1804, the young woman proved herself invaluable. Chosen by her husband to serve as interpreter as he and the explorers moved west, she rescued records and supplies from the river when the crew’s boat tipped and took on water, helped acquire horses from her brother when the expedition passed through Idaho, and saved her counterparts from starvation as they faced food shortages. Most importantly, her role as translator helped assure safety for both her own team and the Indigenous communities they crossed paths with. Her knowledge and wherewithal earned her momentous respect from the 45 white men who relied on her, and ultimately made the expedition a success.
Her date of death remains a mystery. Following the expedition, Sacagawea and Charbonneau worked for the Missouri Fur Company in St. Louis in 1810, and it was believed that Sacagawea succumbed to typhus in 1812. However, some Native American oral histories claim that she lived until 1884 on the Shoshone lands where she was born.

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Wilma Mankiller (1945-2010)

For 10 years, Wilma Mankiller served as the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, the first woman to do so. Born on the territory in 1945, Mankiller and her family were moved to a housing project in California in the 1950s, where they endured culture shock, racism, and the effects of poverty, which shaped the future chief’s ethos. Mankiller returned to Cherokee territory in 1977, where she founded the Community Development Department for the Cherokee Nation, and advocated endlessly for improved education, health care, and housing services.

For these efforts, then-Principal Chief Ross Swimmer asked her to run as his deputy in 1983. Two years later, Swimmer stepped down to lead the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Mankiller became principal chief, serving until 1995. She was celebrated for lowering infant mortality rates, boosting education, and working to ensure financial and social equality. Mankiller was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1993, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1998, and continued to advocate for women’s rights and Indigenous rights until her death in 2010 at age 64.

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The Most Popular Baby Names Throughout the 20th Century

Baby names list

Depending on where you lived and when you grew up, it’s possible you might have known more than one person with the same name. Maybe there was a Jennifer A. and a Jennifer L., or maybe you knew four different people named Michael. Year after year, decade after decade, there are trends in baby names that draw on history, religion, and cultural references. Here are the most popular baby names in the United States during each decade of the 20th century.

1900s

Between 1900 and 1909, the most popular name for boys in the U.S. was John, and the most popular girls’ name, by a long shot, was Mary. This is according to data from the U.S. Social Security Administration, based on people applying for Social Security cards. There were 84,591 applications under the name John, and 161,504 entries for Mary. These two names popped up time and time again throughout the 20th century. Both names come from the Bible — John is one of Jesus’ disciples, and Mary is the name of both Jesus’ mother and Mary Magdalene. After John, the most popular boys’ names of this decade were William, James, George, and Charles, and the most popular girls’ names after Mary were Helen, Margaret, Anna, and Ruth.

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1910s

Between 1910 and 1919, the most popular names were once again John and Mary. In this decade, there were 376,312 registered Johns and 478,637 Marys. Why the sudden jump? For one, the Social Security Administration began collecting data in 1937, so anyone born before that was only counted if they applied for a Social Security card after 1937. (That means the data for the 1900s, 1910s, and 1920s is based on people who listed their birthdays in these decades despite obtaining cards later in life, and doesn’t count anyone born in this period that didn’t apply for a Social Security card.) The U.S. also saw a population spike as infant mortality rates decreased throughout the 20th century, thanks to advances in health care and better access to clean water.

In the 1910s, for the second decade in a row, the second most popular names for boys and girls were William and Helen, respectively, followed by James, Robert, and Joseph for boys, and Dorothy, Margaret, and Ruth for girls. William has long been a popular English name dating back to William the Conqueror, who became the first Norman king of England in the 11th century. Helen, meanwhile, has its origins in Greek mythology: Helen of Troy was a famous beauty, known as the “face that launched a thousand ships.”

1920s

Between 1920 and 1929, John finally fell out of the top spot, as the most popular name for boys was Robert, with 576,373 entries. Robert, like William, dates back to English royalty and translates to “bright with fame” or “shining.” Mary stayed strong for girls, with 701,755 registered applications. The 1920s saw continued population increases both in the U.S. and worldwide. This is sometimes credited to a baby boom that occurred after World War I and the Spanish influenza, but is largely due, as in the previous decade, to better health care.

1930s

Between 1930 and 1939, Robert and Mary stayed at the top of the list, with 590,787 Roberts and 572,987 Marys. Though there were more Roberts born this decade than in the previous one, there was a decline in the birth rate overall due to the strain that the Great Depression placed on families. (The overall population was still higher in 1940 than in 1930, at roughly 132 million versus 123 million people.) A few new interesting names entered the runner-up positions in the 1930s. In female names, Betty and Barbara grew in popularity. Betty is a nickname for Elizabeth, a versatile name with Hebrew origins that is also found in English royalty (namely, Queen Elizabeth I). Barbara, like Helen, comes from Greek, and is also the name of St. Barbara, the patron saint of armorers, miners, and artillerymen. For boys’ names, the runners-up after Robert were James, John, William, and Richard.

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1940s

Between 1940 and 1949, the name Robert fell to the second spot after James, which had 795,753 entries. Mary remained the most popular name for girls at 640,066 entries. The name James derives from Hebrew, and, like John, stems from a number of uses in the Bible. Like many other popular names, James is also found in the English monarchy, as well as the Scottish monarchy. Though it’s fallen out of the top slots in recent years in the United States, James remains one of the most popular baby names in Scotland. The next most popular boys’ names in the 1940s were Robert, John, William, and Richard; for girls, the list included Linda, Barbara, Patricia, and Carol. Interestingly, while Linda was never the most popular name in any given year, it is the most popular American baby name of all time, translating to “beautiful” in Spanish and Portuguese. Patricia, on the other hand, had been popular in England long before its time in the states, as it was the name of Queen Victoria’s granddaughter.

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1950s

Between 1950 and 1959, the names James and Mary remained at the top of the list with 843,711 and 625,601 entries, respectively. Not far behind James, however, was a new popular name: Michael. Michael, like James, stems from the Hebrew Bible, and variations of the name exist across a number of languages, such as Miguel in Spanish and Micha in German. After James and Michael, Robert, John, and David topped the list for boys’ names, while Linda, Patricia, Susan, and Deborah followed Mary for the most popular girls’ names.

1960s

Between 1960 and 1969, everything changed, as is fitting for this revolutionary decade. Both James and Mary were unseated from the No. 1 slot: Michael became the most popular name for boys at 833,102 entries, and Lisa for girls at 496,975 entries. In fact, there were almost 150,000 more Lisas than Marys in the 1960s. The name is another variation on the popular moniker Elizabeth, and even Elvis Presley picked it for his daughter, Lisa Marie, who was born in 1968. While not much else changed in boys’ names this decade, popular girls’ names saw the addition of newcomers Susan, Karen, and Kimberly.

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1970s

Between 1970 and 1979, Michael remained the most popular name for boys, topping out the decade with 707,458 entries, while Jennifer unseated the short-lived reign of Lisa with 581,753 entries. There were more new names that cropped up in the second and third slots, however, including Christopher and Jason for boys. The name Jennifer, meanwhile, grew so popular, it became known as the “standard” name for a baby girl. The initial spike in Jennifers started 50 years prior with the appearance of the name in a George Bernard Shaw play called The Doctor’s Dilemma. After Jennifer, the most popular ’70s girls’ names were Amy, Melissa, Michelle, and Kimberly.

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1980s

Between 1980 and 1989, Michael retained its title as the most popular name for boys, with 663,827 entries, while Jessica just barely unseated Jennifer as the most popular name for girls — there were 469,518 Jessicas versus 440,896 Jennifers. Jessica stems from the Hebrew Bible, where its original spelling was “Jeska”; the common spelling in English comes from William Shakespeare’s play The Merchant of Venice. The top five boys’ names in the 1980s were Michael, Christopher, Matthew, Joshua, and David, and the top five for girls were Jessica, Jennifer, Amanda, Ashley, and Sarah.

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1990s

Between 1990 and 1999, Michael and Jessica stayed the most popular names for each gender, with 462,390 Michaels and 303,118 Jessicas. Still, there were fewer entries for both than in the previous decade, in part because a handful of newer, trendy names cropped up as well, such as Matthew, Justin, and Andrew for boys and Ashley and Tiffany for girls. Andrew, like James, is a popular name with links to Scotland, while Matthew goes back to the Bible. Ashley and Tiffany, meanwhile, reflect the trend of girls’ names ending in “y” — names such as Brittany, Courtney, Emily, and Kelsey took off in the beginning of the 21st century.

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Famous Words From Major Moments in History

Ronald Reagan at Berlin Wall

Some of the most profound moments in history can be encapsulated in a single, memorable quote. These succinct phrases, often pulled from longer speeches or events, distill complex ideas into digestible gems. At their best, they act as verbal snapshots, capturing the essence of historical moments with an emotional urgency that lingers and lets them resonate across generations. Martin Luther King Jr.’s rallying cry of “I have a dream” is easily one of the most famous such lines in history. Similarly, Neil Armstrong’s “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” immortalizes a peak moment in humanity; the astronaut’s muffled voice as he spoke to the public on Earth from the moon is unforgettable.

These sound bites have become cultural shorthand for momentous events and the ideals they captured, and their historical weight will keep them in the cultural consciousness for years to come.

“I Have a Dream” (1963)

At the heart of Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous 1963 speech were four simple words: “I have a dream.” On August 28, from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and against a backdrop of racial segregation and discrimination in the United States, King energized the crowd — and the world — with his dream of a better life for his family and all African Americans. “I have a dream,” King said, “that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” He employed the phrase again, several times, to great effect, throughout the speech. “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character,” he said. “I have a dream today.” The urgent, eloquent delivery laid bare the need for change; “I have a dream” became a rallying cry for the civil rights movement, and remains not a relic of history, but a living aspiration to this day.

King’s speech was televised by major broadcasters to a large live audience. At the time, he was a nationally known figure, but this was the first time many Americans — including, reportedly, President John F. Kennedy — had ever seen him deliver a full address. Less than a year later, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the following year saw the Voting Rights Act of 1965 come into law. These pieces of legislation were the biggest civil rights advancements since the end of the Civil War.

“That’s One Small Step for Man” (1969)

On July 20, 1969, the first human walked on the moon. As astronaut Neil Armstrong climbed down the ladder of Apollo 11’s lunar module and onto the moon’s surface, he encapsulated the profound moment with these words: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” He spoke through a muddled transmission to Earth, as some 650 million people watched on in awe.

Armstrong later told his biographer that, while he had thought ahead about what to say, it wasn’t too rehearsed. “What can you say when you step off of something?” he told biographer James R. Hansen. “Well, something about a step. It just sort of evolved during the period that I was doing the procedures of the practice takeoff and… all the other activities that were on our flight schedule at that time.” Although the quote has endured, Armstrong himself says it has been misquoted all along, and that he actually said, or at least meant to say, “one small step for a man.” (After many years and multiple attempts to clean up the audio quality, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum has concluded that the original quote is accurate.)

“Ask Not What Your Country Can Do for You” (1961)

President John F. Kennedy assumed office during a tumultuous time in America’s history. But right from his inaugural address, he conveyed a spirit of hope and idealism in a resonant quote that went on to define his presidency. “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country,” he famously said.

JFK’s inauguration, the first to be broadcast in color, was watched by some 38 million people. The speech, although credited principally to Kennedy, was also written by Kennedy’s longtime aide (and later, principal speechwriter) Ted Sorensen. Kennedy wanted a speech that would “set a tone for the era about to begin,” and he got just that. America was on the precipice of great social change, and the inaugural address encapsulated the country’s need for unity and the civic engagement the moment would call for.

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“Do You Believe in Miracles?” (1980)

One of the most iconic moments in sports history happened during the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. In the last few minutes of the men’s ice hockey medal round match between the United States and Soviet Union, the U.S. was, improbably, ahead by one goal. The Soviets were seasoned players known for their dominance in international hockey; they placed in the top three in every world championship and Olympic tournament they had played since 1954. The U.S. team, by comparison, was made up primarily of young college players who averaged 21 years old, making them the youngest players of any American Olympic hockey team in history.

No one expected a U.S. victory. A New York Times columnist even wrote that “unless the ice melts,” the USSR would once again be victorious. As the clock counted down, with just five seconds left and the U.S. still up by one, ABC sportscaster Al Michaels remarked, “Do you believe in miracles?” before letting out an elated “Yes!” as the clock ran out and the U.S. won 4-3. The victory was soon dubbed the “Miracle on Ice.” Two days later, the U.S. went on to clinch the gold medal after defeating Finland. A TV documentary about the road to gold used Michaels’ quote for its title, and in 2016, Sports Illustrated called the victory the “greatest moment in sporting history,” proving that a good underdog story can be better than fiction.

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“Tear Down This Wall” (1987)

On June 12, 1987, during a ceremony at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate for the city’s 750th anniversary, U.S. President Ronald Reagan delivered the now-famous line, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.” The Berlin Wall, which had divided East and West Berlin since 1961, was more than just an imposing physical barrier; it symbolized the ideological divide between communism and democracy across Europe during the Cold War.

Reagan’s speech became a defining moment in his presidency — eventually. Although reactions were mixed at the time, the address gained favorable traction when the Berlin Wall finally fell two years later, on November 9, 1989. The line now stands as a pivotal moment in history, capturing an era of tense political dynamics — and, of course, solidifying Reagan’s legacy as “the great communicator.” The fall of the Berlin Wall was a historical turning point, signaling victory for democracy and peace. Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev even won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 for his role in putting the Cold War to an end.

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6 Items You Would Find in a Kitchen 100 Years Ago

Woman using hand mixer

Over the past century, the typical home kitchen has undergone a significant transformation, reflecting both social changes and new technology. In the 1920s and ’30s, kitchens were primarily utilitarian spaces with a focus on functionality and easy-to-clean surfaces. Appliances were limited, hand mixers had cranks, and gas ovens, which had replaced wood or coal-burning stoves in most homes, were starting to themselves be replaced by electric ovens.

The post-World War II consumerism of the late 1940s and 1950s brought bigger kitchens for entertaining and more labor-saving appliances, including blenders, mixers, and dishwashers. The kitchen space became more streamlined and functional, and the 1960s and 1970s brought countertop food processors and microwave ovens into the mainstream.

Open-plan kitchens and islands became increasingly popular in home design throughout the 1980s and ’90s, indicative of the kitchen’s role as a hub for family and friends to gather. That trend continued into the 21st century, along with a significant shift toward high-tech kitchens, smart appliances, and a focus on sustainability. Today’s kitchens — reflecting the changing ways we prepare, store, and consume food — look dramatically different than they did a century ago, making many once-popular items obsolete. Here are six things that your grandparents and great-grandparents might have had in their own home kitchens a century ago.

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An Icebox

Before the widespread availability of electric refrigerators, iceboxes were used to keep perishable food cool. These wooden or metal boxes had a compartment for ice at the top, and fresh ice was delivered each week by an iceman. The design of the icebox allowed cold air to circulate around the stored items, while a drip pan collected the water as the ice melted. Naturally, iceboxes fell out of fashion as electric fridges went mainstream. In 1927, General Electric introduced the first affordable electric refrigeration, which relied on a refrigerant for cooling rather than ice.

A Butter Churn

Before commercial butter production made it possible to buy butter at the market, churning cream into butter was an activity done at home. The hand-crank butter churn was introduced in the mid-19th century, and it became the most commonly used household butter churn until the 1940s. In the early 20th century, the Dazey Churn & Manufacturing Company began producing glass churns that could make smaller quantities of butter much quicker than the larger, time-intensive churns. Once the butter was churned, it could then be poured or pressed into decorative molds for serving.

A Hoosier Cabinet

A Hoosier is a freestanding, self-contained kitchen cabinet that was popular in the early 1900s, named after the Hoosier Manufacturing Company that made it. Also known as a “Kitchen Piano” due to its shape, this kitchen necessity offered homemakers ample storage space and an additional work surface. Hoosier cabinets had numerous drawers and shelves for storing cookware and utensils, as well as features such as a flour bin with a built-in sifter, a sugar bin, a spice and condiment rack, a bread bin, a pull-out cutting board, and a cookbook holder. The all-in-one cabinet fell out of favor as kitchen designs began to incorporate built-in cabinets and islands for additional storage and counter space, but they’re still sometimes used for decorative storage.

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A Manual Hand Mixer

While the iconic KitchenAid stand mixer was patented more than 100 years ago in 1919, electric hand mixers weren’t commercially available until the 1960s. Before then, beating eggs or mixing other ingredients was done by hand, often with a manual hand mixer (also called a rotary egg beater). First developed in the 1850s, hand mixers had two beaters that rotated when you turned a crank. Though the style and mechanisms evolved over the years, manual hand mixers were still widely used in the 1920s, when only two-thirds of American households had electricity.

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A Wall-Mounted Coffee Grinder

Even though ground coffee was available in bags and cans in the 1920s, and instant coffee was gaining popularity, household coffee grinders, such as a wall-mounted coffee grinder (or mill), were still a common kitchen appliance. According to a 1918 New-York Tribune article on the art of making perfect coffee, “The real coffee lover will always have a mill in the kitchen.” The wall-mounted, hand-crank style had a glass container that could hold a pound of coffee beans, and a container with tablespoon markings to catch the ground coffee.

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A Recipe Card Box

There was a time when treasured family recipes were written on 3-by-5-inch index cards and stored in a box on the kitchen counter. Before the 1920s, most recipes were passed on by example — young women would learn how to make their grandmother’s pot roast by helping her in the kitchen. As such, handwritten recipes were generally a list of ingredients, often without quantity, and vague directions. As kitchen science developed, magazines began advertising recipe subscriptions delivered as preprinted, perforated cards. Women also started writing their own recipes on blank cards to collect and exchange, and the recipe box proved to be a more decorative and lasting storage solution than a shoebox. Like many vintage kitchen items, this nostalgic throwback still has novelty appeal, but the recipe box has largely been replaced by digital recipes stored on apps and websites.

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Why Do We Give Flowers as Gifts? A Brief History

Flower bouquet box

Flowers have been collected and shared since ancient times, appreciated for their beauty, scent, and practical uses. The long tradition of giving flowers for special occasions has evolved over the centuries, but it’s still an enduring ritual that spans all cultures. From congratulations on the birth of a baby to condolences on the loss of a loved one, sending flowers continues to be one of the most popular ways to mark the momentous events of life. It’s so popular, in fact, that the worldwide cut flowers market was over $36 billion in 2022, and is projected to go over $45 billion by 2027. Valentine’s Day continues to be the biggest flower-giving day of the year, but it is far from the only special occasion marked by this ancient ritual. Here is a look at the fascinating role flowers have played throughout human history, from the evolution of flowering plants to the booming floral industry.

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The First Flowers

Around 80% of green plants are flowering plants, and the oldest flowers in the world date back to the Cretaceous Period more than 130 million years ago. Those first flowers didn’t resemble ones we know and love today: They were barely visible to the human eye and almost unrecognizable as flowers even under a microscope. The interaction between flowering plants and insects aided in the coevolution of both, with flowers developing strong fragrances, appealing colors, and larger petals to attract pollinators. It was these same traits that also appealed to the earliest human societies, which began to cultivate and use flowering plants in religious and cultural ceremonies.

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The Flowers of Antiquity

Some of today’s most popular flowers for bouquets and floral arrangements were first cultivated thousands of years ago. The cultural significance of flowers has been reflected in the art and literature of ancient China, Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Roses, one of the most popular flowers for gifting, were first grown in gardens 5,000 years ago in China. The ancient Egyptians used flowers in religious ceremonies as offerings to the gods and the dead, decorated their war carts with flowers before going to battle, and painted and carved floral and leaf motifs into their art. The Greeks and Romans used flowers in similar ways, associating specific varieties with their gods and goddesses and using flowering plants in festivals, rituals, and for their own enjoyment.

In more recent history, cherry blossoms (sakura) have been revered in Japan since the Heian period (794–1185) and, because they bloom for only a short time in the spring, are associated with the transient nature of life. Marigolds, which have been a part of Mexican culture since the pre-Columbian era, were imported to India over 350 years ago and have become an integral part of wedding celebrations and Hindu festivals such as Diwali.

The Victorian Era’s Flower “Language”

In Europe, the symbolic use of flowers developed in the medieval and Renaissance eras, when different flowers and flowering plants were linked to a variety of virtues and emotions. In the Victorian era of the 19th century, floriography, or the language of flowers, emerged as a way of communicating specific sentiments through the type, color, and even the arrangement of specific flowers. This form of flower code was a way of conveying one’s feelings in an era marked by restraint and discretion. Artist and writer Kate Greenaway’s Language in Flowers, published in 1884, was an indispensable floriography dictionary, providing the meanings of different flowers and their significance in bouquets and floral arrangements. For instance, if a gentleman wished to send a bouquet of flowers to his betrothed, he might include blue violets, signifying faithfulness, and white roses, meaning “I am worthy of you.”

Flower-Giving Blossoms in the 20th Century

Floristry — the cultivation, arrangement, and sale of cut flowers — developed around the mid-19th century. The Society of American Florists was established in Chicago in 1884 to advance floral artists and sales. As the 20th century began, the proliferation of floral shops and flower delivery services further popularized and commercialized the tradition of giving flowers. Mother’s Day, ranking second only to Valentine’s Day in flower-giving, became an official U.S. holiday in 1914, receiving enthusiastic support and promotion from the floral industry.

Though floriography isn’t as popular today as it was in the Victorian era, different flowers continue to carry specific meanings. Giving someone red roses still signifies feelings of love and desire, while white lilies are still considered traditional flowers in many cultures for both weddings (representing purity and new beginnings) and funerals (grief and remembrance). In a nod to the old-fashioned flower code, Kate Middleton’s 2011 wedding bouquet included white Sweet William blossoms, signifying gallantry (and referencing the groom, Prince William).

Today, flowers remain a popular gift for a wide variety of occasions, both to convey specific sentiments as well as to be enjoyed for their aesthetic beauty. With more than 15,000 retail florists in the United States alone, it is easier than ever to let someone know we’re thinking about them. Modern technology has even embraced the tradition of flower-giving with a series of floral emoji, including a rose, hibiscus, cherry blossom, sunflower, tulip, and flower bouquet. Now, “giving” flowers is as simple as dashing off a text message or writing an email, proving that the long history of flower-giving endures.

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5 Major Firsts in TV History

Presidential debate, 1960

For all the formulaic sitcoms and talk shows that have run throughout the history of television, there are a number of times when audiences have witnessed true ingenuity. From memorable commercials to shocking plot twists, television events that may seem commonplace today once revolutionized the medium. Ever since the demonstration of the first television in 1926, the small screen has been a reflection of larger shifts in American society. With that in mind, here are five historic firsts in television history.

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The First Official TV Commercial

On July 1, 1941, at 2:29 p.m., viewers tuning in to the NBC-owned WNBT television station saw something they had never seen before. Before that day’s broadcast of the Brooklyn Dodgers vs. Philadelphia Phillies baseball game, the first authorized TV commercial hit the airwaves. The inaugural ad was produced by Bulova watches and ran for about 60 seconds, featuring visuals of a clock superimposed over a map of the United States with the accompanying voice-over, “America runs on Bulova time.”

The watchmaker paid just $9 to broadcast the advertisement ($4 for air fees and $5 for station fees), a far cry from the exorbitant advertising prices of today. WNBT was also the only station to advertise that day, though other networks soon followed suit. The Federal Communications Commission had previously implemented an advertising ban that forbade television commercials, though broadcasters still ran ads without authorization. The FCC finally issued 10 commercial licenses on May 2, 1941 — ushering in a new chapter in television history.

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The First Laugh Track

Laugh tracks are an indelible part of sitcom television, and it all began in 1950 with a little-known program called The Hank McCune Show. The sitcom debuted on local stations in 1949 and centered around a fictional television variety show host. By the time the series made its network debut on September 9, 1950, it was accompanied by roaring laughter from a laugh track despite the lack of any live studio audience. One review from Variety magazine said, “Although the show is lensed on film without a studio audience, there are chuckles and yucks dubbed in… the practice may have unlimited possibilities.”

The laugh track was invented by mechanical engineer Charles Douglass, who was formerly a radar technician in the Navy. After leaving the military, Douglass created a device that came to be known as the “Laff Box.” A rudimentary version of Douglass’ invention debuted on The Hank McCune Show, though it took him three years to perfect his invention. Each 3-foot-tall Laff Box was handmade by Douglass and could hold 32 reels of 10 laughs apiece. By the 1960s, Douglass was supplying his much-coveted Laff Box to such iconic television programs as The Munsters and Gilligan’s Island.

The First Spinoff

Television spinoffs are standard practice today, and we have The Gene Autry Show to thank for kicking off the concept in 1950. The show delighted TV audiences, following the exploits of the titular singing cowboy and his trusted horse, Champion. When The Gene Autry Show wrapped up in 1956, the series was so popular that it inspired television’s first spinoff, a series called The Adventures of Champion, which ran for 26 episodes between 1955 and 1956. While the concept of a spinoff was unusual at the time, it became significantly more popular with the debut of The Andy Griffith Show in 1960. Starring Griffith himself, the hit series actually originated from a single episode of The Danny Thomas Show titled “Danny Meets Andy Griffith,” in which Griffith debuted the character of Sheriff Andy Taylor. The episode was a hit, and the concept earned a television run of its own.

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The First Televised Presidential Debate

Television has long played a key role in American politics, and few televised political events have a stronger impact than presidential debates, the first of which aired in 1956. Though neither President Dwight D. Eisenhower nor his challenger Adlai Stevenson participated in a televised debate themselves that year, both were represented by proxies, with Senator Margaret Chase Smith filling in for Eisenhower and former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt representing Stevenson. The two women debated the issues live on-air on November 4, 1956, with Eisenhower coming out victorious in the election shortly thereafter.

The first televised presidential debate between the actual candidates occurred four years later, with a CBS broadcast on September 26, 1960. This debate pitted Senator John F. Kennedy against Vice President Richard Nixon, and was the first of four televised debates in advance of that year’s election. Kennedy was widely considered the winner of the debate, which many have speculated was due to his charismatic presence on camera compared to Nixon, who declined to wear makeup and appeared visibly sweaty. Though Nixon fared better in future debates, this moment in TV history helped Kennedy gain a valuable early lead in the polls, which he maintained en route to winning the presidency.

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The First Scripted Birth

In 1948, the sitcom Mary Kay and Johnny — starring real-life married couple Mary Kay and Johnny Stearns — made history by incorporating the actress’ pregnancy into the show, becoming the first TV show to depict a pregnancy and birth. When the couple’s son, Christopher, was born on December 19, 1948, Mary Kay was notably absent from the live taping. In response, Johnny wrote a 15-minute episode that featured him pacing around a hospital waiting room awaiting his son’s birth. Unfortunately, all but one full episode of Mary Kay and Johnny was lost in the 1970s, and the show’s impact was forgotten over time. It was a few years later that another sitcom, I Love Lucy, also depicted a pregnancy and birth, proving to be significantly more impactful given the show’s popularity.

When actress Lucille Ball — the biggest television star at the time — became pregnant in 1952, producers needed to figure out how to interweave her real changing appearance with her character on I Love Lucy. At first, network executives suggested coming up with methods for concealing Ball’s baby bump, such as having her hide behind chairs. But Desi Arnaz — Ball’s husband and co-star — found those suggestions insulting, and fought back. After a conversation between Arnaz, CBS, and advertiser Philip Morris, the latter signed off on a plan to incorporate Ball’s real-life pregnancy into the plot of the show.

While the word “pregnancy” remained forbidden, the show’s characters spoke using synonyms such as “expecting” in reference to Lucy’s storyline baby. The character’s pregnancy was revealed during a December 8, 1952, episode titled “Lucy Is Enceinte” — “enceinte” being the French word for pregnant. With Ball scheduled to deliver her actual child on January 19, 1953, CBS scheduled the pretaped birth episode for that very same evening. “Lucy Goes to the Hospital” was a major television event, attracting more than 44 million American viewers and helping pave the way for talking about other previously taboo topics on television.

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6 Illuminating Facts About Secret Societies

Illuminatus initiation

The term “secret society” encompasses a wide variety of exclusive and clandestine organizations, many of which have been in existence for centuries and count some of history’s most influential figures among their members. Secret societies pique our curiosity because they often keep their activities and objectives concealed from nonmembers and the public. Though there are exceptions, the intentions of these exclusive groups are generally not nefarious; for instance, some college clubs can be considered secret societies because they have private rituals and traditions whose symbolism and mystique serve to create a sense of belonging and shared purpose.

The most prominent secret societies have left their mark on history, from wielding their influence over governments to shaping the course of labor and religious movements. Because of the secretive nature of these organizations, their historical origins can be complex to track down, and are often debated by historians and scholars. From the medieval beginnings of the Freemasons to the puzzling origins of Cicada 3301, here are six unusual facts about these mysterious groups.

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One of the World’s Oldest Secret Societies Still Flourishes Today

The history of the Freemasons dates back to the Middle Ages and the guilds of skilled stonemasons who regulated the qualifications of the stoneworkers. Their work required stonemasons to travel, encouraging a more open-minded worldview. The modern Freemasonry society was founded in England in 1717 and quickly spread throughout Europe and the American colonies. The organization established guidelines not only for stonework, but also for the moral and spiritual values of its members. Today, there are over 6 million Freemasons around the world. They still use the same system of secret rituals — including handshakes, passwords, and symbols — that have been used since the 18th century, but in recent years the group has begun making moves toward modernization and transparency. In 2021, the Freemasons issued the first annual report in their 300-year history.

The Real Illuminati Was Interested in Enlightenment for All

The name “Illuminati” has been used to refer to various groups, both real and fictional, since the 15th century. But the group most closely linked to the name dates back almost 250 years to the Bavarian Illuminati, formally known as the Order of the Illuminati. The short-lived secret society was founded in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, in 1776 by German professor Adam Weishaupt, who wanted to create “a state of liberty and moral equality, freed from the obstacles which subordination, rank, and riches, continually throw in our way.” Taking inspiration from the Freemasons and French Enlightenment philosophers, Weishaupt formed a secret society that climbed to more than 2,000 members in Bavaria, France, Hungary, Italy, and other regions where Enlightenment ideas were taking hold. The Bavarian government eventually shut down the Illuminati in 1784, prohibiting the creation of any groups not authorized by law. But there were those who believed the society went underground, spawning a number of conspiracy theories that linked the group to world events, from the French Revolution to the 9/11 terror attacks.

Enslaved Women Founded America’s Oldest Secret Society of Black Women

The annals of history are filled with the names of secret societies whose membership was exclusive to men, but women have also had a role in creating these clandestine groups. The United Order of Tents is the oldest organization of Black women in the United States, founded by two formerly enslaved women, Annetta M. Lane and Harriet R. Taylor, in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1867. The organization, which still maintains chapters throughout the United States, is believed to have supported operations of the Underground Railroad. During the turbulence of the Reconstruction era, the group provided mutual aid and support to the Black community, serving as a “tent of salvation” turning their time of need.

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An Ancient Secret Society Inspired a Video Game Franchise

In the 11th century, the Nizari Ismailis were a group of powerful medieval Shiite Muslims in Persia and Syria. The group used guerilla tactics to outwit their enemies, including Christian Crusaders arriving in the Holy Land. Hated by other Muslim groups, they were given the name Hashishin, a pejorative Arabic word meaning “hashish user,” which was later westernized by Crusaders as “Assassins” and the English word came to mean a paid killer. The group fell to the Mongols in the 13th century, but the legend of the Nizari Ismailis lives on. The video game “Assassin’s Creed” creates a fictionalized world based around the Assassins and another ancient secret society, the Knights Templar, a military order established in the 12th century and endorsed by the Catholic Church. The Knights Templar served as protectors of Christian pilgrims and Crusader states in the Holy Land, but their objectives differed from those of the Nizari Ismailis. Though the timelines of the two groups overlap, there is no historical evidence to support that the two groups fought each other.

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One Secretive Club Has Its Own Elite Summer Camp

Among all of the exclusive societies, the Bohemian Club may be the only one with its own elite summer camp. Founded in 1872 in San Francisco as an exclusive gentlemen’s club for journalists, artists, and musicians, the Bohemian Club expanded to include international political and business leaders as well. Bohemian Grove, the club’s privately owned 2,700-acre campground in the redwood groves of Sonoma County, provides a gathering place for a two-week summer encampment that includes secret rituals, performances, and private discussions that have changed the course of history. At the 1967 Bohemian Grove encampment, Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan reportedly decided which of them would pursue the Republican presidential nomination. At a September 1942 gathering at Bohemian Grove, physicist Robert Oppenheimer attended an S-1 Executive Committee planning meeting to finalize details for the Manhattan Project, leading to the development of the atomic bomb. Given the privileged and private membership and traditions, it’s not surprising that the group has been the subject of conspiracy theories and protests and, most recently, a lawsuit alleging wage theft and labor violations.

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New Secret Societies Are Finding a Home Online

Though secret organizations have existed for centuries, the internet has given rise to new ones in recent years. One of the most enigmatic is Cicada 3301, which appeared online in 2012. The group claimed to be searching for “highly intelligent individuals” by presenting a series of complex digital puzzles based on cryptographic techniques including ciphers, codes, and steganography. Solving the puzzles involved a wide range of knowledge about coding, programming, literature, art, and other disciplines. There was some speculation that the puzzles were being used as a recruitment tool for intelligence agencies, while others thought they might be part of the promotion of a new game, though no attempt was ever made to monetize the puzzles. Those who solved the early puzzles were presented with additional challenges and login credentials for a darknet site. The group’s identity remains unknown and they have been largely silent since 2014.

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