February 1 in Pop Culture History |
February 1st is…Baked Alaska Day: A day to celebrate the delicious dessert made of ice cream, cake, and meringue. Change Your Password Day: A day to remind people to change their passwords regularly to protect their personal and financial information from cyber-criminals. National Dark Chocolate Day: A day to celebrate the delicious and healthy treat of dark chocolate. National Freedom Day: A day to commemorate the signing of the 13th amendment to the U.S Constitution, which abolished slavery. Get Up Day: Encourages us to take charge of our lives and boldly tackle each new day with enthusiasm and joy. G.I. Joe Day: Commemorates the debut of the original Hasbro G.I. Joe action figure in 1964 and honors all generations of the popular toy line. It’s a day to celebrate a beloved part of pop culture history Robinson Crusoe Day: While we celebrate Robinson Crusoe with literature and imagination, it’s important to remember that the true story of Alexander Selkirk inspired Daniel Defoe’s iconic novel. In 1704, Selkirk was a sailor marooned on an uninhabited island off the coast of Chile after being abandoned from his ship. On February 1, 1709, he was rescued, and his struggles were immortalized in both fact and fiction. National Serpent Day: A day to celebrate the serpent and its significance in various cultures and religions. Spunky Old Broads Day: This day celebrates women aged 50 and older who remain strong and active despite their advancing age. Women and Girls in Sports Day: The purpose of this day is to recognize the achievements and contributions that women have made throughout history in the field of sports. This day is meant to recognize female athletes, coaches, athletic trainers, officials, administrators, and anyone else involved in athletics. |
| Robinson Crusoe Day Robinson Crusoe is the protagonist of a novel by Daniel Defoe, first published in 1719. The novel tells the story of a man shipwrecked on a deserted island and his subsequent adventures. It is considered one of the earliest examples of the novel genre and is said to have been influenced by the true story of Alexander Selkirk, a Scottish sailor who was marooned on a deserted island for four years. The novel has been widely read and translated and has significantly influenced literature and ideas about wilderness and individualism. |
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1790 – First session of the U.S. Supreme Court, New York City was postponed until February 2, 1790. 1851 – Gail Borden invented evaporated milk. 1884 – The Oxford Dictionary debuted 1887 – The area known as Hollywood was founded. 1893 – Thomas A. Edison finished construction of the first motion picture studio, the Black Maria in West Orange, New Jersey. 1896 – Puccini’s La bohème premiered in Turin, Italy. 1898 – Travelers Insurance Company began issuing car insurance. 1911 – Thomas Jennings was found guilty in Illinois with the first use of fingerprint evidence in the US. 1913 – Grand Central Terminal opened in New York as the world’s largest train station 1938 (Volcano Eruption) Banda Sea, Indonesia. 1942 – Voice of America, the official external radio and television service of the US, begans broadcasting with programs aimed at areas controlled by the Axis powers (later at the communist block). 1953 – You Are There premiered on CBS radio. 1960 – The Greensboro ‘Sit In’ took plane in North Carolina, protesting discrimination. 1964 – # 1 Hit February 1, 1964 – March 20, 1964: The Beatles – I Want to Hold Your Hand. 1969 – # 1 Hit February 1, 1969 – February 14, 1969: Tommy James & the Shondells – Crimson and Clover 1974 – Good Times premiered on CBS. 1975 – # 1 Hit February 1, 1975 – February 7, 1975: Neil Sedaka – Laughter in the Rain 1978 – Director Roman Polanski fled the United States to France after pleading guilty to charges of having sex with a 13-year-old girl. 1982 – Late Night with David Letterman debuted on NBC. 1996 – The Communications Decency Act was passed by the US Congress. 2003 – Space Shuttle Columbia on mission STS-107 disintegrated during reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere, killing all seven astronauts aboard over Texas. 2003 – # 1 Hit February 1, 2003 – February 7, 2003: B2K featuring P. Diddy – Bump, Bump, Bump 2004 – The Janet Jackson/Justin Timberlake Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show Wardrobe Malfunction controversy occurred. |
