Today's Puzzle
Its inventor doesn't want it.
Its buyer doesn't need it.
The man who needs it doesn't know it.
What is it?
Holidays
Children dancing around a maypole
Photo Credit: Paul Barnett
Children dancing around a maypolePhoto Credit: Paul Barnett
May Day
Traditional springtime festival marking the first day of summer or as an international day honoring workers. Traditional activities include dancing around a maypole.
In 1889, May Day was chosen as the date for International Workers' Day by the socialists and communists of the Second International, as well as anarchists, labor activists, and leftists in general around the world, to commemorate the 1886 Haymarket Massacre in Chicago and the struggle for an eight-hour working day.
Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! Although not related to May Day, the distress call "Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!" was created in 1923 when senior radio officer at Croydon Airport in London Frederick Stanley Mockford was asked to come up with a word to indicate distress that could easily be understood by all pilots and ground staff in an emergency. Since much of the traffic at the time was between Croydon and Le Bourget Airport in Paris, he proposed the word "Mayday", the phonetic pronunciation of the French m'aidez ("help me"). Convention requires the mayday be repeated three times in a row during the initial emergency declaration ("Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!") to prevent it being mistaken for similar-sounding phrases.
What Happened On
Iraq War - Mission Accomplished?
May 1, 2003
"Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed." U.S. President George W. Bush speaking underneath a banner made by White House staff stating "Mission Accomplished," less than six weeks into the war.
Photo Credit: Joshua Sortino
Photo Credit: Joshua Sortino
Internet
May 1, 1974
Vint Cerf and Bob Kahn's landmark paper: "A protocol that supports the sharing of resources that exist in different packet switching networks" is published in May 1974 issue IEEE Transactions and Communications.
It described the Transmission Control Program, which made the Internet possible. This was later divided into two layers, the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and the Internet Protocol (IP). It is this protocol that makes the Internet and World Wide Web possible.
Sesame Street Banned
May 1, 1970
Mississippi bans Sesame Street from its state educational TV programming due to its depiction of an integrated neighborhood and black and white children playing together. Due to public outcry, the ban only lasted 22 days.
The show had premiered the previous November.
Sample BASIC program
Sample BASIC program
BASIC Programming Language
May 1, 1964
The BASIC computer language runs its first program. The BASIC language was created by John G. Kemeny and Thomas E. Kurtz at Dartmouth College for the purpose of enabling students in non-scientific fields to use computers.
BASIC stands for "Beginners' All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code".
The Vampira Show
May 1, 1954
TV's first horror show hosted by a costumed character premieres. The Vampira Show was hosted by Maila Nurmi dressed as the Vampira character she created. The Vampira character was created when Nurmi attended a masquerade ball in a costume inspired by the character Morticia Addams. Her costume attracted the attention of TV producer Hunt Stromberg who asked her to host a horror show.
Model 500 Telephone
May 1, 1950
The new AT&T model 500 telephone becomes widely available to Bell System operating companies. The 500's numbers and letters were positioned to the outside of the dial to make them more visible. This helped reduce dialing time and dialing errors. The 500 was also superior in performance over previous phones and included automatic gain circuits that allowed it work equally well in both long and short loops from the central office.
Originally available only in black, in 1954 the colors ivory, green, dark gray, red, brown, beige, yellow, and blue were added.
This basic design was made until the 1984 Bell System divestiture.
Empire State Building
May 1, 1931
The Empire State Building opens in New York City. At a height of 1,250 feet, it was the world's tallest building.
1881 Postal Card
1881 Postal Card
First U.S. Postal Card
May 1, 1873
The first U.S. government-produced postcard is issued. It cost one cent. One side was for the recipient's address and the other was for the message.
By law, the government postcards were the only postcards allowed to bear the term "Postal Card". Previously, private companies had been producing postcards, but they cost 2¢ to mail as opposed to 1¢ for the new government-printed cards. This was changed in 1898, when Congress made the cost of mailing both private and government-produced postcards the same, however, private cards were required to use the phrase "Private Mailing Card", whereas government-produced cards still read "Postal Card".
The world's first government-produced postal card was by Austria-Hungary in 1869.
Stainless Banner
May 1, 1863
During the American Civil War, the Confederacy officially changed its flag to what became known as the "Stainless Banner". The previous "Stars and Bars" flag was disliked because it looked too much like the Union flag. The new flag featured the Confederate Battle Flag on a white background.
The design was the result of an editorial in the Savannah Morning News by editor William Tappan Thompson suggesting the battle flag on a white background he referred to later as "The White Man's Flag." Thompson wrote, "As a people we are fighting to maintain the Heaven-ordained supremacy of the white man over the inferior or colored race; a white flag would thus be emblematical of our cause."
The first official use of the "Stainless Banner" was to drape the coffin of General "Stonewall" Jackson as it lay in state in the Virginia capitol.
This flag too was later replaced, as it was easily confused with the white flag of surrender.
First Christmas Cards
May 1, 1843
John Callcott Horsley of England designs the first commercially-produced Christmas cards. The center panel featured a family feasting with the words "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You." The side panels depict the poor being given food and clothing. The design stirred controversy, as it depicted young children drinking wine. One thousand were printed and sold in London for a shilling a piece, followed by a second printing of another 1,050.
And thus began the commercialization of Christmas.
First Adhesive Postage Stamp
May 1, 1840
"Penny Blacks" from Great Britain are issued.
Iraq War - Downing Street Memo
May 1, 2005
The minutes of the British Prime Minister's meeting of July 2002 are published by The Sunday Times, stating that "Military action was now seen as inevitable. Bush wanted to remove Saddam, through military action, justified by the conjunction of terrorism and WMD. But the intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy" and that "Bush had made up his mind to take military action, even if the timing was not yet decided. But the case was thin. Saddam was not threatening his neighbours, and his WMD capability was less than that of Libya, North Korea, or Iran." British officials did not dispute the document's authenticity.
Gary Hart Scandal
May 1, 1987
U.S. Presidential candidate Gary Hart spends the night with 29-year-old model Donna Rice. The ensuing scandal would force him to drop out of the race.
Elvis Marries Priscilla
May 1, 1967
Elvis Presley marries Priscilla Beaulieu. The only other entertainer to attend was Redd Foxx.
U-2 Incident
May 1, 1960
A U.S. U-2 spy plane is shot down in the Soviet Union. The pilot, Gary Powers, was convicted of spying by the USSR. In 1962 he was exchanged for the Russian spy Rudolf Abel. Abel had been convicted of spying in the hollow nickel spy case, in which he transported microfilm inside a hollowed-out nickel.
Divorce
May 1, 1931
Nevada's 6-week easy divorce law goes into effect.
Painting Battle of Manila Bay by W. G. Wood, showing the Reina Cristina (foreground) in action against Dewey's squadron
Painting Battle of Manila Bay by W. G. Wood, showing the Reina Cristina (foreground) in action against Dewey's squadron
Spanish-American War - Battle of Manila Bay
May 1, 1898
U.S. Commodore George Dewey virtually destroys the Spanish fleet while American losses were minimal.
The battle took place in Manila Bay in the Philippines, and was the first major engagement of the Spanish-American War and was one of the most decisive naval battles in history and marked the end of the Spanish colonial period in Philippine history.
Great Britain
May 1, 1707
The union of England and Scotland becomes effective, adopting the name Great Britain.
First Colonial Congress
May 1, 1690
Summoned by Jacob Leisler in New York to plan action against the French and Indians.
Birthdays
Scott Carpenter
Born May 1, 1925 d. 2013
American astronaut, one of the seven original Project Mercury astronauts (1959). He was the second American to orbit the Earth and the fourth American in space.
Jack Paar
Born May 1, 1918 d. 2004
American host. In 1957, he took over as host of TV's The Tonight Show (later renamed The Jack Paar Show) after the original host Steve Allen quit to do a primetime variety show. Paar famously walked off his show after a water closet joke he told was censored by the network, not returning for a month. After The Jack Paar Show, he hosted The Jack Paar Program (1962-65).
The Human Fish
Charles Zimmy (Charles Zibelman)
Born May 1, 1893 d. 1952
American legless swimmer. Known as "The Human Fish." In 1937, he swam from Albany to NYC, a distance of 150 miles (241 km). He lost his legs at age nine in an accident and his legless body provided enough buoyancy to float while sleeping.
First Million-Seller Song
Charles Kassel Harris
Born May 1, 1867 d. 1930
American songwriter. "King of the Tear Jerker." He wrote After the Ball (1892), the first million-seller song. Sold as sheet music, it was the best-selling sheet music of its era and eventually sold 5 million copies. Although slow selling at first, it was performed regularly by John Philip Sousa and his band at the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago and soon became an international hit. It was also used in the 1927 musical Show Boat (and later film productions) to exemplify 1890's music.
His next hit was the 1897 song Break the News to Mother, about a dying soldier, which coincided with the Spanish-American War. It became a hit again in 1917 during World War I.
Calamity Jane (Martha Jane Canary)
Born May 1, 1852 d. 1903
American wild west character, Indian fighter, famous citizen of Deadwood, South Dakota. Her dying request, "Bury me beside Wild Bill."
Douglas Barr
Born May 1, 1949
American actor. TV: The Fall Guy (1981-86, Howie Munson) and Designing Women (1987-91, Bill Stillfield).
Rita Coolidge
Born May 1, 1945
American Grammy-winning singer. Music: We're All Alone (1977) and The Way You Do The Things You Do (1978).
Max Robinson
Born May 1, 1939 d. 1988
American newscaster, the first U.S. black network news anchor.
Joseph Heller
Born May 1, 1923 d. 1999
American author. Writings: Catch-22 (1961).
John Beradino
Born May 1, 1917 d. 1996
American actor. TV: General Hospital (Dr. Steve Hardy from the show's inception in 1963 till his death). He also played major league baseball from 1939 to 1953.
Glenn Ford (Gwyllyn Samuel Newton Ford)
Born May 1, 1916 d. 2006
Canadian-American actor. Film: Gilda (1946) and Blackboard Jungle (1955), 3:10 to Yuma (1957), and Superman (1978, Clark Kent's adoptive father). TV: Cade's County (Sam Cade).
Quote: On being rushed, "I've only got one other speed, and it's slower."
Mother Jones (Mary Harris Jones)
Born May 1, 1830 d. 1930
Irish-born American labor leader, agitator, and advocate for striking workers. Jones worked as a teacher and dressmaker, but after her husband and four children all died of yellow fever (1867) and her dress shop was destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire (1871), she began working as an organizer for the Knights of Labor and the United Mine Workers union. She also fought against the lax child labor laws in the Pennsylvania mines and silk mills.
Duke of Wellington (Arthur Wellesley)
Born May 1, 1769 d. 1852
British general, prime minister (1828-30). He defeated Napoleon Bonaparte at the Battle of Waterloo (1815).
Deaths
Reeves in the movie Hercules
Reeves in the movie Hercules
Steve Reeves
Died May 1, 2000 b. 1926
American actor, body builder. He held the Mr. America (1947), Mr. World (1948), and Mr. Universe (1950) titles. At one time, he was the highest paid actor in Europe. Film: Hercules (1958).
Photo Credit: Robert Wiles
Photo Credit: Robert Wiles
Most Beautiful Suicide
Evelyn McHale
Died May 1, 1947 b. 1923
American bookkeeper. She committed suicide by jumping from the 86th floor Observation Deck of the Empire State Building. A student photographer took a photo of her shortly after her death showing her gloves and dress outfit earning her the title, "The Most Beautiful Suicide."
Her suicide note referenced her mother, who had also suffered depression, stating, "I don't want anyone in or out of my family to see any part of me. Could you destroy my body by cremation? I beg of you and my family - don't have any service for me or remembrance for me. My fiance asked me to marry him in June. I don't think I would make a good wife for anybody. He is much better off without me. Tell my father, I have too many of my mother's tendencies."
Stanley finding Livingstone
Stanley finding Livingstone
Dr. Livingstone, I Presume?
David Livingstone
Died May 1, 1873 b. 1813
Scottish explorer, missionary. In 1871, he was found in Africa by reporter Henry Stanley, prompting the famous quote: "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?"
Photo Credit: Sebastian Ritter
Photo Credit: Sebastian Ritter
Inventor of the Friction Match
John Walker
Died May 1, 1859 b. 1781
English chemist. Invented the friction match (1826). His matches consisted of wooden splints or sticks of cardboard tipped with a mixture of sulphide of antimony, chlorate of potash, and gum so that they would ignite when scratched on a rough surface. They were coated in sulfur to cause the flame to ignite the wood.
The price of a box of 50 matches was one shilling. Each box included a folded piece of sandpaper, through which the match had to be drawn to ignite it.
Early matches, including Walker's, were dangerous as flaming balls of fire would sometimes fall to the floor burning carpets and dresses, leading to their ban in France and Germany.
Walker refused to patent his idea, feeling it was too trivial of an invention.
Photo Credit: Arnielee
Photo Credit: Arnielee
Gordon Lightfoot
Died May 1, 2023 b. 1938
Canadian singer, songwriter. Music: If You Could Read My Mind (1970), Sundown (1974, #1), and The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald (1976).
His song The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald was based on a true event.
His song Sundown was about his then mistress Cathy Smith, who in 1982 injected the fatal overdose that killed John Belushi.
Photo Credit: Montclair Film
Photo Credit: Montclair Film
Olympia Dukakis
Died May 1, 2021 b. 1931
American Oscar-winning actress. Film: Moonstruck (1987, Oscar) and Steel Magnolias (1989).
Whitney as Star Trek's Janice Rand
Whitney as Star Trek's Janice Rand
Grace Lee Whitney (Mary Ann Chase)
Died May 1, 2015 b. 1930
American actress. Known for her role as Star Trek's Janice Rand (1966, 8 episodes), Captain James T. Kirk's personal assistant. Her character was supposed to be Kirk's ongoing love interest. But, the producers decided they would rather Kirk be more of a space playboy; so her character was written out after eight episodes.
Whitney reprised her role as Janice Rand in Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979), Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986), and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991), and also played a woman in the cafeteria in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984).
Spike Jones (Lindley Armstrong Jones)
Died May 1, 1965 b. 1911
American musician. Music: All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth (1948, #1).
Joseph Goebbels
Died May 1, 1945 b. 1897
German Nazi leader, Adolf Hitler's propaganda minister. He killed his family and himself when the Allies entered Berlin.
François Laurent d'Arlandes
Died May 1, 1809 b. 1742
French marquis, balloonist. He and Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier made the first manned free balloon flight (1783)
John Dryden
Died May 1, 1700 b. 1631
English poet, essayist. He instigated the rule of not ending a sentence with a preposition.
Saint Pius V
Died May 1, 1572 b. 1504
Italian religious leader, 225th Pope (1566-72). Canonized in 1712, he excommunicated Elizabeth I of England, expelled the Jews from Church states, and was dedicated to the extermination of the Huguenots.
Marcellus II
Died May 1, 1555 b. 1501
religious leader, 222nd Pope (April - May 1555).