Monthly Archives: July 2011

It was on this day in 1798 that it became illegal in the United States for anyone to say, write or publish “false, scandalous, and malicious” comments about government officials or policies. Signed by John Adams, it was passed during the Quasi-War with … Continue reading →

It was on this day in 1863 that the worst riots in American history exploded in New York City. A military draft (for the Civil War) had just started in the city the day before and emotions were ugly. Quite … Continue reading →

It was on this day in 1979 that there was a riot on a baseball field in Chicago. A local radio station was offering reduced admission to Comiskey Park for a double-header if a disco record was also donated, so it … Continue reading →

It was on this day in 1804 that the Vice President of the US shot and killed a former Secretary of the Treasury. Aaron Burr had been dropped from the presidential ticket, and had ran for governor of New York instead. During the election he … Continue reading →

It was on this day in 1985 that the Coca-Cola Company announced they will start selling “Classic Coke.” Three months earlier the company had changed the formula  for their soft drink, and a lot of customers weren’t happy with the change. … Continue reading →

If you ain’t there now, then here is a taste from years past…

It was on this day in 1995 that the Grateful Dead played their last concert. I was in the parking lot of Solider’s Field that afternoon, having seen the band play the night before. There were tickets available, but the … Continue reading →

It was on this day in 1853 that Commodore Matthew C. Perry steamed into what in now known as Tokyo Bay. Japan had a culture of isolationism, allowing only trade with the Dutch and the Chinese, and the US wanted to … Continue reading →

“The best thing since sliced bread!” It was on this day in 1928 that the Chillicothe Baking Company (Chillicothe, MO) started baking loaves of “Kleen Maid Sliced Bread”, the first time that sliced bread was mass-produced. The machine that made this … Continue reading →

It was on this day in 1887 that the monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii signed a new constitution. The document had been written by a group called the Hawaiian League, and it transferred most of the political power from the monarchy … Continue reading →