Tuesday, June 29, 2010

First oil well

The first oil well was struck in Titusville, Pennsylvania in 1859. The discovery of oil in the middle of quiet farm country in northwestern Pennsylvania was known as the Drake Well, after "Colonel" Edwin Drake, the man responsible for the well. The oil discovery set off a worldwide search for petroleum.
More Famous Firsts

Monday, June 28, 2010

Broadband lines

According to WebsiteOptimzation.com, China officially passed the U.S. in total broadband lines during the third quarter of 2006, and now has the largest subscriber base in the world. The U.S. and China are followed by Japan, South Korea, Germany, and France in total broadband lines per country.
More Famous Firsts

Friday, June 25, 2010

Sir William Osler

"One of the first duties of the physician is to educate the masses not to take medicine." -- Sir William Osler.
More Famous Firsts

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Starbucks

Starbucks first opened for business at Seattle's Pike Place Market in 1971. Starbucks operated solely as a coffee roasting facility until 1982 when the owners began marketing their coffee to upscale restaurants, cafes, and hotels. Inspired by Italian cafes, the owners opened their first retail coffee bar in Seattle in 1985. By 1987, seventeen Starbucks Cafes were established.
More Famous Firsts

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Pulitzer Prizes

Nineteenth Century journalist and iconic newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer established in his 1904 will the provision for the Pulitzer Prizes as incentive for journalistic excellence. The first Pulitzer Prizes were awarded in 1917 to Herbert Bayard Swope (reporting), the New York Tribune (editorial), J.J. Jusserand (history), Laura E. Richards and Maude Howe Elliott (biography).
More Famous Firsts

Sunday, June 6, 2010

First televised hole-in-one

British hall of fame golfer Tony Jacklin hit the first televised hole-in-one while competing in the 1967 Dunlop Masters. Jacklin aced the 163-yard 16th hole at Royal St. George's golf course in the final round that helped him to a victory. The shot was one of the most significant ever taken by a British golfer.
More Famous Firsts

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson made national news in 1947 when he became the first African-American baseball player in Major league baseball. Robinson joined the National League Brooklyn Dodgers at the age of 28. Larry Doby signed with the Cleveland Indians later that same year to become the American League's first African-American player.
More Famous Firsts

Friday, June 4, 2010

First compact disk

New Jersey rocker Bruce Springsteen's 1984 landmark album "Born in the USA" sold more than 18 million copies worldwide. Classic songs from the album include the title track, "I'm on Fire", "Glory Days", "Dancing in the Dark", and "My Hometown." The album also has the distinction of being the first compact disk pressed in the United States for commercial release.
More Famous Firsts

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Breakfast cereal

In November 1924, the ready-to-eat cereal known as Washburn's Gold Medal Whole Wheat Flakes (later shortened to "Wheaties") made its debut on store shelves. The "Breakfast of Champions" boomed through the 1930s from its sponsorship of sports. In 1958, Wheaties began featuring a spokesperson on the box. The first on the cover of a Wheaties box was Olympic pole vaulter Bob Richards.
More Famous Firsts

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

The first proms

The first proms were held in the late 1800s at elite colleges of the Northeast. The spring time events were held as a means of instilling social skills and etiquette in students. The dances were strictly chaperoned and were often restricted to only the senior class. The word prom is a shortened form of promenade, meaning a march of the guests at the beginning of a ball or other formal event.
More Famous Firsts

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Yesterday

The most recorded song is in music history is "Yesterday" written by Paul McCartney. Over 2,500 versions of the song have been recorded since the song was first recorded in June 1965 and released on the Beatles Help! album. The song has been covered by artists such as Elvis Presley, Boyz II Men, Frank Sinatra, James Brown and Gladys Knight.
More Famous Firsts