Monthly Archives: October 2013

October 21, 1918

On This Date in TWISTED-HISTORY! in 1918, Margaret Owen set a speed typing record of 170 words per minute on a manual typewriter. Chim-Chim the Typing Chimpanzee was noticeable upset and tried to file a written protest. Unfortunately, he would only type Es and Ss so his complaint read; EEEEEEEssssssssssEEEEsEsssssEEEEEssssssssssssssEEsss….????,,,!!!!!! Chim-Chim also refused to include … Continue reading

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Coming Soon!

This is the future home of Joel Byers’ This Date in Twisted-History. Note: Some archived material may become available before the site goes “live”. If so, please feel free to enjoy it or not, as you prefer.

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October 20, 1873

On This Date in TWISTED-HISTORY! in 1873 Phineus T. (P.T.) Barnum opened a hippodrome in New York City and disappointed thousand of school age boys who thought it was going to be a 30 foot tall mechanical hippopotamus that would shoot fire from its mouth and butt. To their subsequent delight, it was a large … Continue reading

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October 19, 2003

On This Date in TWISTED-HISTORY! in 2003 in London, magician David Blaine emerged from a clear plastic box that had been suspended by a crane over the banks of the Thames River since September 5th. He survived only on water for 44 days. His first attempt on September 4th was brought to a quick halt … Continue reading

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October 18, 1922

On This Date in TWISTED-HISTORY! in 1922 the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) formed. At first, since only radio existed, it aired comedies, dramas, and sporting events, and the BBC relied upon hiring excellent writers to draw the listeners in. When TV became popular, the BBC remained true to its radio formula and once again relied … Continue reading

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October 17, 1888

On This Date in TWISTED-HISTORY! in 1888 the first issue of “National Geographic Magazine” was released at newsstands. While the pictures of animals and important geographic phenomena were deemed interesting by the general public, it wasn’t until the sixth issue when “National Geographic” did a photo exposé of the ‘Untamed Women of the Serengeti’ did … Continue reading

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October 16, 1916

On This Date in TWISTED-HISTORY! in 1916, Margaret Sanger opened the first birth control clinic in New York City. Ms. Sanger, a birth control activist, sex educator, and nurse was subsequently arrested for providing birth control information to the women of New York so that they could decide if and when they wanted to become … Continue reading

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October 15, 1860

On This Date in TWISTED-HISTORY! in 1860, 11 year old Grace Bedell wrote a letter to presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln. In her letter she wrote that since he was a homely man who had a face that scared her baby sister, it might prove prudent and beneficial to his presidential prospects if he grew a … Continue reading

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October 14, 1926

On This Date in TWISTED-HISTORY! in 1926 the book “Winnie-the-Pooh,” by A.A. Milne, made its debut. “Winnie-the-Pooh” was not the first children’s book written by Milne. His first attempt was “A Young Boy Who Wouldn’t Shut Up and Go To Bed and Is Eaten By a Big Hungry Bear” while favorably received by working parents … Continue reading

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October 13, 1988

On This Date in TWISTED-HISTORY! in 1988, the Shroud of Turin was shown by carbon-dating tests to be a fake from the Middle Ages. It was first ‘uncovered’ in 1357 in Western Europe (France) as a means to encourage pilgrims (tourist) to come and see it and spend their money on hotels, food, souvenirs, and … Continue reading

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