This week, let’s talk about…fun. The history of things that people do–besides work–is really quite fascinating!
For Everyone
P.T. Barnum opened the American Museum in NYC in 1842, literally inventing the concept of middle class entertainment: not just for men, but for women and children, as well. Barnum Museum Director, Kathleen Maher, explains.
Crosswords Then are Like Crosswords Now
The very first known crossword puzzle came out in 1913, and it was remarkably similar (in most ways) to the ones we solve today, according to Princeton’s Adrienne Raphel.
It Was A Different Time in America
According to Holy Cross Professor Stephanie Yuhl, the 1964-65 World’s Fair in NYC was more than just pure entertainment; it was a cultural and political watershed. America’s sometimes controversial view of an optimistic technology-driven future — led by U.S. ingenuity — was showcased for all to see.
The Greatest Ever?
(also a candy bar)
Baseball fans love to argue, and deciding who the “greatest ever” was is one of their favorite subjects to disagree on. But the majority do seem to come up with the same name, according to Boston University historian, Vincent Cannato.
Before Monopoly, There Was
“The Landlord’s Game”
In 1934, Parker Brothers released “Monopoly” as a brand new game about money invented by Charles Darrow. However, as Purdue’s Robert Howard reveals, Darrow had recreated a game that already existed.
Can An Art Museum Be Run For Profit?
Tina Ryan is a curator at the renowned Albert Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo, and previously taught at Columbia University. Here she explains that, according to the International Council of Museums, a museum actually must be run as a non-profit. That surprised us here at One Day University. Does it surprise you?
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