Category: photo Legend history

History LGBT Tragedy

History LGBT Tragedy

The Stonewall Riots begin. Just after 3 a.m., police raided the Stonewall Inn—a gay club located on New York City’s Christopher Street. The incident turned violent as patrons and local sympathizers begin rioting against the police. Although the police were technically within their legal purview in raiding the club, which was serving liquor without a license, New York’s gay community had grown weary and wary of the police department frequently targeting gay clubs specifically because of their clientele. It is claimed that activist Marsha P Johnson yelled “I got my civil rights,” and threw a shot glass at the wall, referred to as “the shot glass heard ‘round the world.” As the two groups faced off against each other, the protest spilled over into the neighboring streets, and order was not restored until the deployment of New York’s riot police. The Stonewall Riots were followed by several days of demonstrations in New York and was the impetus for the formation of the Gay Liberation Front as well as other gay, lesbian and bisexual civil rights organizations. It’s also regarded by many as history’s first major LGBT protest on behalf of equal rights.

Adolf Hitler Political Party 1934

Nazi leader Adolf Hitler orders a bloody purge of his own political party, assassinating hundreds of Nazis whom he believed had the potential to become political enemies in the future. The leadership of the Nazi Storm Troopers (SA), whose four million members had helped bring Hitler to power in the early 1930s, was especially targeted. Hitler feared that some of his followers had taken his early “National Socialism” propaganda too seriously and thus might compromise his plan to suppress workers’ rights in exchange for German industry making the country war-ready. It was referred to as “The Night of the Long Knives.” Image Credit:  German Federal Archive.

Circus Tragedy 1944

Photo legend history, a fire breaks out under the Hartford, Connecticut big top of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum Bailey Circus. The disaster killed 167 people and left 682 injured. The cause of the fire was unknown, but it spread at incredible speed, racing up the canvas of the circus tent. Scarcely before the 8,000 spectators inside the big top could react, patches of burning canvas began falling on them from above, and a stampede for the exits began. Many were trapped under fallen canvas, but most were able to rip through it and escape. However, after the tent’s ropes burned and its poles gave way, the whole burning big top came crashing down, consuming those who remained inside. Within 10 minutes it was over, and because of a picture that appeared in newspapers of clown Emmett Kelly holding a water bucket, the event became colloquially known as “the day the clowns cried.” An investigation later revealed that the tent had undergone a treatment with flammable paraffin thinned with three parts of gasoline to make it waterproof. The Circus eventually agreed to pay $5 million in compensation, and several of the organizers were convicted on manslaughter charges. In 1950, in a late development in the case, Robert D. Segee of Circleville, Ohio, confessed to starting the Hartford circus fire. Segee claimed that he had been an arsonist since the age of six. In November 1950, Segee was sentenced to two consecutive terms of 22 years in prison, the maximum penalty in Ohio at the time.

German Bombing 1940

The Germans begin the first in a long series of bombing raids against Great Britain, as the Battle of Britain, which will last three and a half months, begins. After the occupation of France by Germany, Britain knew it was only a matter of time before the Axis power turned its sights across the Channel. And on July 10, 120 German bombers and fighters struck a British shipping convoy in that very Channel. Although Britain had far fewer fighters than the Germans–600 to 1,300–it had a few advantages, such as an effective radar system, which made the prospects of a German sneak attack unlikely. Britain also produced superior quality aircraft. Its Spitfires could turn tighter than Germany’s ME109s, enabling it to better elude pursuers; and its Hurricanes could carry 40mm cannon, and would shoot down, with its American Browning machine guns, over 1,500 Luftwaffe aircraft. But in the opening days of battle, Britain was in immediate need of two things: a collective stiff upper lip–and aluminum. A plea was made by the government to turn in all available aluminum to the Ministry of Aircraft Production. “We will turn your pots and pans into Spitfires and Hurricanes,” the ministry declared. And they did.

Happy Ice Cream Day

Ice cream has been around in some form since 2nd century B.C., but until the 1800s it remained a rare treat only enjoyed by elites. It was eventually sold by street vendors and after prohibition, when the popularity of soda fountains and malt shops surged, in storefronts as well. The first ice cream trucks, as we know them, emerged in the 1920s as street vendors made use of automobiles. The rest is, as they say, history.  Do you have a favorite ice cream treat?

Koko The Gorilla

The Gorilla Foundation announced the passing of their beloved Koko on Tuesday, June 19th, 2018 at the age of 46. Throughout her life, Koko’s abilities made international headlines. She was chosen as an infant to work on a language research project with psychologist Francine “Penny” Patterson, and was coined the famous “sign language talking Gorilla.” In 2001, Koko made a fast friend in comedian Robin Williams. Years later, in 2014, Koko was one of many who mourned Williams’ passing. Koko amazed scientists in 2012, when she showed she could learn to play the recorder. That alone revealed mental perspicacity but also that primates could learn to control their breathing — something that had been assumed to be beyond their abilities. Her ability to interact with people made Koko an international celebrity. But she also revealed the depth and strength of a gorilla’s emotional life, sharing moments of glee and sadness with researchers. Rest in Peace, Koko.

City Of Volubilis Morocco

Throwback travel thursday takes us to Roman ruins located in Morocco. It’s the city of Volubilis, first built in 3rd century BC. Roman rule supercharged the city’s expansion and it grew to cover roughly 100 acres during the 1st century. The city was one of Rome’s most remote outposts and Roman control over the city only lasted until around 280 AD as local tribes took over. It was inhabited by many other groups though the centuries but by the 11th century was essentially abandoned. In 1997 it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and now many come to marvel at the preserved ruins that remain.