In 1958 Moscow, Soviet parents took a different approach to get their new Russian babies to sleep. So what exactly did they do? Well, they left them out in the snow! While this may sound odd in some countries, it is actually more common than you think.

So, why do these parents do this? Read on to find out!

Fresh Winter Air

Russian authorities believed in the importance of fresh air for growing lungs. They believed that the crisp, clean air strengthened their immune system. Thus, this helped them sleep longer. You can see it firsthand in the strict sanitary regulations overseen by their highest medical body.

It stated that children in kindergartens must have regular access to fresh air, with rooms aired at least twice a day. Additionally, outdoor walks and playtime were mandatory in the winter. This ruled stayed in place even when temperatures dropped below -4 Celsius (24.8°F)!

Defense Against Tuburculosis

Winter was a prime time for health epidemics in the early Soviet Union. With so many infected, important counter measures were taken to fight the spread of diseases like tuberculosis. By the 1930s, vaccination programs were rolling out across Russia.

In addition to powerful medicine, the Soviets believed hygiene was the key to winning the battle against epidemics. So, propagating clean living practices became a main point of emphasis. This practice extended down to kindergarten. It was believed that hygiene measures put into place prevented thousands from succumbing to widespread winter illnesses.

Controversy Around Winter Naps

While this was a popular practice in Russia, not all countries were as open to it. Danish mother Anette Sorensen experienced this first hand. In 1997, she was arrested for leaving her 14-month-old daughter outside a New York restaurant. She had gone inside to enjoy a few margaritas and repeatedly checked on the blanketed baby during her time in the restaurant.

The arrest caused controversy in New York. Locals were shocked by the prospect of parents leaving a child unattended on the sidewalk.

Winter Proofing Babies Is the Norm in Some Places

In Nordic countries such as Finland, Sweden, and Denmark, it is common to find babies napping outside in their strollers during winter months. This unusual habit is based on the belief that babies benefit from exposure to fresh air and a healthy dose of all-natural Vitamin D from the sun.

Additionally, many parents find that exposing their children to cold temperatures at a young age helps strengthen their immune systems. In order to guard against cold weather and harsh winds, babies are swaddled snugly in multiple layers of warm clothing and under thick blankets.

Are There Benefits to Winterizing Babies?

Many believe that letting babies sleep outside in the snow can have multiple benefits, such as helping their immune systems build antibodies necessary for protection from common winter illnesses. It is considered to make their bodies more resilient and better able to adjust to fluctuations in temperature.

Taking winter walks or staying out in cold temperatures helps enhance babies’ motor skills and sensory stimulation. And exposure to winter temperatures strengthens babies’ immune systems, helps regulate their breathing patterns, and improves their sleep cycles.

Concerns With Leaving Babies Outside

If you are sold on winter-proofing your baby, there are certainly a few things you need to consider first! Hypothermia and frostbite are obvious concerns. It’s important to check their chest and hands to ensure they stay warm enough!

Additionally, leaving a child unattended puts them at risk of being abducted. It also exposes them to curious wildlife, such as birds, squirrels, and other critters. If you are leaving your babies out for a winter nap, it is important to keep a very watchful eye!

Lastly, this sort of practice is only accepted in some places. As was the case with Anette Sorensen, leaving a child unattended could land you in handcuffs in some countries around the world. So, being aware of the local culture and laws of your location is paramount!

Conclusion

Depending on where you are in the world will determine whether you find this practice completely normal or highly bizarre. But like the people of 1958 Moscow, we all want the same thing for our babies: Health and safety!

The post Winter Proofing New Russian Babies first appeared on History In Memes.

Privately owned, makeshift zoos have been thrust into the limelight with eccentric characters like Joe Exotic the “Tiger King” and his nemesis, Carole Baskin, dominating pop culture. But paying to interact with dangerous animals in shockingly unregulated environments is not exactly new. Welcome to the California Alligator Farm: A rather terrifying tourist attraction that opened in Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles, in 1907. 

While this isn’t the first time we’ve seen animals do the unexpected, the California Alligator Farm is a testament to America’s past – when things got a little wild from time to time…

Meet “Alligator Joe” Campbell

California’s alligator farms were founded by alligator king, “Alligator Joe” Campbell, and Francis Earnest, the man who owned an Ostrich Farm across the street. The price of admission? Just 25 cents!

“Alligator Joe” initially set up shop down south in Hot Springs, Arkansas. But when the bright lights of L.A. – and its hot bed of tourism – were too tempting to pass up, he loaded his gators on a train and headed West. 

In Lincoln Heights, Campbell’s impressive roster of nearly a thousand reptiles became the most complete reptile collection in the world. Over 13,000 visitors soaked in those scales every year. 

A Day at the Farm 

A typical visit to the Alligator Farm included men, women, and young children feeding, touching and even riding alligators. The alligators’ size ranged anywhere from between a few inches and 13 feet in size. 

Visitors could even buy the smaller alligators to take home!

At the nudging of the handlers, the alligators performed for the crowd. The alligators ate live chickens, rode down slides and wrestled with “trainers.” You could even visit the movie star alligator, Billy, who cameoed in various films from 1910-1940. Billy’s “star quality” came from his ability to open his jaw wide whenever meat dangled off-camera. 

Billy was the oldest reptile in the park. Because of this, he had been domesticated enough to wear a saddle that parents gladly placed their children on for a slithery ride.

There’s No Way This Ended Well, Right?

Correct. But not for the reasons you’re thinking!

Yes, it was risky to buy two acres for an alligator farm that was equipped with an incubator house – and then opening said alligator farm to children. But no serious accidents or lawsuits were responsible for the California Alligator Farm’s closure. It was actually poor attendance!

In 1953, tourists started to kse interest. The farm was relocated from LA to Buena Park, California, before closing for good in 1984. 

Even though it shut down, the park has remained a staple of Los Angeles history. Long live the days when you could put alligators on trains, ship them across the country and have people pay to hang out in pools with them. Yikes!

The post California’s Alligator Farms of the 1900s first appeared on History In Memes.

Over 1 million people around the world finish running a marathon each year. That is close to 0.01% of the global population. So, that is 0.01% of people willingly sign themselves up to train and endure running a 26.2 mile long race. That’s some crazy sh*t right there! And about one-third of marathon runners are women. 34.82% to be exact. But, this wasn’t always the case. When Kathrine Switzer was running the Boston Marathon in 1967, women were not accepted in the world of running with open arms. 

Here’s the brave story of what happened when Kathrine ran the Boston Marathon in 1967.

Who Is Kathrine Switzer?

Kathrine Switzer was born on January 5, 1947, in Amberg, Germany. In 1949, her family moved to Virginia. She played a lot of sports and ran a mile every day. Finding empowerment and enjoyment from running, she began her track career at Lynchburg College. After transferring to Syracuse University, Kathrine began running longer distances to train with the men’s cross-country team. Kathrine’s aspirations didn’t stop there. She had dreams of running the Boston Marathon. At the time, no woman had officially completed the marathon race.

Leading the Way for Kathrine

The year prior, Bobbi Gibb was the first woman to run and finish the Boston Marathon. But, she wasn’t officially entered as a runner in the race due to being disqualified because she was a female. But that didn’t stop her from running the 26.2 miles. Bobbi hid in a bush near the marathon start line, wore a hoodie to cover her identity and raced alongside the other marathoners. She completed the race, but unfortunately, her time was not recorded down. 

This story didn’t deter Kathrine. She entered the race using her initials, “K.V. Switzer.” This kept her gender unknown on the entry form, and her bib was registered. After paying a $2 entry fee, K.V.Switzer was ready to race against over 600 runners!

K.V. Switzer Races The Boston Marathon

The Boston Marathon took place on April 19,1967, in less than ideal weather conditions. It was cold, wet, and snowy. But, that didn’t dampen Kathrine’s excitement. As fellow, male runners were getting hyped at the start line, they were the least bit fazed by Kathrine’s presence. Quite the opposite – they were beyond supportive! 

The race began and everything was going smootly. However, a press truck pulled up a few miles into the race. The photographers realized Kathrine was a female and began shouting at her:

“What are you doing in the race? What are you trying to prove?”

As odd as the interaction was, Kathrine continued on. Next, a bus full of the race officials pulled up. The Boston Marathon’s co-director, Jock Semple, hopped onto the course. And no, he wasn’t looking to run the remaining miles. He raced toward Kathrine to stop her from running! He was grabbing at her bib, yelling:

“Get the hell out of my race and give me those numbers!”

Kathrine tried to get away from Jock’s grip as her coach yelled at the co-director that she was a trained athlete. Luckily, her American football-player boyfriend, Tom Miller, was running alongside her at the time. Miller shoulder-checked Jock, which blocked him from removing Kathrine’s numbers from her sweatshirt. Talk about a good defense line!

As rattled and distressed as Kathrine was about the back-to-back attacks, it didn’t show in her performance. She continued on and finished the marathon. Her finishing time was around 4 hours and 20 minutes. Thus, she became the first woman in history to officially receive a bib and complete the Boston Marathon.

What Did Kathrine Switzer Have to Say After the Marathon?

When recalling those attempts to stop her from racing, Kathrine admitted:

“I was so afraid. I’m so full of confidence now but at that moment, I had just turned 20. As a girl, I wasn’t trying to prove anything. I had proved to Arnie [her coach] that I could do the distance and the reward was to go to Boston.” 

She also recalled:

“Back then, there was no New York, Chicago or London Marathon. And outside the Olympics, for runners, Boston was the ‘big baby’ and a special thing. I wanted to be a part.”

Despite what the press or race officials believed, Kathrine wasn’t trying to make her entry in the marathon as a political statement. 

So that begs the question: Why did she put everything on the line to race then? It was a combination of her love and ability to race long-distance, mixed with already running 31 miles during training. But, ultimately, it was the desire to prove to her coach that she, along with other female runners, could run a marathon.

When Did The Boston Marathon Accept Female Runners?

In 1972, the Boston Marathon officially began accepting female runners. Kathrine ran the Boston Marathon again. This time, she completed it in 2 hours, 51 minutes, and 37 seconds, A personal best!

Kathrine went on to become an icon in the world of women’s running. She wrote a memoir titled “Marathon Woman,” along with other books. She also contributed to the Runner’s World magazine, providing commentary for the Olympics, and received many honors for her contributions.

Her love for running didn’t simmer as she continued to race, winning the 1974 New York Marathon and running in the Boston Marathon, 50 years after her initial race, at the age of 70!

The post Kathrine Switzer: Boston Marathon Legend first appeared on History In Memes.

Without a doubt, the Allies had help from many people, countries, and even animals during World War Two. However, a Syrian brown bear named Wojtek was one of the most unexpected allies. Serving in the Free Polish Army from 1942 to 1945, Wojtek was known for his power, strength, and almost human-like personality. 

But, his service to the Allied cause goes far beyond his cute and cuddly face. Wojtek actually saw combat in one of the fiercest battles of the Italian campaign. 

Polish Soldiers in Iran rescued Wojtek 

In the spring of 1942, the Allies knew the war would last a long time. Because of this, they needed to raise as many armies as possible. One of the ways the Allies thought to do this was to raise new units from prisoners and refugees who had fled conquered countries. Poland was the perfect candidate for this proposal. 

Because the Soviet Union was a German ally before being invaded by German forces, Soviet authorities had hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians stashed away in gulags. With the new agreement inked in 1941, Soviet authorities granted pardons to any Polish man or woman who joined the new army. Known as Ander’s army, after its commanding officer, the unit shipped out in March 1942 to serve in the British army. 

While en route through Iran, 18-year-old Irena Bokiewicz encountered a brown bear cub at a rail station. She convinced her great uncle, to adopt the bear. The Iranian boy selling it said poachers had killed its mother. Taking pity on the bear, the niece convinced an army Lieutenant to buy the bear and that she would take care of it herself. The officer agreed.

Over the next three months, Wojtek, which is short for happy warrior, grew stronger and bigger. Soon, he was the official mascot of the Second Polish Army Corps.

Wojtek Served in Combat in Italy

Before leaving Iran, General Anders had to figure out how to get Wojtek onto a British transport ship. Army regulations forbid mascots or animals from embarking. General Anders enlisted Wojtek as a private in the army to get around this rule. Wojtek was now a soldier with an actual pay account and identity card. 

With the problem of transporting Wojtek out of the way, the next issue was how to employ him. Polish officers agreed that he could be used to haul heavy artillery shells. So, they put him in the 22^nd Artillery Supply Company. After his new assignment, the Polish Second Army Corps arrived in Italy, enduring almost three years of constant combat. 

The deadliest battle the Poles fought in was the Battle for Monte Cassino. Overlooking a strategic height of the infamous Gothic Line, taking the centuries-old monastery was vital to cracking German defenses in Italy. During the months-long battle, the Poles were engaged in heavy fighting, including the 22^nd Artillery Supply Company.

With casualties high, Polish leadership even threw support units into infantry roles. With a shortage of manpower, the company’s commander started using Wojtek to carry artillery shells to the guns. Wojtek is said to have done such a good job carrying crates of ammunition that he was promoted to corporal! 

Though Wojtek handling shells like a human is disputed, at least one British observer claimed he saw him do it. But, regardless of how true the story is or not, Wojtek was a great morale booster for the unit. Here’s some other habits he was known to do:

• Drink beer and coffee
• Smoke (and eat) cigarettes
• Sleep with other soldiers if they were cold in the night
• Salute when greeted

Wojtek’s Legacy

Wojtek was a morale boost during a time when there wasn’t much to smile about. His happy-go-lucky personality made him a hit with soldiers who had endured so much already. After serving in Italy for three years, he was brought to the UK. he was brought along with his unit, where it was disbanded. However, like many Polish soldiers serving the Commonwealth, Wojtek stayed in the UK. 

Wojtek took up residence at the Edinburgh Zoo, where visitors would even throw cigarettes into his enclosure sometimes. He enjoyed his celebrity status until 1961, when he passed away.

The post Wojtek: The Bear Who Fought in WWII first appeared on History In Memes.

When people first think of the Twin Towers, the first thing that comes to mind is the tragedy of 9/11. But before that infamous day, the Twin Towers were among the tallest buildings in the world. And at one point, the World Trade Center was even considered the world’s tallest TV station.

The North Tower, completed first in December 1970, stood at an impressive 1,368 feet. Meanwhile, its twin South Tower, completed in July 1971, stood at 1,362 feet.

Not long after being completed in 1971, the Word Trade Center was soon dwarfed by the Sears Tower in Chicago. Standing at an eye-watering 1,451 feet, the Sears Tower became even taller than the World Trade Center. 

But with a simple addition, the Word Trade Center was soon able to reclaim the title of “World’s Tallest Building.”

The North Tower: The Tallest TV Station in the World

Until its destruction on 9/11, the North Tower had the distinction of being the tallest building in the world at 1,728 feet. But how did the North Tower gain several hundred feet on its twin tower? The answer to that is simple: an antenna. 

Building the twin towers was very expensive. Along with the huge insurance policy that cost billions of dollars, the building’s upkeep, insurance, and rent were costly for its owners. To help offset the cost, they got the idea of turning the North Tower into the country’s largest television station.

In 1979, the owners decided to mount a television antenna on the North Tower. Often working in cranes and baskets almost two thousand feet above the streets of Manhattan, the crews were known as “cloud piercers.” This is because they were so high up they would often be standing far above the cloud covers. 

When completed, the tower provided television coverage for all of New York state. 

The Man Behind the Famous Photo of the World’s Tallest TV Station

Peter Kaplan was a famous photographer who was both a photographer and stuntman. Growing up in New York, Peter was fond of taking pictures from high places, even from a young age. But once he grew up, he took that love of photography to new heights – literally. 

After becoming famous for climbing the Statue of Liberty and snapping several, now world-renowned, photos, Peter Kaplan cemented his fame as both a photographer and daredevil. Clambering up places like the Empire State Building, St. Louis Arch, and Golden Gate Bridge, Peter made it his lifelong passion for showing the world what it looked like from its highest places. 

For the photo showing the antenna on the North Tower, Peter went up not once, not twice, but 12 separate times to get all the shots he needed. Talk about dedication!

Other Artists Who Have Scaled the World Trade Center

The “cloud piercers” and photographer Peter Kaplan weren’t the only ones to bravely make their way high up the World Trade Center.

August 7, 1974: High-wire walker Philippe Petit traversed a 131-foot-long cable between the Twin Towers and walked back and forth several time, 1,350 feet in the air. Even more impressive, he performed the act without a net.

July 22, 1975: Atop the North Tower, Owen Quinn performed the first ever (although unauthorized) parachute jump at the World Trade Center from the top of the North Tower. Follow Owen, four other people have parachuted off the Twin Towers between 1980 and 1999.

May 26, 1977: Toymaker and mountain climber George Willig scaled the entirety of the South Tower’s facade. The act was so impressive that he earned the nickname “the human fly.”

Looking Back at the World’s Tallest TV Station

The story behind the World Trade Center antenna photo is amazing. Not only was the guy that took it dangling almost 2,000 feet in the air, but he also had to do it a dozen times to get the shot he finally wanted. Not only that, but the photographer was well known for taking great shots of places most people would never dream of going. 

Because of how good his work was, Peter Kaplan’s photos have been preserved in places like the Smithsonian, New York Museum of Modern Art, as well as postage stamps in 13 different countries. 

The post The World’s Tallest TV Station first appeared on History In Memes.

The year is 1942 and WWII has left many nations in times of destruction and survival. As warfare ensues on the fronts of many countries, there is a small wooden raft in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Its only passenger is 25-year-old Poon Lim, a Chinese sailor who had been aboard a British Merchant Navy Ship.

Lim, a Chinese native, boarded the ship (the Benlomond) on November 10. His hope was to aid the British who had requested help from other nations. But, the real journey ahead was nothing he could’ve expected.

Poon Lim Drifts Away

To his satisfaction, Lim seized the opportunity to work with the crew of the British ship as a steward. They left from Cape Town with hopes of reaching Suriname, a country on the northeastern Atlantic coast of South America. Thirteen days into their voyage, a German U-boat made contact with the Benlomond. The ship had no chance of survival, and sank 1,200 kilometers east of the mouth of the Amazon river. 

Lim had been thrown into the sea rather quickly and spent his next hours battling to stay afloat. After 2 hours, he finally saw his chance for rest. Lim spotted a raft and made his way over to it. Tired from his unexpected exertion and soaking wet, he finally pulled himself aboard the “Carley Float Life Raft.” He took in his surroundings and was pleased to find the raft was pretty well stocked. He thought to himself that this was more than enough to last him a short trip. He had no idea, he was on a path of solitude for 133 days and what lengths he would have to go to to survive.

Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures

Poon spent his first days the same way I do on vacation. He ate, drank, and tanned with no cares in the world. After all, someone had to be coming to save him. In order to not lose track of time, he tied a knot in a rope signifying the days. He also tied a rope to both his wrist and raft, so he could ensure he would not be bucked from it within the night.

Days passed before he ran out of water. Poon had to come up with a solution quickly. Using both his rain jacket and a canopy, he was able to collect rainwater. His mentality began to change and he was seriously worried help was not coming. Lim even started counting full moons instead of knots. 

The next challenge Poon would face was the hunger. Biscuits and sugar lumps aren’t exactly the diet my doctor tells me to follow, but they were able to sustain him for a while. When the supply went, he knew he needed to find a way to fish. With no weapons, he improvised. Lim was able to make a fishing line out of rope, nails from the raft, and a spring from a flashlight onboard to create hooks. His efforts were effective, and he was able to catch and then eat the raw fish. Not exactly my preference of sushi though.

Realizing his strength was vital for survival, Poon began to tread the ocean waves twice a day. He needed to maintain his muscle mass. Soon the small fish and rainwater were not enough. During one of his fishing attempts, Poon actually caught a shark. Pulling it onto the boat, it began to attack him. He took a water container and bashed it to death. Poon was able to harvest the meat using a knife he had made out of a lid from a tin of meat.  Other ways Poon survived included eating seagull jerky that he made by using sunlight to dry the meat and drinking the blood when water supply was scarce. 

Glimmers of Hope

Lim’s trek was not without hope and disappointment either. During his months at sea he saw both boats and planes with promises of rescue. But at the end of the day, still no one came. The boats completely disregarded him, possibly due to his Asian descent. Once, American planes had spotted Poon and actually dropped coordinates to deploy a rescue team. However, a storm pushed Lim and his meek raft away from the location and the planes were never able to get to him.

Poon Lim Lives Life on Land

On April 5, 1943, 133 days after the Belomond had sunk in the ocean, a frail Poon Lim was pulled aboard a Brazilian ship off the coast of the country. The crew, only speaking Portuguese, was not able to communicate. However, they did give Lim provisions they had. Poon had been the only survivor of the shipwreck, and news of his story quickly spread. He had lost 20 pounds and spent the next 2 weeks in the hospital. He was famous, but at what cost. 

On October 1943, King George VI awarded Poon with the British Empire Medal. Poon would spend his next years traveling and sharing his survival techniques. He would later emigrate to the United States and be awarded citizenship despite the quota on Chinese immigrants being at max. Poon remained a citizen until his death at 72 in 1991. 

To this day, Poon Lim holds the world record for time spent surviving on a life raft as a castaway adrift at sea. When he was told about the record, his only response was “I hope no one will ever have to break it.”

The post One Guinness Record You Won’t Want to Beat: The Survival of Poon Lim first appeared on History In Memes.

In the pandemic era of the 2020s, we have become quite familiar with societal efforts to move large gatherings outdoors. But have you ever heard of the open air schools of the 20th century?

For most of us, year-round outdoor dining and limited indoor activity is a recent phenomenon that has caused us to change the way we function in our daily lives. But, in reality, open air movements are not all that new. 

At the beginning of the 20th century, tuberculosis was responsible for killing one in seven people in Europe and the United States. Open air schools in the early 20th century were largely an attempt to limit child exposure to the disease, with the hope of keeping the public death toll down. 

With the help of some gifted doctors and architects, these schools were able to thrive.

The First Open Air School

The first open air school was created in Waldschule für kränkliche Kinder (which translates to “forest school for sickly children”), in Charlottenburg, Germany in 1904. The school was built by Walter Spickendorff and founded by Jakob Bernhard Bendix. 

While tuberculosis deaths were not common in children, a discovery by Robert Koch revealed that the tuberculosis was an airborne pathogen widening the public health risk. This discovery also led to the development of a “tuberculin test,” exposing large numbers of asymptomatic infected children. 

Without a cure for tuberculosis, health officials were concerned with large gatherings of children with asymptomatic tuberculosis in traditional schools. The focus became targeting public environments and social behaviors in an attempt to limit exposure to the disease. 

Open air schools, like the one in Charlottenburg, began popping up across Germany and around the world. 

The open air school in Charlottenburg was built in the heart of a forest outside of Berlin. If the weather got too cold or rainy, simple wooden buildings were built to hold well-ventilated instruction. 
An added benefit to the open air school strategy were reports of school children with various diseases experiencing significant improvements in their health as a result of spending so much time outdoors.

Open Air Schools Head to the U.S.

Tuberculosis wasn’t just a European problem. The U.S. was suffering from similar death rates and had relied on sanatoriums to combat the spread of the disease. 

In 1908, open air schools arrived in the U.S. thanks to two Rhode Island doctors: Mary Packard and Ellen Stone. 

Taking a page out of Germany’s book, the two doctors used what resources they had and converted the floor of an empty brick building in Providence to a makeshift open air school. 

With windows that stretched to the ceiling that were rarely closed, children kept warm in the winter with snuggy-like blankets known as “eskimo sitting bags.” Remarkably, none of the children got sick during the frigid New England winters – bolstering the open air school even further. 

Fast forward two years, there were 65 functioning open air schools across the U.S.

Open Air Schools Become Open For Good!

With the growing efficacy and popularity of the open air school movement, renowned architects began constructing permanent open air schools in Europe and the U.S. 

In 1927, Dutch architect Jan Duiker constructed an ambitious terraced glass and concrete open air school in the center of Amsterdam. The goal of making more open air schools permanent was to cater to the health of all children – infected or not. 

The open air school movement that began in the woods of Germany proved that moving class outside can save thousands of lives. What was once a relentless disease now had an observable achilles heel.

By the mid 1940s, increased sanitation efforts, open air methods and the discovery of effective antibiotics like streptomycin, caused tuberculosis to recede as a major health threat. 

So, listen to your teacher, and take it outside!

The post Early 20th Century Open Air Schools first appeared on History In Memes.

To get a glimpse of the past that is more than a simple black and white photo will get any history buff’s heart rate up. While historical photos are fascinating in their own right, there’s an almost magical quality to unearthing historical figures on film. Revealing how they behaved, how they moved through the world, to see what their presence was actually like, is a rare treat. Thanks to inventor and film innovator, William Kennedy Dickson, and film editor, David Martin, we have the pleasure of seeing the earliest born person captured on film in 1896: Pope Leo XIII. 

The Man Who Captured Pope Leo XIII on Film 

William Kennedy Laurie Dickson, born August 3, 1860, in Brittany, France, but of Scottish descent, was a film innovator that eventually began working closely with Thomas Edison. 

As the Edison company’s official photographer, Dickson was responsible for developing Edison’s new device known as the kinetoscope, an early motion picture device. 

In 1895, Dickson founded the American Biograph Company with his partner, Herman Casler. There, Casler invented a new camera, the Mutoscope, according to Dickson’s design. Dickson and Casler’s innovation and meticulous improvement of Edison’s designs, made the American Biograph Company Edison’s chief rival in the nickelodeon peep show market.  

While Thomas Edison’s legacy is well documented and quite exceptional, it was in fact a Biograph camera that captured the earliest born person on film, who just so happened to be the Pope. 

How the Pope Was Captured on Film 

It may be surprising to some that a pope would be the earliest born person displayed on film, rather than a prominent entertainer or the filmmaker himself doing a test run.

But the papacy, with its pomp and holy regality, paired with Pope Leo’s XIII mission to modernize the Catholic Church by becoming a public voice on social issues, actually provided the perfect opening for Dickson to make history. 

According to William Dickson, Pope Leo XIII’s inner circle of Roman Catholic prelates and advisors were so enthralled with the successes of Dickson’s Biograph camera that they wanted to bring the Pope to the masses via film. 

But more than just a vanity exercise, the papacy wanted to reach out to the average Roman Catholic, “thousands upon thousands of whom would never otherwise be enabled to receive the Pope’s benediction,” according to Dickson, who spoke on the subject to Royal Magazine in 1901. 

After months of extensive negotiating, William Dickson would add Pope Leo XIII to his list of famous and influential figures caught on film. 

In the spring of 1896, Dickson and his cameraman Eugene Lauste, captured Pope Leo XIII on film in various distinct scenes as seen in the film above. 

Pope Leo XIII appears open to the camera, whether he is arriving in his carriage, or taking a seat flanked by officials and Italian Cardinal Francesco Salesio Della Volpe, recognized by his receding hairline and spectacles. 

The most striking moments of this groundbreaking film, however, occur when the Pope lifts his hand to motion the apostolic blessing, both to the masses but seemingly to the camera itself, an invention receiving an air of holiness in this context. 

More On the Person In Front Of the Camera: Pope Leo XIII

Being the first to capture a pope on film is a remarkable accomplishment in itself, but it’s important to underline just how far back in history Pope Leo XIII’s world was. 

To put it into context, Pope Leo XIII was born on March 2, 1810, the same year Chopin was born and the same year Napoleon Bonaparte married Marie-Louise of Austria. In 1896, the year the film was captured, Utah was admitted as the 45th U.S. State, and the landmark Plessy vs. Ferguson decision was reached by the U.S. Supreme Court. 

William Kennedy Laurie Dickson, who improved upon the camera design of his predecessor Thomas Edison, made a name for himself by capturing influential figures on film. 

His innovative skill and prominence in the field, awarded him a chance to make history: capturing the earliest born person on film, Pope Leo XIII. 

The post Pope Leo XIII: The Earliest-Born Person Captured on Video (1896) first appeared on History In Memes.

Imagine: You’re face-to-face with a leopard viciously trying to kill you. We know, this sounds like your worst dream – or more like a nightmare – you’re hoping you wake up from. But, this is something that actually happened to taxidermist Carl Akeley – and he lived to tell the tale.

Unless you’re a pro fighter like Mayweather, there’s no shot of fighting off such a primal animal who is dead-set on killing you. But for Akeley, his encounter with a leopard was not him staring death in the face, but rather, getting into a little scuffle with a bully. No big deal!

So, who is this man who’s able to fight a leopard? Here are five facts about certified badass Carl Akeley and his strange ride to becoming obsessed with taxidermy.

1. Carl Was a Major Advocate For Taxidermy 

Carl Akeley was many things – a naturalist, inventor, conservationist. But was more notably known as a taxidermist. So much so, he’s actually known as the father of modern taxidermy. After viewing an exhibit when he was younger, Carl became fascinated with taxidermy and believed it was an art form. Carl believed it’s important to show people what animals look like in the wild, in their natural habitat. He didn’t “hide his methods, he shared them with museums in hopes of having the animal skins placed on a perfectly molded recreation of the animal’s body, thus melding the artificial and the real to make something educational. His biggest goal was to build a large-scale diorama of Africa with the game that could be found on the plains.”

2. Carl Akeley First Attempted Taxidermy At 12 Years Old

Killing and stuffing animals may not be everybody’s dream job, but it sure was Carl’s! His first attempt at taxidermy was at 12 years old when his friend’s pet canary died. Carl – being the good friend he was – offered to stuff the bird. Stuffing the inside of the bird, as well as sewing glass beads into the eye sockets, Carl fixed and preserved the animal. His attempt fueled his passion for taxidermy further, which led to years of educating and immersing himself in the subject matter. When he turned 19 years old, he was offered an apprenticeship at the Ward’s Natural Science Establishment, which started his journey of museum work all around New York.

3. Near-Death Encounters With Wild Animals

Leopards weren’t the only animals out for Carl’s blood – he has a long list of crazy scary encounters with wild animals. While on Mount Kenya, a bull elephant charged and almost crushed him. Another time he was tag-teamed by three charging rhinos, who just missed hitting him. And thank god for that –  he didn’t have any weapons on him! After successfully shooting a silverback gorilla, the limp, lifeless body came tumbling towards Carl and nearly knocked him off a cliff. Carl’s even shot hyenas, warthogs, and almost got an ostrich.

4. Carl Killed A Leopard With His Bare Hands

The ostrich attempt is where the infamous story of the leopard begins. During his first trip to Africa, Carl was face-to-face with a leopard. While out hunting for ostrich, there was a sound in the tall grass nearby. Figuring it was a hyena or maybe a warthog, Carl did a very foolish thing and shot blindly at the hidden animal. Hearing the animal’s shriek, Carl knew it was no hyena and most certainly was not a warthog. The 80-pound leopard lunged for Carl, sinking her teeth into his forearm. He jammed his arm down her throat while clutching her throat with his other hand in an attempt to strangle and subdue her. 

While discussing the near death incident, Carl explained:

“I couldn’t do it except little by little. When I got enough grip on her throat to loosen her hold just a little she would catch my arm again an inch or two lower down. In this way, I drew the full length of the arm through her mouth inch by inch… [There was] only the sound of the crushing of tense muscles and the choking, snarling grunts of the beast… I felt her relax, a sort of letting go, although she was still struggling. At the same time I felt myself weakening similarly, and then it became a question as to which would give up first.”

– Carl Akeley

Carl was successful, making it out of the fight with his life and with the prize of the killed leopard. That crazy experience didn’t stop him from going back. Carl made a total of five trips to Africa to observe, study, and bring back animals.

5. Carl Akeley Died While In The Field

Spending years and multiple trips to Africa studying animals, Carl also began inventing tools that would help other taxidermists. He invented the “Akeley cement gun,” which mounted animals, as well as the “Akeley camera,” also known as the “Pancake camera”, which helped taxidermists film animals in the wild. It also was impressive mechanically for its ability to be  easily mounted, rotated and reloaded.

Carl Akeley died from a fever he contracted while in Congo in 1926. He died a few miles away from where he had previously observed gorillas during a trip to Congo in 1921.

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Like myself, you probably have heard or seen the famous photograph of “Lunch atop a Skyscraper.” Although a well-known photograph, have you ever wondered how it was captured – and who by? 

Charles Clyde Ebbets was the mastermind behind the piece, and his story is actually just as breathtaking as the picture. Here’s a bit about his incredible life!

Humble Beginnings

Charles Clyde Ebbets was born in Gadsen, Alabama, on August 18, 1905. He received his first camera at the young age of 8, using it to casually take pictures similar to myself at that age with a disposable. With each picture he took, he fell more and more in love with his hobby, mastering it further each time. By the 1920s, Ebbets’ family was financially struggling alongside so many other Americans. This prompted Ebbets to quit high school in his sophomore year. 

Ebbets started his career during the 1920s in St. Petersburg, Florida, as a still photographer. He traveled all around the southeastern United States, diving into many adventures. During this time, he picked up a lot of activities, from learning how to fly a plane, wrestling, and even racing cars. Ebbets’ fearless lifestyle began to leak into his photography. He started to shoot aerial pictures and action shots, a genre never seen before. 

The Rise to 700 Feet

In the 1930s, Ebbets’ cutting edge art peaked the interest of many. His growing name earned him a huge contract in 1932: Photographing the construction of the Rockefeller Center. He was hired as the photographic director, with the main goal of convincing viewers to lease out the building. Times were tough. The start of construction began a few years into the Great Depression, and no one was throwing bills around willy nilly.  Ebbets needed to capture the audience – and he did not disappoint.

Within the first year, his work appeared on multiple front pages. One of his masterpieces was “The Photographer” (seen below). However, his most famous was “Lunch atop a Skyscraper” This photo featured 11 ironworkers having bagged lunches on top of a huge metal beam. The image represented your average everyday worker caught in the chaos of the growing times. It is known as one of the most iconic representations of 20th century American photography. His daring aerial shots shocked Americans and led the building to a successful launch a few years after the end of the Great Depression.  

A Florida Staycation

In 1935, Charlie moved to South Florida, where he became one of the first official Associated Press photographers for that region. That same year, he was recruited to document the destruction of the Florida Keys from a category 5 hurricane. A few years later, in 1938, he founded the Miami Press Photographers’ Association and served as their first president. 

Similar to the opportunity in the Florida Keys, Ebbets was later hired to capture the opening of the Everglades National Park. It was here that he was able to develop award-winning shots of both the wildlife of the park along with the native Seminole Indian tribe. Many of these photos are still admired, depicting the beauty of the Seminoles and the growth of the region. 

A Nation at War

WWII began in 1939, and, like most citizens, Charles’ life changed drastically. His photography shifted from nature to documenting the military operations of the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Institute. He was able to show off activities on the base, such as training, visiting political figures, and confidential images of the terrain. After the war ended in 1945, he and local publicist Ben Jacobs founded the City of Miami News Bureau. During his 17-year career there, he saw the bureau change names to the Miami Metropolitan News Bureau, growing from three employees to a full 24. 

Ebbets’ amazing pictures of Miami further expanded his name and became a huge part of South Florida tourism. Many wanted to visit the area just to see the beauty of the images in person. In the following decades, his photographs were featured in famous publications like Miami Daily News, The New York Times, and even National Geographic. 

The Final Photos

Ebbets left his job in 1962 but could never leave his love for photography. He continued to do freelance work up until his death in 1978, at the age of 72. His work can still be viewed online, in galleries, old magazines, newspaper copies, and even on old postcards. He truly was a legendary man who was ableto capture destruction, beauty, and the atmosphere of the times. 

The post Charles C. Ebetts: The Mind Behind “Lunch atop a Skyscraper” first appeared on History In Memes.