1908.

[Bugman]

Today the Chicago Cubs, the residents of Chicago and their fans from coast to coast are basking in the glow of their first World Series victory since 1908. You might be thinking this belongs in the Sports Forum, but read on for a short list of notable people and events from that long ago year.

The tradition of a ball dropping at the stroke of midnight to welcome a new year begins in Times Square.

Theodore Roosevelt is serving out the final months of his second term as President.

Oklahoma is admitted to the Union as the 46th state.

Mothers Day observed for the first time.

William C. Durant founds what will become General Motors.

The first Model-T Fords roll off the assembly line.

William Howard Taft defeats William Jennings Bryan in the presidential election.

Author Mark Twain turns 72.

James Murray invents the first upright vacuum cleaner, later selling the rights to The Hoover Company.

 

[milagros317]

Very nice list, Bugman.

Born that year: actress Bette Davis, baseball announcer Red Barber, actor James Stewart, Vice President Nelson Rockefeller, President Lyndon B. Johnson, author William Saroyan, and Senator Joseph McCarthy.

 

[Bugman]

Thanks mils, yours is interesting too. A few notable deaths in 1908. Former President Grover Cleveland. Harry Longabaugh, better known as the Sundance Kid. Butch Cassidy(?). Pat Garrett, the man who killed Billy the Kid.

 

[The Internet]

Hey I'll add to the list! A major one: DW Griffith enters motion pictures. First as an actor, by mid-year he's directing and within a year had totally jump-started the dwindling novelty that was motion pictures. 1908 is practically the reset button for motion pictures and is virtually the beginning of the movie business as we now know it.

Here's "The Fatal Hour", one of the earliest examples of modern film editing.


this one's funny.


Some other 1908 films:
There was no Chaplin yet, but in France there was the hilarious Max Linder, who to my eyes is more current than Chaplin:


Some spectacular early stop-motion animation.:


Jack Johnson goes to Australia for the knockout....:



So yeah, when I look at this stuff...and the stuff you guys listed......it does boggle the mind: THAT'S how long it's been since the Cubs had won the World Series?!!! That is truly an eternity....congratulations Cubs fans, and to the city of Chicago in general! Both teams now have broken their curses!!!

 

[Bugman]

Fascinating stuff 'Net. Thanks for posting it.

The first around the world car race begins in New York City, bound for Paris.

Robert Perry departs for the North Pole.

Thomas Selfridge earns the dubious distinction of being the first man to die in a plane crash. Pilot Orville Wright is badly injured but recovers.

The Gentleman's Agreement of 1907, designed to curb Japanese immigration to the United States is fully enacted.

http://www.history.com/topics/gentlemens-agreement

Some things that made their first appearance in 1908.

Coffee filters.

Water coolers.

Paper cups.

The gyro compass.

 

[BlasterMaster]

My apologies if this ruffles some feathers but did women have the right to vote in 1908? Just wondering.

 

[milagros317]

My apologies if this ruffles some feathers but did women have the right to vote in 1908? Just wondering.

No, the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution which gave women the right to vote was ratified in August 1920.

 

[BlasterMaster]

No, the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution which gave women the right to vote was ratified in August 1920.

The fact that it took till the 20th century for America, the land of freedom and liberty, to give women the right to vote boggles the freaking mind.

 

[paracarl44]

Also born in 1908 newsman Edward R, Murrow; Ian Fleming, writer of James Bond Novels; Don Ameche, actor; and Milton Berle, comedian.

 

[Bugman]

Also born in 1908 newsman Edward R, Murrow; Ian Fleming, writer of James Bond Novels; Don Ameche, actor; and Milton Berle, comedian.

Some iconic names there. Thanks for your contribution Carl.

 

[Alliekat]

Also born in 1908 newsman Edward R, Murrow; Ian Fleming, writer of James Bond Novels; Don Ameche, actor; and Milton Berle, comedian.

Quite a cast of characters

 

[milagros317]

The fact that it took till the 20th century for America, the land of freedom and liberty, to give women the right to vote boggles the freaking mind.

Some women (those with taxed property) had the right to vote in Sweden in 1718, but that was ended in 1772.

In 1869, the U.S. territory of Wyoming, not yet a state, gave women the right to vote.

The first country to give all women the right to vote was New Zealand in 1893.
That same year, 1893, Colorado became the first U.S. state to grant women the right to vote.
Other U.S. states that followed in the 19th century were both Idaho and Utah in 1896.

The last country to give women the right to vote was Saudi Arabia in 2011. Women also gained the right to run for office in 2015.

You say that the whole U.S. was rather late in giving all women the right to vote, which was in 1920. Compared to the New Zealanders, yes, 27 years late.

In fact the history of women's rights worldwide up to and including the 19th century is ghastly.
Outside of developed countries, it is today still ghastly in many places.
Sorry to remove your rose-colored glasses.

 

[Alliekat]

The fact that it took till the 20th century for America, the land of freedom and liberty, to give women the right to vote boggles the freaking mind.

I appreciate your kind sentiment. I don't think you have rose colored glasses at all 🙂 Don't let others bring your thoughtful spirit down!

 

[paracarl44]

September 27, 1908 Henry Ford produces his first Model T automobile.