Description: The 1907 Peking to Paris Race had inspired an even bolder test of these new machines known as automobiles. The course would take racers from New York City to Paris, with a planned 150-mile ship passage from Nome, Alaska, across the Bering Strait to East Cape, Siberia. This was a considerable challenge, to say the least, given the state of automobile technology and the nearly nonexistent road infrastructure at the time. Six cars and 17 men attempted the dangerous journey, but only three of six contestants completed the course. All told, The Great Race of 1908 took 69 days and covered over 13,000 grueling miles of winter roads. In the end, the winner was the American team, driving a 1907 Thomas Flyer.
Description: Not a lot of info out there on Union Truck Company, but from articles of incorporation, it appears that they were a cartage company formed in the late '30s in Ventura, California. From the few archival photos we've been able to uncover, they apparently specialized in produce transport, which would make sense seeing how Ventura has long been an agricultural area, growing everything from berries and lemons, to peppers and avocados.
Description: Released in 1970, the Maverick was a compact car originally sold as a two-door coupe, intended to provide stylish looks and prolonged practicality along with comfortable, enjoyable driving. The model's objective was to compete against overseas rivals, and was widely marketed as an ‘import killer,’ which apparently worked, as 579,000 units sold in the first year alone. Engines initially included a couple of efficient 6-cyclinder options, coupled with either automatic or manual transmissions. Of course, it didn't take long for hot rodders to see the compact platform as the perfect lightweight chassis, and countless Mavericks were stuffed with powerful V8 engines that turned the economy car into a street racer to be reckoned with.
Description: Riverside Speedway was a 1/4 mile dirt track built on top of an old landfill in Nipawin, Saskatchewan. The track opened in 1983, hosting regular racing events several nights a week and, after a full 20-year run, shut down in 2003. From midgets and outlaws to stocks and modifieds, racers from throughout Saskatchewan and beyond made countless memories tearing up the dirt at Riverside Speedway.
Description: Shelter Mountain Inn is a fictional location in 2002's 'The Ring' that plays a key role in the film. Shelter Mountain is not a mountain, but actually built on the coast of Moesko Island near a cliff edge, and Shelter Mountain Inn is a large wooded property that rents individual cabins for those looking for a rustic getaway. The Inn has a large lake located beyond the innkeeper's office, where visitors can fish, swim, and take canoes out on the lake. As we learn in the movie, an old, deep well was built in the middle of a clearing not too far from the cliff, but it was built over with Cabin 12 at some point.
Description: Billing themselves as "Seattle's 2nd best cocktail lounge," Tini Bigs was an iconic night spot in Seattle's lower Queen Anne neighborhood that first opened their doors in 1996. Housed in a brick building built in 1929, complete with an antique bar that helped set the scene, Tini Bigs was the perfect low-lit cocktail lounge for hanging with friends and enjoying tasty libations. Known for their handcrafted specialty drinks served in oversized 10-oz. martini glasses, Tini Bigs was the spot for anyone looking for cocktail therapy during their two decades of daily operation. Yes, every single day, including Christmas.
Description: The Springfield Indians were a minor professional ice hockey franchise, originally based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and later Springfield, Massachusetts. The Indians were founding members of the AHL that were in existence for a total of 60 seasons from 1926 to 1994. The team was known as the Syracuse Warriors from '51 to '54; in addition, the team was called the Springfield Kings from '67 to '74, and then back to being the Springfield Indians for the remainder of the '74 season. The Indians won seven Calder Cup championships; one in '74 sandwiched between three consecutive from '60 to '62 and two consecutive in '90 and '91; and one as the Kings, in '71. This design is based on the '74 rebrand when they returned to their roots.
Description: Morgan Horse Farm Ltd. is the fictional horse breeding facility that was a pivotal location in the 2002 horror movie, The Ring. Located on the equally fictional Moesko Island off the coast of Washington State, it was the residence of the Morgan family, which included horse trainer Richard Morgan, his horse breeder wife, Anna Morgan, and their adopted daughter, Samara. When their daughter Samara became jealous of the affection shown towards the horses, instead of to her, she used her psychokinetic powers to drive the horses insane, driving them to end their lives. If you like obscure references, this Morgan Horse Farm design is about as obscure as it gets!
Description: Even though marijuana can be purchased in most states legally these days, there is just something about growing your own. From seed, to plant, to buds, Americans have been at the forefront of the homegrown marijuana scene for decades, and continue to do so... even that is legal in a lot of places nowadays.
Description: ColecoVision is a second-generation home video-game console developed by Coleco that launched in August 1982. Launching with an initial catalog of twelve games on ROM cartridge, the console offered a closer experience to more powerful arcade games than competitors. Approximately 136 games were published between 1982 and 1984. Coleco released a series of hardware add-ons and special controllers to expand the capabilities of the console. "Expansion Module #1" allowed the system to play competitor games, and a later module that converted ColecoVision into the Adam home computer. Ironically, the ColecoVision was discontinued in 1985 after the costly failure of the Adam, resulting in Coleco withdrawing from the video game market altogether.
Description: The Swinging Cheerleaders is a 1974 comedy-drama film written and directed by exploitation film auteur Jack Hill (credited as Jane Witherspoon). The film was also released under the titles Locker Room Girls and H.O.T.S. II. It is the sequel of sorts to the 1973 film The Cheerleaders, directed by Paul Glickler; and was itself followed by Revenge of the Cheerleaders (1976), directed by Richard Lerner; and The Great American Girl Robbery (1979) (aka Cheerleaders Wild Weekend), directed by Jeff Werner. The plot follows a college journalist as she infiltrates the campus' cheerleading squad to write a piece on female exploitation, but instead makes unlikely friendships, finds out that everyone is banging everyone else, and uncovers a conspiracy.
Description: First synthesized in 1874 by the Austrian chemist Othmar Zeidler, DDT was developed as an insecticide. In 1945, DDT was made available for sale in the United States, and although it was promoted for use as an agricultural and household pesticide, there were also concerns about its use from the beginning. As a result, marketing campaigns to counter the concerns were launched, including "DDT Is Good For Me-e-e!" from Pennsalt Chemicals, which included print ads and radio spots with a cast of characters singing about how wonderful DDT was. The EPA began regulatory actions in the late '50s and '60s to prohibit many of DDT's uses because of mounting evidence of environmental and toxicological effects, leading to a ban in 1972.
Description: If you're a game geek, you're probably familiar with Octrix, an intriguing game of eights for 2 to 4 players that was published in 1970. Gameplay sees each player receive eight cards, each round consists of eight tricks, and the first player to score eighty-eight points wins. Each hand is posted on an Octrix board, so everyone knows exactly what cards are held by each player. Skillful evaluation of all hands is essential as each player plots his strategy-attempting to score more points by taking tricks in sequence.
Description: The Blood on Satan's Claw is a 1971 British supernatural horror film directed by Piers Haggard and starring Patrick Wymark, Linda Hayden, and Barry Andrews. Set in early 18th-century England, it follows the residents of a rural village whose youth fall under the influence of a demonic presence after a local farmer unearths a mysterious deformed skull buried in a field. The Blood on Satan's Claw premiered in New York City in April 1971, and was subsequently released in London on 16 July 1971. It was met with middling reviews from critics, and underperformed at the box office. In the intervening years, however, the film has gained a cult following, and has been cited by several film scholars as a progenitor of the folk horror genre.
Description: Milk & Kisses is the eighth and final studio album by Scottish alternative rock band Cocteau Twins that was released in March 1996. While the album didn’t achieve much critically or commercially for the band, after the more pop-focused sound of Four Calendar Café, returning to the obscured dream pop that defined them may have been the perfect swan song. In 1997, while recording what was to have been their ninth LP, the trio disbanded over irreconcilable differences, and while a number of songs were recorded, they will likely never be finished or released in any form.
Description: Mount Munch is a "big, tall hill" in the eastern extreme of the Munchkin Country of the Land of Oz. On one side, the base of the peak just touches the border of the Deadly Desert that surrounds Oz. Near the bottom of the hill is where Nimmie Amee lives with Chopfyt. Above the lowest third of its height, the slopes are too steep to climb, so that the Munchkins do not go up, and the people on top do not come down. Those people, who live in a saucer-like depression at the top of Mount Munch, are sensibly called Hyups. They can be reached from the lower world, but only with difficulty; Ozma once sent them a decree via messenger eagle. They are situated in their isolation, rather like the Yips in their own distant corner of Oz.
Description: R. G. LeTourneau founded R. G. LeTourneau, Inc. in 1929 in California as a manufacturer of earth moving equipment. Specializing in off-road dump trucks, loaders, and other heavy equipment used in the mining and construction industries, LeTourneau manufactured his products in Longview, Texas. LeTourneau was largely responsible for the invention and development of many types of earth moving machines now widely used. He designed and built machines using technology that was years, sometimes decades, ahead of its time and became recognized worldwide as a leader in the development and manufacture of heavy equipment. After the death of R. G. LeTourneau in '69, the company was sold to Marathon Manufacturing in 1970, and renamed Marathon LeTourneau.
Description: Nelson Rockefeller secured the New York Republican gubernatorial nomination, and was elected governor by a popular vote on November 4, 1958. He went on to win reelection in 1962, 1966, and 1970. His final reelection campaign in 1970 leveraged the slogan "Rocky Puts It Together," and this hippie influenced design adorned buttons, posters, bumper stickers, and t-shirts. Rockefeller resigned from his duties as governor on December 18, 1973, and in 1975, was nominated by President Gerald R. Ford for the vice presidency of the United States, an office he held from December 19, 1975 to January 20, 1977. After leaving the White House, he retired from political life, returning to his philanthropic works. Rockefeller passed away on January 26, 1979.
Description: During the height of the muscle car era, gas was cheap and, relatively speaking, so were high horsepower street machines. From the local drag strip to late night traffic light races, gear head drag racers were everywhere, and so were the gas fumes. While nobody was actually drunk on gasoline, the goofy smiles on everyone's faces from being in the presence of these heavy metal street machines doing their thing certainly gave the appearance of being a bit loaded. Here's to the American muscle car!
Description: Biancaneve is an Italian erotic comic book, first published in 1972. The series was based on classic fairy tales, however, it quickly lost most of its connections to the original stories. The series chronicles the sexual adventures of the title character in a world of magic and monsters. Biancaneve remains a virgin under attack during the first four issues of the series, but after losing her virginity in volume 5, she becomes increasingly addicted to sex. The comic ran for 94 issues, distributed in four series, until the story finally came to an end in 1986.
Description: Mr. Lady Records (or Mr. Lady Records and Video) was a San Francisco-based lesbian-feminist independent record label and video art distributor. Founded in 1996 in Durham, North Carolina, the label aimed to redress what they saw as a lack of feminist record labels at the time, and was considered queercore's strongest label. As well as a range of recording artists, the label was also heavily involved in events that promoted feminist thinking and music. Mr. Lady closed down in June 2004.
Description: Batavus originated in 1904, when Andries Gasstra opened a shop in Heereveen, selling clocks, watches, and sewing machines. Bicycles were soon added to the catalog, as two-wheeled transport gained in popularity, and the original business was discontinued when Gastra acquired the sole Dutch representation for the German bicycle, Presto. He later started selling bicycles under the trade name, Batavus. In the 30's, Batavus began making three-wheeled transport bicycles, equipping them with an engine a few years later. Post-War, the company made rapid strides and a new project which had started out as a bicycle with a motor was soon developed into a functionally designed motorized two-wheeler, with front and rear-wheel suspension for comfort.
Description: Based in the town of Norphlet in Union County, Arkansas, Macmillan Oil Company began producing their Ring Free line of motor oils in 1923. The company was highly successful in promoting their products through sponsorships of motorsports ranging from flat track motorcycle racing and powerboats, to air racing and grand prix events, leveraging them to make their 'race proven' claims. Ring Free products continued to be popular throughout the '60s and '70s, but in as more high-tech formulas from new companies arrived in the '80s, Macmillan Oil Company's fortunes began to wane, and by the end of the decade, they had ceased operations.
Description: Historically, river otters could be found throughout New York State, but they drastically declined due to unregulated hunting, habitat destruction, and pollution. By the early '90s, the river otter was only found in the eastern half of the state, and a plan was put in place to change that. The New York River Otter Project was a public/private effort that helped bring river otters back to Western New York. With the help of volunteers and state environmental staff, between 1995 and 2000, over 280 otters were relocated from Eastern New York to 16 different sites across the western part of the state. The New York River Otter Project is considered one of the most successful otter restoration projects ever, as populations continue to thrive.
Description: James Lee Lindsey Jr. (May 1, 1980 – January 13, 2010), known professionally as Jay Reatard, was an American musician from Memphis, Tennessee. Lindsey was a self-taught musician who was writing songs before he even knew how to tune a guitar. As a kid, he'd simply tune the instrument to what sounded right to him and then develop his own chords, later learning and adopting the standard guitar tuning so that he could play with other musicians. Reatard was a prolific songwriter, releasing more than 100 records, 22 of which were full-length albums. In 2009, he relaunched his indie label, Shattered Records, releasing a compilation album titled Greatest Messes, and embarking on an American tour. Sadly, that would be his last tour, as he passed awa
Description: Originally known as The World According to Bobby, Bobby's World is an animated children's television series that ran for seven seasons from September 8, 1990, to February 23, 1998. The series is a comical and insightful look inside the mind of 4-year-old Bobby Generic (pronounced "GEN-e-ric"). Bobby lives in a typical suburban neighborhood, but the show takes viewers inside his imagination to discover a world of daring adventure, incredible wonder and lots of laughs, all in pint-sized perspective. Each episode draws from everyday family situations and growing up problems that are magnified by Bobby's active imagination – the window through which we glimpse how kids wrestle emotionally and creatively with life's problems.
Description: Downey got their start back in 1970 when a dealer parts manager and Landcruiser enthusiast named Jim began selling aftermarket off-road accessories and performance goodies out of the parts department at the Downey 'yota dealership. In 1975, the association with the dealership ended when Jim bought the accessory business from Downey, calling it Downey Off Road Manufacturing. Downey was now not just stocking aftermarket parts, but manufacturing their own. From suspension systems and rock armor, to engine swap adapters and exhaust systems, they had it all and their catalog became the wish book for 'yota owners everywhere. When the 4WD pickup models came to the states, Downey Off Road Manufacturing grew exponentially.
Description: Not a whole lot is known about the Bremerton Rollerdrome, other than it opened up in 1951, and was apparently pretty popular, as this old school roller skating rink was in business for about twenty years. Why the penguin? Some say the rink was originally built in the '40s as an ice skating rink, and as roller skating gained in popularity, the facility dumped the ice in favor of hard wood skating surfaces.
Description: When St. Patrick's Day rolls around, everyone thinks of leprechauns, but the real unsung hero of the day is Uncle O'Grimacey, a green grimace that first made his appearance in 1975. He wears a green cob hat, a vest with shamrocks on it, and carries a traditional Irish shillelagh, and for several years, every March, around St. Patrick's Day, he would show up to promote his beloved green milkshakes. Uncle O’Grimacey had a short tenure as a mascot, and to be honest, it wasn’t a very memorable run as far as ad campaigns go, but for those who remember him, those memories are most likely good ones.
Description: Lake Wobegon is a fictional town created as the setting of the recurring segment "News from Lake Wobegon" for the radio program A Prairie Home Companion, broadcast from St Paul, Minnesota from 1974 to 2016. The fictional town serves as the setting for many related stories and novels, gaining an international audience with Lake Wobegon Days in 1985. Described as a small rural town in central Minnesota, the events and adventures of the townspeople provided a wealth of humorous and often touching stories. Sumus Quod Sumus is Lake Wobegon's motto and is incorporated in the town seal. The Latin translation reads "We Are What We Are" which fits perfectly with the Midwestern attitudes portrayed in the tales from this fictional locale.
Description: Climbing! (also known as Mountain Climbing!) is the debut studio album by American hard rock band Mountain. Recording began in 1969 and the album was released on March 7, 1970, by Windfall Records, and quickly reached number 17 on the American Top Albums chart. Climbing! included the group's best-known song, "Mississippi Queen," which became a reached number 21 in the Hot 100 chart in 1970, and "Never in My Life," which was received heavy rotation on contemporary FM radio.
Description: FTX Trading Ltd., commonly known as FTX (short for "Futures Exchange"), is a bankrupt company that formerly operated a cryptocurrency exchange and crypto hedge fund based in the Bahamas. The exchange was founded in 2019 by Sam Bankman-Fried and Gary Wang and, at its peak in July 2021, had over one million users and was the third-largest cryptocurrency exchange by volume. In October 2022, it was reported that FTX was under investigation, and the firm collapsed in early November 2022 following a report highlighting potential leverage and solvency concerns involving FTX-affiliated trading firm Alameda Research, the quantitative trading firm also run by Bankman-Fried, that held $5 billion in FTT, the native coin of FTX.
Description: The Mississippi Queen was the second-largest paddle wheel driven river steamboat ever built, second only to the larger American Queen. The ship was the largest such steamboat when she was built in 1976 by the Delta Queen Steamboat Company at Jeffboat in Indiana and was a seven-deck recreation of a classic Mississippi riverboat. Mississippi Queen is also the title of a song by American rock band, Mountain, that references the steamboat: "Went down around Vicksburg around Louisiana way, where lived the Cajun Lady aboard the Mississippi Queen." Considered a rock classic, it was their most successful single, reaching number 21 in the Hot 100 chart in 1970. The song is included on the group's debut album, as well as several live recordings.
