WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - This Week In History with Michaela and Gavin: June 16-22

Episode Date: June 17, 2024

 We will be here all summer keeping you up to date with a weeks worth of historic trivia ranging from world history to pop culture! Stick around for the end of the episode to see whether Gavin or Michaela wins our "Guess That Year" portion of the show. Do you know what year the first Fast and Furious Movie came out?

Welcome to this week in history with Michaela and Gavin. The show where we highlight historical events from world American and pop cultural history. Right, so starting off with world history, getting right into the wars. So June 22nd, 1941, Nazi Germany invades the Soviet Union in Operation Barbarossa during World War II. I think that wasn't the point in the war where they were no longer allies, right? Right. It always confuses me because like knowing the rest of history, it's... like, oh, wait, we don't like Russia.

Yeah. They're the bad guys. But in World War II, they were part of the allies. Which is, yeah. Yeah. So that's not good. That famous picture of Churchill and Roosevelt in Stalin sitting together. Wow.

And then we had the Cold War like right after. So yeah. Crazy. What do you get? Well, I actually also have the Soviet Army, but it was the year before on June 17th, 1940, so still in World War II, the Soviet Army invades Latvia. I don't even know where that is, honestly. I probably should look that up.

Somewhere in Eastern Europe. There you go. But the interesting fact was that they never gave that city up, apparently. Oh, really? It was incorporated in the USSR and then became part of, like, you know, the East versus West. Gotcha. Yeah, that's such a complicated time of history in that whole area. And I think there are still, like, countries that dispute their borders because of Russia and the communist block.

Well, I mean, you think about today with Ukraine. And it feels like people, I mean, people say like history repeating itself. And it's. And then you don't know who to believe because they're like, well, this is our land. You're like, well, this is our land. I'm like, I don't know who to believe. Right. I know.

I don't know what's going on. Hopefully you guys stop fighting soon. Yeah, exactly. Oh, also. Okay, next date. More conflict. Oh. Very recent though.

So June 23rd, 2016, the United Kingdom votes to leave the European Union. That's so recent. Referendum. Yeah. Say that again. And what? The Brexit referendum. Wow.

Yeah. Do you know what that means? I mean, Brexit means Britain exiting the European Union. Wow. I think means like something that you vote on. It's kind of like a law that's passed. Okay.

That's crazy. There's a lot of scandal around that because I think they had like a re-vote. Did they? No one believed that everyone actually wanted to leave. And so they had like a revote. Don't quote me on that. And we're not, yeah, that makes sense because the U.S. isn't part of the European Union. But NATO is different.

It's so good. There's so many just. So many. After World War II, all these alliances, and then now it's... Yeah. And there's a lot of drama recently, too, in the European Union because they just had their elections. And I think everyone was a little upset by that. Did the European...

Was it NATO? I think it was the European Union. You just released that they like, I'm going to get this wrong. But they basically criminalized a lot of Israeli leaders for the war in Israel and Hamas. And, well, it was like this whole scandal of like, yeah, basically they were, they were, they were, making it a moral equivalent to what Hamas is doing versus Israel, which is not at all the case. It's so interesting once like entities start like criminalizing people and like, like, well, okay, now you got to like look at your own leaders. Like, what are they doing? Right. And also,

self-examination there. Exactly. Yeah. Oh, geez. Log in your eye or something like that. You literally. Okay, so away from, well, we're still in Europe, but away from England, we're going to France and we're going not recent, several hundred years ago now. Well, a couple hundred. No. Napoleon was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo on June 18th, 1815. Waterloo! Like the, like the Abba song or Abba? Wait, do tell Gavin, what's this? You know that song?

No. Abba, Waterloo? I don't know what it's about. I doubt it's about the battle. But it's like a classic, I think. Okay, probably. I trust you. Oh, wait, it is.

I do. I don't know if this is like an analogy. like you're my Waterloo or something? Is it like a, is it supposed to be a rom? Like a romantic song? I don't know, but it literally says that Waterloo Napoleon did surrender. Napoleon did surrender. And I have met my destiny in quite a similar way.

Okay, so she's making parallels. What an interesting part of history to draw on. That's really funny. Yeah. Okay. Well, anyways, that was a major moment in history because, you know, Europe kind of got itself back. Yeah. After Napoleon was going crazy.

It wasn't he sent somewhere after? that too like oh my gosh he like he also has such a scandal i think there was like confusion if he ever died because i think he died on an island like he was exiled oh yeah but there was i don't know there's like one in like first wasn't in like alba which is like not that far it's like in europe oh yeah good job and then i remember that now now that you say that and then they sent him to like somewhere like south of america yeah yeah and then they like never is that the one where they like never checked or, I think so. Okay. They just assumed he kind of. I mean, he's not around anymore. He didn't come back. So, uh, all right, June 22nd, 1633. This one's pretty controversial. I mean,

it was in the day. Uh, Galileo Galilei is forced to recant his heliocentric theory by the Roman Catholic church. That is controversial. You always hear about that. Um, it's pretty, it's pretty, I mean, obviously the church was wrong on this, but it's, it's pretty rough to have someone say, you know, when something you base your theology on that, like, we're at the center. of the earth and him to say like well actually no right no the sun's at the center right you know and so i i geez can't imagine like not even just the church but people in general were probably just like shake it up like imagine if something like that happened today so where someone was like yeah i'm trying to think of like the earth is actually flat like people would lose their minds

yeah no that's actually so true i mean we do do that to flat earthers we're like we call them out is crazy. But what if they're right? Oh, no. Are you a, oh no. You're a conspiracy theory? No, I'm just trying to sympathize. No, I know.

Give an example. That makes sense. That's so funny. No, that was, I feel like we often offer like judgment on, oh my gosh, I can't believe we thought that the earth was at the center. Like, we were so prideful. But no, you're totally right that like it was pretty shaking. Yeah.

To realize that that wasn't the case because you look at, I mean, I'm horrible at, astronomy and I would look at the clouds and the sky and be like yeah we're not moving yeah no for sure there's no way the earth is spinning and we're hurtling through space right now I feel pretty still right exactly okay so my last date is again from World War II but this time in the Eastern Theater it's with Japan and America and the Japanese were defeated at Okinawa in June 21st 1945 which obviously the war, 1945, has concluded or wrapping up in Europe. And so this is Okinawa was the last, one of the last major battles and then moving to what the U.S. thought they were going to do, which was invade Japan on land invasions before the conclusion of the war.

I wonder how much longer it would have drawn on if we had like actually had to invade. I know. People say it would have just been like millions of lives. Because like the Japanese were not giving up. Right. And so I don't think... They have grit. They had great determination, and, you know, that goes a long way.

Probably a couple of years worth of fighting. Yeah, definitely. Geez. All right, where are we going next? America. Good old, good old hometown. Land of the Free. Yeah, Land of the Free.

Yeah, Land of the Free. In June 19, 1865, noted as Juneteenth, the Union General Granger, arrives in Gavleston, Texas, and announces the end of the Civil War and the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans. marking a significant moment in the fight for civil rights. June teeth coming up on that holiday. When did that holiday, when did that become a holiday? I don't actually know.

Pretty recently. I think recently, yeah. Within the last couple of years. Yeah. But pretty great moment when you think about it. And also very sad that like obviously the emancipation proclamation had been signed a long time ago. Right. But these people were just finding out.

Right. And it was over. And I think that's where the confusion lies is like the emancipation proclamation freed slaves held in territories that were in resistance. And then I think the difference is that like all slaves were like slavery was basically outlawed now. Which is a little bit confusing, but there is a difference. Okay, so I'm going to continue on with the freedom element of America. Of course.

So on June 17th, 1885, the Statue of Liberty arrived in New York Harbor, which was, you know, it's a symbol of our land of liberty. and freedom, and it's from the French. Apparently, it was supposed to come on our 100-year anniversary, so 1876 as 100 years, but they were late, which is kind of fun. It's quite a little bit. But it's crazy. It was shipped in 350 individual pieces in over 200 cases, and it weighed tons, like, in the unit. I can imagine.

I don't even, I don't have a number. You just mean a lot? I forget. No. Tons. Tons. That's crazy. And it obviously wasn't green when they set up.

it up probably that I was trying Gavin you should know that I went on a little like 10 minute like sidetrack trying to figure out like traditional original pictures of it because I don't think it was copper and then I don't know I can't imagine the satchy of not being green I know it's green it has to be but it wasn't which is crazy all right so the second one I have is June 20th 1863 West Virginia is admitted as the 35th state of the United States having separated from Virginia during the Civil War. So West Virginia, it's a free state. I'm kind of surprised they didn't want to like come up with another name.

Yeah, especially if they're separating for such, you know, polarizing reasons. That's so true. I'm trying to think, what would you name it? Freedom. No, I'm kidding. Friedonia. Friedonia. No, I don't know what I would name.

No, but that's good. That's great. Have you ever driven through West Virginia? I have, yeah. It's beautiful. It is beautiful. I know it's like one of the poorest states or something like. Is it?

It's like, this economy is not great, which is sad. That is sad. One date for me is June 18th, 1812, which so classic, the war of 1812 began. I was going to do this for trivia for you,

and then I decided that that was way too easy. And that I needed to, you know, I need the win. I need the win. But it was a two and a half year struggle, so it wasn't just one year. And it's the war that Frantus Scott Key wrote the poem. Yeah.

That later became our national anthem. Our spangled banner. Lots of people think that was the American Revolution, but it wasn't. Do you know there are a lot more verses to that? I did. And I just found that out recently that they're just like, we don't sing it. We don't sing it, which is fun. I think they're good versions.

You should all have that memorized as citizens. That's honestly so true. The whole thing. Oh, that's great. All right, what's your last one? Title IX, which is very recent, June 23rd, 1972. So my father was one years old. Nice.

The Title IX of Education Amendment is enacted Prohibiting Sex Discrimination in Federally funded educational programs and activities Which is here at Hillsdale Big. Very big deal. Part of our history that we do not take federal funding so we don't have to adhere to that So anyone can come to our school Based on their own merit, which is awesome. Were you an admissions tour guide, Gavin? Maybe, maybe.

Maybe, maybe. Talked about Title IX a couple days a week. Yep, I've been there. That's awesome. You don't how many eagles we have in... Oh, no. Not that. Okay, so my last date for America, this one's kind of fun.

The first roller coaster opens in America on June 16th, 1884, which is honestly a lot earlier than I expected. Yeah, I don't know how much I'd trust that. I know. It was probably wouldn't. Probably. And it also went at six miles an hour, which is not very fast. So that's kind of funny. But that is funny.

Okay, popular dates. I have a very similar date. Okay. So this is from the Chicago Columbian Exposition in 1893. On June 21st, the first Ferris wheel debuted. And guess how many people do you think it held? First Ferris wheel in 1893. 50.

Well, about 50 people per car and there were 36 cars. Oh, my gosh. So 2,000 people could fit on the Ferris wheel. Which is insane. I can't even like, I've seen big Ferris wheels, but I feel like maybe 10 people per car. Like 50 people? Like, how many people can you fit on a school bus? Like.

Yeah, that's actually insane. It's huge. I thought like, I don't know what gave me the illusion. I think it's the like romance. Yeah, or like the county fair ones where just like a little circle. Yeah. So that's where my brain went. I didn't realize.

Try 50. You could have a family reunion up there. Let's go. Just bring on some food and just like eat all day. That's crazy. But again, I don't know how much I'd trust that either. But, you know, apparently it went out, worked well because now they're very famous. They are extremely famous.

Okay, so my first pop culture date is Bob Dylan records Like a Rolling Stone in 1965. Like a Rolling Stone. Should we listen to a little bit? I think we should. All right. Just give a taste. Once upon a time, it'd be so fine through the bumps of dime in your prime. Then you. People call, say it beware, doll, you're buying to fall, you thought they were all.

I'm kidding you. Love that guy. So good. Bob Dylan. Famous. He's one of those guys where he's written so many songs. But, like, the most famous versions of his songs are usually covers because people just, like, sing his songs better than he does. That's so funny.

See, he's one of those people that I, like, totally know the name. Yeah. But if someone said, list a song, I'd be like, I don't know. My roommate had to write a paper on him and so now. I know too much. That's fascinating. Yes. I don't know why he picked Bob Dylan, but he did.

That's hilarious. All right. This is interesting. I'm not really sure. I don't know too much about this, but June 17th, 1971, Nixon declares the U.S. war on drugs. So that's very, very interesting that the U.S. declared war on drugs. I think it's just a weird concept. My question, I guess, is do you think we won?

Do you think we won? Who won the war on drugs? Honestly, I hate to break it to you, Gavin. but I think drugs are winning. I think they might be winning. I think they might be winning. The situation is looking bleak. But we gave it a try.

We did. I feel like, well, sorry, not to interrupt you, but I feel like that war terminology was like a 20th century thing during World War I and World War II immediately following because it was like, well, now we're not fighting an actual war, so it's like, we're on this one. Unite against drugs. Yeah. So anyways.

Interesting. But I think we're losing. Okay. I'm going to go really far away from drugs in the opposite direction to sharks. So on June 20th, 1975, Jaws was released in theaters. Have you seen Jaws? I have. I saw it last year. I think I should.

No, I haven't. It's not what I was expecting. Oh, really? To me, it was more of like a psychological thriller. It would freak me out. I don't know if I could handle it. Well, like, there's gore, but like not as much as I was expecting. I was expecting like every five seconds someone was getting.

eaten by a shark but it was more like they were just getting hunted by a shark that's what would mess with me yeah because like i can take the gore like the visual display is fine because i'm like oh it's not real but the like pop out suspense yeah i because i don't know when it's coming i just can't sit still yeah and they're both like slowly sinking and so like there's this impending doom that they're gonna be in the water eventually with the shark please and then what do you do so yeah i think can we hear just like the classic yes they came along with a great soundtrack So good. I'm scared already.

That's enough. Credit is due. That's really good. That's good. That's off the John Williams. Well done, sir. What a composer as well. He's awesome.

He's done so many good movies. Seriously. He's still alive too. I know. It's crazy. All right. What's your last date? Frank Zamboni was issued the patent for his first ice resurfacer.

Wow. Which is, you know, shaped the American pastime of skating and having been able to have ice arenas or ice skating rinks because otherwise do you do that have you gone i have gone i'm i'm decent at ice skating kind of fun i mean you're from the south so i didn't know if you like yeah but i mean that's cool though that if it weren't for him there would be no ice skating that's true in the summer or anywhere that there's not so do you go in the summer sometimes really i used to go in florida when i lived there's and that's summer all year round so there you go that's actually a fair point yeah okay uh my last one june 22nd 1955 lady in the train

Mamp appeared in theaters. It was released in theaters. It's called the animated musical, which is really funny because I wouldn't call it that. I'd call it a movie. But anyways, I love that movie. I've never seen it. No, really? Oh, my childhood.

We said this was going to be a contentious point on this show that I don't like musicals. I mean, like I only liked it. Well, yeah, I don't know if it was. Is there a song in that? Oh, yeah. Did they sing? Yeah. Yeah, I've never, I've seen so many parts of it.

But I've never, like, sat down and watched it. That's fair. It's kind of fun. I just love dogs and I always wanted a dog and so I was like, oh my gosh. The dog movies are always great. Okay, Gavin, what time is it? It's named that date. Favorite time.

The time where we give each other the details of a date of something that happened in history and then we have to give them the year. The year. So give me the year. This is Sally Ride. She was the first American woman in space aboard. the Challenger. Oh, the challenge.

Isn't this the school teacher that like... I don't know anything about her except that she wrote on the Challenger. 1985. Hey! Actually? 1983. Oh.

That was good. Well done. I knew my parents were like in school. So I just get to guess. Dad, one year old. Okay, parents in school. Got it. That's my AD and BC, honestly.

All right. What do you got for me? All right. The first Fast and Furious movie was released in theaters. Fast and Furious. Have you seen any of those? No. Me neither.

Okay, good. That makes me feel better. I don't even know. Hmm. Is it 2001? Yeah. Is it actually? No way.

Let's go. Darn. Hoor. Oh, no, I'm going to have to catch up here. Okay. With the death of William the 4th, Queen Victoria became the Queen of the United Kingdom. Queen Victoria. Is this like 1800s?

Yeah. job there you go that's seriously like probably better than I would do I would have been so stupid uh 1842 you're you're pretty close you're five years off uh don't say that to me after you just got the year perfectly do you want to you want to guess which direction five years off in one direction and what did I even say you said 1842 in 47 no 1830 1837 that's what I meant that's what I meant hey I'm impressed you got really Yeah, that's in the almost the right decade. But, okay.

Nick Walenda becomes the first man to successfully walk across the Grand Canyon. Oh my goodness. I feel like this is kind of up in the air because people have been walking across things for a long time. That's super up in the air. Hmm. Um, 19608. No. Dang it.

Am I like really off? Wrong century. Shoot. Like more recent or? Yeah. More recent. Oh, really? Yeah.

Okay. Okay. So, 2009. Oh, close. 2013. Oh, all right. I was very surprised by that because I feel like people have been like, you know, walking across skyscrapers. And like hiking mountains for a long time.

Grand Canyon's been around for a while. You think someone would have done it. That is fascinating. Well, it does also say successfully. So potentially someone didn't do it successfully beforehand. Oh, sad. Which makes you wonder what happened to them. What a sad note to end on.

Well, okay. So you were what, two years off and then five years off. I was right on the date. But then like 40 years off. So I think you kind of won this time. Yeah, I guess in all combined dates, all things considered. All things considered. Yeah.

Prize goes to you this time. Congrats to me. All right. Well, we'll see you next week. This is this week in history with Michaela and Gavin on Radio Free Hillsdale, 101.7 FM.