WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - This Week In History with Michaela and Gavin: June 23-29

Episode Date: June 24, 2024

 We will be here all summer keeping you up to date with a week's 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 Super Bowl was held?

Welcome to this week in history with Gavin and Michaela. The show where we highlight historical events from World American and Pop Cultural History. You're up, Michaela, first. I get to go this week? Wow. Okay. So for World History, the first day I have is June 23rd, 2018. So very recent. I wonder if you remember this, Gavin.

The Thai soccer team, a youth soccer team, was trapped in a cave for two weeks. This was the first day that they were trapped. So the coach led the boys down there to show them something. And they were all between the ages of like 9 and 11 or something like that. Very youth. Yeah, very young. And no one, none of the kids died. They were in there for two weeks.

Two weeks? Yeah. It became like a world event. How do you not? Wait, I thought you could only go like a certain. Do they have food? They didn't have food. How do you go two weeks without food?

I don't know. It said on there that, well, I think they can go two weeks without food. You can't go. a couple days without water or something like that. So they could, they, they got to somewhere that water was dripping. They basically got in from a, they were trapped in from a rainstorm. So it was kind of flooding, I think. And so they were drinking the like pure water that was dripping from wherever they were.

I don't know. But anyways, divers came in and only one diver died, but none of the kids died. The diver died. Yeah. That's crazy. Man. Do you remember that? I do remember that.

And that's funny because I also remember around that same time. there was this like the Chilean miners also got stuck. Yes. If you remember that. Is there a movie about that one? I never watched it. But I just remember them being the same. Similar circumstances.

And there's just like this comedian who had like a bit about it. Classic. I love it. That's how you remember it. That's fair. Okay. What's yours? This one's pretty old.

So the foundation of the Icelandic parliament and I'm not, there's a name for it. I'm not going to pronounce it. Oh, don't worry about it. Because it's Icelandic. June 23rd night. Not 19, sorry, 930. 930 AD. I don't remember that.

It's a long time ago. Yeah, a little bit far our time. This parliament is recognized as the world's oldest surviving parliament and was established in Iceland. This assembly marked a significant development in democratic governance and is a key event in Icelandic history. That's pretty cool. That's a long time.

Yeah, everyone talks about democratic government, like starting with England and Magna Prada. Yeah, or even Rome, but no. Yeah, that's true. Iceland. Okay, so I don't have Iceland, but I have someone of Spain. 1519. Charles I was elected Holy Roman Emperor. So this is the Charles I first that became Charles V and like makes me want to die on any history test because I never know which one to put and it's really stressful.

But he was the grandson of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain. So that time period. And he beat out Henry the 8th. I think we talked about Henry the 8th last week. For Holy Roman Empire? For Holy Roman Emperor. Wow. Okay, this is very important. Founding of the Roman Republic.

Oh, that's important. It's on the website, it said traditionally. Okay. June 23rd, 509. So I don't know if there's... 509 BC. Yes, BC. But I don't know if that's like the year is right, but then the day is kind of like disputed.

That sounds familiar. Yeah. I think that's right. Yeah. Is that like Romulus and Remus traditionally? No, it's like after the kings that they had. So like the king, what's his name? Lucius Tarkinus superbus was overthrown.

And then they started like the Republic. So I think this is like way past. Way past them. Yeah. I always get confused with that. There's so many eras of Rome. I know. And then there's like an EAS too and all that.

I don't know. I get confused. But that's cool. Wow, you really are picking the old dates. Very old day. I love to go back in like ancient, ancient history. It's good stuff. Okay.

So my final date for World is June 28th, 1914. Yeah, 1914. the assassination of Duke Ferdinand in Bosnia, leading to the beginning of World War I. Jeez. Wow. Not a great day. Ah, wow, what a crazy, crazy time.

I know. The war to end all wars, right? Right, and then here we are after the 20th century. Wow, that was funny. Jeez. Oh, that's funny because my date, my last one, is June 28, 1919, 19, the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. No way. Formerly ending World War I.

Whoa. And according to the term, these terms were crazy. According to the terms, Germany was assessed sole blame for the war and forced to give up their colonies and then pay reparations of $15 billion, which back then I'm sure was an insane amount. And then it also prohibited them from rearming themselves, which they obviously ignored when Hitler came around. Obviously that changed. But we'll get more tanks now. That's so, that's crazy. I mean, that treaty makes a lot of sense why the following decades brought about.

Yeah. I mean, I feel like our history professors are always, the question's always out there, like, if the Treaty of Versailles had been a little bit nicer to Germany, would World War II have happened? Right. Because, like, there wouldn't have been this huge kickback and, like, this anger against the other powers. Right. Who knows? It's history, so we can't. We can't change it.

Okay, moving forward to American history. This is kind of confusing because my date comes before 17. 76, but it happened on now American land. Yeah. So June 24th, 1675, the Massachusetts Bay Colony begins the King Phillips War, which is rather confusing because King Phillips sounds like a British name, but it was actually a tribe leader of Native Americans called Wampanoags. I don't know if I said that right.

I feel that's right. But, you know, we're going with it. At least you tried. It was like a year-long war. Basically, one of the Native Americans was Christian, and he was a spy for the Americans, got caught, got killed. And then the Massachusetts Bay Colony was really upset, so they executed three of the Native Americans,

and King Philip came and raided the town. And there's a whole thing. Jeez. Wow. I know. Noral the story, don't be a spy. Don't be a spy. Especially on your own people.

That's true. Man, but yeah, that colony is still around and now it's a state. You should go check it out. I've never been there. I should go see it. Yeah, it's a cool place. All right, also having to do with Native Americans. No way.

Yeah, June 25th, 1876. America is now a country. Array. Yeah, very good. Native American forces led by Chief Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull defeat the U.S. Army troops led by Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer in a battle near Southern Montana's Little Big Horn River. Chief crazy horse? It's a great name.

Sorry, that's really funny. Custer because this name sounds like Custard. Custard, yes. Colonel Custard. But yeah, crazy horse and sitting bowl. Those are great names. Those are crazy. Maybe consider those if you're having a baby soon.

Oh, our listeners. Thanks, Kevin. I'll keep that in mind. Our listeners. Wait, what were you going to say? What is your opinion? Yeah, what's your opinion on Custer? Like, was he a good general?

Was he bad? Like, what do you think like the public perception is of him? That is a... Like his military, not necessarily was he on the right side, but like his strategy. Didn't they all die? Yeah. Like every single person died. Yeah, pretty much.

From what I read, it was like 200 people, 200 American soldiers who just like stormed these thousands of troops. It was pretty bad. Yeah, I feel like that's not very strategic. No, no. But I think for a long time and I think still for most people who haven't read the history, General Custer is like a pretty, like you think a general like Colonel Custer and you're like, oh, he did a good. job like he's an American hero or something yeah but apparently that's all because of his wife after he died started this uh museum and like all this propaganda for him nice even though none of it was really true behind every green man is a great woman yeah that's what they say that's and that's

the truth in this situation okay so moving forward i have another date for us June 29th 1964 the civil rights act was passed which holds a lot of weight in our country today. Apparently it had 83 days of debate or filibuster is the word in the U.S. Senate before it was passed. But then in 1964, June 29th, it was passed. So I read a book for a class a class from Dr. Hart this past semester on the Civil Rights Act and how it basically like is our new constitution. And it was very persuasive. Really? So I'm kind of sold. And like saying that like it rewrote it or it's just like the new interpretation of it? Yeah, basically a new interpretation of it.

So like he wasn't hating on the entire Civil Rights Act, but he was saying that the way that it interpreted the Constitution is no longer a traditional interpretation. Which is why we have like rights to abortion and rights to this. Like that's all civil rights. Interesting. Yeah, I could see how that all changed and we're wrapped up in that. So anyways, good little history moment. Good little history.

I have American history, but it's a little bit of American history, but it's a lot. little less political. Okay. So I was hesitant to pick it, but I think it's very important for Americans. And I think one of the first things you think of when you think of America right now is like cars, American cars, iconic. So on June 28, 1953, workers at the Chevrolet plant in Flint, Michigan, not far from here, assembled the first Corvette, a two-seater sports car that became American icon.

It went on to earn the nickname America's sports car. Nice. I'm sure that people over at Ford would have something to say about that. that maybe they think the Mustang is the American sports car. What do you think, Kevin? I think I like Mustangs more than Corvettes. Oh, okay. Not the new ones.

Have you seen the new ones? I haven't. There's like, it's like, they turned it into an SUV and it's all electric. Listen, I'm so lame. That's, that's, that's pretty cool. I'm so lame that I could not tell you what was what. I would just be like, that is an extremely expensive nice car. Yeah.

And probably a sports car. It's very fast. They're really, I really, take myself out there right now. Yeah. But it's really iconic. Okay, so my last American date. June 27, 1950, President Truman orders American troops to go to Korea because the war had just started a few days before.

And he, America got involved right away. It's insane how close that is to the end of World War II. Right? We barely got done fighting two wars in a row. Yeah. And then we're going over to Korea. I know. I get it, though.

you know, I mean, we're fighting communism that time. Defending of democracy. Yeah. Right. Pushing back on communism. Yes. Uh, all right. The next president actually is on my next state.

No way. President Dwight D.I. He's in Hauer. Okay. He signed the Federal Aid Highway Act on June 29th, 1956. Yeah. And he, I mean, this one's great. We use this one every day, I think. No, I don't go on the highway every day.

Well, lots of people. Lots of people go on the highway. Lots of people go on the highway every day. which in this authorized a construction of 41,000 mile network of interstate highways across the nation. You also know this affects Hillsdale because... That's true. As Hillsdale ambassadors or student ambassadors or whatever we know, that we were built in the little town Hillsdale because of the train station.

Yeah. But what messed that up? The highways. Okay, going into pop culture. Pop culture. I have a date for us from the King of Pop, himself, Michael Jackson. It's actually sad. I'm talking like it's happy.

But on June 25th in 2009, he died at the age of 50. Can we just reminisce? Yeah. 50. Super young. I don't remember how he died, but it wasn't great. I think he overdosed. Overdosed. Okay. Yeah. His doctor gave him like too much stuff. Oh, tough. Well, we'll just reminisce about... Here's a little ode to him.

Rest of peace, Michael Jackson. What a guy. He wrote a lot. Yeah, he wrote a lot of music and he just so much influence on music. Well, I have another cultural iconic thing. Some people hate it. Some people love it. I know a lot of people who watch a lot of these movies and a lot of people who hate these movies.

I'm in the camp of hating them. We'll see how you feel. So on June 29th, 1998, the Lifetime Movie Network made its debut. The Lifetime Movie Network? Do you watch Lifetime Movies? No. Okay. Do you watch Hallmark movies?

Oh, no. Okay, it's like the same brand. Oh. It's like the same exact thing. It's just holiday movies. I was about to like offer my thoughts on something and I was like, wow. And then I had no idea what you're talking about. Well, that's good because you, the only reason you probably would know it is if you have like a grandmother who's obsessed with it.

Oh, no. They just make like the same two movies with different settings and different characters. Okay, but it's like Hallmark? Yeah. So it's like. Yeah, I wouldn't like it. I'd be on your camp. Yeah, like the classic scenario I can think of is like big city woman who's from a small town

and like when it made a name for herself comes back to the small town for Christmas. And like falls in love. And like falls in love with the guy who never left, you know, and they were like friends in high school. Or whatever. He's like out there chopping wood. Right. And super rugged. It's like, oh my God.

No, I hate them. It convinces her to stay and save the town, you know. Right. Totally. Wow. And that's it. You should write movies, Gavin. I should.

I could write those movies. Anyone could write those movies. That's true. But yeah, 1998, so. Wow. All right. There you go. Thanks lifetime.

Thanks lifetime. Okay, actually very recently, 2020, June 29th, 2020, Carl, I'm not going to say this night, right? Carl Rayner died. He was a writer and director of probably shows that our parents grew up on. Do you know the Dick Van Dyke Show? I love the Dick Van Dyke Show. I grew up watching that because we would watch like reruns. Yeah, same.

I loved it. So anyways, he wrote that. Man. I know. That's great. Lost a good one, honestly. He's so good. Who's the star in the Dick Van Dyke show?

Dick Van Dyke. Right, but like the actor's name. Dick Van Dyke? That's his name? Yeah. Dick Van Dyke? Yeah. I'm stupid.

That makes so much sense. Because in the show, his name's Rob, right? Yes. Rob Partree. Wow. Okay, my apologies. Anyways, Dick Van Dyke is a legend. Yeah.

Mary Poppins. Is he still alive? He is 98 years old. Okay, that's what I thought. Mary Poppins. I'd love to meet him sometime. he's awesome. I know his name now, Dick Van Dyke.

Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore. Mary Tyler Moore. Yeah, duh. Okay, now it's playing in my head. Who also had our own show called The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Yes. Okay. I, well.

And then there was I love Lucy. I love Lucy. My favorite. I watched it all the time. All right, what's your date? Less nostalgic and kind of horrible, actually. Oh, no. June 29, 2007.

Apple released its first mobile phone, the iPhone. Wait, why is this horrible? Because it ruined culture, Michaela. Oh, wow. Are you holding an iPhone right now? Oh, gosh, no. Did I do all my planning for this show on my iPhone? Yes. What? I did it on my computer, so my Mac, you know, my Apple computer. Yeah, I don't know. People have different opinions on technology. I would say in retrospect, I would say they're probably like a negative. That's fair.

For society over the years. Everyone's like hooked on it. Yeah. We can't, like we can't get rid of it and we're dependent on it. but also negative. Yeah, we molded our society around. So to take it away would probably be a negative overall, but probably should have never added in, honestly. Tough.

Okay, I'm going to take us a little bit further back. This is kind of pop cultural-ish, but it's a book. June 30th, 1936, Margaret Mitchell published Gone with the Wind, which then became the movie. And I feel like is quoted all the time. Yeah. Frankly, my dear. That one, yeah.

I don't give up beep. Yep, exactly. That's what I was going to, yeah. It's like, give a darn. I think that's what he says. Give a darn. I didn't realize how many, like, jokes and parodies are made off of that until I actually saw the movie.

Yeah. And then I was like, oh my God. Because apparently it was the first, like, swear. I say swear. Oh, really? Like, on television. It's a pretty sad scene. I'm not going to lie.

She's honestly one of the worst characters I've ever seen. I know. She's pretty annoying. She's really annoying. Like, the amount of times I, like, like, yell at her through the screen. Like, you're so entitled. I want to see that.

That's hilarious. Oh my gosh. We must have a watch party where you can watch me watch it. Okay. All right. My last, oh, also associated with a movie and a book. Oh, okay. June 26, 1997, the first book in the Harry Potter series.

The Harry Potter series. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Do you like them? I didn't grow up watching them. So I don't have like this weird attachment that some people do. Have you read them? I have not read them either. Oh, okay.

So. Hey, you escaped. I'm impressed. I escaped because my parents didn't let me read them. That's fair. My parents didn't. They were in the camp of it was witchcraft and so. Mm-hmm.

Honestly, fair take. Fair take. Should we hear just a little taste of what Harry Potter is? Oh my goodness, yes. Just in case? Yeah. In case people don't know. Have you ever heard this song, guys?

Again, John Williams. Pretty great. He's awesome. We referenced him last week. Yeah, he did Jaws as well. Yeah. I could see the opening credits of the movies. So you've seen the movies.

Yeah. Okay. My girlfriend made me watch all of them two years ago. Nice. Did you survive? I did. And it was good. It was hard to keep all the characters straight because we watched them so quickly.

Was it like a marathon, basically? No, but it was like in a week and a half, I want to say. Okay, that's pretty. It was like every day that we had time, we'd be like, okay, let's watch it. And so I know like the core characters in the plot, but I could definitely do with a rewatch at this point. I should probably read it. The books are just better, but that's okay. Oh, wow.

What time is it? Never thought you'd ask. It's guess that year. Oh, boy. Do I get to go first again? You do, and this is the part of the show where we guess the years attached to significant or not so significant dates, you decide. Or not so significant.

I figured I needed like a line because I kept messing that up. That's so fair. It was really awkward every time I'd say it. So now I have a script, guys. You're welcome. We're becoming less awkward. More comfortable. All right.

I almost gave you the date, but I'm going to give you the event. The death of James Madison, president of the United States. Okay. 1800s for sure. Good job. Well done. It was right before the Civil War, I want to say. Nice.

1847. Go a decade earlier. 1837. Yeah, 1836. That's great. That was pretty good. Honestly, I feel like we should do like one to ten and I'll be like that's a 7.5. There we go.

And then we can have like a gymnastics ratings. All right. All right. This date is the date that the college board administered the first SAT test. Oh my gosh. Yeah. This is so random. I'm sorry.

Okay. Let's say 1980. No, earlier. Way earlier? Yeah. Shoot. Like 40 years earlier. Okay.

1925. One year later. Either way. 1926. Okay. Wow. You think their website looked as good as it does now?

I bet they didn't have a website. I'll bet many on that one. Yeah, that one is for sure. I just remember spending so much time on that college board website. That's so, I know, it's so tough. All right, let's stop talking about education, talk about football. Is that okay?

Yeah, that's fine. Okay, so this is the date that the NFL became. the NFL National Bowl League. Tricky, tricky. Okay, so this is like pre-super Bowl. I'll give you a hint. 1934. Hey, no, but very, very close.

Very close. 1922. My hint was going to be that it was around the education board time. Oh, okay, 1922. So you were like just a little decade off. Okay, Labor Day becomes an official U.S. holiday. Oh, boy. I'm sorry, I'm giving you these like really ambiguous ones.

random like board of education and board of holidays once okay um labor day became an official holiday i feel like that was much more recent like 1985 no wrong century no really but close to you're within 10 years of the right date but wrong century it's earlier are you kidding me 1875 other way 1895 94 yeah what 1894. Labor Day became official in 1894. That is insane. I don't know why or for what reason.

Wow. Okay, I think Gavin wins that one. You think so? Yeah, because I was a century off and then I was like 50 years off. And then you were decades off in each one. So well done. I wouldn't call it a win, but I did better. You did better.

Well, that concludes our game and our episode of This Week in History with Michaela and Gavin. Thanks for joining. See you next week. week. Bye.