History

What’s the oldest gas station in America? Reighard’s The inspiration for Gold Star Service is Reighard’s, at 3205 Sixth Avenue, in Altoona, PA. Reighard’s has been in continuous operation since 1909, making it America s Oldest Gas Station. Reighard’s has been featured in the Journal of Commercial Archeology and American Heritage magazine. Read more on … Read more

Why was Prohibition repealed? Prohibition, failing fully to enforce sobriety and costing billions, rapidly lost popular support in the early 1930s. In 1933, the 21st Amendment to the Constitution was passed and ratified, ending national Prohibition. Read more on www.history.com Between 1920 and 1933, there was a time in American history known as Prohibition. Alcoholic … Read more

Who invented the ice cream truck? Harry Burt The first ice cream truck was credited to Harry Burt of Youngstown, Ohio, who was the creator of the Good Humor brand. Burt was already delivering ice cream from a motorized vehicle when he had the idea to place chocolate covered ice cream bars on a stick. … Read more

Why are tombstones called tombstones? The word tombstone is a combination of the word ‘tomb’, from the Greek word ‘tymbos’ meaning ‘burial mound’, and ‘stone’, from the Greek word ‘stia’ meaning ‘pebble’. The use of the word tombstone first appeared in English around 1560, when it was used to describe the lid of a stone … Read more

Who was the first circus? Philip Astley The origin of the modern circus has been attributed to Philip Astley, who was born 1742 in Newcastle-under-Lyme, England. He became a cavalry officer who set up the first modern amphitheatre for the display of horse riding tricks in Lambeth, London, on . Read more on en.wikipedia.org People … Read more

When was karaoke first invented? 1971 The world’s first karaoke machine, the Juke-8, was built by Japanese inventor and musician Daisuke Inoue in 1971. But it is Filipino inventor Roberto del Rosario who holds the machine’s patent. He developed the Karaoke Sing-Along System in 1975. Read more on www.bbc.com With the use of a microphone … Read more

Who was the first babysitter? This urban legend isn’t exactly a legend: it’s thought to be based on the events of, in Columbia, Missouri. 13-year old Janett Christman was babysitting a 3 year old boy. Christman put the boy to bed in the evening. Then, sometime before the parents returned at 1:30am, an intruder entered … Read more

What is the oldest toy company? Hamleys Hamleys is the largest and the oldest toy retailer in the world. It was founded by William Hamley in High Holborn, London in 1760. The 259-year old toy company was initially called Noah’s Ark. Read more on www.businesstoday.in For decades, toys have been an essential part of childhood, … Read more

Why is a circus called a circus? The circus is of comparatively recent origin, yet certain elements can be traced back to ancient Rome. The great Roman amphitheatres-called circuses after the Latin word for “”circle””-were most often devoted to gladiatorial combats, chariot races, the slaughter of animals, mock battles, and other blood sports. Read more … Read more

Why is December 26th called Boxing Day? Boxing Day got its name when Queen Victoria was on the throne in the 1800s and has nothing to do with the sport of boxing. The name comes from a time when the rich used to box up gifts to give to the poor. The servants would also … Read more