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Posts from the ‘History’ Category

May 3

What I Learned Today: Saul Bass On Opening And Closing Movie Credits

Something I did not know before today:

One would think it the most obvious thing in the world, but the opening and closing credits of a movie lay the emotional foundation and tone of a movie. Apparently this wasn’t clear until Saul Bass came along in the 1950s with his style of opening and closing credits as well as his movie posters accompanying the movie. I suppose now when I think about it that when a movie from the 1930s and 40s opened up, it was general orchestra music and canned credits flowing by before the first scene of a movie.

 

Bass was also an animator and won the Oscar for best animated short in 1968 for his cartoon “Why Man Creates.”

Sep 11

This Is What Happens When a Nuclear Bomb Explodes Under Water

Life before the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.

This Is What Happens When a Nuclear Bomb Explodes Under Water.

Sep 6

Twenty-nine of history’s most iconic scientists in one photograph

How would you feel to be the dumbest person in the room with all these people?

Twenty-nine of history’s most iconic scientists in one photograph - now in color!

Twenty-nine of history’s most iconic scientists in one photograph – now in color!.

Aug 31

1906 San Francisco Earthquake Photos Blended With The Present Day

A very cool gallery of photos that blends in the present day with that of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.

What if the 1906 San Francisco earthquake happened today? Photo trickery shows how it would hit the city | Mail Online.

Aug 1

20 Ghost Towns From Around The World

A collection of ghost towns from countries all over the world. Some were gradually abandoned, others over night.

In the early morning hours of April 26, 1986, Reactor No. 4 of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded, releasing a radioactive cloud that spread over much of Europe and western Russia. The disaster affected the lives of millions of people, 350,000 of which were permanently evacuated from their homes in the immediately surrounding area. Pripyat became a ghost town overnight. - Pripyat, Ukraine

28 freaky ghost towns you can visit [PICs] | Matador Network.

Aug 1

London 1908: The Yesteryear Olympics

I say bring back pistol dueling. And it looks as if the Olympics were held in largely empty stadiums at this time.

London 1908: The Most Dapper Olympics : The Picture Show : NPR.

Jun 21

“Hollywood-Celebration-of-the-American-Silent-Film” on YouTube

Open Culture has the first episode of the epic documentary “Hollywood – Celebration Of the American Silent Film“, narrated by James Mason and released in 1980. After making it through the 13-part documentary, be sure to watch Unknown Chaplin, also narrated by James Mason and probably the best documentary about Chaplin that ever was.

Hollywood, Epic Documentary Chronicles the Early History of Cinema | Open Culture.

Jun 6

More views of the Tiananmen Tank Man

Kottke.org has this picture and an accompanying video of the man who stood down the tanks in Tiananmen Square in 1989. Really unbelievable footage.

More views of the Tiananmen Tank Man.

May 15

Ken Burns On Story (And History)

An interesting video short on why Ken Burns tells stories and what kind of stories interest him.

via Ken Burns: On Story on Vimeo.

May 14

1929: First Ever Monaco Grand Prix

The first ever Monaco Grand Prix was held in 1929. The winner was William Grover-Williams, and the race was first set up by cigarette manufacturer Anthony Noghès. This video from that first race shows how the times they have a changed.

First Ever Monaco Grand Prix 1929 – YouTube.

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