Today in History

[Gemini]

1901
.
Britain's first cinema, the Mohawk, opened in Islington, north London. Films were accompanied by the 16-piece Fonobian Orchestra. At the height of their popularity in the 1940s, cinemas in Britain had average weekly attendances of 30 million.

My mum often talks about those days. We had around 8 cinemas in York then all packed out .

[Clover]

Of course cinema was the major source of entertainment years ago,apart from the Music Halls. It must have been wonderful to escape into another world as indeed it is today but then there was far less opportunity.

[Daisy]

Films were shown on a continuous loop, too. There would be Adverts, trailers, Pathe news, usually a cartoon, the B movie and then the main attraction film and you could go in at any point during the performances and leave 'where you came in'!!

[Gemini]

1968

The start of National Apple Week in England. The Beatles launched their new record label, Apple.

[Daisy]

That doesn't seem like 50 years ago!!

[Gemini]

1995

Alison Hargreaves, British mountaineer, and the first woman to make a solo summit of Mt. Everest without supplemental oxygen, died descending K2 during a severe storm.

[Daisy]

Gem - I remember this. It was so sad, and there was a lot of controversy about her and the fact that she had done this ascent alone, despite have young children.

[Gemini]

1930

The 'cautious' (!) use of contraceptives was approved by the Church of England.

[Daisy]

It begs the question “what counts as reckless use” doesn’t it!,

[Gemini]

Probably OK as long as you are not enjoying it

[Daisy]

Probably OK as long as you are not enjoying it

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

I’m sure you’re right 😁

[Gemini]

2004

Flash floods devastated the north Cornwall coastal village of Boscastle after the area's average August rainfall fell in just two hours.

Similar to this summer's weather

[Daisy]

You can't help wondering if there's a pattern in these extreme weather situations.

[Gemini]

1896

Mrs. Bridget Driscoll of Croydon, Surrey, became the first pedestrian in Britain to die after being hit by a car. It is said she froze in panic at the sight of the oncoming car, which was travelling at just four miles per hour.

Which begs the question why the driver didn't stop, a such a slow speed!

[Daisy]

Gem - I thought there should have been a man walking in front of it with a flag, but I had a look on Wiki and the so-called Red Flag Act of 1865 of repealed in guess when! - 1896. Her luck ran out, didn't it.