Moments in Time – March 13, 2024

#MiddleburyCT

• On March 25, 2017, the world’s largest banana split made its debut in Innisfail, Australia. Concocted with 40,000 bananas, it stretched for an astounding 5 miles long. No word on the number of calories it contained.
• On March 26, 1971, East Pakistan declared its independence from Pakistan, forming Bangladesh, which started an eight-month-long war between Pakistan and the newly-formed state. As many as 3 million people lost their lives in the conflict.
• On March 27, 1989, the groundbreaking soap opera “Generations” aired on NBC-TV, making it the first U.S. African-American show of its kind. Focusing on the relationship between two Chicago families, one white and one Black, the series tackled difficult subjects, including sickle cell anemia, racial bias and hate crimes, but failed to find a wide audience and was canceled in 1991.
• On March 28, 1949, English astronomer Fred Hoyle coined the term “Big Bang” during a BBC radio interview, though he also refuted the scientific theory, remarking in a later interview with the network that “the reason why scientists like the ‘big bang’ is because they are overshadowed by the Book of Genesis. It is deep within the psyche of most scientists to believe in the first page of Genesis.”
• On March 29, 1984, the city of Baltimore refused to replace its antiquated stadium, so the owner of the Baltimore Colts decided to up and leave the state. The team loaded up all their equipment into 15 trucks, moved to Indiana, and renamed themselves the Indianapolis Colts.
• On March 30, 1842, inhaled sulfuric ether was used as an anesthetic for the first time, by American surgeon Crawford Williamson Long, the first obstetric anesthetist, in Athens, Georgia. Long was also a cousin of Western legend Doc Holliday, and may have operated on Doc’s cleft lip.
• On March 31, 1923, the first dance marathon took place in New York City, with dance instructor Alma Cummings setting a new record at the Audubon Ballroom by hoofing it for 27 hours with six different partners. In just three weeks, her feat would be surpassed at least nine times across the U.S.

© 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.