No matter what’s going on in our lives, there is always something that happens that will go down in history.
On October 17, 1888, 128 years ago yesterday, Thomas Edison filed a patent for the Optical Phonograph (the first movie). Edison claimed is that it will do for the eye what the phonogragh does for the ear.
Throughout the 20th century, Edison was the world’s most prolific inventor. At the beginning of the century, he held 736 U.S. patents. His final count was 1,093 U.S. patents, including 1084 utility patents (patents for inventions) and 9 artistic design patents. Edison executed the first of his 1,093 successful U.S. patent applications on October 13th 1868, at the age of 21. In 1882, at the height of his work on electric light and power, he completed 106 successful applications.
Edison was also awarded many 1239 patents in 34 countries other than the United States. He filed an estimated 500–600 unsuccessful or abandoned applications as well.
Other notable happenings on this day;
1888 – The first issue of “National Geographic Magazine” was released at newsstands.
1931 – Al Capone was convicted on income tax evasion and was sentenced to 11 years in prison.
1957 – Elvis Presley’s film, “Jailhouse Rock” premiered in Memphis, Tennessee.
1962 – The Beatles first appeared on Great Britain’s Grenada TV Network.
1979 – Mother Teresa of India was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
2003 – In Taipei, Taiwan, construction crews finished 1,676-foot-tall-building called Taipei 101. The building was planned to open for business in 2004.
Go out and make today an extraordinary and memorable day and who knows, it just may land in the history books.