This week in 1927, on the eve of releasing the first “talkie” feature, a tooth infection rendered studio chief Sam Warner forever silent. But don’t let the story get you down: here’s a spin on a classic cocktail that raises the dead.
The Deception
This week in 2001, British Army Major Charles Ingram, his wife Diana, and college lecturer Tecwen Whittock teamed up to win £1 Million on the UK version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” And if you’re thinking that show doesn’t allow teams… you’re right. Learn how they did it, then toast their chutzpah with a cocktail that’s not what it seems.
Zamenhof Fizz
This week in 1887, linguophile L.L. Zamenhof completed his decade-in-the-making magnum opus: the Lingvo Internacia — a universal language that came to be called Esperanto.
Corrigan’s Bluff
This week, back in 1938 an aviator named Douglas Corrigan took off on a routine flight to California and ended up somewhere else entirely. But instead of calling his bluff, fans dubbed him "Wrong Way Corrigan." Even though they were pretty sure he knew exactly where he was going.
FBI vs. The Kingsmen
This week back in 1965, the FBI wrapped up one of its strangest investigations. Toast the Kingsmen's garage-rock classic, "Louie Louie," with a custom cocktail that has an equally unintelligible name.
The Pemberton
This week back in 1985, Coca-Cola unveiled the infamous “New Coke.” It’s widely considered one of the biggest marketing disasters ever… and it may have saved the brand.
Detonator
This month back in 1958, Ripple Rock, an underwater mountain in Canada that caused hundreds of shipwrecks and deaths, is blown up in the largest non-nuke peacetime explosion ever.
The Closing Bell and the Exchange Elixir
Right around this time back in 1817, the New York Stock Exchange formally began. It's famous chimes weren't always made by a bell.
Anello De Fuoco
Around this time in 1497, in the middle of Florence’s Piazza Della Signoria, a Dominican priest named Savonarola had a pile of Renaissance treasures set ablaze.
Yokoi’s Green Scene
On January 24th, 1972, on the island of Guam, Japanese Sgt. Shoichi Yokoi rose from the dead. In a manner of speaking.