A Brief History On June 24, 1916, Canadian born Gladys Louise Smith, age 24, became the first Hollywood actor or actress to sign a contract worth at least $1 million when she signed with Adolph Zukor, founder of what would become Paramount Pictures. Digging Deeper Better known as Mary Pickford, the actress was by 1916 the most popular actress in the world of film, only barely surpassed by Charlie Chaplin as most popular overall.  (Chaplin got a million dollar contract in 1918 and is sometimes erroneously listed as the first actor to get such a contract.)  Pickford’s contract included $10,000…

A Brief History On June 21, 2017, a date firmly implanted in the 21st Century, people still have not learned to DO WHAT THE POLICE SAY TO DO.  Milwaukee police officer Dominique Heaggan-Brown was found not guilty on June 21, 2017 in the fatal shooting of Sylville Smith. Digging Deeper Once again, a police shooting is considered justified after incredibly close and deliberate investigation and trial, and yet people are surprised.  Mr. Smith ran from a traffic stop on August 13, 2016, armed with a handgun.  After a foot chase, Officer Heaggan-Brown shot Smith twice as he tried to jump…

A Brief History On June 22, 2017, and on every June 22, you (only applies if you are a guy) are commanded to celebrate National Stupid Guy Thing Day. We apparently have idiotic “holidays” such as Sweetest Day, Valentine’s Day, Take Your Kid to Work Day and no end of goofy days. Thank goodness we have today to celebrate the “stupid” (stupid is in the eye of the beholder, and with guys, sometimes it really is in the eye!) things guys do or allegedly do that somebody thinks women and girls do not (normally) do. Digging Deeper Unfortunately, I could…

A Brief History On this day, June 21, 2017, two films featuring titular supernatural females are battling for box office supremacy at the global box office.  As of today, Wonder Woman has grossed an impressive $573.5 million worldwide, while The Mummy has grossed $294 million.  Both films, while their main plot-lines and characters are obviously fictional, nevertheless also include historical settings and personages…well, sort of.  Read on for the movies’ historical (in)accuracy! Digging Deeper First, The Mummy opens in 1127 A.D. with a group of English crusader knights capturing a large ruby from ancient Egypt and later burying it within the tomb of one of their number…

A Brief History On September 7, 1812, The Battle of Borodino was fought as part of the Napoleonic Wars during the French invasion of Russia.  As a result of France’s tactical victory, Emperor Napoleon I the Great (r. 1804-1814, 1815), one of history’s “great captains”, captured Moscow.  In commemoration of Napoleon’s victory, this article lists those particularly illustrious military commanders considered the “great captains” of history.  The notes for each entry are to sources that explicitly refer to the individuals as “great captains”. Digging Deeper Cyrus II of Persia (c. 600 – 530 BC), commonly known as Cyrus the Great and…