#41 October 5 – 11

Oct 5th 1892-the Dalton Gang

On October 5, 1892, a group of brothers called the Dalton Gang tried to do something very daring — they wanted to rob two banks at the same time in a town called Coffeyville, Kansas! The Daltons thought it would make them famous, but the townspeople quickly realized what was happening. Instead of running away, the brave townsfolk grabbed their own weapons and stopped the robbers before they could escape. In the end, the Dalton Gang’s big plan didn’t go as they hoped, and only one of the brothers, Emmett, survived. Fun fact: The Dalton brothers were actually cousins of Jesse James’ gang, another group of famous outlaws from the Wild West! Listen to Episode 51: Outlaws of the Civil War

October 5th, 1905 – From Bicycles to the Skies: The Wright Brothers’ Record-Breaking Flight

On October 5, 1905, the amazing Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, made history once again! They flew their airplane, called the Wright Flyer III, for 24 miles in just under 39 minutes — the longest flight anyone had ever made at that time. This was a huge moment in the early days of flying, proving that airplanes could stay in the air for a long time and be controlled safely. Their hard work and experiments helped pave the way for all the airplanes we have today. Fun fact: The Wright brothers used to run a bicycle shop before they started building airplanes — talk about taking their wheels to the skies!

October 5th, 1921: First World Series game broadcast on the radio.

On October 5, 1921, something incredible happened for baseball fans everywhere — the first World Series game was broadcast on the radio! People who couldn’t make it to the stadium could finally hear the game live right from their homes. The matchup was between the New York Yankees and the New York Giants, and listeners were amazed to follow every pitch and cheer as if they were right there in the stands. This moment changed sports forever, bringing fans closer to the action than ever before.Fun fact: The announcer, Grantland Rice, described the plays using a telephone call that was relayed to radio listeners — talk about teamwork before technology! Listen to Episode 66: Take me out to the Ballgame

October 6th, 1889 – Thomas Edison showed one of the earliest motion pictures. 

On October 6, 1889, the brilliant inventor Thomas Edison amazed the world by showing one of the earliest motion pictures ever made! Using his new invention, the Kinetoscope, Edison and his team brought moving images to life for the very first time. People were fascinated — they had never seen pictures that actually moved before! This groundbreaking moment marked the beginning of the movie industry, paving the way for the films and cartoons we love today. Fun fact: Edison’s early movies were only a few seconds long — but they were so exciting that people lined up to watch them over and over again! Listen to Episode 112: The Brilliant Life of Thomas Edison.

October 8th, 1871 – The Great Chicago Fire

On October 8, 1871, the Great Chicago Fire began — one of the most famous fires in American history! The blaze started in a small barn, but strong winds quickly spread the flames across the city. For two whole days, the fire burned through homes, shops, and streets, destroying much of Chicago. When it finally ended, the city was badly damaged, but the people of Chicago worked hard to rebuild it even better than before. Their courage and teamwork turned a disaster into a story of strength and hope.Fun fact: A popular legend says the fire started when Mrs. O’Leary’s cow kicked over a lantern — but no one ever proved it really happened that way! Listen to Episode 148: The Great Chicago Fire