#ThrowbackThursday – 10 October
It’s 10 October, and that means it’s time for another edition of Throwback Thursday! Today, we’re taking a look back at three prominent events that went down on this day in history:
1886 – From Tails to Tuxedo
One hundred and thirty-eight years ago, the latest in men’s fashion is said to have made its debut at a glamorous ball in New York City, New York.
Back in the day, it was traditional for upperclassmen to don dress coats with tails at formal events. For Griswold Lorillard, the son of American tobacco tycoon Pierre Lorillard IV, that was just fine … except he had a strong aversion to the tails, which frequently hindered him while dancing or sitting.
According to legend, young Lorillard was set to attend the forthcoming Autumn Ball at the Tuxedo Club in Tuxedo Park, Orange County. Wanting to add a personal touch, he altered his attire for the event by cutting off the tails of a black dress coat and teaming it with a red satin vest.
Together with his friends (who wore identical outfits), Lorillard arrived at the Autumn Ball in his tailless jacket on the 10th of October 1886. The unconventional look is said to have raised many eyebrows among the guests, especially the older gentlemen who disapproved of breaking with tradition.
Be that as it may, the “tuxedo” – which Lorillard named after the venue – was a bold fashion statement, one that would catch on in subsequent years and revolutionise men’s formal wear.
1965 – A Map of Deception
Much like the infamous Hitler Diaries, the Vinland Map stands as one of history’s most controversial artefacts, as it generated significant excitement upon its discovery and an even greater uproar when it was revealed to be a forgery.
First discovered in 1957 within an ethnographic report, the map illustrates a region in North America referred to as “Vinland.” Scholars from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut examined the map, which they surmised was dated back to 1440. Their findings suggested that Vikings arrived in North America well before Christopher Columbus, who made his journey in 1492.
When the Vinland Map was publicly presented as a genuine article on 10 October 1965 – eight years after its discovery – scepticism about its authenticity emerged almost immediately. Scholars around the world raised concerns about the map’s ink and the materials used, which seemed inconsistent with the time period it was purportedly from. What’s more, they doubted that these Viking sailors possessed the appropriate ships to navigate the rough coastlines of Greenland, which had been accurately depicted on the map.
After numerous tests and analyses – including carbon dating – were conducted in 1972, many historians and scientists concluded that the Vinland Map was in fact a clever forgery, likely created in the 20th century.
The map is currently housed at Yale’s Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library.
2004 – RIP, Christopher Reeve
On this day 20 years ago, the world lost a real-life superhero.
Actor and equestrian Christopher Reeve is famous for his iconic portrayal of Superman in the 1978 film, as well as three of its sequels.
Sadly, in 1995, Reeve was paralysed from the neck down after being thrown from a horse – as a result, the 42-year-old was rendered a quadriplegic, an irreversible condition that he would live with for the rest of his life.
But Reeve did not let this deter him: he spent the rest of his days improving the quality of life for those living with disabilities, raising public awareness around spinal cord injuries and paralysis, and raising millions of dollars for organisations and medical research foundations. In a way, he was a real-life Superman.
On 10 October 2004, Reeve passed away at the age of 52. The day before, he had taken an antibiotic to alleviate the discomfort from an infected pressure sore. Tragically, this led to cardiac arrest and a subsequent coma, ultimately resulting in his death.
