#ThrowbackThursday – 30 May
It’s 30 May, 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:
1806 – A Not-So Presidential Duel
When it comes to arguments, fights and petty disagreements, these days most people opt to take their conflicts to the streets of social media. While these are hardly pretty, they seem more preferable to physical confrontations, which can often take a violent – and sometimes fatal – turn.
Back in the day, however, disputes were often settled by way of duelling, typically with pistols. And it wasn’t just limited to the common folk, either: men from all walks of life would risk their lives in order to restore their honour.
In the case of Andrew Jackson, the future president of the United States of America, and one Charles Dickinson, a duel was used to settle a personal matter on 30 May.
Prior to his political career, Jackson was a lawyer, a horse-breeder and a plantation owner. He was also known for his fiery temper and for being thin-skinned, which led him to many skirmishes in his time. His latest skirmish was with Dickinson, an attorney and fellow horse breeder who accused Jackson of cheating on a horse-racing bet.
What’s more, Dickinson also accused Jackson’s wife, Rachel, of being guilty of bigamy. This accusation was particularly hurtful to Jackson, as it marred the reputation of his beloved wife, who had already faced harsh criticism for marrying Jackson before her divorce from her first husband had been finalised.
And so, on 30 May 1806, Jackson and Dickinson decided to settle their quarrel by partaking in a duel at Harrison’s Mills in Logan County, Kentucky. Dickinson was the first to fire, shooting into Jackson’s chest – surprisingly, Jackson survived, and he still had the strength to remain standing and shoot Dickinson in his own chest. As a result of the wound, the young attorney bled to death at the age of 25.
Jackson was never prosecuted for Dickinson’s death, as duelling was still considered a time-honoured custom in the southern States, nor did his actions ever hamper his 1829 presidential campaign. However, Jackson carried the bullet that Dickinson fired at his chest for the rest of his life, bearing the pain that came with it.
1967 – Leap of Faith
By 1967, Robert Craig Knievel of Butte, Montana – better known by his stage name, Evel Knievel – was shaping up to become the world’s most famous motorcycle stuntman.
From 1965-66, Knievel formed his own stunt troupe called “Evel Knievel and His Motorcycle Daredevils”, which saw them performing by jumping over caged animals, jumping through fire walls and being towed by dragsters at high speeds.
On 30 May 1967, the 29-year-old attempted his most daring stunt yet: leaping over 16 cars parked side-by-side at the Ascot Speedway in Gardena, California. He had tried a similar stunt the year before (which involved jumping over 12 cars and a cargo van), but it resulted in him breaking his arm and several of his ribs.
This time, however, Knievel managed to clear the 16 vehicles and land the jump without injury. Buoyed by his success, Knievel went on to perform even more bold, dangerous stunts, many of which saw him setting and breaking records (and breaking LOTS of bones in the process).
In 1980, Knievel retired at the age of 42; for the rest of his days, his health began to decline. He was ultimately diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, which claimed his life at the age of 69 on 30 November 2007.
1971 – Happy Birthday, Idina Menzel!
Today marks the 53rd birthday of one of Broadway’s most prolific performers: the one and only Idina Menzel!
Born in New York City, New York on 30 May 1971, Menzel was involved in music from a very young age: from being a member of her high school’s choir and drama club, to performing at weddings and bar mitzvahs during her teenage years, it was clear that this budding mezzo-soprano was destined for the stage.
After graduating from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Menzel made her Broadway debut in the 1996 musical, “Rent”, in which she originated the role of Maureen Johnson, a bisexual performance artist. It was her first major role, one that brought her critical acclaim (and a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical).
Over the next few years, Menzel’s career began to soar as she starred in productions such as “Aida”, “The Wild Party” and “Hair”.
In 2003, she originated one of her most famous roles: she portrayed Elphaba in “Wicked”, which tells the story of the friendship between the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch before the events of “The Wizard of Oz”. For her powerful performance as Elphaba, she earned a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.
In addition to her Broadway credentials, Menzel has appeared in TV shows and films from “Glee” to “Enchanted”. However, to Disney buffs and young viewers alike, she is best known for voicing the icy Princess Elsa from the “Frozen” franchise. To this day, many fans and critics regard Menzel’s performance of “Let It Go” as one of the best in Disney’s history.
So, here’s to many more years of success and memorable performances – happy birthday, Idina Menzel!
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