#ThrowbackThursday – 4 November
From the discovery of an ancient tomb to the rise of a new president, take a look at these five events that went down in history on 4 November:
1914 – The First Fashion Fete
Nearly four years before World War I came to an end, a women’s magazine by the name of “Vogue” held its first fashion show.
Dubbed the “Fashion Fete”, it was held in New York City on two successive afternoons and evenings. There, young women nursing glamorous, exciting dreams modelled in the latest garments chosen by New York’s most influential societal women. For dressmakers, it was a sight to see their designs – which so far had only been displayed on mannequins and shown in drawings – come to life and be marvelled upon by the attendees.
The Fete was considered a success and received praise from all over the fashion world. As a result, the advertisement avenue for “Vogue” soared, and they cemented their spot in the world of couture.
1922 – The Discovery of King Tut’s Tomb
Deep in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings, the intact tomb of King Tutankhamun was discovered.
By 1323 BC, Tutankhamun was one of the least significant pharaohs to ever rule over Egypt. Nevertheless, when he died at the age of 18, he was buried in style: his body was put inside a sarcophagus which held three nested coffins, the last of which was solid gold and contained his remains; the sarcophagus was then placed in a grand burial chamber in Thebes, after which it was seemingly lost to the sands of time.
In 1922, however, a British archaeologist named Howard Carter discovered the burial room near the entrance of the tomb of King Ramses VI during an excavation in the Valley of the Kings. There, he and his associates found a four-room chamber containing thousands of objects such as wine, sandals, thrones, a gold-and-blue face mask … and Tut’s sarcophagus.
For the next ten years, Carter dedicated himself to completing the excavation, which included examining and cataloguing the objects, analysing the chamber in its entirety, and examining Tutankhamun’s remains.
Even though the young pharaoh left a small impression during his short life, there can be no doubt that he made a much bigger impact after death, with his discovery shedding more light on Ancient Egyptian history.
1963 – “Just Rattle Your Jewellery”
Even before they hit the big time, the Beatles were a colourful yet charming band, and the night of 4 November 1963 certainly proved it.
While wowing the crowds at the Royal Variety Performance in London, England, John Lennon famously made this cheeky proclamation to the audience: “For our last number [Twist and Shout], I’d like to ask your help: would the people in the cheaper seats clap your hands? And the rest of you, if you’ll just rattle your jewellery.”
Keep in mind, the “rest of you” included Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret. So, one can imagine what their facial expressions looked like – shocked? Angry? Or perhaps a little amused? Judging from video footage from the event, at least the Queen Mother took it in her stride, smiling and nodding at Lennon in response.
2001 – “Harry Potter” Hits the Big Screens
It was the film that kicked off one of the most popular movie franchises of all time: today marks the London premiere of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone”.
Based on J. K. Rowling’s book series, “Philosopher’s Stone” tells the story of Harry Potter, an orphaned boy who learns that he’s a wizard. He then embarks on many adventures while trying to hone his skills at the legendary Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It starred young Daniel Radcliffe in the title role, with Rupert Grint and Emma Watson playing his friends Ron Weasly and Hermione Granger, respectively.
“Philosopher’s Stone” soon premiered worldwide, raking in $974.7 million at the international box office. It also scored three Academy Award nominations among other prestigious accolades. Seven more sequels were released thereafter, but for most Potterheads, the first installment will always be considered a beloved classic.
2008 – Barack Obama, the 44th US President
For the first time in history, an African-American man had become president of the United States of America.
Senator Barack Obama of Illinois won the national elections after defeating Senator John McCain of Arizona. Per the electoral results, the 47-year-old Democrat gained 365 electoral votes and nearly 53% of the popular vote; as for his 72-year-old Republican challenger, McCain only registered 173 electoral votes and more than 45% of the popular vote.
Resultantly, Obama was elected to the White House, and his inauguration took place two months later, where he called for a “new era of responsibility” in his speech.
He said: “The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.”
Image Source: Credit
