Category: Today’s Birthday

Camus was an Algerian-French novelist, essayist, and playwright. He spent the war years in Paris, and the French Resistance brought him into the circle of Jean-Paul Sartre and existentialism. In 1942, he became a leading literary figure with his enigmatic first novel, The Stranger, a study of 20th-century alienation, and the philosophical essay “The Myth of Sisyphus,” an analysis of contemporary nihilism and the concept of the absurd. What else did Camus write? Discuss

In the early 1880s, Charles Dow and Edward Davis Jones established the Dow Jones Average as a stock price indicator consisting mostly of railroad stocks. In 1889, Dow Jones & Co. began publication of the Wall Street Journal, and the well-known Dow Jones Industrial Average was created in 1896. Today, there are four different Dow Jones averages—industrial stocks, transportation stocks, utility stocks, and a composite average of all three. What were Dow’s “Leadville Letters”? Discuss

Durant was an American historian and essayist. In 1926, he published The Story of Philosophy, which soon became a bestseller. He then began a decades-long project—the writing of a comprehensive history of civilization. The result was The Story of Civilization, a monumental, 4,000,000-word, 10,000-page work stretching from prehistory to the 19th century. The series, published in 11 volumes from 1935 to 1975, introduced millions to intellectual history. Who coauthored the work? Discuss

Reni was an Italian painter and engraver whose style was influenced by his rival, Caravaggio. Reni was apprenticed to Flemish painter Denis Calvaert as a boy and by 23 had been commissioned by the government to execute decorative frescoes for the facade of the Palazzo Pubblico. Shortly thereafter, he made the first of his many trips to Rome, where he executed many important commissions, including the celebrated ceiling fresco Aurora. What are some of Reni’s other well-known works? Discuss

Named an All-American at the University of Minnesota in 1929 as both a tackle and fullback, Nagurski turned pro to play for the National Football League’s Chicago Bears, becoming the archetypical pile-driving fullback of the 1930s. Although he was never the league’s rushing leader, Nagurski was nearly impossible to stop without a gain and often dragged multiple tacklers with him before going down. In addition to football, Nagurski competed in what other sport on a professional level? Discuss

With promises to the war-weary American public of a “return to normalcy” in the wake of WWI, Harding was elected 29th president of the US. However, his administration soon earned a reputation for corruption. As an investigation into what proved to be the Teapot Dome scandal began, he traveled to Alaska, where he was informed of the corruption about to be exposed. While en route home, he became mysteriously ill, allegedly from food poisoning, and suddenly died. What caused his death? Discuss

Lowry was an English painter noted for his bleak northern industrial scenes, often featuring primitive figures that he called “matchstick men.” He also appears to hold the record for the most honors declined. He twice declined appointment to the Order of the British Empire—as an officer in 1955 and as a commander in 1961—and turned down a knighthood in 1968 and appointments to the Order of the Companions of Honour in 1972 and 1976. Which of his controversial works were exhibited after his death? Discuss

After appearing in minor roles on TV, Landon made his film debut in 1957’s I Was a Teenage Werewolf. He endeared himself to audiences as Little Joe in the western series Bonanza (1959-1973) and later as Charles Ingalls in the series based on Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House on the Prairie. He also sometimes wrote and directed episodes for the shows in which he acted, including Highway to Heaven. A prankster, Landon put what reptile in his mouth to get a laugh? Discuss

Gordon was an American actress and playwright whose career encompassed more than 70 years of stage and film experience. She made her Broadway debut in 1915 as Nibs in Peter Pan. She wrote many plays and collaborated on many successful screenplays, including Adam’s Rib, with her husband, the playwright and director Garson Kanin. She won an Academy Award for her performance in Rosemary’s Baby and, in 1971, starred in what black comedy film that has since become a cult classic? Discuss

Brice was an American comedian and singer who built her act on parody and physical humor. A perennial Ziegfeld Follies star after 1910, she attained international fame with her signature torch-song parody, “My Man.” Appearing in vaudeville, musicals, dramas, movies, and radio throughout her career, Brice demonstrated that a woman could succeed in entertainment without exploiting her sexuality or making a fool of herself or other women. What Broadway musical was based on her life? Discuss