History Schmistory: August 21. Mona Lisa Smuggle
Monday, August 21, 2023
1911: Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is stolen from the Louvre during business hours.
The culprit: Vincenzo Peruggia
![See page for author [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons](http://www.teammarcopolo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Vincenzo_peruggia.jpg)
See page for author [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
His motive was to return the piece to Italy as a long overdue retaliation against France, whose former leader, Napoleon, stole boatloads of priceless art from Italy and sent it to Paris. A noble cause, but Leonardo actually brought the Mona Lisa to Paris himself in 1516, and it has been there ever since. Oh well, it’s the thought that counts. Vinny was arrested trying to sell it out of his closet.
Sister Windy would be ashamed!
History Schmistory: August 20. Who brought the cannon?
Sunday, August 20, 2023
1882: Piotr Ilich Tchaikovsky premiers the 1812 Overture in Moscow, with a section of real cannon blasting away during the finale. Six months later a cannonball falls out of the sky and kills Wagner. It was that awesome.
Don’t think you know it? Skip to 3:05….
History Schmistory: August 19. To go where no man would dare go before…
Saturday, August 19, 2023
1960 – Sputnik Program: Sputnik 5  – the Soviet Union launches a satellite with 2 dogs, 40 mice, 2 rats and a variety of plants. The first animals to be launched into orbit and return safely. Not to take anything away from the first animals ever in space, fruit flies. Seriously. They did so well we sent them back a few years ago. Poor little guys…
![By Jack Dykinga, U.S. Department of Agriculture [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons](http://www.teammarcopolo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/800px-Female_Mexican_fruit_fly_insect.jpg)
By Jack Dykinga, U.S. Department of Agriculture [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
-We should give a shout to Laika, the original space dog, who unfortunately didn’t make it back. RIP widdle buddy!
![Laika Monument By Laika ac from USA (Laika) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](http://www.teammarcopolo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Laika_ac_Laika_6982605741.jpg)
Laika Monument
By Laika ac from USA (Laika) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
History Schmistory: August 18. Truth or Dare?
Friday, August 18, 2023
1587: Virginia Dare, the first American child of English descent, is born. Sad news for the Truths, across the road, who are  two weeks overdue.
![Henry Howe [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons](http://www.teammarcopolo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/800px-Baptism_of_Virginia_Dare.jpeg)
Henry Howe [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
History Schmistory: August 17. Moving stick-people? One please!
Thursday, August 17, 2023
1908: Fantasmagorie by Emile Cohl, debuts as the first animated film in history. Try it with your own soundtrack! … …Or don’t.
History Schmistory: August 16. Can you hear me now?
Wednesday, August 16, 2023
1858: The United States exchanges overseas greetings with the United Kingdom for the first time through the transatlantic telegraph cable.
![See page for author [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons](http://www.teammarcopolo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/800px-Atlantic_cable_Map.jpg)
See page for author [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
[Portrait of Wildman Whitehouse, 1856-1865, Maull and Polyblank, Science Museum, 1856-1865. Object No. 1980-2/50. © This image is available for use under the following license: CC-BY-NC-ND 2.0]
His complaint was it didn’t work fast enough, so he turned up the juice too high and fried the thing. Way to go, Wildman.
He tried to make it up to everybody with a communications device of his own…
No one was amused.
History Schmistory: August 15. I see ridiculous pants in your future…
Tuesday, August 15, 2023
1519: Panama City is founded. A super great rock song is prognosticated shortly thereafter.
History Schmistory: August 14. Can’t get enough (US) Football?
Monday, August 14, 2023
1959: Founding of the American Football League (AFL), which lasted 9 seasons, then merged with the NFL as the AFC. The XFL wasn’t so lucky. Remember that? What a joke!
![By Keith Allison [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](http://www.teammarcopolo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/800px-Jeremi_Johnson_and_Ray_Lewis.jpg)
By Keith Allison [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
History Schmistory: August 13. Getting a-head
Sunday, August 13, 2023
1792: King Louis XVI is arrested by the National Tribunal and declared an enemy of the people. When faced with the guillotine, he asked if they could just take a little off the top.
![By Georg Heinrich Sieveking (http://www.uncp.edu/home/rwb/louis16_execution.jpg) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons](http://www.teammarcopolo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Hinrichtung_Ludwig_des_XVI.png)
By Georg Heinrich Sieveking (http://www.uncp.edu/home/rwb/louis16_execution.jpg) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
History Schmistory: August 11. Welcome to the 500 club! Someone will be with you shortly.
Friday, August 11, 2023
1929. Babe Ruth becomes the first baseball player to hit 500 career home runs. Though most agree it’s because he was all hopped-up on hot dogs.
By National Photo Company [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
