30 Years Ago: The Sokal Hoax

Today in 1996, an NYU physics prof pulled an astonishing prank on the postmodernists

May 1 • Rex Sorgatz

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April 2026

100 Years Ago: Mae West’s ‘Sex’ Premieres on Broadway

Today in 1926, the play that landed the actress in jail made its debut and launched a career

Apr 26 • Rex Sorgatz

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50 Years Ago: Lorne Michaels Offered the Beatles $3000 to Reunite

Today in 1976, the SNL impresario made a lowball offer to Paul, John, George, and Ringo

Apr 24 • Rex Sorgatz

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50 Years Ago: The Ramones Released their Debut Album

Today in 1976, punk rock was (arguably) invented

Apr 23 • Rex Sorgatz

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75 Years Ago: Kerouac Finishes On the Road

Today in 1951, Jack Kerouac finished the first draft of the defining work of the Beat Generation

Apr 22 • Rex Sorgatz

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10 Years Ago: Prince Died

Today in 2016, Prince died at his studio, Paisley Park

Apr 21 • Rex Sorgatz

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120 Years Ago: The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake

Today in 1906, a 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck Northern California

Apr 18 • Rex Sorgatz

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15 Years Ago: Game of Thrones Premiered

Today in 2011, HBO dropped the first episode of George R.R. Martin’s fantasy masterpiece

Apr 17 • Rex Sorgatz

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100 Years Ago: Book of the Month Club

Today in 1926, the inaugural pick from the Book of the Month club was mailed out to its founding subscribers

Apr 16 • Rex Sorgatz

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December 2020

70 Years Ago: I, Robot

Today in 1950, Isaac Asimov published one of the most influential science fiction novels of all time

Dec 2, 2020 • Rex Sorgatz

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November 2020

30 Years Ago: Misery

Today in 1990, Rob Reiner released his adaptation of the Stephen King novel

Nov 30, 2020 • Rex Sorgatz

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75 Years Ago: The Lost Weekend

Today in 1945, Billy Wilder released his prescient portrait of the life of an addict

Nov 29, 2020 • Rex Sorgatz

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