from Dr. Jane Ruby: TRUTH LIVES on at https://sgtreport.tv/

In the final scene of the final episode of the 1979–80 season of the phenomenally popular TV show Dallas‚ arch-villain J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman) hears a noise outside his office. He walks out to the hall to investigate.  He is then shot twice by an unseen assailant–and collapses to the floor.  This episode was broadcast on March 21‚ 1980. The cliffhanger was titled “A House Divided.” It launched an eight-month waiting period for Dallas fans to find out whether J.R. would survive the attack.  Viewers waited even longer to find out which of his many enemies were responsible.  Immediately following the airing of “A House Divided‚” and for the eight-month media frenzy that followed (during which bookmakers around the world set odds on J.R.’s possible assassins)‚ Larry Hagman became one of the most recognized celebrities on the planet.  He was the most in-demand guest on TV talk shows around the globe. The long-awaited‚ aptly-named episode “Who Done it?” finally aired on November 21. It was the fourth episode of the 1980-81 season. It not only became the most-watched episode of the night‚ it holds the distinction of being the second-highest‚ most-watched TV episode in history. Second only to the final episode of MASH. But while Dallas may have propelled Hagman to superstardom‚ it was not his first brush with TV fame.  Seasons #1 and #4 of his highly popular sitcom I Dream of Jeannie (aired from 1965 to 1970‚ and co-starring Barbara Eden)‚ consistently placed in the top 30 of the Nielsen ratings. Hagman received an Emmy nomination in Season #4.   Larry Hagman publicity photograph‚ circa March 1973 Early Life Larry Martin Hagman was born on September 21‚ 1931‚ in Fort Worth‚ Texas. His father was Benjamin Jackson Hagman (an accountant-turned-criminal-attorney).  His mother was a 17-year-old named Mary Marti. She would later become a renowned Broadway actress and musical comedy star. He grew up in near by Weatherford‚ Texas.  Nearly from the beginning‚ it was apparent to family and friends that Mary‚ having married so young‚ was not cut out for motherhood. Thus‚ it came as no surprise when in 1936 she and Benjamin divorced.  At five years of age‚ Hagman was sent to live with his maternal grandmother‚ Juanita Presley Martin‚ in Texas‚ while his mother pursued an acting career. This living arrangement created years of resentment from Hagman regarding his ever-absent mother.  In 1940‚ Hagman’s mother met and married a mean-spirited alcoholic named Richard Halliday. A year later‚ Mary gave birth to a daughter‚ Heller—whom Hagman came to adore.  Halliday treated Hagman cruelly‚ like an outsider. He effectively prevented mother and son from ever repairing their strained relationship. Education During the early years of his mother’s second marriage‚ Hagman was sent to the Black-Foxe Military Institute. It was known for its strict regimentation. He then briefly went to the Woodstock Country School‚ a boarding school in Vermont. When his mother moved to New York City to pursue a Broadway stage career‚ Hagman was again sent to live with his grandmother. This time in California.  A few years later‚ however‚ his grandmother died. So Hagman was allowed to join his mother in New York City.  At age 15‚ Hagman moved back to his hometown of Weatherford and attended Weatherford High School. Although his father wanted him to become a lawyer and join his practice‚ Hagman was drawn to drama classes and the stage.  After graduating from Weatherford High in 1949‚ Hagman made the decision to pursue a career in acting. He majored in dance and drama at Bard College in New York. But finding college not to his liking‚ he dropped out after just one year.  A high school photograph of Larry Hagman A Natural-Born Actor In 1950‚ Hagman began acting in Shakespearean productions. They were produced by American-British theater actress‚ producer‚ and director Margaret Webster‚ at her school at the Woodstock Playhouse in Woodstock‚ New York.  Among his acting coaches was Nancy Marchand (later of Lou Grant and Sopranos fame).  During the summer of 1950‚ Hagman worked in Dallas as a production assistant. He was given small roles in American stage director/producer’s theater-in-the-round productions at Margo Jones’s theater company. He appeared in The Taming of the Shrew. This was followed by numerous tent show musicals with St. John Terrell’s Music Circus in St. Petersburg‚ Florida‚ and Lambertville‚ New Jersey.  In 1951‚ Hagman appeared in the London production of South Pacific (as did his mother). He remained in the show for nearly a year.  In 1952‚ Hagman’s career was self-derailed (in a manner of speaking)‚ when he received his draft notice and enlisted in the US Air Force. He was fortunate‚ however‚ to be stationed in London where he spent the majority of his military service entertaining US troops in the UK and on European bases. He was in charge of providing entertainment for some 60‚000 men and their families.  Once discharged from the Air Force in 1956‚ Hagman returned to New York City where he resumed his acting career.  That year he appeared in the off-Broadway play‚ Once Around the Block‚ written by Pulitzer Prize and Academy Award winner William Saroyan. That was followed by nearly a year in another off-Broadway play‚ James Lee’s Career.  Broadway and Television Hagman’s Broadway acting debut occurred in 1958 in the Speed Lamkin production of‚ Comes a Day. He played the role of Jim Culpepper; a role that got Hagman noticed by the acting community at large.  Hagman went on to appear in four more Broadway plays: God and Kate Murphy‚ The Nervous Set‚ The Warm Peninsula‚ and The Beauty Part.  During this budding period of his career‚ Hagman also appeared in numerous (mostly live) television programs including: 1956 – he joined the cast of daytime soap opera The Edge of Night as Ed Gibson—a role he maintained for two years 1957 – he appeared in the episode “Saturday Lost” of the crime drama‚ Decoy (in the role of Kenneth Davidson) 1958 – he appeared in several “guest-starring” roles in the adventure-drama series Harbormaster (starring the renown TV actress Barbara Bain) 1958 to 1961 – he appeared three times on Lloyd Bridges’ highly popular syndicated adventure series‚ Sea Hunt (as Alex Kouras‚ Elliot Conway‚ and Johnny Greco) 1960 – he had a role on the CBS summer medical series Diagnosis:Unknown (as Don Harding) 1963 and 1964 – he appeared twice in segments of the CBS legal drama‚ The Defenders. Behind the Scenes: Personal Life In 1954‚ while still in the Air Force‚ Hagman met and married 25-year-old Swedish-born clothing designer Maj Irene Axelsson. They first had a civil ceremony witnessed by his staff sergeant.  Then‚ they had a religious service at London’s Swedish Church. The couple went on to have two children‚ Heidi Kristina (in 1958) and Preston (in 1962).  Larry Hagman and Maj Irene Axelsson. 1983 Film Debut In 1964‚ Hagman made his film debut in Ensign Pulver. It featured an all-star cast including: Robert Walker Jr.‚ Burl Ives‚ Walter Matthau‚ Tommy Sands‚ and a young Jack Nicholson.  That same year‚ Hagman also appeared in Fail-Safe‚ a Cold War thriller directed by Sidney Lumet based on the 1962 novel of the same name. The film starred several heavy-hitters including Henry Fonda‚ Dan O’Herlihy‚ Walter Matthau‚ Frank Overton‚ Fritz Weaver‚ Dana Elcar‚ and Dom DeLuise.  In just 14 years‚ Hagman had gone from a small-production theater actor to one recognized as having the acting chops to take on any role—small or big screen.  I Dream of Jeannie Having established himself as one of the most versatile actors in the business—in theater‚ television‚ and feature films—in 1965‚ Hagman was offered the TV role of Air Force Captain (later Major) Anthony Nelson.  He co-starred with the beautiful television and film actress‚ Barbara Eden‚ in a new NBC situation comedy‚ I Dream of Jeannie.  It was created to compete with ABC’s Bewitched and CBS’s My Favorite Martian. Jeannie entered the top 30 ratings its first year and ran for five seasons‚ from 1965 to 1970.  Jeannie and Bewitched ran neck-in-neck for the first three years. However‚ Jeannie pulled ahead in the ratings during the fourth season. The show drew the audience from My Favorite Martian by the second year. Fans tuned in each week to see the chemistry between Hagman and Eden.   Publicity photo of Larry Hagman and Barbara Eden from I Dream of Jeannie. Real Life: Causes‚ Drugs‚ and Reconciliation In 1968‚ Hagman joined the left-wing political party‚ the Peace and Freedom Party (PFP). It was an antiwar‚ pro-civil rights organization. It was opposed to the Vietnam War. It also supported Black liberation‚ farmworker unionizing‚ women’s liberation‚ and gay rights. In 2003‚ Hagman used his PFP association to speak out against US President George W. Bush’s plan to invade Iraq. In 1969‚ musician David Crosby (of Crosby‚ Stills &; Nash)‚ introduced Hagman to LSD after a concert. In his biography‚ Hello Darlin’: Tall (and Absolutely True) Tales About My Life‚ Hagman later wrote‚ “LSD was such a profound experience in my life that it changed my pattern of life and my way of thinking and I could not exclude it [from my autobiography].” At about that same time‚ Hagman was exposed to marijuana for the first time by movie legend Jack Nicholson. This was meant to be a safer alternative to Hagman’s heavy drinking.  Included also in his autobiography‚ Hagman wrote‚ “I liked it because it was fun‚ it made me feel good and I never had a hangover.”  (Although Hagman was a member of a 12-step program for alcoholism‚ he publicly advocated marijuana as a healthier alternative to alcohol.) In 1973‚ Hagman’s stepfather‚ Richard Halliday‚ died. This gave Hagman the opportunity to reconcile with his estranged mother‚ Mary Martin. (The two would remain close until her death from colon cancer in 1990.) TV and Films In the wake of I Dream of Jeannie‚ Hagman was kept busy in more than three dozen film and television projects including:  Rod Serling TV show Night Gallery (1970) Peter Fonda-directed western film The Hired Hand (1971) Made-for-TV comedy Getting Away From it All (1972) TV sit-com Here We Go Again (1973) TV pilot‚ Side-Kicks‚ co-starring Louis Gossett (1974) Richard Donner-directed psychological TV-drama‚ “Sarah T. – Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic”(1975); American Black comedy co-starring Bill Cosby‚ Raquel Welsh‚ and Harvey Keitel‚ Mother‚ Jugs‚ and Speed (1976) TV mini-series‚ The Rhinemann Exchange (1977).   Hagman’s star was quickly rising and he could pick and choose from dozens of small and big screen projects.  Little did he imagine that superstardom was just ahead. Photo of Barbara Eden and Larry Hagman from the television comedy I Dream of Jeannie. Circa 1969 Dallas In 1978‚ Hagman was offered two roles on two new television series: NBC’s The Waverly Wonders‚ and CBS’s Dallas.  Dallas was intended as a vehicle for the “Bobby” character (Patrick Duffy). However‚ when Hagman read the script (at Maj’s urging)‚ he and his wife concluded that the part was perfect for him. He was J.R. Ewing.  Hagman decided to base his portrayal of the treacherous oil tycoon on a man he worked for as a boy named Jess Hall Jr. He had been the owner of Antelope Tool and Supply Company. Dallas became a worldwide‚ phenomenal success. It aired in 90 countries around the world. Most notably‚ perhaps‚ in the UK‚ where even members of the Royal Family became fans. Most importantly for Hagman‚ “J.R.” became the most beloved character on prime-time television.  The phenomenal success of Dallas led to a very successful prime-time spin-off (Knot’s Landing)‚ and a number of Made-for-TV prequels and sequels. Hagman became one of the best-known television stars in history.  After Dallas In 1995‚ Hagman underwent a 16-hour life-saving liver transplant at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after being diagnosed with liver cancer. This was most likely brought on by some 40 years of heavy drinking. This health condition was exacerbated by cirrhosis of the liver. It had been diagnosed three years earlier. He had also been a heavy smoker prior to quitting at age 34.  Hagman spent several weeks recuperating‚ but recovered quickly and went on to resume a relatively normal life. Subsequently‚ Hagman became chairman of the American Cancer Society’s annual “Great American Smokeout” for many years. He also worked on behalf of the National Kidney Foundation. A Short-Lived Comeback In 1997‚ Hagman launched a new TV drama‚ Orleans. Though it lasted only one season‚ his memorable portrayal of Judge Luther Charbonnet gave him some of the best across-the-board reviews of his 36-year acting career.   Larry Hagman‚ ca. 2010 Final Years and Dallas Revisited In June of 2011‚ Hagman announced that he had stage-2 throat cancer. In his words‚ “As J.R. I could get away with anything–bribery‚ blackmail and adultery‚ but I got caught by cancer. I do want everyone to know that it is a very common and treatable form of cancer.”  Later that year‚ Hagman had an acorn-sized tumor removed from his tongue.  Just a few months earlier‚ Hagman was approached by Warner Bros./CBS about reprising his role as J.R. Ewing. This would be a new‚ second-generation‚ revived version of the original Dallas series.  The new series was to be a continuation of the old one following a 20-year break. During which‚ the characters and their relationships continued to evolve unseen‚ until the day the new series began.  Coming as no surprise to producers‚ Hagman jumped at the opportunity to bring “Ol’ J.R.” back to life. And despite his fading health‚ Hagman managed to reprise his dastardly role in 14 of the 40 episodes. They aired between 2012 and 2014. The series was soon after canceled. It was essentially unsustainable without Hagman’s character.  In June of 2012‚ Hagman’s cancer was said to be in remission. But by July of that year‚ doctors diagnosed him with myelodysplastic syndrome (formerly known as preleukemia). Death Larry Martin Hagman died on November 23‚ 2012‚ at Medical City Dallas Hospital in Dallas‚ following complications from acute myeloid leukemia.  In a statement to the Dallas Morning News‚ Hagman’s family stated: “Larry’s family and close friends had joined him in Dallas for the Thanksgiving holiday. He died surrounded by loved ones. It was a peaceful passing‚ just as he had wished for.” The New York Times obituary described him as‚ “one of television’s most beloved villains.” (And that‚ he certainly was.)  Coming Full-Circle For five episodes during Season 14 of the original Dallas‚ Larry Hagman and Barbara Eden were reunited. Eden joined the cast as LeeAnn De La Vega‚ a wealthy South American entrepreneur and owner of De La Vega Oil; a company much larger than Ewing.  According to the plot‚ De La Vega was a woman J.R. met and impregnated while attending the University of Texas. Who‚ after having an abortion was unable to bear children. She showed up looking for revenge.  In 1991 she finagled Ewing Oil from Bobby Ewing (who’d managed to gain control). The company then became a wholly-owned subsidiary of De La Vega Oil.  During their encounter‚ Eden’s character tortured J.R. by letting him remain at Ewing Oil‚ while orchestrating an end to his relationship with love interest Vanessa Beaumont‚ by seducing him.  Once having her revenge‚ De La Vega left Dallas and sold Ewing Oil to Michelle Stevens. This was the scheming younger sister of April Stevens‚ who married Bobby Ewing but was killed on their honeymoon‚ to further torture J.R.    References screenrant.com.‚ “15 Most Watched TV Episodes Of All Time‚” 15 Most Watched TV Episodes Of All Time (screenrant.com)  dallasdecoder.com.‚ “Critique: ‘Dallas’ Episode 54 – ‘A House Divided’‚” https://dallasdecoder.com/2012/06/26/critique-dallas-episode-54-a-house-divided/ broadwayworld.com.‚ “Comes a Day Broadway Original Cast‚” https://www.broadwayworld.com/shows/Comes-a-Day-321340/cast Hagman‚ Larry‚ “Hello Darlin’: Tall (and Absolutely True) Tales About My Life‚” Hello darlin’ : tall (and absolutely true) tales about my life : Hagman‚ Larry : Free Download‚ Borrow‚ and Streaming : Internet Archive   dallastvaddicts.com.‚ “Dallas Reboot: The Next Generation‚” Dallas Reboot: The Next Generation – A New Era of Secrets‚ Schemes and (dallastvaddicts.com)  dallas.fandom.com.‚ “Lee Ann De La Vega‚” https://dallas.fandom.com/wiki/Lee_Ann_De_La_Vega www.imdb.com.‚ “Larry Hagman‚ Biography‚” Larry Hagman – Biography – IMDb The post The Making of a Superstar: The Life and Time of Larry Hagman first appeared on History Defined.

In 2004 ABC launched an American version of a popular British series: Wife Swap. The premise of the series was that two families would swap wives/mothers for two weeks‚ usually from families with different lifestyles or socioeconomic statuses.  In the first week the women would have to operate under the family’s usual rules‚ while in the second week‚ they ran the household as they saw fit.  The showrunner intended to introduce people to a variety of different family types and hopefully introduce some new rules that could be implemented within each home. The popular show ran for six seasons It produced some memorable episodes‚ but none of the families in the show were more infamous than the Stockdale family. Their notoriety comes not from their time on the show‚ but from what happened after they were in the public eye.  The Stockdale Family Band. Jacob‚ second from left‚ went to trial for murdering his family members. Stockdale/Tankovic Episode The Stockdale/Tankovic episode of Wife Swap featured two polar opposite families‚ as it usually did. There was the Tankovics‚ who were an easy-going family from Illinois. Their goal was to enjoy the luxuries of life. Then there was the Stockdales‚ who were a religious family from Ohio that was sheltered from any potential negative influence of the outside world. The children were all homeschooled. Small luxuries such as television‚ video games‚ and other forms of entertainment were all forbidden.  For the Stockdales‚ the epitome of fun was performing together in their family bluegrass band. The band consisted of parents Tim and Kathy‚ and children 19-year-old Calvin‚ 16-year-old Charles‚ 15-year-old Jacob‚ and 11-year-old James.  It was quite a shock for Laurie Tankovic to enter a home as strict as the Stockdales’.   During her two weeks in the home‚ Laurie did her best to provide the children with a sense of freedom that they were normally lacking. Oddly enough‚ not all of the children were excited about the opportunity.  While most of them embraced the opportunity for television and video games‚ young Jacob ran from the house crying when offered the chance.  When Laurie followed him to ask what was wrong‚ he shared that his parents told him that he would burn in hell for indulging in such activities‚ which is why he did not want to. This shocked Laurie‚ who led her family in a much more laissez-faire manner‚ but she understood Jacob’s hesitation.  After the two weeks‚ Laurie returned to her family and likely did not consider what would become of them. But‚ she would later share this moment in reflection of the tragedy that would eventually strike the Stockdale family.  Jacob Stockdale. The Stockdale Family Band The Dark Turn The tragic twist in the Stockdale family saga unfolded on the afternoon of June 15‚ 2017. In a small farmhouse near Beach City‚ Ohio‚ law enforcement responded to a 911 call that would reveal a devastating scene.  As they entered the home‚ law enforcement saw Jacob Stockdale with a gunshot wound to his head. They rapidly called emergency medical services and had him transported to the hospital.  As officers made their way further into the house‚ they eventually found the bodies of his mother Kathryn‚ then 54‚ and his younger brother James‚ then 21. It seemed that Jacob shot his mother and brother‚ and then attempted to kill himself as well.  EMTs arrived on the scene in time to transport James and Jacob to the hospital‚ but Kathryn passed away before help could arrive. James would survive a few days before passing away. But doctors would be able to save Jacob from his self-inflicted wound.  The tragedy became widely known since the family had been televised nationally‚ and hundreds of thousands of people were able to see the family dynamics that potentially contributed to Jacob’s actions.  Almost a decade after the episode that they were in aired‚ Laurie Tankovic was approached by the media. They wanted her insight into the family she had spent two weeks being a part of.  While she was not a real member of the family‚ she posited that the restrictive upbringing of the family likely influenced Jacob’s mental break and the decision to kill his family.  Calvin‚ the oldest son of the Stockdale family‚ released a statement mourning James. He said that he was the light of the family and the source of their fun and that he would be very missed.  Tim‚ the patriarch of the family‚ released a similar statement about his wife saying that she had been a wonderful mother‚ wife‚ and grandmother along with being a talented woman.  When asked why Jacob would have done this‚ Laurie was the only person who had an answer: his family and the police had no statement rationalizing the decision.  The Legal Proceedings After Jacob’s recovery‚ he was charged with the murder of his brother and mother. In October 2018‚ he pleaded insanity and spent the next two years in psychiatric hospitals‚ from which he attempted to escape twice.  After it was found that he was sane at the time of the murders‚ his trial was scheduled for May 2021. Just weeks before‚ Jacob pled guilty and was given two 15-year sentences for the murders.  Jacob’s mugshot from the Stark County Sheriff’s Office The leniency of thirty years for two murders is likely due to the Stockdale family privately asking the judge to go easy on Jacob. However‚ they have said little publicly about the tragedy. The Stockdale family‚ once known for their strict upbringing and family band‚ now bears the weight of an indescribable tragedy. Jacob Stockdale stands as a haunting reminder of the negative influence familial upbringing can have on a person‚ even if they are from a seemingly loving and happy family.  Wife Swap may have been about the benefits of seeing new family models‚ but in the case of the Stockdale’s‚ it may have done more harm than good.   References Harris‚ Chris. “’Wife Swap’ Killings: Son Charged with Killing Mom‚ Brother Before Shooting Himself in Head“ People‚ October 22‚ 2018. https://people.com/crime/wife-swap-killings-jacob-stockdale-charged-killing-mom-brother/.  “Wife Swap star Jacob Stockdale charged with family murders” New Zealand Herald‚ September 29‚ 2018. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/wife-swap-star-jacob-stockdale-charged-with-family-murders/XJJML7UETPDJY6ASAKTNJ7KP5Q/. The post The Unexpected True Story of the Wife Swap Murders first appeared on History Defined.

When people are asked about famous paintings‚ chances are they will say Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and The Last Supper‚ Edvard Munch’s The Scream‚ and Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night.  The Starry Night‚ a beautiful yet gloomy oil-on-canvas painting‚ is usually in the top three or five of the most popular paintings list. It’s for good reason too since the artwork is not only beautiful—it also has an incredible story.  Van Gogh’s famous‚ Starry Night Who Was Vincent van Gogh? Vincent van Gogh is one of the most famous and influential painters of all time. He was a Dutch post-impressionist artist known for his distinctive and highly expressive artwork.  Van Gogh is renowned as the genius behind more than 2‚100 works of art. This includes 860 oil paintings that were mostly made during the last two years of his life between 1898 and 1890.  The artist was born into an upper-middle-class family‚ which should have given him a leg up in life. However‚ van Gogh suffered from mental illness that was evident even during his young life.  In 1888‚ van Gogh wanted to inspire change in his art. He wanted to create something other than the impressionist paintings he was used to. So‚ he moved to Arles‚ France with the goal of starting an artistic commune.  While in Arles‚ there was an apparent change in van Gogh’s paintings. They were brighter and were obviously inspired by the nature that surrounded him. His peer‚ Paul Gauguin‚ joined him in Arles that same year. However‚ one night‚ the two friends had an argument that ended with van Gogh cutting his ear off with a razor. Prior to that‚ van Gogh admitted to suffering from delusions and psychotic episodes. He also drank heavily and wasn’t eating well.  In the months that followed his self-mutilation‚ van Gogh voluntarily admitted himself to the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole Lunatic Asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence in 1989.  What does this have to do with The Starry Night? It was at the asylum where van Gogh painted his most famous work.  Vincent van Gogh‚ self portrait. Spring 1887 A Breakout of Genius at the Asylum He may have lost his mind but he never lost his creativity.  It was a stroke of luck that the facility‚ which mostly catered to upper-class families‚ was not packed. Van Gogh occupied two rooms at the asylum—a second-floor bedroom and a ground-floor room that he used as a studio.  Van Gogh painted about 150 artworks at the asylum during his stay from 1889 to 1890. The following are some of van Gogh’s works while confined: Almond Blossom Irises Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear and Pipe The Courtyard of the Hospital at Arles The Thresher Ward in the Hospital at Arles Many believed that his magnum opus was made in June 1889 because of a letter he sent to Theo‚ his brother.  It read in part‚ “At last I have a landscape with olive trees and also a new study of a starry sky. Though I have not seen either Gauguin’s or (Emile) Bernard’s last canvases‚ I am pretty well convinced that these two studies I’ve spoken of are parallel in feeling.” The Starry Night wasn’t the only painting that was inspired by van Gogh’s view from his second-floor bedroom. Accounts have stated that 21 other similar paintings were found.  A month before “The Starry Night” was made‚ van Gogh wrote to Theo. He wrote‚ “Through the iron-barred window‚ I can see an enclosed square of wheat… above which‚ in the morning‚ I watch the sun rise in all its glory.” Why Was The Starry Night Considered Beautiful? The oil-on-canvas painting is described as a night sky depicted by blue and white swirling patterns dotted by yellow stars and dominated by a crescent moon. Underneath the sky is a village with a towering flame-like structure that is said to depict cypress trees.  For many‚ the painting is striking because of its use of contrasting colors as well as the visible strokes and swirls on the canvas. It is attractive and poignant.  It becomes even more beautiful when you know the words that van Gogh used to describe what he was seeing from his window.  In yet another letter to his younger brother‚ van Gogh stated‚ “This morning I saw the countryside from my window a long time before sunrise with nothing but the morning star‚ which looked very big.” Incidentally‚ researchers say that Venus‚ also known as the morning star‚ was visible in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence in the spring of 1889.  Some also consider The Starry Night beautiful simply because of its story and the genius behind it.  The painting has been the subject of many analyses‚ studies‚ and interpretations. Some even established a link between the painting and van Gogh’s mental illness.  There was an investigation by scientists from the Rochester Institute of Technology and a collaboration with the Museum of Modern Art in New York. They learned that the artist employed ultramarine and cobalt blue colors to depict the night sky as well as Indian yellow and zinc yellow for the stars and the moon.  Where Is The Starry Night Painting Now? Van Gogh always sent his paintings to Theo but he held on to The Starry Night longer than most. Finally‚ in September 1889‚ van Gogh sent The Starry Night and a few others to Theo.  Less than a year later‚ van Gogh shot himself in the chest while painting in a field. He survived the shooting but only lived for a few days more as he died from an infected wound.  Theo worked hard to elevate van Gogh’s status as an artist in Europe. In the last few years of van Gogh’s life‚ the artist gained renown among artists and art enthusiasts in France.  However‚ Theo’s efforts were cut short when Theo died six months after van Gogh’s death.  Theo’s widow‚ Johanna Gezina van Gogh-Bonger‚ took custody of van Gogh’s paintings. In 1900‚ van Gogh-Bonger sold the painting to Julien Leclercq‚ a 19th-century French poet and art critic.  A year later‚ Leclerq sold The Starry Night to Gauguin’s friend‚ impressionist painter and art collector Claude-Emile Schuffenecker.  Van Gogh-Bonger bought the painting back but sold it again in 1906 to the Oldenzeel Gallery in Rotterdam. The painting found its way to Georgette P. van Stolk who kept it from 1906 to 1938.  It was later sold to art collector Paul Rosenberg. Finally‚ in 1941‚ the Museum of Modern Art acquired The Starry Night which is where it can be found to this day.  Despite van Gogh’s troubled mental state and his turbulent life (or perhaps because of it)‚ The Starry Night remains the most famous painting at MOMA.The post Why is Van Gogh’s Starry Night One of the Most Famous Paintings in the World? first appeared on History Defined.

For those who revel in the heart-pounding excitement of plummeting down steep drops‚ twisting through loops‚ and feeling the rush of adrenaline as G-forces push you into your seat‚ the world of roller coasters has long been a source of ultimate thrills.  Yet‚ what if there was a roller coaster that transcends the bounds of excitement and into the realm of the macabre? Enter the Euthanasia Coaster—a conceptual design that challenges even the bravest of thrill seekers. In a world where roller coaster aficionados constantly chase the next adrenaline rush‚ the Euthanasia Coaster stands as a dark anomaly. It invites thrill-seekers to take the ultimate ride.  As we buckle up and prepare to explore this eerie creation‚ let’s unravel the fascination with roller coasters and delve into the mind of Julijonas Urbonas. This is where the pursuit of thrills takes an unexpected and chilling turn.  Buckle up‚ and keep arms and legs inside the car at all times‚ as we embark on a journey that promises to challenge both the boundaries of amusement and the ethical intricacies surrounding life’s final ride. Julijonas Urbonas (left) and Euthanasia Coaster at HUMAN+ display at the Science Gallery in Dublin Who Invented the Euthanasia Coaster? The concept of the Euthanasia Coaster is attributed to Julijonas Urbonas‚ an artist and engineer from Lithuania. Julijonas Urbonas was born in Vilnius‚ Lithuania in 1981.  His motivation behind creating the Euthanasia Coaster lies at the intersection of his love for art‚ engineering‚ and the exploration of the ethical challenges surrounding end-of-life choices. Urbonas developed an interest in engineering and the arts at an early age. After graduating from high school he attended Vilnius Gediminas Technical University in Lithuania for his undergraduate studies.  Later‚ he continued his studies by pursuing a PhD in Design Interactions at the Royal College of Art in London. It was during his time at the Royal College of Art that he introduced the conceptual piece known as the Euthanasia Coaster as part of his graduate work in 2010. Urbonas conceived the Euthanasia Coaster not as a practical ride but as a thought experiment. It is a conceptual piece designed to provoke discussion about the morality and ethics of assisted suicide.  His artistic vision aimed to push the boundaries of traditional amusement park design‚ challenging societal perceptions and stimulating conversations about end-of-life choices and who gets to make them.  How Does the Euthanasia Roller Coaster Work? Looking at the model of the Euthanasia Roller Coaster it appears like any normal rollercoaster would. It has a lift hill‚ a steep drop‚ and a succession of loops that get smaller and smaller until the ride flattens out and returns to the starting station.  The only difference is that when you come back to the station‚ you’re dead.  The coaster begins with a slow and steady ascent to a towering height of 1600 feet. That’s almost 400 feet taller than the Empire State Building.  The ride to the top is a long and slow climb that lets the rider reflect on their life. At the top of the hill the train comes to a stop.  As the rider looks out over the breathtaking view they have a choice; either abort the ride or press a button to continue. Once the button is pressed the train is released and drops nearly vertically until it reaches a staggering 220 miles per hour before entering a series of seven loops to eternity. Lethal G-Forces G-forces‚ or gravitational forces‚ are measures of acceleration experienced by an object or person. The term “G” stands for gravity‚ and 1 G is the force of Earth’s gravity pulling an object towards its surface. Most people can tolerate positive G-forces up to 5 or 6 Gs for a few seconds. Anything over that can lead to problems like decreased blood flow to the brain and can result in loss of consciousness. Those who experience G-forces for longer periods of time‚ such as Fighter pilots or astronauts during rocket launches‚ must wear special suits to mitigate some of these effects.  In order for the Euthanasia Coaster to kill its riders in a humane manner‚ it must maintain a lethal level of 10 g force for 60 seconds. This is accomplished through the series of increasingly smaller loops – each one getting smaller and smaller.  The prolonged exposure to these levels of g-forces causes blood to flow away from the brain. This induces cerebral hypoxia‚ or lack of oxygen to the brain.  As the train enters the first loop‚ blood is forced out of the head and eyes. The rider will experience a gradual loss of vision‚ and eventually blackout.  As the train continues through the second loop the rider experiences g-LOC or g-force-induced loss of consciousness. According to Urbonas‚ “the second loop will definitely do its job.”  But if it doesn’t the next five loops are designed to ensure that survival is nearly impossible. By the time the train returns to the station‚ all occupants should be deceased. If they aren’t‚ the train could be run a second time. A diagram of the hypothetic Euthanasia rollercoaster. Controversy Surrounding Assisted Suicide Julijonas Urbonas’s idea captured the media spotlight during its presentation as part of the HUMAN+ exhibition at the Science Gallery in Dublin in 2011. It reawoke the old debate about the ethics of assisted suicide.  Supporters argue that a person‚ especially if they are terminally ill‚ should have a choice when to end their own life instead of someone deciding for them. They make a strong argument about the ethics of hospice care‚ which is essentially being forced to wait to die‚ versus taking control of your own life. Opponents‚ on the other hand‚ raise concerns about the sanctity of life‚ the ethics of playing God‚ and the potential for coercion. Not to mention‚ being paid or paying someone to end someone’s life just sounds bad. The Euthanasia Coaster exists solely as a hypothetical concept and has never been constructed or even planned. It was solely conceived as an art project and thought experiment‚ to explore the ethical dilemmas surrounding assisted suicide.  The artist’s intention is to stimulate discourse on the intersection of art‚ design‚ and the moral implications of end-of-life choices. It was intended to make us all look inside ourselves and ask‚ “When my time comes‚ how do I want to go out?” References Euthanasia Coaster https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euthanasia_Coaster Julijonas Urbonas https://julijonasurbonas.lt/euthanasia_coaster Euthanasia Coaster: The Rollercoaster Actually Designed To Kill You https://www.iflscience.com/euthanasia-coaster-the-rollercoaster-actually-designed-to-kill-you-64702 Lithuanian man designed Euthanasia Coaster to ‘humanely… take the life of a human being’ https://www.pennlive.com/life/2021/06/lithuanian-man-designed-euthanasia-coaster-to-humanelytake-the-life-of-a-human-being.htmlThe post The Ethical Thought Experiment of the Euthanasia Coaster first appeared on History Defined.

Before the murderous reign of Jack the Ripper‚ another Jack was terrorizing the citizens of London in the dark of night. Fortunately‚ this Jack wasn’t a killer‚ but there was still plenty about him to set everyone on edge.  This monstrous stalker was known as Spring Heeled Jack. Leaping through the dark city streets and attacking the unknowing public at random‚ Spring Heeled Jack struck fear into the hearts of Londoners. He traveled via rooftop‚ dressed like a gentleman‚ and could even breathe blue fire from his mouth.  What sort of creature was this Spring-Heeled Jack‚ man or monster? Or maybe the better question is–was Spring Heeled Jack even real? Jack the Devil in the Penny Dreadfuls Paper – 1838 Early Ghosts of London  Before Spring Heeled Jack leapt onto the scene‚ early 19th century London was already being plagued by ghosts and specters. This left it primed for a figure like Jack to appear.  These pale figures were considered harmless at first. However‚ as time went on‚ reports of these ghosts stalking and even attacking pedestrians were reported.  While the idea of streets being haunted by ghosts may seem humorous to us today‚ there was a very real danger involved. Surprisingly‚ this danger didn’t come from the so-called ghosts themselves‚ but instead from the overzealous ghost hunters of the day.  As we know‚ no true ghosts were walking the streets‚ and as the residents of Hammersmith in 1803 would come to learn‚ trying to banish something that doesn’t exist could lead to murder.  The Hammersmith Ghost  In the final days of 1803‚ reports started to filter in of a ghost haunting Hammersmith‚ situated on the outskirts of London. This ghost was believed to be the unsettled soul of a suicide victim‚ and was dressed all in white.  It was said that this ghost managed to frighten a few people to the point of shock‚ and even death. But there is no concrete evidence of this.  What we do know is that late one night in 1804‚ bricklayer Thomas Millwood was returning home after a day of work. A bricklayer’s uniform consisted of a white shirt‚ pants‚ and apron‚ and in the dark Millwood cut a slightly ghostlike figure.  Excise officer Francis Smith was so startled by Millwood’s appearance that he shot and killed the bricklayer. He was then arrested for the murder.  Smith would be charged with the murder‚ but his original punishment of execution was commuted to a year of hard labor instead. All of the attention that the murder garnered was enough to make the real Hammersmith ghost come forward.  The spirit was actually a shoemaker named John Graham‚ who had been covering himself with a white sheet in order to frighten his apprentice.  Engraving from 1804 of the Hammersmith Ghost Who Was Spring-Heeled Jack? It would be decades after the Hammersmith ghost that Spring-Heeled Jack would make his appearance. While the Hammersmith ghost and Spring-Heeled Jack were both thought to be dangerous night stalkers‚ they shared very little as far as appearances go.  What Did Spring-Heeled Jack Look Like? Instead of being a spectral white figure‚ Spring-Heeled Jack much more closely resembled a devil. Witnesses described Jack as a tall‚ spindly man with devilish attributes such as a sharp nose‚ pointed features‚ and glowing red eyes. His hands were said to be tipped with metallic claws‚ and a helmet covered his head.  Spring-Heeled Jack was said to dress like a gentleman‚ but beneath his long black coat‚ he wore a tight-fitting white one-piece. What Did Spring-Heeled Jack Do?  As far as the feats that Jack could accomplish go‚ his most recognizable was the one from which his name originated. Spring-Heeled Jack was said to be able to leap over entire buildings‚ and would traverse the city by jumping from roof to roof.  He would also use this power to escape when it seemed like he might be captured. Jack’s other power was that of blue-white flame breath that struck fear into unsuspecting pedestrians.  Spring Heeled Jack as depicted by an anonymous artist – English penny dreadful (c. 1860) The Attacks of Spring-Heeled Jack Like the Hammersmith ghost and other sightings of spirits‚ the first sightings of Spring-Heeled Jack were vague and nebulous.  But unlike previous ghosts‚ there are detailed accounts of later attacks by Spring-Heeled Jack that would make what would have just been a legend seem much more real. Here is a list of the attacks of Spring Heeled Jack: Assault on Mary Stevens‚ October 1837 The first recorded attack of Spring Heeled Jack involved him leaping at a woman named Mary Stevens‚ kissing her face‚ tearing at her clothes‚ and scratching her skin. Mary screamed‚ and this caused Jack to flee. The very next day‚ Spring-Heeled Jack leapt in front of a carriage near Mary’s home‚ causing it to crash. Attack of Jane Alsop‚ February 19‚ 1838 A man claiming to be a police officer knocked on the door of Jane Alsop requesting a light. The man told Jane he had caught Spring-Heeled Jack in the alley‚ and needed a candle‚ which Jane provided. To her shock‚ he threw off his coat‚ revealing Spring-Heeled Jack underneath. Jane reported that Jack spit blue and white flames from his mouth. He tore at her clothes and neck‚ but fled when Jane’s sister came to her rescue.  Assault on Lucy Scales‚ February 28‚ 1838 Spring-Heeled Jack’s attack that caused the most damage might also have been his shortest. Lucy Scales and her sister were returning from visiting their brother. When they passed an alley‚ there was a tall figure in the entrance of it that spit blue and white flames into her face. This caused Lucy to fall to the ground‚ experiencing violent seizures. The man quickly walked away‚ and Lucy was taken home to recover.  Was Spring-Heeled Jack Ever Caught? Unlike the Hammersmith ghost‚ there seems to be no earthly explanation for the appearances and attacks of Spring-Heeled Jack. Reports of Jack spread far and wide‚ lasting all the way to the turn of the century before the mysterious leaping Jack disappeared for good.  Spring-Heeled Jack was never caught‚ but his reign of terror did eventually end. The legend of Spring-Heeled Jack still lives on‚ puzzling experts and the general public alike.  Was Spring-Heeled Jack real? He was certainly real enough to the unfortunate victims of his attacks‚ and while we might not have any solid proof of his existence‚ his impact is undeniable.  References  “Meet Spring-Heeled Jack‚ the Leaping Devil That Terrorized Victorian England”-Eric Grundhauser https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/meet-springheeled-jack-the-leaping-devil-that-terrorized-victorian-england “ENGLAND’S MOST NOTORIOUS URBAN LEGEND: THE MYSTERY OF SPRING-HEELED JACK”-Rachel Littlewood https://www.history.co.uk/articles/the-mystery-of-spring-heeled-jackThe post Who Was the Stalker known as Spring-Heeled Jack? first appeared on History Defined.

You would think this was something out of a Harry Potter movie. But it actually existed‚ as scientists have discovered.  In 2009‚ coal miners and scientists discovered more than 180 fossils of a gargantuan snake in a Colombian region called Cerrejon. The conclusion from the finding was that 60 million years ago after dinosaurs had already gone extinct‚ the Titanboa snake was roaming around the jungle.  It was a 45-foot monster‚ three times bigger than your average crocodile.  Colombian geologist Henry Garcia is credited with being the first to kick off the discovery. He found an unfamiliar fossil and placed it in a company coal case.  Fabiany Herrera‚ a geology student nearby‚ discovered the impression of a fossil leaf on a rock several years after that. In 2003‚ an expedition began by coal miners‚ scientists‚ and paleontologists to study the area more thoroughly.  Their findings not only led them to the Titanboa snake but also other abnormally large species that lived in the region. Rendering of the Titanboa found in Colombia several years ago. (Photo: Smithsonian Institution) A Fossil Treasure Trove Anyone who visits northern Colombia and comes across Cerrejon‚ situated 60 miles off the Caribbean coast‚ will find a whole lot of nothing. It reminds you of the empty deserts in the Western US with a whole lot of dirt and sand.  All you’ll find around here are some coal miners‚ dump trucks‚ and other construction vehicles roaming around the dirt roads. Also situated here is Carbones del Cerrejon Limited‚ a multinational coal corporation responsible for extracting millions of tons of coal per year. Besides coal workers‚ though‚ you will find the area visited by scientists‚ geologists‚ and archaeologists. That’s because Cerrejon is one of the world’s richest fossil deposit regions‚ and the world’s smartest people will come to this place to explore and search for fossils. “Cerrejón is the best‚ and probably the only‚ window on a complete ancient tropical ecosystem anywhere in the world‚” said Carlos Jaramillo‚ a paleontologist at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. “The plants‚ the animals‚ everything. We have it all‚ and you can’t find it anywhere else in the tropics.” Cerrejon wasn’t always an open area of land. In fact‚ it was filled with swampy jungles and hundreds of trees. It was notoriously hotter and wetter than what it exists today.  They received twice as much rain millions of years ago than they do today‚ and that helped create the perfect living environment for some of nature’s most incredible creatures. The climate was so warm and humid that it was perfect for large animals to grow in historic size. It was first the home of dinosaurs more than 60 to 80 million years ago. After they became extinct when a giant asteroid impacted Earth‚ it was replaced with tropical rainforests and jungles that birthed various animals and species.  The jungle during the Paleocene period was the home to turtles twice the size of what exists today. There were three different crocodile species‚ all larger than what we’re used to seeing in lakes.  There was also a snake that measured more than 40 feet long and weighed over 2‚500 pounds. Once the dinosaurs passed on‚ this became the new “King of the Jungle.” The Titanboa The Titanboa snake was in simple terms “a monster.” It can best be compared today to a boa constrictor with the behavior of an anaconda.  But even the largest boas and anacondas today don’t reach anywhere near 40 feet long. The average anaconda is about one-third of that.  Not to mention the Titanboa was so thick that it could reach up to a man’s waist from the ground up. In essence‚ it was the largest snake in the history of the world. Scientists concluded that the large giant turtle shells and crocodile fossils that were found were likely victims of the snake that devoured them. Its brown skin was the perfect camouflage for roaming the jungles and hunting its prey.  With the dinosaurs gone‚ there wasn’t an animal that stood a shot against the serpent. Even King Kong would struggle to fight off the Titanboa. Artwork of a Titanboa‚ (Titanoboa cerrejonensis) by James Gurney. How the Titanboa Was Uncovered Garcia’s finding of an unfamiliar fossil combined with Herrera’s discovery of a fossil leaf got heads thinking that once upon a time‚ this land could have been a breeding ground for a jungle. The question was‚ “What was in that jungle?” Further studies were completed that showed this was one of the first tropical rainforests. As they dug for fossils‚ they found specimens and fossils of giant turtles‚ crocodiles‚ bean plants‚ and even the world’s first bananas.  Then they found a gigantic vertebra of an incredibly large snake. This led to more digging and more evidence of an enormous creature. The goal of the scientists was to find the skull‚ which was the hardest part of the discovery. They uncovered 100 snake vertebrae from 28 different animals as they dug‚ but they only found three skull fragments.   Still‚ what they found was enough to piece together a 45-foot giant‚ and given how many pieces were in other animals‚ they concluded that this was a beast that dominated this jungle. It was like the Tyrannosaurus Rex‚ ruling over the rainforest. A model of Titanoboa is on view at the Natural History museum starting tomorrow. Photo by James Di Loreto/Smithsonian Institution In 2012‚ the Smithsonian set up an exhibit in Grand Central Station depicting the Titanboa based on the fossil discoveries. Mock-ups were drawn up‚ including a promotional video showing the Titanboa facing off against the Tyrannosaurus.  Some scientists have clashed with those who concluded the snake was as large as it was. However‚ they do admit it was an incredibly large specimen.  As for what killed the Titanboa‚ the theory is a massive mudslide destroyed everything in the rainforest‚ including the snake. This mudslide caused all the fossils to be buried deep under the earth. References Gugliotta‚ Guy. “How Titanboa‚ the 40-foot Snake‚ Was Found.” SmithsonianMag.com. April 2012. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-titanoboa-the-40-foot-long-snake-was-found-115791429/.  DeLong‚ William. “Meet Titanboa‚ the Prehistoric Snake of our Nightmares.” AllThatsInteresting.com. 15 Oct 2022. https://allthatsinteresting.com/titanoboa-snake.  The post The Titanboa: The Biggest Snake That Ever Lived first appeared on History Defined.

Few criminals have as long a list of crimes as Carl Panzram. His criminal streak lasted for nearly four decades‚ spanned multiple continents‚ and included thousands of examples of robbery‚ sexual assault‚ and arson.  Even in his final hours‚ he expressed no remorse for his actions. He believed that he had been repaying the violence he experienced upon the rest of the world.  Panzram was a prime example of a psychopath who was made‚ not born‚ and a cautionary tale for the rest of the world.  Mugshot of serial killer Carl Panzram taken in Washington‚ DC‚ September 2‚ 1928. Early Years: A Troubled Beginning Carl Panzram was born on June 28‚ 1891‚ in East Grand Forks‚ Minnesota to East Prussian immigrants. He was one of seven total children.  As with many psychopaths‚ he encountered a difficult early life. Within a burgeoning industrial society that was constantly evolving‚ he still grew up on a rural family farm. Panzram’s parents forced him to work long hours every day on the farm to support the family.  Education was becoming more common and truancy laws were put in place. Therefore‚ the family experienced new tensions as Panzram and his siblings were forced to go to school.  Instead of relieving him of his farming duty‚ though‚ the family’s strict father forced them to continue the same amount of work overnight. Panzram would regularly only get a few hours of sleep a night‚ which had a disturbing effect on his childhood and adolescent development.  Long work hours were only the beginning of the torturous abuses the children were exposed to. Their father‚ Johann‚ would beat them‚ chain them up‚ and starve them as punishment alongside the children’s long work hours.  By the time Panzram was seven‚ his father abandoned the family. Eventually‚ three of his five brothers would also leave the family‚ while a fourth would drown. This left his mother‚ Mathilda‚ to handle the entire family herself which was a Herculean task under normal circumstances.  But raising Carl Panzram was not normal circumstances. By age 8 he was already demonstrating the behaviors that would make him infamous later in his life.  As an 8-year-old in 1899‚ Panzram was arrested for being drunk and disorderly‚ and once again was arrested for drunken behavior at age 11. As there was no federal drinking age dictated at the time‚ there were no long-term consequences for his actions‚ just the stress it brought upon his family.  The final straw of his criminal behavior for his mother‚ though‚ came when Panzram broke into a neighbor’s home and stole whatever he could. This included a cake‚ apples‚ and their revolver.  She sent Panzram to the Minnesota State Training School. It was advertised as a reform school for wayward children.  Panzram Burns Down his School The school was far from the image promised though. Panzram later recounted that he was endlessly tortured and raped in what the kids called “the paint shop.” It was named this due to their experiences leaving the room “painted” in blood and bruises that they got during their unfortunate time there.  The painful experience fueled Panzram’s anger‚ pushing him over the edge into the first of many arson. He later burned down the building that housed the paint shop without being caught.  Minnesota State Training School. Photo from Criminal Code Like many sociopaths‚ Panzram then learned to lie his way through others’ expectations. By the start of 1906‚ he was able to convince the staff of the school that he was reformed and was paroled from the school‚ deemed fit to return to society.  It was a short-lived relief‚ however‚ as he found living with his family again unbearable. He was forced to reflect on his abused childhood and take care of his sick mother. He quickly fled to lead a life on the run.  He began traveling the country in train cars where he experienced further sexual assault at the hands of transient homeless men. This inspired a deep hatred for others and would later be the incident he pointed to when discussing why he committed his long list of heinous crimes.  The Military and the Spark of Hatred The next few years were marked by more crime‚ incarceration‚ and another reform school. It was there that he assaulted a guard and met a criminal partner whom he later shared a crime spree with.  One night‚ when he was 16‚ Panzram heard a U.S. Army recruiter give a speech in a bar while he was drinking and decided to enlist. His skill at performing to expectations did not assist him there‚ however. By nature and lived experience‚ he was insubordinate and disdainful as best towards authority. These traits do not meld with the military lifestyle.  After stealing equipment from the quartermaster’s office‚ he was found guilty of larceny which landed him a prison sentence at Fort Leavenworth. He was badly beaten and abused by the guards there.  He later reflected that his time there squashed the last of his humanity from him and enabled the fierce violence to come.  His mugshot from Leavenworth‚ 1929 Criminal Escalation: A Pattern of Violence Following his dishonorable discharge from the army‚ Panzram’s criminal exploits escalated. He engaged in a series of burglaries‚ thefts‚ acts of arson‚ and several other crimes across the United States and abroad He was incarcerated in over a dozen high-profile prisons. Each time he was in prison his insubordination made him a target of prison guard violence. Panzram was forced to bulk up to defend himself against guards and fellow inmates. This later allowed him to leverage his physique against his victims‚ in prison and beyond.  Panzram targeted vulnerable individuals‚ often preying on boys and young men as he traveled across the United States and Africa on different ships.  While many of his crimes were random‚ sometimes he committed acts of vengeance. Once‚ he broke into one of former President William Howard Taft’s homes and robbed him.  Taft had been Secretary of War during Panzram’s brief enlistment and had personally signed off on Panzram’s sentence. Therefore‚ Panzram stole from Taft to fund his transient lifestyle.  He bought a yacht‚ which he used to attract victims before killing them and disposing of their bodies in the Atlantic. After his ship sank‚ he hopped on another bound for Africa‚ where he spent a few years killing and raping Angolan natives before returning to the United States.  He exhibited a complete lack of empathy or remorse for his actions. He viewed his victims as worthy of the same anger and violence he had been subjected to his whole life. He left a wake of bodies and ruined lives across multiple continents. Mugshot of serial killer Carl Panzram‚ under the alias Jefferson Davis‚ at Montana State Prison‚ circa 1913. The Capture and Imprisonment Panzram’s criminal spree eventually caught up with him. In 1928‚ after being arrested for burglary‚ he confessed to a litany of crimes‚ including multiple murders.  Police were only able to affirm some of his crimes. But that was enough to earn him a 25-to-life sentence and he was sent to Fort Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary in Kansas.  As he entered the prison he warned the warden that he would kill the first person that bothered him. This warning‚ along with his extensive list of crimes‚ led the prison to place him in the laundry room to work.  The foreman of the laundry room decided to still antagonize Panzram though. Despite his many warnings to leave him alone‚ Panzram beat him to death with an iron bar.  This act of violence and defiance cemented Panzram’s fate. He was sentenced to death.  While on death row‚ a guard named Henry Phillip Lesser showed Panzram kindness for the first time in his life‚ and the two became friendly. With the writing materials that Lesser provided to him‚ Panzram wrote an autobiography and a list of his extensive crimes.  He documented that he killed over twenty people and sodomized over 1000 men‚ along with countless robberies and arson. On September 5‚ 1930‚ Panzram was finally executed.  As the executioner went to put the hood on him‚ Panzram spit in his face and told him to hurry up‚ insisting he could kill a dozen men in the time the executioner was taking.  After Panzram’s death‚ Lesser kept his autobiographical papers after his death. He spent nearly half a century trying to get them published.  He finally gave them to the Malcolm A. Love Library at San Diego State University. There‚ they have been used as a source for various books and documentaries about the killer.  Serial killers and psychopaths continue to capture the imagination of the general public‚ as people attempt to grasp what could cause human beings to commit such atrocious acts.  Panzram is a peak example of both familial and institutional failures producing a person filled with such contempt and anger that they are capable of anything. Hopefully‚ his story prevents future psychopaths from being created the same way.  References Arnold‚ Sam H. “The Tragic Story of a Boy who was Abused and Became a Monster.” Medium‚ July 27‚ 2021. https://medium.com/crimebeat/the-tragic-story-of-a-boy-who-was-abused-and-became-a-monster-1b66b8a83ac9.  Underwood‚ Tammy. “The Tragic Life of Serial Killer Carl Panzram.” The Crime Wire‚ October 19‚ 2023. https://thecrimewire.com/true-crime/carlpanzram. The post Carl Panzram’s Unbelievable and Cruel Criminal Life first appeared on History Defined.

People around the globe know Michael Jordan‚ LeBron James‚ and Stephen Curry. Many who revered Kobe Bryant were saddened when he passed away in 2020.  However‚ interestingly enough‚ basketball doesn’t even make it to the list of the world’s most popular sports in terms of its number of fans. According to the World Atlas‚ the top five most popular sports in the world are:  Soccer/football – 3.5 billion fans Cricket – 2.5 billion fans Hockey – 2 billion fans Tennis – 1 billion fans Volleyball – 900 million fans Basketball ranked seventh with 800 million fans. However‚ aside from soccer or international football and tennis‚ there are no cricket‚ hockey‚ and volleyball stars that are as popular as Jordan‚ James‚ and Curry.  So‚ who invented basketball? The answer is James Naismith‚ a Canadian-born physical educator who worked in the United States. Let’s get to know him a little better. James Naismith (6 November 1861 – 28 November 1939)‚ the inventor of basketball. James Naismith’s Early Life Naismith was born on November 6‚ 1861‚ in what is now part of Ontario’s Mississippi Mills. His parents were Scottish but died early which left him an orphan. Growing up‚ he lived with his aunt and uncle.  He spent a lot of time playing a game called Duck on a Rock‚ which later played a big role when he invented basketball. Duck on a Rock is a combination of tag and throwing.  The rules‚ according to the Naismith Basketball Foundation‚ were: “Players formed a line from a distance of 15-20 feet from the base stone. Each player used a fist-sized stone. The object was to dislodge the ‘guards’ stone from the top of the base stone‚ by throwing and taking turns. The guard would be positioned in a neutral area away from the thrower. If one succeeded‚ they would go to the back of the line. If you missed the guards’ stone‚ the ‘chase’ would be on and if tagged before the stone was recovered‚ the players would trade places.” Naismith learned there was a trick to throwing. A straight hard throw‚ or throwing the rock as you do in baseball‚ wasn’t as effective as soft lobbing a shot. His throwing style offered greater control and accuracy while being less likely to bounce away.  The basketball inventor enjoyed sports. He enrolled in McGill University in Montreal where he played American football‚ rugby‚ soccer‚ gymnastics‚ and lacrosse.  He would later earn a degree in physical education. He also became the first director of athletics at McGill University. However‚ he left school to pursue further studies in the United States.  In the U.S.‚ Naismith studied and played football at the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) International Training School in Springfield‚ Massachusetts.  1905 image of Dr. James Naismith from page 31 of Spalding’s official collegiate basket ball guide The Invention of Basketball While at McGill‚ Naismith already wanted to invent indoor sports that could be played during winter. His resolve was strengthened when he completed his physical director training program at the YMCA. He was hired as a faculty member in 1891.  At the time‚ Naismith was struggling with a rowdy class who didn’t have a way to release their pent-up energy during winter. He played indoor games with the class but it just wasn’t enough.  It was Luther Gulick‚ one of the people who shaped physical culture in the U.S.‚ who ordered Naismith to come up with an indoor game that would offer YMCA students and athletes a form of physical distraction. Gulick integrated a sport and fitness component into the YMCA when it was founded in 1844.  Naismith only had 14 days to come up with a fun and physically satisfying indoor game. His criteria included: A game that would not take up much room A game that would ensure athletes stay in shape A game that is fair and not too rough After being challenged by Gulick‚ Naismith remembered those games of Duck in a Row.  How Did He Come Up With the Game? Naismith began by considering the most popular games at the time: baseball‚ football‚ hockey‚ lacrosse‚ rugby‚ and soccer. Except for hockey‚ he noted that all these games used a ball. Naismith knew that a ball must be the focal point of the game.  Naismith then considered safety. Out of all the sports he studied‚ the use of a larger circular ball seemed to be safest as it entailed less physical contact.  He also realized that physical contact generally happened when players would run with the ball. Naismith thought that passing the ball could lessen that.  Finally‚ he remembered how a soft lobbing shot was the key to winning Duck in Row so Naismith incorporated it into his invention.  With all the principles of the game in place‚ Naismith asked a janitor to bring him a couple of boxes that were installed on top of poles. But instead of boxes‚ the janitor brought two peach baskets. And that’s how “basket ball” was born.  13 Basic Rules of Basketball Naismith created 13 basic rules of basketball. Most of the basic rules still apply today‚ particularly‚ the first three rules: Players can throw the ball in any direction using one or both hands. The ball can also be batted in any direction using a single hand or both hands. Players cannot run while they have the ball. Naismith made minor changes by adding more rules. For example‚ the fourth rule describes how the ball should be held. According to his guidelines‚ the ball can be grasped in or between the hands without assistance from the player’s arms or any part of the body.  This guideline is no longer followed. Today‚ players can hold the ball with their arms and body. Many athletes often hold the ball between their arms and upper bodies while waiting for their teammates to reach their positions.  Naismith’s rule for second fouls was more stringent. The fifth rule dictates that holding‚ shouldering‚ striking‚ tripping‚ or pushing the opponent in any way is prohibited. If players break this rule‚ it counts as a foul. A second foul from the same player will merit a disqualification. They will be out of the game and will not be replaced until a goal is scored or a shot is made.  Again‚ this no longer applies since participants can have as many as five fouls during a 40-minute game or six fouls while playing a 48-minute game.  Players will only be disqualified after surpassing these limits. However‚ they can be replaced during the game without waiting for the next shot.  First Basketball Game The first basketball game was played on December 21‚ 1891. Eighteen YMCA students joined the first match.  They were divided into two teams of nine. Their goal was to shoot a soccer ball into a peach basket.  In a radio interview in 1939‚ Naismith shared: “I called the boys to the gym‚ divided them up into teams of nine‚ and gave them a little soccer ball. I showed them two peach baskets I’d nailed up at each end of the gym‚ and I told them the idea was to throw the ball into the opposing team’s peach basket. I blew the whistle‚ and the first game of basketball began.” At that time‚ a jump ball was called every time a basket was made.  By 1892‚ basketball had become very popular at the YMCA. Many wanted to call it Naismith Ball‚ but the humble physical educator refused.  Between 1893 and 1894‚ Naismith worked with Spalding to create the first basketball. The brand eventually became the official ball of many basketball associations.  Naismith brought basketball with him when he joined the University of Kansas as a faculty member in 1898. He had completed his medical degree and became the first coach of the Kansas Jayhawks Men’s Basketball Team.  It was a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I team that participated in the Big 12 Conference. Ironically‚ Naismith wasn’t a great coach with a 55-60 win-loss record.  James Naismith with a ball and a basket. Pre-1939 Naismith’s Basketball Becomes Part of the Olympics The National Basketball Association‚ the premier basketball organization in the world‚ was founded on June 6‚ 1946. Naismith died on November 28‚ 1939‚ at the age of 78.  Sadly‚ he never saw basketball become one of the most popular sports in the world. However‚ he did witness the birth of the NCAA March Madness‚ or the Division I men’s basketball tournament eight months before his death. Despite his invention‚ Naismith never experienced wealth.  In 1935‚ the National Association of Basketball Coaches had to contribute and collect money so Naismith could see the official entry of basketball into the 1936 Summer Olympic Games in Berlin‚ Germany.  It must have been a great yet bittersweet experience for Naismith to see the inaugural Olympic basketball championship between the USA and Canada‚ his home and birth countries. The Americans won 19-8.  Naismith was awarded the Olympic medals throughout the competition.  Basketball Today Around 20 million Americans play basketball every year. Many play in public courts while others play in garages. It has spread around the world‚ with some saying that there are over 70‚000 basketball leagues globally.  The sport is popular in the following countries: United States Philippines Australia Canada Iraq Naismith has been honored in his home and birth countries for inventing basketball. In 1976‚ he was named a National Historic Person in Canada.  During the 100th founding anniversary of basketball in 1991‚ Canada also produced commemorative stamps which included one with Naismith’s name on it.  He didn’t want his name attached to the invention. But basketball enthusiasts will always remember the person who invented the game: James Naismith. The post Who Invented the Popular Game of Basketball?  first appeared on History Defined.

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