THIS WEEK IN HISTORY

16 October, 1923 – The Walt Disney Company is founded

A leader in the international entertainment industry, the company was created by brothers Walt and Roy as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio. Today, the company is synonymous with cartoon and animated movies and characters.


17 October, 1956 – Bobby Fischer wins the Game of the Century

The chess match between 13-year old Fischer and Donald Byrne took place at the Marshall Chess Club in New York City.


18 October, 1967 – First space probe to enter the atmosphere of another planet

The Soviet Probe Venera 4 entered Venus’ atmosphere and sent back information to Earth for about 90 minutes before it lost contact. When Venera 7 landed on Venus a few years later, it became the first probe to land on another planet.


19 October, 1954 – Cho Oyu scaled for the first time in recorded history

The 6th highest mountain peak in the world, Cho Oyu is part of the Himalayan mountain range and lies on the Nepal-China border. It was scaled by Nepalese Pasang Dawa Lama and Austrians Joseph Jochler and Herbert Tichy.


20 October, 1973 – Sydney Opera House opens its doors

The iconic building, which was declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, was designed by Danish architect Jorn Oberg Utzon. Construction on the performing arts center began in March 1959 and cost over $100 million.


21 October, 1959 – The Guggenheim opens its doors

The Guggenheim Museum displays works from some of the world’s most celebrated and sought-after contemporary artists. Situated in New York, the museum was first opened in 1939 as the Museum of Non-Objective Painting.


22 October, 1797 – First person to jump with a parachute

French balloonist Andre-Jacques Garnerin jumped out of a balloon over Parc Monceau in Paris using a silk parachute that he made himself.

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