1

Thomas Edison

Image: Call Me Fred

When it comes to inventors, we can't fail to mention the incredible Thomas Alva Edison.

Edison was born on February 11, 1847, in Milan, Ohio, and since he was a child, he showed his interest and talent in mechanics and electricity. At the age of 11, he set up his first laboratory in his parents' home, and by the age of 12, he ran his own business: a newspaper he designed, printed, and sold himself.

Creator of the phonograph (the first device capable of recording and reproducing sounds) and a fundamental part in the development and popularization of inventions such as the electric light bulb and the motion picture camera, Edison patented more than 1000 creations during his lifetime. Impressive!

2

Benjamin Franklin

Image: Dan Mall

Born in Boston, Benjamin Franklin was one of our Founding Fathers, the men whose principles, values, and ideas shaped America. But as if that weren't enough, Franklin was also a renowned scientist, inventor, and polymath.

A pioneer in the field of electricity, he's remembered for his famous kite experiment, which demonstrated the electrical nature of lightning and led to the invention of nothing less than the lightning rod. In addition, he's also credited with iconic inventions such as the first efficient wood-burning stove (later known as "the Franklin Stove"), the bifocal glasses, and the glass armonica.

3

Samuel Morse

Image: The New York Public Library

Unlike other scientists and inventors on this list, Samuel Morse began his journey in a completely different field: art.

Morse studied at Yale, where he completed his studies in 1810. He then embarked on a trip to Europe to continue his artistic education, but this trip awakened another peculiar interest in him. Frustrated by the communication methods of his time, Morse focused his creativity on finding ways to transmit information over long distances using electrical signals. Thus, the revolutionary telegraph was born, along with its way of communication, the Morse code.

4

The Wright Brothers

Image: Simon Fitall

The Wright Brothers were the famous siblings who, in the 20th century, achieved a goal long sought by humanity: flight.

Wilbur and Orville Wright are credited with inventing, building, and flying the world's first successful airplane. As you probably know, on December 17, 1903, they made the first sustained flight in history using the Wright Flyer, their iconic invention.

On that December morning, the brothers flipped a coin, letting fate decide who would be the first to test the aircraft. Although Wilbur won, that first attempt failed. So it was Orville who flew for 12 seconds, traveling 120 feet over Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

5

George Washington Carver

Image: Tom Hermans

George Washington Carver was born in the 1860s in Diamond, Missouri. In the 1890s, his intelligence and hard work enabled him to enter Iowa State College (now Iowa State University), where he earned a master's degree in agricultural sciences. In 1896, he became the head of the agriculture department at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, where his career as a professor and a researcher took off.

Thanks to his investigations and tests, George Washington Carver made major contributions to agriculture, including his innovative techniques for crop rotation . In addition, he developed many and varied peanut products, such as oil, flour, soap, and ink, helping to make this crop one of the key products of the country's economy.

6

Carl Sagan

Image: Vaibhaw Kumar

The stars and the mysteries of the universe captivated the famous Carl Sagan from an early age. Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1934, Sagan studied at the University of Chicago, where he earned degrees in physics, astronomy, and astrophysics, eventually working and collaborating with NASA.

His contributions to the field of astronomy earned him a position in projects such as the Mariner, Viking, Voyager, and Galileo missions, thanks to which we have learned a lot about Venus, Mars, and Jupiter. The famous high temperatures of Venus, for example, were confirmed thanks to his work.

Additionally, his book and series Cosmos attracted the public's interest in astronomy, inspiring many others to follow in his footsteps.

7

Grace Hopper

Image: Museums Victoria

While computer programming may seem like a modern issue, the pioneers of this field were already working as early as the 1940s.

Grace Hopper graduated in mathematics and physics in 1928 and obtained a master's degree and a Ph.D in mathematics from Yale University in 1934. Famous as a pioneer in the world of programming, Hopper's work began during World War II when she joined the US Naval Reserve. There, she worked on the earliest electromechanical computers and developed extensive and complex manuals to operate them.

Her greatest contribution came from her work with mathematical codes, which she translated and adapted into innovative machine-readable language. That innovation led to the creation of the first high-level programming languages.

8

Jonas Salk

Image: Олег Мороз

Jonas Salk is none other than the mind behind a medical milestone: the polio vaccine.

In the 1940s, Salk was beginning his career in medical research. While working at the University of Michigan, his work was crucial in developing the first successful influenza vaccine for the military during WWII. This event marked his later study of the poliovirus.

Polio was devastating during the first decades of the 20th century, but that changed dramatically thanks to Salk's work. The scientist led a team that succeeded in developing the first safe and effective injectable inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) in 1955, and the rest is history.

9

Barbara McClintock

Image: digitale.de

Although her name may not be as instantly recognizable as some others on this list, her work definitely is. Barbara McClintock has undoubtedly made one of the most significant contributions to medicine and genetics.

In the 1940s and 1950s, she worked with chromosomes, investigating their role in inheritance, which led to discoveries that forever changed our understanding of genes.

Before her, genes were believed to be fixed and immutable. But McClintock came to change that idea with her most famous contribution: the discovery of transposable elements, aka "jumping genes." She demonstrated that jumping genes are present in multiple organisms, including humans, and play an essential role in genetic evolution.

10

Alexander Graham Bell

Image: Misho Tektumanidze

Alexander Graham Bell became interested in sound and communication at a young age, something that led to his greatest and most remembered contribution: the telephone.

Although born in 1847 in Edinburgh, Scotland, Alexander Graham Bell settled in the United States in 1871 and became an American citizen years later. It was here that he developed most of his experiments and research.

After years of experimenting with methods to transmit sound through electrical currents, Bell finally spoke into his invention on March 10, 1876, saying to his assistant, "Mr. Watson, come here. I want to see you." That was the first successful telephone call in history.

1

I Love Lucy

Image: Nick Fewings

Airing from October 15, 1951 , to May 6, 1957, I Love Lucy was undoubtedly a pioneering sitcom that marked the way people produce and watch TV. This show was one of the first to be filmed using a multi-camera setup and in front of a live studio audience!

Lucy Ricardo , portrayed by Lucille Ball, was the protagonist who won the hearts of many Americans with her enthusiastic and funny personality. In addition, her ambition to reach stardom inspired many women to fight for their dreams beyond the diverse impediments that society put in their way.

2

All In The Family

Image: Lucrezia Carnelos

All in the Family , which first aired in 1971 , was among the first shows to bring to television the controversial social, cultural, and political issues that were central during the 1960s.

With a humorous tone, All in the Family put on the screen some topics that other sitcoms didn’t dare to handle, with characters that embodied different ideas very well.

Thus, this sitcom marked American TV, influencing other shows that came later, including some spin-offs of the series itself, such as the iconic The Jeffersons.

3

Barney Miller

Image: Pavan Trikutam

While there are many series and shows about police departments and detectives today, in 1975, TV gave us Barney Miller , one of the sitcoms that would pioneer the genre.

Set in New York City, the show focuses on the lives of detectives Barney Miller (Hal Linden), Philip K. Fish (Abe Vigoda), Stan "Wojo" Wojciehowicz (Max Gail), Ron Harris (Ron Glass), and Nick Yemana (Jack Soo); characters with personalities as varied as they are funny.

What made Barney Miller stand out was the realistic way it narrated the lives of the different detectives, all influenced by their peculiar jobs.

4

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Image: Senad Palic

The 70s were years of premieres. And one of them was The Mary Tyler Moore Show , a sitcom that came to revolutionize television.

With an independent , smart, career-focused, and single woman as the main character, this show stood out in those days. This aspect led the sitcom to win several Emmys and Golden Globes for its acting, writing, and impact on TV and society.

Mary interacted in the show with funny, witty, and adorable characters, such as Rhoda and Murray.

5

The Golden Girls

Image: Lance Asper

Airing for seven years, The Golden Girls is undoubtedly one of those sitcoms that all Americans remember. Four grown women sharing a house in Miami is enough premise to create countless scenes and comedic situations. Among them, the legendary Betty White fills the screen with sweetness and grace, playing "Rose."

The Golden Girls drew attention at the time for being one of the first sitcoms to show women of their age living different aspects of life like any other adult, without restrictions of any kind. If you haven't seen it yet, run to the TV and turn on an episode!

6

Cheers

Image: Edgar Chaparro

Boston, Massachusetts, is the setting of Cheers , the sitcom that ran for more than ten years, from 1982 to 1993.

"Cheers" is the name of the bar where the main characters work: Sam, Diane, Carla, Coach Ernie (later replaced by Woody Boyd), Cliff, and Norm. All kinds of stories, encounters, misunderstandings, and much more unfold there, all highlighted by a witty script and hilarious performances.

Winner of several Emmys, the series marked an era, leaving jokes that were repeated on TV throughout the decades that followed.

7

Seinfeld

Image: Patrick Tomasso

Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld together created one of the funniest sitcoms this country has ever seen.

First aired in 1989 , Seinfeld was humorously described as "a show about nothing," as it portrayed the daily lives of four friends in New York. However, the characters were enough of a driving force to make things happen. Jerry Seinfeld, a stand-up comedian, and his three friends -George, Elaine, and Kramer- brought to life a series of hilarious situations, each character more eccentric than the last.

Seinfeld stood out because it focused more on each comic situation than on the long-term development of its characters. In addition to that, the show consistently used an ironic tone to critique social norms and stereotypes !

8

Friends

Image: Ilse Orsel

One of the sitcoms influenced by Seinfeld was the iconic Friends , which aired for ten years, from 1994 to 2004.

Which was your favorite character: Ross, Rachel, Monica, Chandler, Phoebe, or Joey? Each of these quirky guys living in New York had a huge fan base in the 90s when the series aired on NBC. The success of Friends was undeniable, and its actors went on to earn sums of money that few comedy actors had ever earned before.

Although it has been criticized in recent years for its lack of diversity, there is no denying that this sitcom has given us a good dose of laughs and touched the hearts of many Americans over the years!

9

The Office

Image: Adolfo Félix

You'd think a run-of-the-mill office wouldn't have much to give the viewer, right? Well, The Office appeared in 2005 to prove that's not true at all.

To achieve the success it enjoyed (and continues to enjoy), this sitcom only needed a great script, superb direction, and some seriously exceptional actors.

While the American version of this mockumentary is an adaptation of the British original, it was the American one that went around the world. That was largely thanks to actors like Steve Carell as the unusual boss Michael Scott, Rainn Wilson as the hilarious Dwight, and the talented John Krasinski as Jim. They, along with the rest of the cast, made this series a comedic masterpiece.

10

The Simpsons

Image: Stefan Grage

When it comes to iconic animated characters, The Simpsons instantly comes to mind.

Probably the most famous animated family in the world, the Simpsons have been on our screens for many years, debuting in 1989 and continuing to this day. The mastermind behind the show, Matt Groening, created characters that, while hilarious and charming from their first appearance, evolved to reveal complexity and depth over the years.

The biggest fans may say that the series is no longer what it once was. While this may be true, no one can deny that Homer , Marge, Bart , Lisa, Maggie, and other iconic characters like Flanders, Crusty, Barney, Burns, and Skinner will always be part of American culture.

1

Origin of the name

Image: Brady Bellini

Contrary to what you might think, the name "Hollywood" has nothing to do with the film industry. The origin of the name of the city that would later become the Mecca of cinema is surrounded by many myths. One comes from the personal diary of a real estate developer named H. J. Whitley. Whitley recounts encountering an Asian man carrying logs on a dolly. When asked about it, the man reportedly replied, "hauling wood," which, to Whitley, sounded something like "holly-wood."

As colorful as this story may be, it is unlikely to be true. The legend that likely comes closest to reality involves Harvey Henderson Wilcox and his wife, Daeida, who purchased 120 acres of land west of Los Angeles. According to different theories, Daeida may have overheard the word on a train or picked it up from the estate name of an acquaintance from Illinois. Whatever the case, since the name was first written on Wilcox's 1887 land deed, it seems plausible that Daeida was the one responsible for naming the area.

2

Movie theaters were prohibited

Image: Arthur Rothstein, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

H. J. Whitley may not have christened the area, but he did a lot to promote its development. He invested heavily in installing electricity, built the Hollywood Hotel to attract land buyers, and developed the residential neighborhood of Whitley Heights. The area began to flourish, and by the early 20th century, the new municipality boasted a post office, a local newspaper, and two markets.

The inhabitants of Hollywood, by majority vote, decided to forbid the sale of liquor within the city, including in restaurants and hotels. Movie theaters were also banned . However, when Hollywood was incorporated into Los Angeles in 1910, which had no such restriction, history changed forever.

3

The motion picture industry conquers Hollywood

Image: Bain News Service, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

​​In the early 1900s, most film production companies were based in New York and New Jersey. However, the so-called "patent wars" encouraged them to move to the West Coast. At the time, the industry was virtually monopolized by Thomas Alva Edison, who owned the majority of the camera equipment patents.

Many companies rebelled against the abusive rates and decided to relocate to Los Angeles, where they could more easily evade these restrictions. In addition, the weather there was better and the days were longer, which allowed them to work more hours and spend less on electricity. If we add the low land prices to the mix, it’s no surprise that Hollywood became the ideal location to establish the capital of the motion picture industry.

4

The first film

Image: See page for author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The prolific film director D. W. Griffith, who had already made around 50 short films in New York, was one of the many who migrated to Hollywood to get rid of patent restrictions. In fact, he directed the first film shot entirely in Hollywood. In Old California is a 17-minute western set during California’s Mexican era.

Later, in 1915, Griffith would release The Birth of a Nation , one of the most important and controversial films in the history of the seventh art. This film, also shot in Hollywood, solidified Griffith’s reputation as one of the pioneers of narrative filmmaking .

5

The first studio

Image: masbet christianto

The first permanent motion picture studio established in Hollywood was the Nestor Motion Picture Company, a subsidiary of the Centaur Film Company from New Jersey. In 1911, brothers David and William Horsley built a rudimentary stage behind the Blondeau Tavern, at the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Gower Street. Production started immediately, with films such as Her Indian Hero and The Law of the Range .

Despite their pioneering efforts, the Nestor Company faced the same fate as many other small studios of the era: its lifespan was short . In 1912 it was absorbed by the emerging Universal Studios, although it kept its name until 1917. In the 1930s, the original building was demolished to build the Columbia Square facility.

6

The truth about the Hollywood sign

Image: waterandpower.org, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Hollywood Sign is a cultural icon not only of Los Angeles but of the entire United States. Do you know how it ended up on top of Mount Lee? In 1923, a publicist erected the famous 50-foot-tall white uppercase letters to promote a local real estate development called "Hollywoodland." The sign was originally intended to last only a year and a half, but the booming movie industry ensured its longevity.

With the great economic crisis of the 1930s, the company went bankrupt and the famous sign was neglected—even losing the "H," leaving it to read "Ollywoodland" for several years. In the late 1940s, the city decided to restore it, but the Chamber of Commerce ordered the last 4 letters to be removed so that it would no longer be associated with the company but with the town.

7

First Oscars ceremony

Image: Engin_Akyurt

Everyone knows that the Oscars are the world's most prestigious film awards. But did you know that the ceremony has been held annually for almost 100 years? On May 16, 1929, as talkies were just beginning to rise in popularity, 270 film industry personalities gathered at the Roosevelt Hotel. That evening, 15 statuettes were awarded to give the booming film industry an air of prestige and glamour.

The inaugural night was filled with interesting curiosities. For instance, the recipients of the awards were announced publicly three months before the ceremony . Additionally, the event was not broadcast in any form of media. Another fun fact: In the early years, the Academy Awards included a banquet. However, in 1942, due to increased attendance and the impact of World War II, the banquets were replaced with more modest theater ceremonies.

8

Walk of fame

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Every high-profile artist has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame—even the Muppets have one! Along 15 blocks in Hollywood Boulevard, approximately 2,800 five-pointed terrazzo-and-brass stars honor some of the world’s most beloved celebrities, including actors, directors, musicians, athletes, and even fictional characters.

In 1953, the head of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce came up with the idea of creating a publicity stunt to promote those whose names stand for glamour and prestige. Finally, in 1960, the first star prototypes were installed, honoring icons such as Joanne Woodward and Burt Lancaster. Today, this popular landmark is visited by millions of tourists every year.

9

Time capsule

Image: StockSnap

Few people know that beneath the mythical stars lies a very special treasure. To commemorate the Hollywood Walk of Fame's half-century of existence, the Chamber of Commerce buried a time capsule beneath the spot where it originated, at the corner of Hollywood Blvd. and Highland.

The 16 x 16 x 18-inch capsule holds an array of artifacts that celebrate Hollywood’s enduring mystique. Among its contents are the screenplay of Casablanca , recordings of Oscar ceremonies from 1960 to 2010, programs from the musicals Wicked and The Lion King , and messages from various Academy members. These priceless mementos are set to resurface during the Walk of Fame's 100th anniversary celebration in 2060.

10

The Hollywood Forever Cemetery

Image: Judyfan1922 at English Wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

With its legendary sign, iconic Walk of Fame, and countless beloved films and celebrities, Hollywood truly has it all. For this reason, it is only fitting that the city also boasts a peaceful and beautiful resting place for stars after their deaths. Founded in 1899, the Hollywood Forever Cemetery is the final resting place of many stars, including Judy Garland, Cecil B. DeMille, Don Adams, and Peter Lorre.

Located in the heart of Hollywood and adjacent to Paramount Studios, today this cemetery is a tourist attraction visited by many. In fact, on weekends during the summer the cemetery screens outdoor films for everyone to enjoy!