June 6, 2021 – National Drive-In Movie Day | National Yo-Yo Day

Do You Remember Going To The Drive-In Movies?

Welcome to June 6th, 2021 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate a blast from the past and a toy that’s come full circle.

If you’re looking for a novel way to spend a Summer’s night with the whole family, consider the drive-in movie. While they’re not exactly new, once upon a time, these theaters looked a lot different. In Long Island, New York one of the largest drive-in theatres boasted 29 acres that could fit 2,500 cars.  It also had a full-service restaurant with rooftop seating, a trolley system to take kids to the playground and indoor seating in case of bad weather.   Though drive-in theatres fell out of fashion for a time, today they’re making a comeback. With better sound, digital projection, and more restaurant-like concession stands, you can celebrate National Drive-In Movie Day in futuristic comfort.

You may be surprised to learn that yo-yos have been around since Ancient Greece.  A boy and his yo-yo were depicted on a piece of pottery that dates back to 500 BCE.   And yo-yos were seen as a fashion accessory in 18th Century France.  In the Philippines, they were used by hunters, who hid in trees and dropped a yo-yo on the head of their prey.   In the United States a young boy named Pedro Flores brought a similar toy called a bandalore from the Philippines. He eventually created a company to manufacture the toy, which was purchased by Donald Duncan.  On National Yo-Yo Day we celebrate Duncan’s birthday, as the man who made this toy popular.  Which just goes to show that what comes around, goes around.  

I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson.  Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day.


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