January 03 - National Drinking Straw Day

Happy National Drinking Straw Day! On January 3rd, today commemorates the date in 1888 that American inventor Marvin C. Stone received the patent for the paper drinking straw. Since then, all variety of drinking straws are used.

It is believed the Sumerians used the very first drinking straws for drinking beer.  Archeologists speculate that they used the straws to avoid the solid byproducts of fermentation that would have sunk to the bottom.

   

The oldest drinking straw known to be in existence was found in a Sumerian tomb dated 3,000 B.C.E.  This found straw was a gold tube inlaid with a precious blue stone.

The Argentines used a similar metallic device called a bombilla. Used for hundreds of years, the bombilla acted as both a straw and a sieve.

Today, manufacturers make a variety of reusable straws.  From stainless steel and glass to bamboo and silicone, they not only save money and the environment, but they're also fun to use.  They come in a variety of creative shapes and colors as well.

FUN FACT: The most straws stuffed in the mouth (hands off) is six hundred and fifty! This was achieved by Karate Nataraj, in Salem, Tamil Nadu, India on August 25, 2018.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Enjoy your favorite beverage using a drinking straw. Use #DrinkingStrawDay to post on social media. 

HISTORY 

The United States Patent Office granted Stone, his Patent #US375962 A on January 3, 1888.

National Day Calendar® continues to research the origin of this tubular celebration.

#DrinkingStrawDay 

@GWR 

@nichecinema  

January 03 - Dorothy Arzner

Happy Birthday, Dorothy Arzner! Born today in 1897 as Dorothy Emma Arzner, this American film director's career in Hollywood spanned from the silent era of the 1920s and into the early 1940s. 

From 1927 until her retirement from feature directing in 1943, she was the only female director working in Hollywood.

Among her credits, Arzner is best known for directing the 1940 American black and white musical/drama film 'Dance, Girl, Dance'.

The film follows dancers and good friends Judy O'Brien (Maureen O'Hara) and Bubbles (Lucille Ball). Whilst Bubbles uses her good looks and sassy personality to get jobs, Judy is a dedicated ballerina and finds it more difficult to succeed in her chosen profession. 

  

The film was edited by American film director, producer, and editor Robert Wise. He had previously worked with Orson Welles in editing 'Citizen Kane', of which Wise won an Oscar for Best Editing the following year. 

  

Wise would later go on to direct 'The Day the Earth Stood Still', 'West Side Story', 'The Haunting' and 'The Sound of Music'. 

  

Arzner had been active from ‎1922–1943. 

#borntodirect 

@tcm 
@WomenInFilm 

January 03 - John Sturges

Happy Birthday, John Sturges! Born today in 1910 as John Eliot Sturges, this American film director is best known for his taut war movies and westerns.  

  

His most notable features include the 1955 American Eastman Color thriller drama/crime film 'Bad Day at Black Rock, the 1957 American Technicolor Western drama/action/adventure film 'Gunfight at the O.K. Corral' and the 1963 American epic war drama/history film 'The Great Escape'.  

In 2013, Sturges' 1960 American Western thriller/action film 'The Magnificent Seven' was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".  

John was not related to American playwright, screenwriter, and film director Preston Sturges ('The Lady Eve', 'Sullivan's Travels', 'The Palm Beach Story'). 

Sturges had been active from 1946–1976. 

#borntodirect 

@tcm 

@librarycongress 

January 03 - Mel Gibson

Happy 64th Birthday, Mel Gibson! Born today in 1956 as Mel Colmcille Gerard Gibson, this American actor, producer and director is best known for his action hero role. 

His best known roles include his his breakout role as Max Rockatansky in the first three films of the post-apocalyptic action series Mad Max. It also includes starring as the late 13th-century Scottish warrior William Wallace in the 1995 American epic war/drama film 'Braveheart'.

According to his credits, Gibson is best known for directing 'Braveheart',the 2004 American biblical drama/epic film 'The Passion of the Christ' (or simply 'The Passion') and the 2006 American epic action/adventure film 'Apocalypto'.

The following year, 'Braveheart' won five Oscars including Best Picture. This occurred at the 68th Academy Awards in late March 1996. 

With a net worth of $425 million, Gibson has been active from 1976–present. 

#borntoact 

#borntodirect 

@MelGibsonFilms 

January 03 - Sergio Leone

Happy Birthday, Sergio Leone! Born today in 1929, this Italian screenwriter, producer and film director is credited as the inventor of the Spaghetti Western genre.  

Leone is widely regarded as one of the most influential directors in the history of cinema. His filmmaking style includes juxtaposing extreme close-up shots with lengthy long shots. 

Also known as Bob Robertson, Leone had been active from 1959–1989.

#borntodirect 

@tcm
@mubi
@SensesofCinema
@Britannica