🎥 This Week In History - Star Wars Conquers The Theaters

Welcome back History Nerds,

What a wild week in history we have to share with you today, we hope you’re prepared for it. Stars Wars’ release, the fall of Constantinople, and more, pour yourself up a nice big cup of coffee as we get into this edition of the LOL History Newsletter!

Did You Know? On April 4, 1960, the U.S. launched TIROS-1, the first successful weather satellite. Before that, forecasting was mostly educated guessing and crossed fingers. TIROS-1 beamed back grainy black-and-white images of cloud cover from space, officially kicking off the era of watching storms from orbit like weather gods.

During Your History Lesson You’ll Learn About:

• Owens’ Historic Sprint: Four World Records in 1935

• Star Wars Blasts Into Theaters

• The Fall of Constantinople: Mehmed II’s Historic Conquest

• Hillary and Norgay Conquer the Roof of the World

45 Minutes of Glory: Jesse Owens’ Record-Breaking Day

On May 25, 1935, Jesse Owens, a 21-year-old Black athlete from Alabama, stunned the world at a Big Ten track meet in Ann Arbor, Michigan, setting or tying four world records in 45 minutes—often called the greatest 45 minutes in sports history. His performance smashed racial barriers in a segregated America, proving his brilliance with every stride.

At Ferry Field, Owens tied the 100-yard dash record at 9.4 seconds at 3:15 p.m. Ten minutes later, he broke the long jump world record with a 26-foot, 8¼-inch leap, a mark untouched for 25 years. At 3:45 p.m., he ran the 220-yard dash in 20.3 seconds, setting another world record. By 4:00 p.m., he clocked 22.6 seconds in the 220-yard low hurdles, breaking that record too. Despite a sore back, Owens’ speed and grit left the crowd in awe.

This day was more than a track meet; it foreshadowed Owens’ defiance at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, where he’d win four golds and upend Nazi propaganda. In Ann Arbor, he showed the world that talent could outrun prejudice, leaving a legacy that still resonates as a stand against inequality. Reporters struggled to keep up with their typewriters, and even the stopwatch needed a breather—Owens wasn’t just racing, he was rewriting history with a grin.

Star Wars Blasts Into Theaters

On May 25, 1977, Star Wars hit theaters and changed everything. Directed by George Lucas, it was a wild mix of space wizards, laser swords, sassy robots, and a villain who sounded like he had a personal air purifier. Nobody expected much from it—not the studio, not the critics, and certainly not the theaters that initially gave it limited screens. But audiences loved it. Word spread faster than the Millennium Falcon in hyperdrive, and pretty soon, Star Wars was a full-blown phenomenon.

The movie (later renamed Episode IV: A New Hope) made $775 million, won seven Oscars, and launched a franchise that would shape pop culture for decades. It gave us unforgettable characters, endless quotable lines, and a wave of toys that basically invented modern movie merchandising. And for a while, the Force was strong. Lucas gave us a trilogy, then a prequel trilogy, and fans debated every frame. Then came the twist no one saw coming: Disney bought the galaxy.

Since taking over in 2012, Disney has turned Star Wars into a content factory—churning out sequels, spinoffs, streaming series, and enough lore to fill a small moon. Some of it’s been great (hello, The Mandalorian), but let’s be honest: it’s also been a little diluted. What was once a simple, bold story about good versus evil has become a corporate space buffet. But no matter how many times it’s rebooted, merchandised, or repackaged, that original 1977 spark still hits. Because before the empire became a brand, Star Wars was just a crazy idea that made movie history.

Constantinople’s Last Stand: The Ottoman Triumph of 1453

On May 29, 1453, Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Empire under 21-year-old Sultan Mehmed II, ending the Byzantine Empire’s 1,100-year reign. The conquest marked a major turning point in history, ushering in Ottoman dominance and reshaping Eurasia’s cultural and political landscape. Not bad for a guy barely old enough to drink in today’s day and age.

The siege began in April, as Mehmed assembled an 80,000-strong army and deployed massive cannons against the city’s famed Theodosian Walls. The Byzantines, led by Emperor Constantine XI, had just 7,000 defenders. For 53 days, they held out against bombardment and assault. On May 29, Ottoman forces broke through the Gate of Saint Romanus. Constantine XI died fighting, and the city was sacked for three days. The Hagia Sophia was turned into a mosque, symbolizing the shift in power.

The fall of Constantinople ended the last remnant of the Roman Empire. Greek scholars fled west, bringing ancient texts that helped spark the Renaissance. The Ottomans, now based in the renamed Istanbul, became a dominant power. Europe, shocked by the loss of a Christian stronghold, feared further Ottoman expansion. The fall of the city remains a powerful reminder of how empires rise and fall—and that maybe putting all your faith in really old walls isn't the best long-term strategy.

Hillary and Norgay Conquer the Roof of the World

On May 29, 1953, after years of failed expeditions, freezing temperatures, and enough oxygen tanks to stock a scuba shop, Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay, a Sherpa from Nepal, became the first people to reach the summit of Mount Everest. At 29,032 feet, Everest is the highest point on Earth—and climbing it is basically like hiking with a refrigerator strapped to your back while trying to breathe through a straw. But somehow, they made it. And then, just as casually, they took a few photos and started the long trek back down.

The climb wasn’t just about bragging rights. It was a massive moment in history—one of the last true feats of exploration. Hillary and Norgay didn’t have GPS, lightweight gear, or weather apps. They had grit, teamwork, and about a 50/50 shot of not freezing to death. When news of their success hit, it was such a big deal that it made headlines around the world—literally the day before Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation. Talk about timing.

Since then, thousands have reached the top, but most would agree: Hillary and Norgay were the real pioneers. They didn’t do it for Instagram likes—they did it because it was there. And because of them, Everest went from an unclimbable myth to a symbol of what humans can do when they push past the limits. Just with a lot more snow.

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See You Next Time!

We hope that you enjoyed this edition of the LOL History newsletter! See you next week!

— Evan & Derek - LOL History Co-Founders