Today in Nerd History | August 29

Nerd culture is a vibrant tapestry of events, releases, and milestones that have shaped the entertainment landscape. From iconic movies to groundbreaking games and significant literary contributions, this article takes a trip down memory lane to explore the notable nerd culture events that occurred on August 29th in history. Let’s celebrate these cherished moments that have left an indelible mark on the hearts of fans around the world.

Photo Credit: The Legion of Super Bloggers!

Superman’s Pal

On August 29, 1941, Jimmy Olsen, a young photojournalist and friend of Superman, made his comic book debut as a named character in Superman #13, where he helped the Man of Steel stop a criminal archer from robbing a charity event.

Nerdy Fact: Jimmy Olsen first appeared as a named character on the radio show The Adventures of Superman in 1940, before making his comic book debut in 1941.

Photo Credit: News Nation

Netflix Through the Mail

On August 29, 1997, Netflix was founded by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph as a company that offered online movie rentals and sales through DVDs. The company later introduced a subscription service that allowed customers to rent unlimited DVDs for a monthly fee. Netflix has since become a pioneer in streaming media and original content production.

Nerdy Fact: Netflix was said to be inspired by a $40 late fee that Reed Hastings got for renting Apollo 13 from Blockbuster. However, this story is not true and was just a marketing gag. Netflix almost got acquired by Blockbuster in 2000, when Hastings proposed to sell his company for $50 million. Blockbuster declined the offer, thinking that Netflix was not a serious threat. Whoops.

Photo Credit: Business Insider

Prison Break

On August 29, 2005, Prison Break premiered. This thrilling TV series about two brothers who escape from prison and clear their names featured a complex plot, a talented cast, and a lot of action and suspense. The key factor of the first season was the younger brother having had the blueprints for the prison tattooed on his back, disguised to look like a large tattooed mural.

Nerdy Fact: Prison Break is banned viewing in several prisons. Obviously.

Today in Nerd History is produced by Radio Matt & Deidra for Rise & Shine, Nerds, LTN’s official Nerdy Morning News Show.