Jim Kershner’s This Day in History

From our archives, 100 years ago

Spokane’s first auto show at the Davenport Hotel drew 10,000 people on its first day.

It all began with an automobile parade, a line of cars that took an hour to pass a given point. The show itself featured dozens of cars in the lobby of the Davenport Hotel, many of which were driven up to the mezzanine level via a steep ramp from the lobby floor. “The cars were pulled up to the mezzanine floor by a double block and tackle.”

Big crowds were expected for the next day’s events, too, which included a stunt competition with intriguing-sounding events such as “Head-On Collision” and “Tug of War.”

From the motion picture beat: The sensational film “Hypocrites” was setting a house record at the Casino Theater. The reason for its popularity was contained in its subtitle, “The Naked Truth.”

In fact, the ad in the previous day’s Spokesman-Review featured a photo of “Margaret Edwards portraying the Naked Truth.” In fact, Miss Edwards appears to be quite naked. The photo was not exactly in sharp focus, but this photo was startling, to say the least, in a 1915 newspaper.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1981: Pope John Paul II was shot and seriously wounded in St. Peter’s Square by Turkish assailant Mehmet Ali Agca.