"The Eiffel Tower debuts," and "The Matrix Debuts in Theaters" - This Day in History – Mar 31st

The Eiffel Tower Opens with Dedication Ceremony

Back in 1889, Paris, France’s Eiffel Tower was opened during a dedication ceremony with the tower’s designer, Gustave Eiffel, the French Prime Minister Pierre Tirard some dignitaries, and 200 construction workers. 

According to history.com, “In 1889, to honor of the centenary of the French Revolution, the French government planned an international exposition and announced a design competition for a monument to be built on the Champ-de-Mars in central Paris. Out of more than 100 designs submitted, the Centennial Committee chose Eiffel's plan of an open-lattice wrought-iron tower that would reach almost 1,000 feet above Paris and be the world's tallest man-made structure. Eiffel, a noted bridge builder, was a master of metal construction and designed the framework of the Statue of Liberty that had recently been erected in New York Harbor.”

This tower has a height of 984 feet with four masonry piers supporting the framework of this iron structure with three levels of accompanying platforms and observations decks. 

History.com stated that, “The Eiffel Tower remained the world's tallest man-made structure until the completion of the Chrysler Building in New York in 1930. Incredibly, the Eiffel Tower was almost demolished when the International Exposition's 20-year lease on the land expired in 1909, but its value as an antenna for radio transmission saved it. It remains largely unchanged today and is one of the world's premier tourist attractions.” 

One of the most magnificent sites of the Eiffel Tower is its spectacular Fireworks display, which can be seen on special occasions such as the start of the New Year.

The Matrix Debuts in Theaters

Back in 1999, Andy and Larry Wachowski, two siblings who worked as a team to direct movies, found their niche in the popular sci-fi classic, “The Matrix.”  This movie, which starred actor Keanu Reeves, Carrie Moss and Larry Fishburne reflected a man who was seen as, “The one,” the man who would lead his team members from cyber-controlled society. 

The Matrix was filmed with a budget of $70 million, however this movie had worldwide appeal at the box office with an impressive $470 million. This movie had visual images with slow-motion fight sequences that used martial arts and invisible wires to create the feeling of the characters flying through the air. This move also won four Oscars in Best Sound, Best Visual Effects, Best Editing and Best Sound Effects Editing. 

According to history.com, “The Matrix starred Keanu Reeves as a computer hacker who learns that human-like computers have created a fake world, the Matrix, to enslave the remaining humans while keeping them in the dark about their dire fate. Guided by the sleek, mysterious Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) and Trinity (Carrie-Ann Moss), the hacker is dubbed Neo and told he alone can play the crucial role in deciding the fate of the world.” 

The Wachowski brothers had considered a trilogy with the Matrix movie.  They shot back-to-back sequels in Australia, “The Matrix Reloaded,” and “The Matrix Revolutions.” 

History.com stated that, “Released six months apart in 2003, they were generally agreed to be less successful than the original film. All in all, however, the franchise--including a best-selling video game, Enter the Matrix--earned the production company, Warner Brothers, more than $1 billion.”

All History facts provided from the link below:

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/warsaw-pact-ends?catId=3