1922 Death of Marcel Proust
Any list of famous but essentially unread novels must include À la recherche du temps perdu by Marcel Proust. Translated variously as In Search of Lost Time or Remembrance of Things Past, it emerged in seven volumes between 1913 and 1927. It has been called the greatest novel ever to be written and is reputed to be highly influential among 20th-century writers. Try to find someone who can truthfully say he has read all of it.
1928 The birthday of Mickey Mouse
The addition of sound to motion pictures was a novelty when Walt Disney decided to make “Steamboat Willie”, a short black-and-white cartoon. The combination of synchronized sound effects and music was a big hit when it was premiered in New York. The film propelled Disney to prominence and led to a host of imitators. Though this was the third appearance of the cartoon rodent, the Disney Corporation considers this film to be Mickey’s birthday.
I was good for the first volume… and they gave up. I still remember that lost time.