Today -100: November 9, 1924: Of non-duels and slapping

Armistice Day in Italy (which they celebrate on the day of the armistice with Austria) was marked by clashes between Fascist militia and veterans, which in turn prompted militia Gen. Varini to challenge Giuseppe Garibaldi’s grandson Peppino to a duel. Garibaldi rejects the challenge, saying he was accusing Mussolini of funding the militias and Varini has no right to stand in for Mussolini.

“He Who Gets Slapped,” a film starring Lon Chaney and Norma Shearer, premieres. A scientist is betrayed by his wife and his friend, who slaps him in front of the whole Academy of Science. Naturally he becomes a circus clown whose act involves getting slapped. Also, there’s a lion.

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