December 29

Events - Culture & Arts

1913day.year

Cecil B. DeMille starts filming Hollywood's first feature film, The Squaw Man.

In December 1913, director Cecil B. DeMille began production on The Squaw Man, recognized as Hollywood’s first feature-length film.
Filming began on the rugged sets of DeMille Ranch in California, marking the birth of the Hollywood film industry. Adapted from Edwin Milton Royle’s stage play, The Squaw Man starred Dustin Farnum and featured a storyline that blended romance with dramatic frontier conflict. Cecil B. DeMille co-directed with Oscar Apfel, pioneering techniques in cinematography and outdoor location shooting. The film’s success catalyzed the migration of studios and talent to Southern California’s sunny climes. Over its shoots, Hollywood evolved from short reels to full-length narratives, forever changing entertainment. The legacy of The Squaw Man endures as a symbol of American cinema’s golden beginning.
1913 Cecil B. DeMille Hollywood's The Squaw Man
2003day.year

The last known speaker of Akkala Sami dies, rendering the language extinct.

The death of the last known speaker of Akkala Sami renders the language extinct, marking the end of a unique Finnic tongue.
On December 29, 2003, the last fluent speaker of the Akkala Sami language passed away in the Kola Peninsula region of Russia. Akkala Sami was one of the small Sámi languages spoken by indigenous communities in northern Europe. With no native speakers remaining, the language became officially extinct on that date. Efforts to document and preserve Akkala Sami through recordings and linguistic research took place in the late 20th century. The extinction reflects broader challenges facing minority and indigenous languages worldwide. It underscores the importance of cultural preservation and revitalization initiatives for endangered languages.
2003 Akkala Sami