48 Different “First” Photos Throughout the History of Photography

Here’s a history first you didn’t know you needed to know: the first foam finger. There’s a first time for everything. Even the iconic foam finger. It’s no surprise that the iconic foam finger was invented for a sports game, but many are surprised to learn that a high school student invented the first foam finger. 

In 1971, high school senior Steve Chmelar created the first known prototype of the giant sports finger out of paper-mâché and hardware cloth. It was not exactly foam, but it had the same effect. The giant finger was made to cheer on Ottumwa High School in the Iowa Boy’s State Basketball Quarter Finals. The Ottumwa Courier snapped this photo of Chmelar and published it in the local paper. Fans went wild.