Changes

It was dedicated in 1901, and honorees were elected at five-year intervals from 1900 through 1970, in 1973, and in 1976. During its heyday the election of new honorees was considered a national news event, and the choices of honorees were a topic of lively public debate.  

It was dedicated in 1901, and honorees were elected at five-year intervals from 1900 through 1970, in 1973, and in 1976. During its heyday the election of new honorees was considered a national news event, and the choices of honorees were a topic of lively public debate.  

According to Mimi Sheraton, when she was growing up in the 1930s "the Hall of Fame was famous" and one of her mother's favorite put-downs was "You must think you belong in the Hall of Fame."<ref name=sheraton>Sheraton, Mimi (2000), "My Bronx: Yesterday's Heroes, Up On Pedestals," ''The New York Times,'' December 15, 2000, p. E37</ref> In the motion picture [[The Wizard of Oz]], the Munchkins sing to Dorothy that she would “be a bust, be a bust in the Hall of Fame.”<ref name=mcshane>McShane, Larry (2004), "Proliferation of halls of fame makes original a bust", [http://www.cantonrep.com/printable.php?ID=166994 The Canton Repository]</ref>

According to Mimi Sheraton, when she was growing up in the 1930s "the Hall of Fame was famous" and one of her mother's favorite put-downs was "You must think you belong in the Hall of Fame."<ref name=sheraton>Sheraton, Mimi (2000), "My Bronx: Yesterday's Heroes, Up On Pedestals," ''The New York Times,'' December 15, 2000, p. E37</ref> In the motion picture [[The Wizard of Oz]], the Munchkins sing to Dorothy that she would “be a bust, be a bust in the Hall of Fame.”<ref name=mcshane>McShane, Larry (2004), "[[Proliferation]] of halls of fame makes original a bust", [http://www.cantonrep.com/printable.php?ID=166994 The Canton Repository]</ref>

Honorees include many names that are still famous ([[Wilbur Wright|Wilbur]] and [[Orville Wright]], [[Benjamin Franklin]], [[John Philip Sousa]]) and some that seem quite obscure: (Naval officer and oceanographer [[Matthew Fontaine Maury]], astronomer [[Maria Mitchell]], jurist [[Rufus Choate]]).

Honorees include many names that are still famous ([[Wilbur Wright|Wilbur]] and [[Orville Wright]], [[Benjamin Franklin]], [[John Philip Sousa]]) and some that seem quite obscure: (Naval officer and oceanographer [[Matthew Fontaine Maury]], astronomer [[Maria Mitchell]], jurist [[Rufus Choate]]).