1917
1918
history - Ukraine, Lithuania, Estonia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Poland and Georgia declare their independence from the Russian Empire - Germany, Austria and Bolshevist Russia sign the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, ending Russia's involvement in the war - Finland forms an alliance with Germany - Czechoslovakia declares its independence from Austria-Hungary - the Hungarian government terminates the personal union with Austria, officially dissolving the Austro-Hungarian empire - Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany abdicates and chooses to live in exile in the Netherlands - Emperor Charles I of Austria gives up his absolute power but does not abdicate - Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Austria become a republic - the British occupy Palestine
culture - the Spanish Flu (influenza) becomes pandemic; over 30 million people die in the following 6 months (almost twice as many as died during the war) - Warner Bros. Pictures is established - Hallidie Building is built in San Francisco, designed by Willis Polk, credited as the first glass curtain wall building - Oswald Spengler: Der Untergang des Abendlandes (The Decline of the West or The Downfall of the Occident) - Bertolt Brecht: Baal - Otto Wagner (†) - Peter Rosegger (†) - Edmond Rostand (†) - Gustav Klimt (†) - Egon Schiele (†) - Guillaume Apollinaire (†) - Frank Wedekind (†)
music - Verein für musikalische Privataufführungen (the Society for Private Musical Performances) founded in Vienna by Arnold Schönberg - first documented racially integrated jazz recording session - Claude Debussy (†)
released songs - Original Dixieland Jass Band: Tiger Rag
- 1918.02.19 -- US: New Jersey: Camden - recordings for Victor - William F. Larkin, orchestra (dir: Josef Pasternack)
- 1918.03.19 -- US: New York City - recordings for Victor - Original Dixieland Jass Band (Nick LaRocca, Eddie Edwards, Larry Shields, Henry Ragas, Tony Sparbaro)
- 1918.03.25 -- US: New York City - recordings for Victor - Original Dixieland Jass Band (Nick LaRocca, Eddie Edwards, Larry Shields, Henry Ragas, Tony Sparbaro)
- 1918.06.25 -- US: New York City - recordings for Victor - Original Dixieland Jass Band (Nick LaRocca, Eddie Edwards, Larry Shields, Henry Ragas, Tony Sparbaro)
- 1918.07.17 -- US: New York City - recordings for Victor - Original Dixieland Jass Band (Nick LaRocca, Eddie Edwards, Larry Shields, Henry Ragas, Tony Sparbaro)
- 1918.08.26? - US: New York City - recordings for Columbia - Bert Williams, studio orchestra (dir: Charles A. Prince)
- 1918.08.29? - US: New York City - recordings for Columbia - Bert Williams, studio orchestra (dir: Charles A. Prince)
- 1918.09.17 -- US: New York City - recordings for Victor - Lionel Belasco Orchestra
- 1918.12.00 -- Europe: UK: London - recordings for Columbia (British) - Dan And Harvey's Jazz Band (Dan Kildare, Harvey White...)
- 1918.12.03 -- US: New York City - recordings for Victor - Original Dixieland Jass Band (Nick LaRocca, Eddie Edwards, Larry Shields, Henry Ragas, Tony Sparbaro)