1. The New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square has been a New York tradition since 1904, when the first ever New Year's Eve ball was dropped from the flagpole atop One Times Square.
2. In 1942, during World War II, the New Year's Eve ball drop was cancelled in Times Square due to wartime blackouts. Instead, a minute of silence was observed and a moment of reflection was held.
3. In 1965, the Ed Sullivan Show aired a special New Year's Eve episode that featured appearances by the Supremes, the Animals, and the Rolling Stones.
4. In 1978, the famous "raccoon" incident took place when a raccoon climbed up the outside of the UBS building (then known as the RCA building), captivating onlookers for hours until it was safely captured by animal control.
5. In 1999, New York City prepared for the Y2K bug as the world approached the year 2000. Despite fears of widespread computer malfunctions, the city's systems remained largely stable and the New Year was celebrated without incident.