A New Year’s Eve ball was first dropped in Times Square in 1907. Built by a young immigrant metalworker named Jacob Starr, the 700-pound (318-kilogram), 5-foot-diameter (1.5-metre) ball was made of iron and wood and featured 100 25-watt light bulbs.

It was more than 100 years ago, and there was no ball to drop. But, a report said, the crowd was “hysterical.”