what a year that was!

I don't know, maybe 1969?

Not too many of history's greatest minds were alive in 1969, I'm afraid. Certainly not four of them!

I'll accept the likely fact that I was far too obscure.

Hint: the four people involved set the standard for mathematics, science, philosophy and art for centuries.

Aha...well I thought 1969 because of the "civilization's most-watched night" - which I thought to be the landing on the moon. But four people....hmmm....a pre-PC?...you say "the four people involved set the standard for science, philosophy and art for centuries"...for centuries...so that must be at least 17th, 16th century, or earlier...the four greatest minds? Galileo?...Let me think about this one. :wink:

OK: more hints...

The pre-PC was the world's first digital calculator, and the "most-watched night" is a work of art.

Who are the four geniuses in the riddle?

Hmmm, starry and night and work of art sounds to me like Vincent Van Gogh (Starry Night).

Hi Jespah -- the "night" I have in mind is far more "watched" than the "starry" one

Yes, the year is 1942 and it's Casablanca.

It's the S2 - but the others ....?

Sorry Walter, wrong century...

The "Nachtwacht" by Rembrandt was painted in that year. The two persons you mean could be Galileo Galilei, who died that year, and Isaac Newton, who was born that year. And the pre-PC was the Pascaline by Blaise Pascal.

The year I mean is 1642.

We have a winner!

1642 is it!

Galileo, Pascal, Rembrandt, and Newton.
What year in the history of the world has more brain power been in evidence?

thanks Rick!

PS: The assembly of Rembrandt's "The Night Watch" has been "watching" that "night" for >360 years -- to say nothing of the thousands of folk who visit the painting at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam every week. So I figure "civilization's most-watched night" was within the bounds of poetic license.
Both Galileo (famously) and Newton (whose invention of the reflecting telescope is eclipsed by many other notable achievements) have a hand in the discovery of the "galaxies".
Finally, Blaise Pascal, whose brilliance is often overlooked, did indeed create a digital calculator in the year 1642!

Nice job, Rick! :-D

Umberto Eco's The Island of the Day Before was set around this time and features - in a cameo role - a young Blaise Pascal showing off his new invention.