Holidays
Photo Credit: Jim Bowen
Photo Credit: Jim Bowen
Confederate Heroes' Day
Observed in memory of the Confederate forces of the Civil War.
What Happened On
First MS-DOS Computer Virus
January 19, 1986
The first MS-DOS virus is unleashed. It was a floppy disk boot sector virus that became known as "Brain". It was written by Pakistani brothers Basit Farooq Alvi and Amjad Farooq Alvi, who claimed it was intended to protect their copyrighted medical software from piracy. The virus didn't destroy data, but it did slow down the floppy disk. The brothers are still in business together as Brain Telecommunication Limited.
Betty Ford Dances On White House Table
January 19, 1977
After Gerald Ford's loss of the 1976 presidential election to Jimmy Carter, First Lady Betty Ford put her dance lessons to use and danced on the White House Cabinet Room table, stating "I always wanted to dance on the Cabinet Room table!"
First Televised U.S. Presidential Press Conference
January 19, 1955
President Dwight D. Eisenhower is filmed for newsreels and later television broadcasts. Eisenhower announced at the beginning, "Well, I see we're trying a new experiment this morning. I hope that doesn't prove to be a disturbing influence." Eisenhower's Press Secretary James C. Hagerty edited the footage before it was released.
Although this was the first televised presidential press conference, President Harry S. Truman had previously made a number of televised speeches.
World War I - First Air Raids on England
January 19, 1915
Two German Zeppelins drop bombs on Great Yarmouth, Sheringham, King's Lynn, and the surrounding villages. Four people are killed and 16 injured. The original target was Humberside, but the Zeppelins were diverted by strong winds.
Neon Lighting
January 19, 1915
Georges Claude receives the U.S. patent for his invention the neon light. It was an instant world-wide sensation.
The tub built for Taft's trip to the Panama Canal
The tub built for Taft's trip to the Panama Canal
President Stuck in Bathtub?
January 19, 1909
A newspaper article is printed about an immense bathtub installed for President-Elect William Howard Taft on the USS North Carolina. Taft was to travel to the Panama Canal, and his great size of over 300 pounds (136 kg) made the use of a standard tub difficult. Similarly large tubs were installed in the White House for his use, contributing to the myth that this was done because Taft got stuck in the White House tub.
Iraq War
January 19, 2003
Donald Rumsfeld on the cost of the war, "Well, the Office of Management and Budget, has come up come up with a number that's something under $50 billion for the cost."
Watergate
January 19, 1979
Former U.S. Attorney General John Mitchell is released on parole. He was the last Watergate convict in prison.
Tokyo Rose Pardoned
January 19, 1977
U.S. President Gerald Ford pardons Tokyo Rose (Iva Toguri D'Aquino). She served six years in prison for treason committed during World War II. She was pardoned after is was discovered that witnesses against her had been coerced into lying under oath.
Born in the U.S. to Japanese immigrants, she was visiting Japan when the Japanese struck Pearl Harbor. Unable to return the U.S., she began hosting the radio show Zero Hour broadcasting propaganda and entertainment to U.S. troops. During this time, she used part of her earnings to buy and smuggle food to Allied POWs, as she had also done before she began broadcasting.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
January 19, 1975
The government body to regulate the use of nuclear energy is established.
First Regular Transatlantic Radio Broadcast
January 19, 1903
Broadcasts begin between Cape Cod, Mass. and Cornwall, England with greetings exchanged between King Edward VII and U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt.
Civil War - Georgia Secedes
January 19, 1861
Georgia becomes the 5th state to secede from the Union.
Antarctica
January 19, 1840
The Wilkes expedition discovers the continent and claims it for the U.S.
Tin Canning
January 19, 1825
The first U.S. patent for preserving food in tin cans is granted. Thomas Kensett had originally been preserving food in glass jars, but they were subject to breakage, so he and his father-in-law Ezra Daggett obtained a patent for storing food in tin cans and set up a small canning plant on the waterfront selling America's first hermetically sealed fish, fruits, vegetables and meat.
Birthdays
Dolly Parton (1977)
Dolly Parton (1977)
Dolly Parton
Born January 19, 1946
American Grammy-winning country singer, actress. She has had 25 singles reach #1 on the Billboard country music charts and with more than 100 million records sold worldwide, she is one of the best-selling female artists of all time.
She recorded her first single Puppy Love in 1959 at age 13.
She is co-owner of The Dollywood Company, which manages a number of entertainment venues, including the Dollywood theme park and the Splash Country water park.
Music: Here You Come Again (1978, #1), 9 to 5 (1980, #1). Film: Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982), Rhinestone (1984), and Steel Magnolias (1989).
Janis Joplin
Born January 19, 1943 d. 1970
American Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer. Known for her breakout performances at the Monterey Pop Festival (1967) and Woodstock (1969). She died of a heroin overdose at the age of 27. Some believe Joplin had been given heroin that was much more potent than normal, as several of her dealer's other customers also overdosed that week.
Her only #1 hit Me and Bobby McGee was released after her death, becoming the second posthumously-released song to reach #1 on the U.S. charts, after "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding.
Music: Piece of My Heart (1968) and Me and Bobby McGee (1970, #1).
Jean Stapleton (Jeanne Murray)
Born January 19, 1923 d. 2013
American actress. Jean Stapleton is best known as Edith Bunker on TV's All in the Family.
TV: All in the Family (1971-79, Edith Bunker) and First Lady of the World (1982, title role).
First Person to Swim the English Channel Without a Life Preserver
Matthew Webb
Born January 19, 1848 d. 1883
Navy Captain. He was the first person to swim the English Channel without a life preserver or other artificial aids (Aug 24-25, 1875), swimming from Dover to Calais in under 22 hours. He died attempting to swim across the Niagara River below Niagara Falls.
Edgar Allan Poe
Born January 19, 1809 d. 1849
American poet, horror story writer. He created the literary genre of the detective story with The Murders in the Rue Morgue (1841).
His cause of death is still a mystery. He was found delirious wandering the streets of Baltimore wearing someone else's clothes and died four days later in the hospital without having recovered his senses. Some speculate he may have been a victim of cooping, the practice of kidnapping people and forcing them to wear disguises in order to vote multiple times. When he was found, it was election day and he was outside a pub that also served as a polling place. It was also the practice of the day to give the voter a drink after voting. Poe and his sister were known to have a very low tolerance to alcohol, with even a single glass of wine leaving them stumbling. This would explain his delirium and the clothes he was wearing. Other physicians diagnosed his symptoms as typical of rabies. Speculation about his death also includes a brain tumor or even having been beaten delirious by his wealthy fiancé's brothers.
Writings: The Raven (1845).
Robert E. Lee (Robert Edward Lee)
Born January 19, 1807 d. 1870
American soldier. He turned down the command of the U.S. Army to become commander of the Virginian forces during the Civil War.
Kimberly Bergalis
Born January 19, 1968 d. 1991
American AIDS victim. It is believed that she contracted AIDS from her dentist, Dr. David Acer, during a tooth extraction (December 1987). She won a $1,000,000 settlement from his insurer (January 1991).
Ricky Ricardo, Jr. (Little Ricky)
Born January 19, 1953
the fictional son of TV's Lucy and Ricky Ricardo. 68% of all U.S. television sets were tuned in to watch his birth.
Desi Arnaz Jr.
Born January 19, 1953
American child actor. TV: I Love Lucy (Little Ricky).
Robert Palmer
Born January 19, 1949 d. 2003
British singer. Music: Addicted To Love (1986).
Shelley Fabares (Michelle Fabares)
Born January 19, 1944
American actress, singer. TV: The Donna Reed Show (Donna's daughter Mary) and Coach (Christine). Music: Johnny Angel (1962, #1).
Laurie London
Born January 19, 1944
American singer. Music: He's Got the Whole World In His Hands (1958, #1).
Michael Crawford (Michael Dumble-Smith)
Born January 19, 1942
British actor. Film: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1972, the White Rabbit).
Phil (left) and Don Everly
Phil (left) and Don Everly
Phil Everly
Born January 19, 1939 d. 2014
American Hall of Fame singer. Performing as duo with his brother Don Everly, they combined rock and roll, country, and pop, becoming pioneers of country rock. They were inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1986) and the Country Music Hall of Fame in (2001).
Music: Bye Bye Love (1957, #1), Wake Up Little Susie (1957), and Gone, Gone, Gone (1965).
Robert MacNeil
Born January 19, 1931
Canadian-born news correspondent. TV: PBS's MacNeil/Lehrer Report.
Tippi Hedren (Nathalie Kay Hedren)
Born January 19, 1930
American actress, fashion model, animal rights activist, and mother of actress Melanie Griffith. Film: The Birds (1963). TV: The Birds II (1994).
Fritz Weaver
Born January 19, 1926 d. 2016
American Tony-winning actor. Stage: Baker Street (1965, Sherlock Holmes) and Child's Play (1970, Tony). Film: Marathon Man (1976, Professor Biesenthal). TV: Holocaust (1978, Dr. Josef Weiss).
Nicholas Colasanto
Born January 19, 1924 d. 1985
American actor. TV: Cheers (Coach).
Minnesota Fats (Rudolf Wanderone, Jr.)
Born January 19, 1913 d. 1996
American Hall of Fame billiards wizard. Wanderone adopted the nickname "Minnesota Fats" from a character in the 1961 film The Hustler, claiming that the character was based upon him, although the author of the original novel Walter Tevis denied this. In 1978, Fats and Willie Mosconi competed in a televised match on ABC's Wide World of Sports, drawing almost 11 million viewers, the second-highest rated episode of the show that year.
Oveta Culp Hobby
Born January 19, 1905 d. 1995
American government official. She was the first secretary of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, first commanding officer of the Women's Army Corps, and the first woman in the Army to receive the Distinguished Service Medal.
James Watt
Born January 19, 1736 d. 1819
British inventor, for whom the unit of power the 'watt' is named. He invented the modern condensing steam engine (1765).
Francis II
Born January 19, 1544 d. 1560
King of France (1559-60). He married Mary Queen of Scots (1558).
Deaths
Hedy Lamarr (Hedwig Kiesler)
Died January 19, 2000 b. 1914
Austrian actress. Film: Samson and Delilah (1949, Delilah). Considered film's most beautiful actress. In the 1938 film Algiers, she was the recipient of the famous line, "Come with me to the Casbah." And while the line was used in the trailers for the film, it was cut from the actual film itself.
At the beginning of World War II, Lamarr and composer George Antheil developed a secret communication system using spread spectrum and frequency hopping. The principles of their work are now incorporated into modern Wi-Fi, CDMA and Bluetooth technology. For this, she was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame (2014).
Ham the Astrochimp
Died January 19, 1983 b. 1956
American chimpanzee (hominid). He was the first hominid launched into space (1961, NASA). Ham had been trained to respond to lights and operate controls. He survived the mission and lived in zoos until his death.
Ray Harroun - 1st Indy 500 Winner and 1911 poster
Ray Harroun - 1st Indy 500 Winner and 1911 poster
Won First Indianapolis 500
Ray Harroun
Died January 19, 1968 b. 1879
American racecar driver. Winner of the first Indianapolis 500 (1911). He won with an average speed of 74.59 mph, finishing in 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 8 seconds. His strategy was to maintain a steady speed of 75 mph, because through testing he found that tires wore out significantly faster at higher speeds. In those days, changing a tire was a time-consuming process. His strategy worked: He only had to change four tires. The second place winner changed 14 tires and finished only 1 minute 43 seconds behind - a time he would have easily made up with less tire changes.
Tallest Married Couple
Martin Van Buren Bates
Died January 19, 1919 b. 1837
American giant, 7 feet 7.5 inches (2.324 m) tall. He and his wife, Anna Swan at 7 feet 11 inches (2.42 m), were the tallest married couple. They were billed as "The Giants of Seville."
Photo Credit: David Gans
Photo Credit: David Gans
David Crosby (David Van Cortlandt Crosby)
Died January 19, 2023 b. 1941
American singer, with The Byrds and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.
Dorothy Malone (Dorothy Maloney)
Died January 19, 2018 b. 1924
American Oscar-winning actress. Film: Written on the Wind (1956, Oscar). TV: Peyton Place (1964-68, Constance Mackenzie Carson).
Stan Musial (Stanisław Franciszek Musiał)
Died January 19, 2013 b. 1920
American Hall of Fame baseball legend, "Stan the Man." He was the first three-time winner of the Most Valuable Player Award (1943, 46, 48).
Suzanne Pleshette
Died January 19, 2008 b. 1937
American actress. Film: The Birds (1963). TV: The Bob Newhart Show (1972-78, Bob's wife Emily).
Dennis Doherty
Died January 19, 2007 b. 1940
Canadian folk singer. With The Mamas & The Papas. Music: California Dreamin' (1965) and Monday, Monday (1966, #1).
Wilson Pickett
Died January 19, 2006 b. 1941
American R&B and soul singer. Music: In the Midnight Hour (1965, #1), Mustang Sally (1966), and 634-5789 (1966, #1).
Anthony Franciosa (Anthony Papaleo)
Died January 19, 2006 b. 1928
American actor. TV: The Name of the Game (Jeff Dillon) and Matt Helm (title role).
James Dickey
Died January 19, 1997 b. 1923
American poet, novelist. U.S. Poet Laureate (1966). Writings: Deliverance (1970 He played the sheriff in the 1972 film adaptation).
Adriana Caselotti
Died January 19, 1997 b. 1916
Italian-American singer, actress. She was the voice of Snow White in the 1937 Walt Disney classic, for which she was paid $970.
Richest African American
Reginald Lewis
Died January 19, 1993 b. 1942
American businessman. He was the richest African-American man during the 1980s, with a net worth of about $400 million. He was the first African American to build a billion dollar company, Beatrice Foods, which he bought in 1987. Motto: "Keep going, no matter what." Writings: Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun?
Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh
Died January 19, 1990 b. 1931
Indian guru. During the 1970s, he had hundreds of thousands of followers known as the orange people - they wore only orange clothing. He once remarked, "So many religions look after the poor, leave the rich to me!"