What Happened On
First Woman in Space
June 16, 1963
Valentina Tereshkova flying a solo mission aboard the Soviet Vostok 6 becomes the first woman in space. This also makes her the only woman to fly a solo mission in space.
When asked how she wanted to be rewarded for her service, she requested that the government find where her father was killed during World War II. This was done, and a monument now stands at the site.
Superman Commits Suicide
June 16, 1959
Actor George Reeves, who played Superman in the TV series Adventures of Superman (1952-58) dies of a gunshot wound to the head while at home in his bedroom. The death was officially ruled a suicide, but many suspect foul play. Suspects included his fiancé, ex-girlfriend Toni Mannix, and her husband MGM executive Eddie Mannix, who was rumored to have ties to the mob.
In his will, Reeves left $71,000 of his estate, including his home, to Toni Mannix.
Los Angeles publicist Edward Lozzi claimed that Toni Mannix had confessed to a Catholic priest in his presence that she was responsible for having Reeves killed.
Reeves and Leonore Lemmon were planning to be married just three days later on June 19th. Coincidentally, Leonore Lemmon had the initials "LL", just like Lois Lane.
The Switchback Railway at Coney Island
The Switchback Railway at Coney Island
Roller Coaster
June 16, 1884
The first commercially-successful gravity-powered American roller coaster goes into operation. The "Switchback Railway" at Coney Island, N.Y charged 5¢ a passenger and averaged $600 a day. Riders would climb a tower to board a large bench-like car and were pushed off to coast 600 ft (183 m) traveling at about 6 mph (9.7 km/h) down the track to the other tower. At the top of the other tower the vehicle was switched to a return track or "switched back."
A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand
June 16, 1858
Abraham Lincoln gives his famous line, "A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure permanently half-slave and half-free."
The speech was given by Lincoln after accepting the Illinois Republican Party's nomination as that state's U.S. senator. Lincoln was trying to differentiate himself from the incumbent Stephen A. Douglas, who advocated each new state choose to be either free or slave. Douglas went on to win the election.
This has become one of Lincoln's best-known speeches and a copy of it was sold in 1992 for $1,500,000.
Three-Week Filibuster
June 16, 1838
John Quincy Adams begins his three-week long filibuster speech before Congress on right of petition and freedom of speech. His speech lasted until July 7. Former U.S. President Adams, who was now a member of the House of Representatives, gave it in response to a resolution to annex Texas, which he was trying to defeat. His plan worked and Texas formally withdrew its offer of annexation in October. Texas was eventually admitted into the Union in 1845.
Huygens' pendulum clock
Huygens' pendulum clock
Pendulum Clock
June 16, 1657
The pendulum clock is patented by Dutch astronomer Christiaan Huygens. He needed it for his astronomical observations. The design was based on the research by Galileo Galilei into pendulums and their use for timekeeping. Galileo had attempted to build a pendulum clock, but died before it could be completed.
First First-Day-of-Issue Dual-City Postmark
June 16, 1993
U.S. rock 'n' roll stamp booklet is issued with postmarks from Santa Monica, California and Cleveland, Ohio.
Subway Vigilante
June 16, 1987
Bernhard Goetz is convicted of carrying an unlicensed concealed weapon. He had been acquitted of murder charges. He shot four black youths in a N.Y. subway car, claiming he was frightened when they asked for $5. He was seen as a hero to many New Yorkers, who were tired of the crime in the city. In 1981, he was the victim of a mugging and was upset because the attacker spent less time in the police station than Goetz himself. He was further angered when his attacker was charged only with criminal mischief, for ripping Goetz's jacket. Goetz applied for a concealed handgun permit, but was denied. He then bought a 5-shot .38-caliber revolver which he carried illegally. In 1984, four youths who were on their way to steal from a video arcade, confronted Goetz on the subway asking for $5. Two of the youths had moved next to Goetz, blocking him from the other passengers. Believing that he was being set up for a mugging, Goetz pulled his gun and began shooting the youths, hitting one in the chest, one in the back, the third in the arm and left side, and the fourth in the spinal column paralyzing him.
Although at the time, the youths claimed they were only panhandling, one later admitted that they did indeed intend to rob Goetz.
He was acquitted of attempted murder and first-degree assault charges, but convicted of criminal possession of a weapon and served eight months in prison.
In a 1996 civil trial, the paralyzed youth was awarded $43 million dollars.
The Jacksons
June 16, 1976
The Jacksons variety TV show debuts on CBS, starring the Jackson Five. It was the first variety show where the entire cast were siblings or an African-American family. It ran for 12 episodes.
National Industrial Recovery Act
June 16, 1933
National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) is created establishing the National Recovery Administration (NRA) and Public Works Administration (PWA).
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
June 16, 1933
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is established, providing insurance coverage for bank deposits.
Al Capone Pleads Guilty/Not Guilty
June 16, 1931
Gangster Al Capone pleads guilty to tax evasion and prohibition charges. But, after boasting to the press that he had struck a deal for a two-and-a-half year sentence, the judge informed him he was not bound by any deal. Capone then changed his plea to not guilty.
Capone was later convicted and sentenced to eleven years in federal prison, fined $50,000 and charged $7,692 for court costs, in addition to $215,000 plus interest due on back taxes.
He was released from Alcatraz in 1939 after having served seven years, six months and fifteen days.
Pepsi
June 16, 1903
The Pepsi-Cola trademark is registered with the U.S. Patent Office. The name is derived from its contents, pepsin and kola nuts.
Ford
June 16, 1903
The Ford Motor Company is founded.
Hawaii
June 16, 1897
The U.S. signs a treaty annexing the island territory. It was officially annexed the following year and would become a U.S. state in 1959.
Cracker Jack
June 16, 1893
F.W. Rueckheim invents his popular confection. It was introduced to the public at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.
Birthdays
Stan Laurel (Arthur Stanley Jefferson)
Born June 16, 1890 d. 1965
English comedian, actor. He made over 100 films with his partner Oliver Hardy, whom he worked with from 1926 till Hardy's death in 1957.
Moments before his death, Laurel told his nurse that he'd like to go skiing. The nurse replied that she was not aware that he was a skier. "I'm not," said Laurel, "I'd rather be doing that than this!"
William D. Boyce
Born June 16, 1858 d. 1929
American publisher. He founded the Boy Scouts of America (1910).
Boyce had been lost in the fog while visiting London and encountered a boy who guided him to his destination. The boy refused Boyce's tip, explaining that he was a Boy Scout and was merely doing his daily good deed. Intrigued, Boyce met with the Boy Scouts headquarters and upon his return to the U.S. he incorporated the Boy Scouts of America. Former U.S. president Theodore Roosevelt, who had long complained of the decline in American manhood, became an ardent supporter.
Geronimo
Born June 16, 1829 d. 1909
Apache Indian chief. Opposed to the policy of placing Indians on reservations, he raided Arizona settlements until his capture in 1886.
Julius Plücker
Born June 16, 1801 d. 1868
German mathematician, physicist. Plücker discovered that cathode rays are diverted by magnetic fields, the principle upon which TV picture tubes are made. He also discovered that spectral lines are unique to each chemical, the principle of spectroscopy.
Roberto Duran
Born June 16, 1951
Panamanian boxer, lightweight champion (1972-79), welterweight (1980), and junior middleweight (1983-84).
Joan Van Ark
Born June 16, 1943
American actress. TV: Dallas (Valene Ewing) and Knots Landing.
Billy "Crash" Craddock
Born June 16, 1939
American singer. Music: Knock Three Times (1971) and I Cheated On A Good Woman's Love (1981).
Griffin in disguise as a black man
Griffin in disguise as a black man
Black Like Me
John Howard Griffin
Born June 16, 1920 d. 1980
American author. His best-seller Black Like Me (1961) was based on his travels through the South after chemically darkening his skin to appear as a black man.
Jack Albertson
Born June 16, 1907 d. 1981
American Oscar-Tony-Emmy-winning actor. TV: Chico and the Man (Ed Brown - the Man).
Dave Beck
Born June 16, 1894 d. 1993
American labor leader, Teamsters president (1952-57). In 1957 he was accused of misusing $300,000 in union funds and was convicted of embezzling $1,900 from the sale of a union-owned Cadillac. In 1958 he was convicted of federal income tax evasion, but it was overturned. In 1959 he was convicted of filing a false tax return. He served 2½ years in prison and was eventually pardoned by the Washington state governor (1964) and later by U.S. President Gerald Ford (1975). He was selected by Seattle as "Maritime Man of the Year" (1984).
Gustav V
Born June 16, 1858 d. 1950
King of Sweden (1907-50). He maintained Sweden's neutrality during World Wars I and II.
Deaths
Dr. von Braun standing by F-1 Engines
Dr. von Braun standing by F-1 Engines
Wernher von Braun
Died June 16, 1977 b. 1912
German engineer, SS Officer. He launched the first long-range guided missile (Germany's V-2 Rocket, 1942) and the first U.S. rocket to reach outer space (25 miles, 1949). After World War II, von Braun led the team of German scientists who worked for the U.S. under Project Paper Clip. He developed the Saturn and the Mercury Redstone (which put the first U.S. astronaut in space in 1961) and led the development of the Saturn V booster rocket which was used to put the first men on the Moon (1969).
George Reeves (George Keefer Brewer)
Died June 16, 1959 b. 1914
American actor. Superman from the TV series Adventures of Superman (1952-58).
Reeves was in the opening scene of Gone with the Wind (1939) as one of Scarlett O'Hara's suitors.
He died of a gunshot wound to the head while at home in his bedroom. The death was officially ruled a suicide, but many suspect foul play. Suspects included his fiancé Leonore Lemmon, his ex-girlfriend Toni Mannix, and her husband MGM executive Eddie Mannix, who was rumored to have ties to the mob. No fingerprints were found on the gun and no gunpowder residue was found on Reeves' hands or body.
In his will, Reeves left $71,000 of his estate, including his home, to Toni Mannix.
Los Angeles publicist Edward Lozzi claimed that Toni Mannix had confessed to a Catholic priest in his presence that she was responsible for having Reeves killed.
Reeves and Leonore Lemmon were planning to be married just three days later on June 19th. Coincidentally, Leonore Lemmon had the initials "LL", just like Lois Lane.
Performed First Operation using Ether for Anesthesia
Dr. Crawford Long (Crawford Williamson Long)
Died June 16, 1878 b. 1815
American physician. He performed first operation using ether for anesthesia, using ether during the removal of a neck tumor (1842). He administered sulfuric ether on a towel and simply had the patient inhale.
Long had observed that some who participated in the "ether frolics", that were popular at that time, experienced bumps and bruises, but afterward had no recall of what had happened. He postulated that diethyl ether produced effects similar to the anesthetic effects of nitrous oxide described by Humphry Davy in 1800.
The word anesthesia is from the Greek for "without sensation".
Frank Bonner
Died June 16, 2021 b. 1942
American actor. TV: WKRP in Cincinnati (1978-82, Herb Tarlek).
Elmer Ambrose Sperry
Died June 16, 1930 b. 1860
American engineer. Inventor of the gyro-compass (1910) and founder of Sperry Electric Co. (1888).
Eli Hamilton Janney
Died June 16, 1912 b. 1831
American inventor. He patented the first American automatic railroad coupler (1873).