Today's Trivia and What Happened on January 16

Can you figure out the phrase?

Can you figure out the phrase? Close Large View

Long Island.

Thumbs Up
13
Thumbs Down
6

Quote: If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you. - Oscar Wilde

Quote: If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you. - Oscar Wilde Close Large View

Thumbs Up
5
Thumbs Down
0

What Happened On

Desert Shield Becomes Desert Storm

Desert Shield Becomes Desert Storm Close Large View

Desert Shield Becomes Desert Storm

January 16, 1991

The allies launch a major air offensive against Iraq after the United Nations mandated deadline to withdraw from Kuwait passes.

Thumbs Up
6
Thumbs Down
0

Authorities Destroying Illegal Alcohol Authorities Destroying Illegal Alcohol

Authorities Destroying Illegal Alcohol Authorities Destroying Illegal Alcohol
Close Large View

Prohibition Ratified

January 16, 1919

The 18th amendment is ratified. While it did not prohibit the consumption of alcohol, it did ban the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcoholic beverages. The Volstead Act, which defined the terms used in the 18th Amendment, defined an intoxicating liquor as any beverage containing more than 0.5 percent alcohol. This caused beer and wine to also be prohibited.
It went into effect the following year and was repealed in 1933 by the 21st Amendment.

Thumbs Up
8
Thumbs Down
0

Dan Quayle

Dan Quayle Close Large View

Dan Quayle

January 16, 1992

U.S. Vice-President Dan Quayle states, "George Bush will lead us out of this recovery."

Thumbs Up
5
Thumbs Down
102

Join Us on Facebook

Paul McCartney Arrested in Japan

Paul McCartney Arrested in Japan Close Large View

Paul McCartney Arrested in Japan

January 16, 1980

The ex-Beatle Paul McCartney is imprisoned in Japan after the discovery of marijuana in his luggage. He had just landed in a Tokyo airport with his wife, children, and band Wings when customs found eight ounces of marijuana in his suitcase. Japanese authorities held him in prison for nine days before releasing him without charge and deporting him to England. He could have faced a potential seven-year prison sentence.
The band's 11 scheduled concerts in Japan were canceled.
McCartney had been denied a Japanese entry visa five years earlier due to his earlier drug arrests. McCartney had been arrested for marijuana possession in Sweden 1972, Scotland in 1973, and in Los Angeles in 1975. And he was arrested again for marijuana possession in 1984 in Barbados.
His band Wings disbanded shortly after their arrival back in England.

Thumbs Up
5
Thumbs Down
0

Human Interferon

January 16, 1980

Scientists in Boston announce that the natural virus-fighting substance has been manufactured using gene-splicing techniques.

Thumbs Up
5
Thumbs Down
0

League of Nations

January 16, 1920

League of Nations inaugurated. It was created by the Treaty of Versailles.

Thumbs Up
5
Thumbs Down
0

Merit Systems Protection Board

January 16, 1883

Merit Systems Protection Board is established, protects the integrity of federal merit systems and the rights of federal employees working in the systems.

Thumbs Up
4
Thumbs Down
0

Birthdays

Merman in Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938) Merman in Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938)

Merman in Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938) Merman in Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938)
Close Large View
This is a birthday

Ethel Merman (Ethel Zimmerman)

Born January 16, 1908 d. 1984

American singer, actress. For three decades she reigned as "The Queen of Broadway."

Thumbs Up
8
Thumbs Down
0

John Cabell Breckinridge

John Cabell Breckinridge Close Large View
This is a birthday

Youngest U.S. Vice President

John Cabell Breckinridge

Born January 16, 1821 d. 1875

American politician. 14th U.S. Vice-President (1857-61), U.S. Senator (1861, Kentucky), U.S. House of Representative (1851-55, Kentucky). He was the youngest U.S. vice president (age 36 years and 48 days). He also served as the Confederate secretary of war (1865) during the Civil War.

Thumbs Up
2
Thumbs Down
102

Add Trivia to Your Web Page

This is a birthday

Sade (Helen Folasade Adu)

Born January 16, 1959

British singer. Music: Promise (1985) and Stronger Than Pride (1988).

Thumbs Up
7
Thumbs Down
0

John Carpenter

John Carpenter Close Large View
This is a birthday

John Carpenter

Born January 16, 1948

American Oscar-winning film director. John Carpenter is best known for the Halloween movie franchise and numerous low-budget cult classics.
Carpenter made the original Halloween (1978) for $300,000. It grossed more than $65 million in its initial release, making it one of the most successful independent films of all time. It was also Jamie Lee Curtis' film debut.
Film: Dark Star (1974), Assault on Precinct 13 (1976), Halloween (1978), The Fog (1980), Escape from New York (1981), The Thing (1982), Christine (1983), Starman (1984), Prince of Darkness (1987), They Live (1988), and In the Mouth of Madness (1995).

Thumbs Up
4
Thumbs Down
1

This is a birthday

Dr. Laura Schlessinger

Born January 16, 1947

American radio talk show host. She is known for her non-codling direct approach to her caller's problems.

Thumbs Up
3
Thumbs Down
0

This is a birthday

Ronnie Milsap

Born January 16, 1943

American Grammy-winning Country Music Hall of Fame singer. He was born almost completely blind and abandoned by his mother to be raised by his grandparents. Music: Stand By My Woman Man (1976, Grammy).

Thumbs Up
7
Thumbs Down
0

This is a birthday

A.J. Foyt

Born January 16, 1935

American auto racer. Winner of the Indy 500 (1961, 64, 67, 77), Daytona 500 (1972), and 24 Hours of LeMans (1967).

Thumbs Up
5
Thumbs Down
0

This is a birthday

Dizzy Dean (Jay Hanna Dean)

Born January 16, 1910 d. 1974

American baseball Hall of Famer and sports announcer.

Thumbs Up
3
Thumbs Down
0

Frank J. Zamboni Photo Credit: Myrabella

Frank J. Zamboni Photo Credit: Myrabella
Close Large View
This is a birthday

Frank J. Zamboni

Born January 16, 1901 d. 1988

American inventor. Invented the Zamboni ice surfacing machine used in skating and hockey rinks.

Thumbs Up
9
Thumbs Down
0

This is a birthday

André Michelin

Born January 16, 1853 d. 1931

French tire maker. He and his brother founded the Michelin Tire Co. (1888). He also started publishing the Michelin Guide (1900) to promote tourism by car and thus boost the tire industry.

Thumbs Up
5
Thumbs Down
0

This is a birthday

Johannes Schoner

Born January 16, 1477 d. 1547

German geographer. He was the first to make a globe showing the Americas (1515).

Thumbs Up
3
Thumbs Down
0

This is a birthday

René I

Born January 16, 1409 d. 1480

King of Naples (1435-42), titular King of Naples (1435-80).

Thumbs Up
1
Thumbs Down
2

Deaths

Eugene Andrew Cernan

Eugene Andrew Cernan Close Large View
This is a death

Last Man on the Moon

Eugene Andrew Cernan

Died January 16, 2017 b. 1934

American astronaut. He was the last man on the Moon (1972). Upon reentering the Lunar Module after making the last Moon walk: "…America's challenge of today has forged man's destiny of tomorrow. And, as we leave the Moon at Taurus-Littrow, we leave as we came and, God willing, as we shall return, with peace and hope for all mankind. Godspeed the crew of Apollo 17."

Thumbs Up
4
Thumbs Down
0

Abigail Van Buren

Abigail Van Buren Close Large View
This is a death

Dear Abby

Abigail Van Buren (Pauline Esther Friedman)

Died January 16, 2013 b. 1918

American advice columnist of "Dear Abby" fame. She is the twin sister of advice columnist Ann Landers (Esther Pauline Friedman).

Thumbs Up
4
Thumbs Down
0

Ted Cassidy

Ted Cassidy Close Large View
This is a death

Ted Cassidy (Theodore Crawford Cassidy)

Died January 16, 1979 b. 1932

American 6 ft 9 inch (206 cm) tall actor. TV: The Addams Family (1964-66, Lurch and Thing) and The Incredible Hulk (opening narrator and voice for Hulk's growls and roars).
During the time of the Kennedy assassination, he was working as a daytime disc jockey in Dallas and gave an in-studio radio report on the day of the assassination and was one of the first to interview eyewitnesses.

Thumbs Up
7
Thumbs Down
0

Hiram Rhodes Revels

Hiram Rhodes Revels Close Large View
This is a death

First African American to Serve in the U.S. Congress

Hiram Rhodes Revels

Died January 16, 1901 b. 1827

American minister, politician. He was the first African American to serve in the U.S. Congress. He was elected to the U.S. Senate representing Mississippi in 1870-71 during the Reconstruction era. Some senators initially blocked his seating on grounds that Mississippi was under military rule and lacked a civil government to confirm his election. Others claimed Revels was not a U.S. citizen until the passage of the 14th Amendment and was therefore ineligible to become a U.S. Senator. He was finally seated on February 25, 1870.

Thumbs Up
3
Thumbs Down
2

Gina Lollobrigida Photo Credit: Ivo Bulanda

Gina Lollobrigida Photo Credit: Ivo Bulanda
Close Large View
This is a death

Gina Lollobrigida (Luigia Lollobrigida)

Died January 16, 2023 b. 1927

Italian actress, photographer, one of the most glamorous stars of the 1950s.

Thumbs Up
5
Thumbs Down
0

Phil Spector

Phil Spector Close Large View
This is a death

Phil Spector

Died January 16, 2021 b. 1939

American Grammy-winning music producer. Known as the "Tycoon of Teen," he developed the "Wall of Sound" recording technique. In 2009, he was convicted of the 2003 shooting death of Lana Clarkson in his home. Music: You've Lost the Lovin' Feeling (producer/co-writer. It is the most played song in the U.S.).

Thumbs Up
2
Thumbs Down
33

This is a death

Bradford Dillman

Died January 16, 2018 b. 1930

American actor. TV: Falcon Crest (Darryl Clayton).

Thumbs Up
4
Thumbs Down
0

This is a death

Dave Madden (David Joseph Madden)

Died January 16, 2014 b. 1931

Canadian-born American actor. TV: The Partridge Family (1970-1974, child-hating manager Reuben Kincaid). In real life, he took in costar Danny Bonaduce during Bonaduce's family's domestic strife.

Thumbs Up
3
Thumbs Down
0

Ron Carey

Ron Carey Close Large View
This is a death

Ron Carey

Died January 16, 2007 b. 1935

American actor. TV: Barney Miller (1976-82, Officer Carl Levitt). Film: Silent Movie (1976), High Anxiety (1977), and History of the World: Part I (1981).

Thumbs Up
6
Thumbs Down
0

This is a death

Bernard Lee

Died January 16, 1981 b. 1908

British actor. Film: Bond's superior M in the first 11 James Bond movies.

Thumbs Up
4
Thumbs Down
0

This is a death

Ross Bagdasarian, Sr.

Died January 16, 1972 b. 1919

American novelty musician. As David Seville, he was the manager of Alvin and the Chipmunks. He co-wrote Come On-a My House, Rosemary Clooney's all-time biggest hit. He bought 220 acres of Thompson seedless grapes near Fresno and named it the Chipmunk Ranch.

Thumbs Up
7
Thumbs Down
0

This is a death

Carole Lombard (Jane Alice Peters)

Died January 16, 1942 b. 1908

American actress. Film: Nothing Sacred (1937) and To Be or Not to Be (1942).

Thumbs Up
4
Thumbs Down
0

This is a death

Ma Barker (Arizona Donnie Clark)

Died January 16, 1935 b. 1873

American outlaw. Supposedly headed a gang which included her four sons. She and her youngest son were gunned down by FBI agents.

Thumbs Up
2
Thumbs Down
19

This is a death

Reginald De Koven

Died January 16, 1920 b. 1859

American operatic composer. Music: Oh, Promise Me (1889), Robin Hood (1890), and The Golden Butterfly (1908).

Thumbs Up
3
Thumbs Down
0

George Dewey

George Dewey Close Large View
This is a death

George Dewey

Died January 16, 1917 b. 1837

American naval officer. Noted for his spectacular defeat of the Spanish during the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War (1898). He was also the first and only U.S. Admiral of the Navy (1899).

Thumbs Up
5
Thumbs Down
0

Marshall Field

Marshall Field Close Large View
This is a death

The Customer Is Always Right

Marshall Field

Died January 16, 1906 b. 1834

American businessman. He founded the department store chain bearing his name. He died of pneumonia contracted while playing golf with Abraham Lincoln's son Robert Todd Lincoln. The quote "The customer is always right" is attributed to him.

Thumbs Up
5
Thumbs Down
0

This is a death

Edward Gibbon

Died January 16, 1794 b. 1737

English author. Writings: The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.

Thumbs Up
3
Thumbs Down
0

This is a death

Johannes Schoner

Died January 16, 1547 b. 1477

German geographer. He was the first to make a globe showing the Americas (1515).

Thumbs Up
3
Thumbs Down
0

This is a death

Saint Marcellus I

Died January 16, 309 b. ????

Italian religious leader, 30th Pope (308-309).

Thumbs Up
4
Thumbs Down
0