What Happened On
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.
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It went into effect the following year and was repealed in 1933 by the 21st Amendment.
Dan Quayle
January 16, 1992
U.S. Vice-President Dan Quayle states, "George Bush will lead us out of this recovery."
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.
Human Interferon
January 16, 1980
Scientists in Boston announce that the natural virus-fighting substance has been manufactured using gene-splicing techniques.
League of Nations
January 16, 1920
League of Nations inaugurated. It was created by the Treaty of Versailles.
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.
Birthdays
Ethel Merman (Ethel Zimmerman)
Born January 16, 1908 d. 1984
American singer, actress. For three decades she reigned as "The Queen of Broadway."
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.
Sade (Helen Folasade Adu)
Born January 16, 1959
British singer. Music: Promise (1985) and Stronger Than Pride (1988).
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).
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.
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).
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).
Dizzy Dean (Jay Hanna Dean)
Born January 16, 1910 d. 1974
American baseball Hall of Famer and sports announcer.
Photo Credit: Myrabella
Frank J. Zamboni
Born January 16, 1901 d. 1988
American inventor. Invented the Zamboni ice surfacing machine used in skating and hockey rinks.
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.
Johannes Schoner
Born January 16, 1477 d. 1547
German geographer. He was the first to make a globe showing the Americas (1515).
René I
Born January 16, 1409 d. 1480
King of Naples (1435-42), titular King of Naples (1435-80).
Deaths
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."
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).
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.
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.
Photo Credit: Ivo Bulanda
Gina Lollobrigida (Luigia Lollobrigida)
Died January 16, 2023 b. 1927
Italian actress, photographer, one of the most glamorous stars of the 1950s.
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.).
Bradford Dillman
Died January 16, 2018 b. 1930
American actor. TV: Falcon Crest (Darryl Clayton).
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.
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).
Bernard Lee
Died January 16, 1981 b. 1908
British actor. Film: Bond's superior M in the first 11 James Bond movies.
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.
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).
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.
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).
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).
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.
Edward Gibbon
Died January 16, 1794 b. 1737
English author. Writings: The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.
Johannes Schoner
Died January 16, 1547 b. 1477
German geographer. He was the first to make a globe showing the Americas (1515).
Saint Marcellus I
Died January 16, 309 b. ????
Italian religious leader, 30th Pope (308-309).