Today's Trivia and What Happened on March 19

Who said, "No man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar"?

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Quote: I'm not a doctor, but I play one on TV. - Peter Bergman, for Vicks Formula 44

Quote: I'm not a doctor, but I play one on TV. - Peter Bergman, for Vicks Formula 44 Close Large View

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Holidays

Feast Day of Joseph

Husband of the Virgin Mary, patron saint of the Universal Church and workmen.

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What Happened On

Iraq War Begins

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Iraq War Begins

March 19, 2003

The Iraq War begins. U.S. President George W. Bush announced, "…coalition forces are in the early stages of military operations to disarm Iraq, to free its people and to defend the world from grave danger."
The U.S. began bombing Iraq the following day.

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J. J. Gould's illustration of Amos (right) and Andy for New Movie Magazine (1930) J. J. Gould's illustration of Amos (right) and Andy for New Movie Magazine (1930)

J. J. Gould's illustration of Amos (right) and Andy for New Movie Magazine (1930) J. J. Gould's illustration of Amos (right) and Andy for New Movie Magazine (1930)
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Amos 'n' Andy

March 19, 1928

The long-running radio comedy, Amos 'n' Andy, debuts on radio. It was written by and starred Freeman Gosden and Charles J. Correll, two white actors portraying black characters. It was the first U.S. syndicated radio program, and ran until 1960.
A TV version starring different actors ran from 1951 to 1953.

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1918 poster celebrating the passing of DST 1918 poster celebrating the passing of DST

1918 poster celebrating the passing of DST 1918 poster celebrating the passing of DST
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Daylight Saving Time

March 19, 1918

The first national U.S. Daylight saving time (DST) is passed by Congress. Germany and its allies had begun DST in 1916, as had the United Kingdom. The U.S. repealed this DST law in 1919, but a few U.S. cities, including New York City, retained DST locally. DST was reinstated during World War II. After the war its use varied among states and localities until 1966, when the Uniform Time Act of 1966 provided standardization of DST in the U.S.

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Pancho Villa (left) and a JN3 aircraft Pancho Villa (left) and a JN3 aircraft

Pancho Villa (left) and a JN3 aircraft Pancho Villa (left) and a JN3 aircraft
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First U.S. Air Combat Mission

March 19, 1916

Eight Curtiss JN3 airplanes take off in pursuit of Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa, although two were lost on the flight to the advanced camp at Colonia Dublán.
They were supporting a mission of 7,000 U.S. troops who had invaded Mexico with orders to capture Villa dead or alive. They pursued Villa until February of 1917, killing 190 of his men, but Villa survived the assault.
Villa opposed U.S. support of the newly elected Mexican president and had led a raid across the border into New Mexico in order to obtain military supplies, killing 17 Americans.
The following month, 2nd Lt. George S. Patton led what was the first U.S. motorized military action, in which he killed one of Villa's leaders and two of his men.

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Second U.S. Bank Robbery

March 19, 1831

Two men use copied keys to enter the City Bank of New York City and steal $245,000 (over $7 million in today's money). They were eventually arrested and sentenced to five years hard labor.

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Model of the Perseverance Model of the Perseverance
Photo Credit: Dr. Karl-Heinz Hochhaus

Model of the Perseverance Model of the Perseverance
Photo Credit: Dr. Karl-Heinz Hochhaus
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Steamboat

March 19, 1787

New York State grants John Fitch the sole right to make and use steamboats. He would make his first steamboat ride down the Delaware River five months later on his ship the Perseverance.
In 1798, New York would take away these rights and give them to Robert R. Livingston.

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Longest Fingernails

March 19, 1991

The fingernails of Shridhar Chillal's left hand are measured to have a combined length of 181 inches. Source: Guinness Book of World Records

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Jim Bakker Resigns

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Jim Bakker Resigns

March 19, 1987

Televangelist leader of the PTL Club, Jim Bakker, resigns his ministry after accusations of using $279,000 of church money to pay for the silence of a church secretary who alleged Bakker and pastor John Wesley Fletcher drugged and raped her.
He was also later convicted of defrauding his followers out of $158 million and served 4½ years in prison (1989-94).
In his 1996 book, I Was Wrong, he admitted that the first time he actually read the Bible all the way through was in prison and realized that he had taken passages out of context to support his prosperity theology.
In 2003, Bakker returned to televangelism and began broadcasting The Jim Bakker Show with his second wife, Lori. His new ministry embraces apocalypticism and sells buckets of freeze-dried food in preparation for the end of days.

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Space Shuttle Columbia

March 19, 1981

Two workers are killed while making preparations for a ground test. Twenty-two years later in 2003, the ill-fated shuttle would disintegrate upon reentry killing all seven crew members.

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C-SPAN

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C-SPAN

March 19, 1979

C-SPAN (Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network) is launched and begins broadcasting the U.S. House of Representatives' day-to-day business. Its first broadcast was a speech by then U.S. Congressman Al Gore.
C-SPAN2 followed in 1986 when the U.S. Senate permitted itself to be televised.

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First Color TV Broadcast of a Prizefight

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First Color TV Broadcast of a Prizefight

March 19, 1954

Joe Giardello knocks out Willie Troy at Madison Square Garden, broadcast by WNBT.

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First TV Broadcast of the Academy Awards

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First TV Broadcast of the Academy Awards

March 19, 1953

The Greatest Show on Earth wins the Oscar for Best Picture.

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World War II - USS Franklin Kamikaze Attack

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World War II - USS Franklin Kamikaze Attack

March 19, 1945

The second deadliest attack on a U.S. ship during the war occurs when the USS Franklin is hit by a Kamikaze bomber, killing 807 and wounding 487 others (Second only to the Pearl Harbor attack on the USS Arizona). The Franklin returned to the U.S. and was restored, but saw no more action in the war and was decommissioned in 1947.

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Gambling

March 19, 1931

Nevada legalizes gambling. It was intended to be a temporary fix to help the ailing economy during the depression.

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Divorce

March 19, 1931

Nevada signs into law its 6-week easy divorce law. It became effective on May 1.

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First U.S. Fractional-Denomination Postage Stamp

March 19, 1925

First U.S. Fractional-Denomination Postage Stamp goes on sale, the 1½¢ light brown Warren G. Harding.

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Lowell Observatory (1933) and NASA photo of Pluto (2015) Lowell Observatory (1933) and NASA photo of Pluto (2015)

Lowell Observatory (1933) and NASA photo of Pluto (2015) Lowell Observatory (1933) and NASA photo of Pluto (2015)
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Pluto

March 19, 1915

While searching for the cause of perturbations in the orbit of Uranus, the Lowell Observatory in Arizona photographs the dwarf planet. However, the photographs were not recognized for what they were and Pluto remained undiscovered for another 15 years.
Percival Lowell, who founded the Lowell Observatory in 1894, had predicted the existence of a ninth planet and he and his observatory began searching for it.
Unfortunately, Lowell died in 1916, before the discovery of Pluto in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh, who was working for the Lowell Observatory.

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Birthdays

Wambsganss completing the unassisted triple play Wambsganss completing the unassisted triple play

Wambsganss completing the unassisted triple play Wambsganss completing the unassisted triple play
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Bill Wambsganss

Born March 19, 1894 d. 1985

American baseball player. He made the first World Series unassisted triple play (1920). In the fifth inning of game five of the 1920 World Series, second baseman Bill Wambsganss (Cleveland Indians) catches a line drive by Clarence Mitchell (Brooklyn Dodgers). He then stepped on second base to retire Pete Kilduff, and then tagged Otto Miller coming from first base, to complete the first and only unassisted triple play in World Series history.

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Wyatt Earp

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Leader of the O.K. Corral Gunfight

Wyatt Earp

Born March 19, 1848 d. 1929

American gunfighter. He led the gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1881) in Tombstone, Arizona.
Quote: "That nothing's so sacred as honor, and nothing so loyal as love!"

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Stanley finding Livingstone Stanley finding Livingstone

Stanley finding Livingstone Stanley finding Livingstone
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Dr. Livingstone, I Presume?

David Livingstone

Born March 19, 1813 d. 1873

Scottish explorer, missionary. In 1871, he was found in Africa by reporter Henry Stanley, prompting the famous quote: "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?"

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Bruce Willis

Born March 19, 1955

American Emmy-winning actor. Film: Die Hard (1988). TV: Moonlighting (David Addison).

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Glenn Close

Born March 19, 1947

American Tony-winning actress. Film: The Big Chill (1983) and Fatal Attraction (1987).

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Clarence "Frogman" Henry

Born March 19, 1937

American rhythm and blues singer. He opened 18 concerts for The Beatles in 1964.

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Ursula Andress

Born March 19, 1936

Swiss actress. Film: Dr. No (1962, Honey Ryder).

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Philip Roth

Born March 19, 1933 d. 2018

American Pulitzer-winning author. Writings: Goodbye, Columbus (1959), Portnoy's Complaint (1969), and American Pastoral (1997, Pulitzer).

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Patrick McGoohan

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Patrick McGoohan

Born March 19, 1928 d. 2009

American-born Irish Emmy-winning actor. Luckily for Sean Connery, in 1962 McGoohan turned down the role of James Bond. Later, he also turned down the roles of Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings and Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films. TV: Danger Man (1964-67, secret agent John Drake - retitled Secret Agent in U.S.), The Prisoner (1967-68, Prisoner Number 6), The Man in the Iron Mask (1977, Fouquet). Film: Escape From Alcatraz (1969) and Braveheart (1995, King Edward "Longshanks").

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Jack Elrod

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Jack Elrod

Born March 19, 1924 d. 2016

American cartoonist. Comics: Mark Trail (1978-2014, artist).

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Tige Andrews (Tiger Andrews)

Born March 19, 1920 d. 2007

American actor. TV: The Mod Squad (Capt. Adam Greer).

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Irving Wallace

Born March 19, 1916 d. 1990

American novelist. His books have sold over 120,000,000 copies.

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Passport using name of "Ricardo Klement" that Eichmann used to enter Argentina in 1950 Passport using name of "Ricardo Klement" that Eichmann used to enter Argentina in 1950

Passport using name of "Ricardo Klement" that Eichmann used to enter Argentina in 1950 Passport using name of "Ricardo Klement" that Eichmann used to enter Argentina in 1950
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Adolf Eichmann

Born March 19, 1906 d. 1962

German war criminal. As a member of the SS, he organized the transportation of Jews to concentration camps for "the final solution." After the war Eichmann was captured by the U.S., but was using forged papers that identified him as "Otto Eckmann." He eventually escaped and in 1950 used a phony passport to travel to Argentina. He was discovered hiding in Argentina after his son, Klaus Eichmann, bragged to his girlfriend about his Nazi father. He was then captured by Israeli Mossad agents and smuggled to Israel where he was tried and hanged for his war crimes.

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The Funniest Woman in the World

Jackie "Moms" Mabley (Loretta Mary Aiken)

Born March 19, 1894 d. 1975

American comedienne. She was one of the most successful entertainers of the black vaudeville stage and was billed as "The Funniest Woman in the World."

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Earl Warren

Born March 19, 1891 d. 1974

American Chief Justice of the United States. Quote: "It would indeed be ironic if, in the name of national defense, we would sanction the subversion of one of those liberties which make the defense of our nation worthwhile."

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Dr. Evarts Ambrose Graham

Born March 19, 1883 d. 1957

American physician. He performed the first successful lung removal operation by removing the cancerous lung of a fellow physician, curing the patient (1933). He was one of the first to note that almost all lung cancer patients were habitual smokers. He himself, a long term-smoker before quitting, died of lung cancer.

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William Jennings Bryan

Born March 19, 1860 d. 1925

American orator, called the Great Commoner. He made his famous "Cross of Gold" speech at the 1896 Democratic National Convention, and was one of the prosecuting attorneys at the Scopes Monkey Trial.

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Sir Richard Francis Burton

Born March 19, 1821 d. 1890

English explorer. He discovered Lake Tanganyika and translated The Arabian Nights into English.

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Thomas McKean

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Thomas McKean

Born March 19, 1734 d. 1817

American politician, member of (1774-83) and 8th president (1781) of the Continental Congress, and signer of the Declaration of Independence. Although present during its drafting, he didn't sign until 1781.

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William Bradford

Born March 19, 1590 d. 1657

American historian, signer of the Mayflower Compact (1620). He is called "The Father of American History" for his writings of the early Plymouth Colony. He was elected governor of Plymouth Colony 30 times.

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Deaths

Sir Arthur C. Clarke

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Sir Arthur C. Clarke

Died March 19, 2008 b. 1917

British science fiction author. Writings: 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968).
The third of "Clarke's Three Laws" states "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
The other two are:
1 - "When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong."
2 - "The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible."

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Edgar Rice Burroughs

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Creator of Tarzan

Edgar Rice Burroughs

Died March 19, 1950 b. 1875

American novelist. Creator of Tarzan (1914).

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Henry Faulds

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Father of Fingerprinting

Henry Faulds

Died March 19, 1930 b. 1843

Scottish scientist, "Father of Fingerprinting." He was the first to suggest using fingerprints for criminal investigations (1880). The use of fingerprints as an ID had been introduced in the 1860s by Sir William James Herschel in India. Faulds developed a classification system that extended that use to criminal investigations.

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Calvert DeForest

Died March 19, 2007 b. 1921

American actor. TV: Late Night with David Letterman (Larry "Bud" Melman).

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John DeLorean Photo Credit: Kevin Abato

John DeLorean Photo Credit: Kevin Abato
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John DeLorean

Died March 19, 2005 b. 1925

American auto executive. In 1982 he was arrested for possession of 59 pounds of cocaine with the intent to distribute after an FBI informant solicited him as financier in a scheme to sell 220 lb (100 kg) of cocaine worth approximately $24 million. He claimed police entrapment and was later acquitted. He was responsible for Pontiac's GTO and Firebird and the DeLorean (as featured in the Back to the Future movies) automobiles.

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Brian Maxwell

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Founder of PowerBar

Brian Maxwell

Died March 19, 2004 b. 1953

Canadian athlete and founder of PowerBar. Despite being diagnosed as a teenager as having a congenital heart condition, by 1977 he was ranked as the No. 3 marathoner in the world. He died of a heart attack at age 51.

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Al Hodge

Died March 19, 1979 b. 1912

American actor. Radio: The Green Hornet (title role). TV: Captain Video and His Video Rangers (1950-55, second person to play the captain).

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Edward C. Platt

Died March 19, 1974 b. 1916

American actor. TV: Get Smart (1965-70, Chief).

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Sir Arthur James Balfour

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Sir Arthur James Balfour (Arthur James Balfour, 1st Earl of Balfour)

Died March 19, 1930 b. 1848

British prime minister (1902-05), author of The Balfour Declaration (1917), which favored limited Jewish settlement in Palestine.

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Clement XI

Died March 19, 1721 b. 1649

Italian religious leader, 243rd Pope (1700-21).

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Robert de La Salle

Died March 19, 1687 b. 1643

French explorer. He explored the Mississippi Basin and claimed the entire Mississippi River basin for France.

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