May 13

Scott Winters May 13, 2024 1 Comment

A quick look at Today in History, check out some Celebrity Birthdays, and find out what Days of the Year to celebrate.

TODAY IN HISTORY:

1607 – An expedition led by Captain Christopher Newport arrived at Jamestown, VA. The passengers went ashore the next day, and this site became the first permanent English colony in America.

1821 – The first practical printing press was patented in the U.S. by Samuel Rust.

1857 – Michigan Agricultural College opened in Lansing, MI, with 75 students. It is now known as Michigan State University.

1873 – Ludwig M. Wolf patented the sewing machine lamp holder.

1880 – Thomas Edison tested his experimental electric railway in Menlo Park, NJ.

1897 – Guglielmo Marconi sent the world’s first wireless communication over open sea.

1911 – The New York Giants set a major league baseball record. Ten runners crossed home plate before the first out of the game against St. Louis.

1918 – The first airmail postage stamps were issued with airplanes on them. The denominations were 6, 16, and 24 cents.

1939 – The first commercial FM radio station in the U.S. was launched in Bloomfield, CT. The station later became WDRC-FM.

1949 – The first gas turbine to pump natural gas was installed in Wilmar, AR.

1950 – Diner’s Club issued the first credit cards.

1954 – President Dwight Eisenhower signed into law the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Act.

1958 – The trademark “Velcro” was registered.

1958 – Ben Carlin became the first (and only) person to circumnavigate the world by amphibious vehicle. He traveled over 11,000 miles by sea and 39,000 miles by land during a ten-year journey.

1967 – Mickey Mantle hit his 500th homerun.

1970 – “Let It Be”, a British documentary film starring the Beatles, premiered.

1979 – Max Robinson joined ABC’s “World News Tonight” and became the first black anchorman on a national network.

1980 – A deadly F3 tornado ripped through the downtown Kalamazoo business district. President Jimmy Carter declared it a Federal disaster area.

1981 – Pope John Paul II was shot in St. Peter’s Square.

1982 – The Chicago Cubs became the first major league baseball team to win 8,000 games.

1985 – Tony Perez became the oldest major league baseball player to hit a grand slam home run at the age of 42 and 11 months.

1994 – Johnny Carson made his last television appearance on the “Late Show with David Letterman”.

2002 – Dionne Warwick was arrested at Miami International Airport after baggage screeners found 11 marijuana cigarettes inside her lipstick container. She was later cleared of the charges.

2003 – The U.S. government unveiled a newly designed version of the $20 bill. It was the first to be colorized in an effort to stop counterfeiters.

2004 – NBC aired the final episode of TV’s “Frasier”. It was on the air for 11 seasons.

2008 – A 42 cent postage stamp honoring Frank Sinatra went on sale on the 10th anniversary of his death.

BIRTHDAYS:

Zohra Lampert – 87 years old (1937) – Actress (“Alan & Naomi”, “Let’s Scare Jessica to Death”, “Splendor in the Grass”)

Harvey Keitel – 85 years old (1939) – Actor (“Pulp Fiction”, “Thelma and Louise”, “Taxi Driver”, “Bugsy”, “Reservoir Dogs”, “Bad Lieutenant”, “The Piano”)

Magic Dick – 79 years old (1945) – Harmonica, trumpet & saxophone player (J. Geils Band)

Franklin Ajaye – 75 years old (1949) – Actor, comedian (“Fraternity Vacation”, “Convoy”, “Bridesmaids”, “Car Wash”, TV’s “Deadwood”)

Stevie Wonder – 74 years old (1950) – Musician (“You Are the Sunshine of My Life”, “I Just Called to Say I Love You”). Born in Saginaw, MI.

John Kasich – 72 years old (1952) – Ohio governor and former Fox News Channel host

Frances Barber – 67 years old (1957) – Actress (TV’s “The Street”, “Doctor Who”, “Silk”, movies “Prick Up Your Ears”, “Sammy and Rosie Get Laid”, “Soft Top Hard Shoulder”, “Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool”)

Dennis Rodman – 63 years old (1961) – Basketball player (Detroit Pistons 1986-1993)

Stephen Colbert – 60 years old (1964) – Television host (TV’s “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”, “The Colbert Report”

Tom Verica – 60 years old (1964) – Actor (TV’s “American Dreams”)

Darius Rucker – 58 years old (1966) – Lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist (Hootie and the Blowfish)

Samantha Morton – 47 years old (1977) – Actress (“Emma”, “Jane Eyre”, “Under the Skin”)

Lena Dunham – 38 years old (1986) – Actress (TV’s “Girls”, “Tiny Furniture”)

Hunter Parrish – 37 years old (1987) – Actor (“Weeds”)

Robert Pattinson – 38 years old (1986) – Actor (“Twilight”, “New Moon”, “Bel Ami”, “Water for Elephants”, “Remember Me”)

Debby Ryan – 31 years old (1993) – Actress (“Barney: Let’s Go to the Firehouse”, “The Longshots”)