January 16 in History

January 16 in Pop Culture History

1362 – St. Marcellus Flood or Grote Mandrenke (Great Drowning of Men), Netherlands

1547 – Ivan the Terrible crowned himself 1st Tsar of Moscow.

1581 – The English Parliament outlawed Roman Catholicism.

1605 – The first edition of El ingenioso hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha (Book One of Don Quixote) by Miguel de Cervantes was published in Madrid, Spain.

1776 – The U.S. Continental Congress approved the enlistment of free men for the rebellion.

1894 – Theodore Witte of Chilliwack, British Columbia, was issued a U.S. patent (#512930) for a “Puttying-Tool” (the first caulking gun)

1920 – The 18th Amendment, Prohibition began, and alcoholic beverages were made illegal in the United States. (Effective one year later)

1920 – The League of Nations held its first council meeting in Paris, France.

1936 – The first photo finish camera was installed at a US racetrack, at Hialeah, Florida.

1939 – The Superman newspaper comic strip debuted.

1941 – War Department forms 1st Army Air Corps squadron, The Tuskegee Airmen, for black cadets.

1964 – Hello, Dolly! (Broadway Musical) Opened on January 16, 1964 and closed on December 27, 1970

1976 – The Donny and Marie musical variety show premiered on ABC.

1984 – Paul and Linda McCartney were arrested in Barbados for possession of marijuana.

1988 – #1 Hit January 16, 1988 – January 22, 1988: George Harrison – Got My Mind Set On You

1991 – All major television networks were preempted with Gulf War coverage right after evening news broadcasts.

1995 – Hercules: The Legendary Journeys which starred Kevin Sorbo and Michael Hurst premiered.

1998 – Star Kid, Fallen, Hard Rain, Half Baked and Pretty Village, Pretty Flame were released in theaters.

1999 – #1 Hit January 16, 1999 – January 29, 1999: Brandy – Have You Ever

2004 – Along Came Polly debuted in theaters.

2009 – Paul Blart: Mall Cop debuted in theaters.