Jan 17, 1949. Originally broadcast by CBS, this show was one of the earliest TV sitcoms. The show centered around a Jewish mother and her family living in the Bronx and later in the suburbs. Gertrude Berg created the hit radio show before she wrote, produced and starred as Molly Goldberg in the television version. Contributing actors and actresses included Philip Loeb, Arlene McQuade, Tom Taylor, Eli Mintz, Menasha Skulnik and Arnold Stang.
Jan 17, 1706. “Elder statesman of the American Revolution,” oldest signer of both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, scientist, diplomat, author, printer, publisher, philosopher, philanthropist and self-made, self-educated man. Author, printer and publisher of Poor Richard’s Almanack (1733– 58). Born at Boston, MA, Franklin died at Philadelphia, PA, Apr 17, 1790. His birthday is commemorated each year by the Poor Richard Club of Philadelphia with graveside observance.
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Jan 17, 1871. Andrew Hallikie received a patent for a cable car system that began service in San Francisco in 1873.
Image of San Francisco Street car courtesy of Pixabay.com user PDPhotos, CC0.
Muhammad Ali born Jan 17, 1942. Born Cassius Clay at Louisville, KY, boxing’s “The Greatest” lived up to his nickname: winning the gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the 1960 Rome Olympics and winning the world heavyweight title three times (1964, 1974, 1978). Ali was also nicknamed the “Louisville Lip”— always ready with a quote-worthy quip or challenge. He converted to Islam in 1964 (under Malcolm X’s mentorship) and dropped his “slave name” for that of Muhammad Ali. Later, as a conscientious objector, he refused to be drafted to fight in the Vietnam War— he was arrested and stripped of his title. In a battle that went to the US Supreme Court in 1971, overturned. Ali’s refusal to bow to the establishment, his civil rights beliefs and leadership and his outsize personality made him one of the great iconic figures— in sports or otherwise— of the 20th century. After battling Parkinson’s disease (diagnosed in 1984) for more than thirty years, Ali died at Scottsdale, AZ, on June 3, 2016.
Image by courtesy of the United States Library of Congress‘s Prints and Photographs division under the digital ID cph.3c15435.
Jan 17, 1994. An earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale struck the Los Angeles area about 4: 20 AM. The epicenter was at Northridge in the San Fernando Valley, about 20 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. A death toll of 51 was announced Jan 20. Sixteen of the dead were killed in the collapse of one apartment building. More than 25,000 people were made homeless by the quake and 680,000 lost electric power. Many buildings were destroyed and others made uninhabitable due to structural damage. A section of the Santa Monica Freeway, part of the Simi Valley Freeway and three major overpasses collapsed. Hundreds of aftershocks occurred in the following several weeks. Costs to repair the damages were estimated at $ 15– 30 billion.
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Queen Liliuokalani in a black dress Hawaiian Monarchy Hawaii
Jan 17, 1893. Queen Liliuokalani, the last monarch of Hawaii, lost her throne when the monarchy was abolished by the “Committee of Safety,” with the foreknowledge of US minister John L. Stevens, who encouraged the revolutionaries. The Queen’s supporters were intimidated by the 300 US Marines sent to protect American lives and property. Judge Sanford B. Dole became president of the republic and later was Hawaii’s first governor after the US annexed it by joint resolution of Congress on July 7, 1898. Hawaii held incorporated territory status for 60 years. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the proclamation making Hawaii the 50th state on Aug 21, 1959.
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Jan 18, 1966. Robert Clifton Weaver was sworn in as secretary of housing and urban development, becoming the first black cabinet member in US history. He was nominated by President Lyndon Johnson. Weaver died at New York, NY, July 17, 1997.
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Jan 18, 1803. Seeking information on what lay west of the young US, President Thomas Jefferson sent a confidential letter to Congress on Jan 18, 1803, requesting funds for an exploratory expedition to be led by Captain Meriwether Lewis and Lieutenant William Clark. After the Louisiana Purchase was signed on Apr 30, 1803, the expedition’s mission changed: it became a survey of new American land. The Corps of Discovery set off May 14 from St. Louis and returned with much information about the land, flora and fauna and peoples there on Sept 23, 1806.
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A famous and iconic photograph by Howard Coster of A.A. Milne, his son Christopher Robin and Pooh Bear at Cotchford Farm, their home in Sussex, dated 1926 and in the collection of the National Portrait Galley, London, a gift of the estate of Howard Carter 1959. Fair Use.
Jan 18, 1882. Anniversary of the birth of Alan Alexander Milne, English author, especially remembered for his children’s stories: Winnie the Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner. Also the author of Mr Pim Passes By, When We Were Very Young and Now We Are Six. Born at London, England; died at Hartfield, England, Jan 31, 1956.
Jan 18, 1948. This immensely popular show, featuring host Ted Mack, introduced amateurs performing their talents on live television. It debuted as a regularly scheduled broadcast on the DuMont network. The show had been a long-running success on radio as “Major Bowes’ Original Amateur Hour” until the death of Edward Bowes. Mack became host of the radio show a year later. While a few episodes were televised in 1947, the show did not air weekly until this date. The program ran until 1970 and also continued on radio until 1952.
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Jan 19, 1809. American poet and story writer, called “America’s most famous man of letters.” Born at Boston, MA, he was orphaned in dire poverty in 1811 and was raised by Virginia merchant John Allan. In 1836 he married his 13-year-old cousin, Virginia Clemm. A magazine editor of note, he is best remembered for his poetry (especially “The Raven”) and for his tales of suspense. Died at Baltimore, MD, Oct 7, 1849.
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How many watts do you need to run your home? How many watts is your furnace using? What is the wattage of that light bulb?
WATT. The unit of measure for electrical and mechanical power is named for James Watt. He was a Scottish inventor who contributed significantly to the Industrial Revolution with his improvements to the steam engine and other inventions. Watt died on 19 August 1819. Read more at http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/watt_james.shtml.
Image: Public Domain, Source: The Popular Science Monthly, 1877
Jan 19, 1943. Possibly the most highly regarded white female blues singer of all time, Janis Joplin was born at Port Arthur, TX. Joplin’s appearance with Big Brother and the Holding Company at the Monterey International Pop Festival in August 1967 launched her to superstar status. Among her recording hits were “Get It While You Can,” “Piece of My Heart” and “Ball and Chain.” She died of a heroin overdose Oct 4, 1970, at Hollywood, CA, at the age of 27.
Jan 19, 1918. Born at Arkansas City, AR, the grandson of a slave, John H. Johnson rose from abject poverty to become one of the most influential black businessmen in America. In 1942 he launched the first of his successful magazines, Negro Digest, which reached a circulation of 50,000 within eight months. In 1945 came Ebony, followed by Jet in 1951. By the time of his death at Chicago, IL, on Aug 8, 2005, Johnson’s company was the world’s largest African-American owned-and-operated publishing operation. He served the US as goodwill ambassador and received numerous honors, the most important of which was the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1996 for “building self-respect in the black community.”
A commemorative stamp was released in his honor in 2012.
Jan 19, 1839. Post-Impressionist painter, born at Aix-en-Provence, France. Seeking to “treat nature by the cylinder, the sphere, the cone,” Cézanne’s portraits, still lifes, and landscapes are a seminal bridge from the Romantics and Impressionists to the Fauves, Cubists and later modernists. He created such masterpieces as The Bathers (1875), The Card Players (1892) and Compotier, Pitcher and Fruit (1892– 94). Cézanne died Oct 23, 1906, at Aix, from pneumonia after painting outside in the rain.
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Jan 19, 1807. Greatest military leader of the Confederacy, son of Revolutionary War general Henry (Light-Horse Harry) Lee. His surrender Apr 9, 1865, to Union general Ulysses S. Grant brought an end to the Civil War. Born at Westmoreland County, VA, he died at Lexington, VA, Oct 12, 1870. His birthday is observed in Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, South Carolina and Tennessee. Observed on third Monday in January in Alabama, Arkansas and Mississippi. Source: http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/robert-e-lee.html.
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Jan 20, 1896. Comedian George Burns was born at New York City. He began in vaudeville without much success until he teamed up with Gracie Allen, who became his wife. As Burns and Allen, the two had a long career on radio, in film and with their hit TV show, “The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show.” Later he played the roles of God and the Devil in the Oh, God! movies. He lived to be 100 and died Mar 9, 1996, at Los Angeles, CA.
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The 20th Amendment provides that “The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January . . . and the terms of their successors shall then begin . . .” A quadrennial event and holiday in the District of Columbia.
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Jan 20, 1981. The Iran hostage crisis ended with the release of 52 US citizens after 444 days of captivity. The deal was announced minutes after the swearing in of President Ronald Reagan. Read more and watch clips at https://dptv.pbslearningmedia.org/
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
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an 21, 1738. Revolutionary War hero and leader of the Vermont “Green Mountain Boys,” born at Litchfield, CT.
Ethan Allen is best remembered for his capture of British Fort Ticonderoga at Lake Champlain, NY, on May 10, 1775, which was the first major American victory of the Revolutionary War. He was captured by British forces on Sept 25, 1775, while attempting to capture Montreal and was a prisoner of war until 1778 when his release was secured in exchange for a British officer. Upon his return, Allen was an ardent supporter of Vermont’s separation from New York for independent statehood, although this goal was not achieved until 1791, two years after his death at Burlington, VT, on Feb 12, 1789.
Image courtesy of Flickr.com, public domain.
Jan 21, 1976. The supersonic Concorde airplane was put into service by Britain and France. The Concorde ended flights on Oct 24, 2003— bringing an end to supersonic air travel.
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Kiwanis Club International was founded on 21 January 1915. The first Kiwanis Club was chartered at Detroit, Michigan.
Jan 21. Because hugging is something everyone can do and because it is a healthful form of touching, this day should be spent hugging anyone who will accept a hug, especially family and friends.
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com user StockSnap
Jan 22, 1944. A predominately American Allied force of 36,000 men was landed at Anzio on Italy’s western coast. Commanding officer John P. Lucas failed to take the initiative but instead fortified his original position and thus possibly missed an early opportunity to retake Rome. The Allies entered Rome on June 4, 1944.
Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Jan 22–28. Clean Out Your Inbox Week, observed annually the last business week of January, urges businesses and individuals to cure their e-mail “e-ddictions” and clean out their e-mail inboxes. A new year brings new beginnings— it’s a great time to adopt healthy e-mail habits, which make life stress-free and work more productive. People across the world have benefited from COYIW, which has been recognized by countless media outlets internationally.
Graphic made with Pixabay.com images, courtesy of users “pillipechazal” and “open-clipart-vectors,” CC0.
