January 13 in Pop Culture History

January 13th Fun Facts, Trivia and History

January 13th History Highlights

  • 1910 – Lee De Forest performed the fitsrt public radio broadcast in New York City.
  • 1966 – Robert C. Weaver was appointed United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, becoming the first African American Cabinet member.
  • 1968 – Johnny Cash performed at Folsom Prison in Folsom, California.
  • If you were born on January 13th,
    You were likely conceived the week of… April 22nd (prior year)

January 13th is…

Make Your Dreams Come True Day
National Sticker Day
Rubber Ducky Day

January 13th Birthday Quotes

The explorers of the past were great men and we should honor them. But let us not forget that their spirit lives on. It is still not hard to find a man who will adventure for the sake of a dream or one who will search, for the pleasure of searching, not for what he may find.
– Sir Edmund Hillary

It’s not what you are in Hollywood – it’s what people think you are.
– Robert Stack

If you feel rooted in your home and family, if you’re active in your community, there’s nothing more empowering. The best way to make a difference in the world is to start by making a difference in your own life.
– Julia Louis-Dreyfus

I still feel that sincerity and realism are avant-garde, or can be, just as I did when I started out.
– Edmund White

I learned early on, having known the most handsome, successful… Gary Cooper, Clark Gable, Robert Taylor, don’t ever spend too much time looking in the mirror.
– Robert Stack

The signal is the truth. The noise is what distracts us from the truth.
– Nate Silver

National Rubber Ducky Day

Why, you may ask yourself, is January 13 National Rubber Ducky Day? The answer is… because that’s what Ernie says! While scrubbing himself clean at bath time and singing that song we all know from Sesame Street, Ernie said January 13th is his favorite bath time toy’s birthday. 

History

The actual origin of rubber duckies is shrouded in mystery, like that whole chicken or egg thing. What we do know for certain is that “they make bath time so much fun!” All silliness aside, the rubber ducky was first patented in 1928 by Landon Smart Lawrence. They are most often used to make toddlers feel more at ease when taking a bath. Having a friendly, yellow toy makes the water less scary to the little ones and gives them something to play with while a parent scrubs them clean.

With Ernie’s help, we have chosen January 13 to commemorate this delightful reminder of a simpler, more playful time in our lives. Even now, humming that iconic, grammy-nominated tune can bring a smile to your face. In 1992, 28,000 of them went overboard during a storm and have been bobbing around, lost at sea like “Wilson” ever since. So, keep your eyes open on your next cruise for one of these lost little guys!

How To Celebrate

Float alongside an enormous replica! Dutch artist, Florentijn Hofman created a flock of massive ducks that can be seen in various cities all over the world. Made from PVC, the largest is 85’ wide, 65’ long, and 105’ tall. That’s beggir than anything you might find at the top of a beanstalk!

You can go to a rubber ducky race. Thousands are released on the Big Walnut Creek in Columbus, OH each year. Every duck released has a sponsor and the top three winners get a prize. The biggest prize goes to the Nationwide Children’s Hospital which uses the proceeds to fund life-saving research. If you can’t do those things, you can always do what Ernie did and take a bath while singing to your very own rubber ducky!

January 13th Birthdays

1596 – Jan van Goyen, Dutch painter and illustrator (died in 1656)
1808 – Salmon P. Chase, American senator and abolitionist (died in 1873)
1834 – Horatio Alger, Jr, American author (died in 1899)
1885 – Alfred Fuller – American businessman (died in 1973)
1887 – Sophie Tucker, Russian-born American singer and actress (died in 1966)
1893 – Clark Ashton Smith, American poet, sculptor, painter, and author (died in 1961)
1919 – Robert Stack, American actor (died in 2003)
1926 – Michael Bond, English soldier and author, created Paddington Bear (died in 2017)
1931 – Charles Nelson Reilly, American comedic actor (died in 2007)
1935 – Rip Taylor, American comedic actor (died in 2019)
1940 – Edmund White, American writer
1943 – Richard Moll, American actor
1949 – Brandon Tartikoff, American screenwriter and producer (died in 1997)
1961 – Julia Louis-Dreyfus, American actress
1962 – Trace Atkins, American singer/songwiter
1964 – Penelope Ann Miller, American actress
1972 – Nicole Eggert, American actress
1977 – Orlando Bloom, English actor
1978 – Nate Silver, American journalist and statistician
1982 – Ruth Wilson, English actress
1990 – Liam Hemsworth, Australian actor

January 13th History

1854 – US patent (#11062) for an accordion was issued to Anthony Faas of Philadelphia, Pa.

1863 – Thomas Crapper “invented” the portable toilet. Crapper is often credited with inventing the toilet because he was a successful and well-known businessman who significantly improved the design of toilets and other plumbing fixtures. However, he did not invent the toilet itself. The history of the toilet dates back thousands of years, and many innovations and improvements have been made to the basic design over time. The modern toilet, with a separate water tank and flushing mechanism, was actually developed in the late 19th century by Thomas Twyford, who is considered the true inventor of the modern toilet.

1888 – National Geographic Society was founded in Washington, D.C.

1930 – Disney’s ‘Mickey Mouse’ newspaper strip first appeared.

1906 – The 1st radio set advertised (Telimco for $7.50 in Scientific American)

1959Motown Records is formed in Detroit.

1962 – #1 Hit January 13, 1962 – January 26, 1962: Chubby CheckerThe Twist

1962 – Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia Warriors scored 73 points against Chicago

1966 – Tabitha was born on ABC’s Bewitched. The episode titled, “And Then There Were Three.”

1967 – US patent (#3359678) was issued to the Wham-O Mfg. Company for their improvement of the Frisbee.

1969 – Dick York collapsed on the set of Bewitched and is rushed to the hospital. He resigned from the show due to his persistent back injury (started in 1959) and was replaced by Dick Sargent.

1978 – United States Food and Drug Administration began requiring all blood donations to be labeled “paid” or “volunteer” donors.

1986 – Johnny Cash performed his famous Folsom County Jail show.

1995Far From Home: The Adventures of Yellow Dog, Higher Learning and Demon Knight were released in theaters.

2005 – US Surgeon General, Richard H. Carmona, issued a national health advisory to warn the public about the risks of breathing indoor radon.

2010Beauty and the Beast (3D) was released in theaters.

January 13, 2012Frenemies aired on The Disney Channel

#1 Hit January 23, 2021 – March 19, 2021: Drivers LicenseOlivia Rodrigo

Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts

Shakespeare made up the name “Jessica” for his play Merchant of Venice.

Barry Manilow wrote McDonald’s “You Deserve a Break Today” jingle.

“Greed, for lack of a better word, is good.” – Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas) #moviequotes

Characters in the Star Wars universe are completely unaware of the amazing soundtrack that accompanies the most important moments in their lives.

Bugs Bunny’s accent is an equal blend of the Bronx and Brooklyn dialects.

“I’ll get you, my pretty, and your little dog too!” – Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton) in Wizard of Oz, The Wizard of Oz, 1939

“My mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” – Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks)

The Scary Statistic: Accidental Injury odds: 1-in-36

What to do: Don’t do anything, ever. Sit in a non-folding chair.

“Tell me I’m clever, Tell me I’m kind, Tell me I’m talented, Tell me I’m cute, Tell me I’m sensitive, Graceful and wise, Tell me I’m perfect… But tell me the truth.” – Shel Silverstein

Biggest film of 1985: Back to the Future (Action/Adventure) earned ~ $212,000,000

Billy The Kid – Real Name: Henry McCarty

Useless Pronunciation: P as in phishing

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