May 13 in Pop Culture History

May 13 Fun Facts, Trivia and History

May 13 History Highlights

  • 1861 – The Great Comet of 1861 (C/1861 J1) was discovered,
    and it should return in 2063.
  • 1917 – The first reported apparition of Our Lady of Fátima in Fátima, Portugal.
  • May 13, 19** Birthday (fictional) Barry Allen (The Flash), DC Comics
  • If you were born on May 13th,
    You were likely conceived the week of… August 20th (prior year)

Our Lady of Fátima – Marian Visions

Our Lady of Fátima was a Marian apparition. Three young Roman Catholic shepherds, Lúcia dos Santos, Francisco, and Jacinta Marto, saw six apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary beginning on May 13, 1917, whom the children described as “a Lady more brilliant than the Sun” with several heavenly messages from Jesus and Mary during their series of visions, which the Church later called apparitions.

May 13 is…

Apple Pie Day
Frog Jumping Day
Fruit Cocktail Day
Hummus Day
Tulip Day

May 13 Birthday Quotes

“Contrary to what people may say, there’s no upper limit to stupidity.”
– Stephen Colbert

“This life is like a swimming pool. You dive into the water, but you can’t see how deep it is.”
– Dennis Rodman

“With villains, you always have to understand what motivates them. Most people don’t just think they’re evil. They believe or know they are doing the right thing because of the circumstances they find themselves in.”
– Marv Wolfman

“I really cut my teeth on off-off-off Broadway shows.”
– Bea Arthur

“A champion doesn’t become a champion in the ring, he’s merely recognized in the ring. His ‘becoming’ happens during his daily routine.”
– Joe Louis

May 13 Birthdays

1911 – Robert Middleton, American character actor (died in 1977)
1914 – Joe Louis, American boxer (died in 1981)
1922 – Bea Arthur, American actress and singer (died in 2009)
1941 – Ritchie Valens, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (died in 1959)
1943 – Mary Wells, American singer-songwriter (died in 1992)
1946 – Marv Wolfman, American comic book author
1961 – Dennis Rodman, American basketball player
1964 – Stephen Colbert, American comedian and talk show host
1986 – Lena Dunham, American actress
1987 – Candice King, American actress
1993 – Debby Ryan, American actress

May 13 History

1607
English in Virginia founded Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America.

1637
Cardinal Richelieu created the rounded table knife in France.

1890
Nikola Tesla was issued an electric generator patent (#428,057).

1917
Three children, Lúcia Santos and her cousins Jacinta and Francisco Marto, report the first apparition of Our Lady of Fátima in Fátima, Portugal.

1939
The first commercial FM radio station in the United States was launched in Bloomfield, Connecticut. The station later became WDRC-FM.

1950
The first round of the Formula One World Championship was held at Silverstone.

1954
Broadway Show – The Pajama Game (Musical) May 13, 1954

1958
Ben Carlin became the first person to circumnavigate the world by amphibious vehicle

1960
Dhaulagiri – 26,795 ft (8,167 m) – Nepal – First ascent: May 13, 1960, by Kurt Diemberger, Peter Diener, Ernst Forrer, Albin Schelbert, Nyima Dorje, and Nawang Dorje

1967
#1 Hit May 13, 1967May 19, 1967: The SupremesThe Happening

1972
A fire at the Playtown Cabaret nightclub in Osaka, Japan, killed 118 people.

1973
Bobby Riggs beat Margaret Court in a $10,000 winner-take-all challenge tennis match. Billie Jean King played him on September 20, 1973, and won the second Battle of the Sexes.

1978
#1 Hit May 13, 1978 – May 19, 1978: Yvonne EllimanIf I Can’t Have You

1981
Pope John Paul II was shot by Mehmet Ali Agca.

1984
May 13, 1984 (fiction) A T-800 arrived from the future to kill Sarah Conner, The Terminator, Film

1985
Philadelphia Mayor W. Wilson Goode ordered police to raid the MOVE headquarters, and a small bomb was detonated on top of 6221 Osage Avenue. Six adults and five children were killed in the fire that destroyed the entire block and 250 nearby homes.

1989
#1 Hit May 13, 1989 – May 19, 1989: Bon JoviI’ll Be There for You

1994
Broadway Show – Grease (Musical) May 11, 1994

Johnny Carson made his last television appearance on Late Show with David Letterman.

May 13, 19** Birthday (fictional) Barry Allen (The Flash), DC Comics

2005
East End Show – Billy Elliot the Musical (Musical) May 11, 2005

2006
#1 Hit May 13, 2006June 2, 2006: RihannaSOS

2017
#1 Hit May 13, 2017 – May 19, 2017: Bruno Mars – That’s What I Like

Today’s Random Trivia and Shower Thoughts

A group of owls is called a “Parliament of owls.”

“I said.. GOOD DAY!” – Willy Wonka #moviequotes

The shortest performance to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor was Anthony Quinn’s eight-minute role as Gauguin in “Lust for Life”.

Squish – word invented by Mark Twain “To Squash something down.”

So my pizza came before I ordered it. (Thank you, tachyons) But, my order is wrong. Who do I complain to

No other species is responsible for the loss of as many human lives each year as mosquitoes

It was the SECOND person who said “I’m Spartacus” who is really worthy of the praise. #ImSpartacus

Useless Pronunciation: K as in know

“You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both, and there you have the facts of life.” #songlyrics

Frozen On Ice is the first time any Disney On Ice production has ever made any sense.

I think I’ll take some headphones to the ATM next time just to be the only person to ever use headphones at an ATM.

One of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World: Great Pyramid of Giza in (now) El Giza, Egypt constructed ~2580-2560 BC

A group of Grouse is called a Pack or Covey.

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