Today's Trivia and What Happened on April 17

Fill in the boxes using (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15)

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Puzzle Answer

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Quote: Danger is very real. But fear is a choice. - Will Smith

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What Happened On

Very first Mustang sold to the public Very first Mustang sold to the public
Photo Credit: Alvintrusty

Very first Mustang sold to the public Very first Mustang sold to the public
Photo Credit: Alvintrusty
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Ford Mustang

April 17, 1964

Ford's new sports car the Mustang officially goes on sale. At a base price of $2,368, it sold an industry record of 417,000 units in its first year. It was originally intended to be a mid-engine two-seater roadster, but that changed when the sales of the Thunderbird increased after adding a back seat.

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Douglas A-4 Skyhawks flying sorties over combat areas during the invasion Douglas A-4 Skyhawks flying sorties over combat areas during the invasion

Douglas A-4 Skyhawks flying sorties over combat areas during the invasion Douglas A-4 Skyhawks flying sorties over combat areas during the invasion
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Bay of Pigs Invasion

April 17, 1961

The Bay of Pigs Invasion is led by Cuban exiles, trained, armed, and directed by the U.S., in an effort to overthrow Cuban Prime Minister Fidel Castro. It failed. The invading force was quickly defeated by the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces under the command of Castro.

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Daffy in Porky's Duck Hunt (left) vs. Daffy today Daffy in Porky's Duck Hunt (left) vs. Daffy today

Daffy in Porky's Duck Hunt (left) vs. Daffy today Daffy in Porky's Duck Hunt (left) vs. Daffy today
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Daffy Duck

April 17, 1937

The cartoon duck makes his first appearance, in Porky's Duck Hunt. Daffy was voiced by Mel Blanc from 1937 to 1989 (52 years). The original Daffy Duck more resembled an actual duck and had a less pronounced lisp than the modern version. The cartoon was originally going to have Porky Pig harassed by a number of crazy ducks but the film's animator, Bob Clampett, suggested that the crazy ducks be merged into a single duck - and Daffy was born.

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Columbus

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Columbus

April 17, 1492

An agreement is signed between Christopher Columbus and the Spanish monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, for a voyage to find a new route to the East Indies.

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World Record for Standing on One Foot

April 17, 1982

34 hours, is set by N. Ravi (India). Source: Guinness Book of World Records

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Civil War

April 17, 1861

Virginia becomes the 8th state to secede from the Union.

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Henry Hudson

April 17, 1610

The famed explorer sets sail on his fateful voyage to find a North-West passage. His crew would mutiny 14 months later, setting him adrift never to be heard from again.

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Birthdays

William Holden

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William Holden (William Franklin Beedle Jr.)

Born April 17, 1918 d. 1981

American Oscar-Emmy-winning actor. Film: Stalag 17 (1953), The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), The Wild Bunch (1969), and Network (1976).
According to the coroner's report, he died in his home when he slipped on a rug, fell on an end table lacerating his head, and subsequently bled to death. He was intoxicated at the time. Forensic evidence suggested he was conscious for at least 30 minutes after the fall.

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Frank's lynching. Judge Morris (far right in a straw hat), organized the crowd after the lynching. Frank's lynching. Judge Morris (far right in a straw hat), organized the crowd after the lynching.

Frank's lynching. Judge Morris (far right in a straw hat), organized the crowd after the lynching. Frank's lynching. Judge Morris (far right in a straw hat), organized the crowd after the lynching.
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Leo M. Frank

Born April 17, 1884 d. 1915

American factory worker. He was convicted of murdering 14-year-old Mary Phagan. Although sentenced to death, after reviewing the evidence the governor commuted his sentence to life in prison. Angered by the change in sentencing, a mob kidnapped Frank from prison and lynched him. The lynch mob was said to include prominent citizens, including former Georgia Governor Joseph Mackey Brown. Nobody was ever charged in the lynching.
His conviction was based largely on the testimony of Jim Conley, but was overturned in 1986 after evidence surfaced implicating Conley.

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Mifflin Wistar Gibbs

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First African-American Elected Judge in the U.S.

Mifflin Wistar Gibbs

Born April 17, 1823 d. 1915

American judge. First black elected judge in the U.S. (1873, Little Rock, Arkansas). In 1858, angered by California passing discriminatory laws preventing blacks from owning property, not allowing them to give evidence against a white person in court, and requiring them to wear badges showing they had paid for the privilege to live there, he moved to British Columbia. He later moved back to the U.S.

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Founding of Santiago by Pedro de Valdivia Founding of Santiago by Pedro de Valdivia

Founding of Santiago by Pedro de Valdivia Founding of Santiago by Pedro de Valdivia
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Executed by Pouring Molten Gold Down His Throat

Pedro de Valdivia

Born April 17, 1497 d. 1553

Spanish conquistador and first Governor of Chile, founder of Santiago, Concepción, and Valdivia. He was killed during a campaign against the Araucanian Indians. Legend has it that the Araucanians captured and executed him by pouring molten gold down his throat to satisfy his thirst for treasures.

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Teri Austin

Born April 17, 1957

Canadian actress. TV: Knots Landing (1979, Jill Bennett). Film: Raising Cain (1992, Karen).

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Harry Reasoner

Born April 17, 1923 d. 1991

American newscaster. TV: 60 Minutes (What do you get if you cross a gorilla with a computer?).

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Arthur Lake (Arthur Silverlake)

Born April 17, 1905 d. 1987

American actor. He played Dagwood Bumstead on radio, TV, and the movies.

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Thornton Wilder

Born April 17, 1897 d. 1975

American Pulitzer-winning novelist, playwright. Writings: The Bridge of San Luis Rey (1927, Pulitzer), Our Town (1938, Pulitzer), and The Skin of Our Teeth (1942, Pulitzer). Quote: "Marriage is the price men pay for sex; sex is the price women pay for marriage."

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Irene Castle

Born April 17, 1893 d. 1969

American dancer. She and her husband Vernon Castle popularized the Fox-trot dance (c1912).

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George Adamski

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UFO Abductee

George Adamski

Born April 17, 1891 d. 1965

Polish-American extraterrestrial abductee. Some regard him as the first modern abductee and one of the most famous of the 1950s. Others regard him as an elaborate hoaxer. He claimed to have met with friendly aliens, photographed their spaceships, and to have traveled to the Moon and other planets with them.
During prohibition, he founded the "Royal Order of Tibet" and was given a government license to make wine for "religious purposes." Adamski claimed, "I made enough wine for all of Southern California. I was making a fortune."

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John Pierpont Morgan

Born April 17, 1837 d. 1913

American financier, co-founder of U.S. Steel (1901).

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Samuel Chase

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Samuel Chase

Born April 17, 1741 d. 1811

American Revolutionary leader. Signer of the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Supreme Court justice.

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Deaths

Barbara Bush

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Barbara Bush (Barbara Pierce)

Died April 17, 2018 b. 1925

American First Lady (1989-93), American Second Lady (1981-89). Wife of George H. W. Bush 41st U.S. President and mother of George W. Bush 43rd U.S. President. She was a descendant of Franklin Pierce 14th U.S. president (1853-57). Family literacy was Barbara Bush's cause as First Lady and she helped develop the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.

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Masha and Dasha Krivoshlyapova Photo Credit: Healthambit

Masha and Dasha Krivoshlyapova Photo Credit: Healthambit
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Masha and Dasha Krivoshlyapova

Died April 17, 2003 b. 1950

Russian Siamese twins. The only known Siamese twins having 2 heads, 4 arms, and 3 legs. After Masha died of a heart attack, Dasha refused to be separated and died 17 hours later.

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Benjamin Franklin

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Benjamin Franklin

Died April 17, 1790 b. 1706

American founding father. Signer of both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, and for whom the short-lived State of Franklin was named.
Franklin owned two slaves who worked as house servants. In his later years, he came to despise slavery and freed them. In 1787, he became president of a Pennsylvania abolitionist society and in 1790 petitioned Congress to grant liberty "to those unhappy men who alone in this land of freedom are degraded into perpetual bondage."

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Doris Roberts

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Doris Roberts (Doris May Green)

Died April 17, 2016 b. 1925

American Emmy-winning actress. TV: Remington Steele (1983-87, secretary Mildred Krebs) and Everybody Loves Raymond (1996-2005, Raymond's mother).

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Deanna Durbin

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Deanna Durbin (Edna Mae Durbin)

Died April 17, 2013 b. 1921

Canadian Oscar-winning actress, singer. Movies: Three Smart Girls (1936, the success of which helped save Universal Studios from bankruptcy). In 1947, she was the highest-paid woman in the United States. Her fan club was the world's largest during her active years.

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Kitty Carlisle (Catherine Conn)

Died April 17, 2007 b. 1910

American actress, singer. TV: To Tell the Truth (panelist). Film: A Night at the Opera (1935) and Six Degrees of Separation (1992).

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Linda McCartney (Linda Louise Eastman)

Died April 17, 1998 b. 1941

American photographer, singer, wife of Paul McCartney (1969‑).

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Eddie Cochran

Died April 17, 1960 b. 1938

American musician. Music: Summertime Blues (1958).

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Samuel Morey

Died April 17, 1843 b. 1762

American inventor. He patented the first U.S. internal combustion engine. It was later used to power the first automobile ride in the U.S. (The second in the world).

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Kateri Tekakwitha

Died April 17, 1680 b. 1656

Mohawk Indian. She was the first American Indian beatified by the Catholic Church (1980).

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Benedict III

Died April 17, 858 b. ????

Italian religious leader, 104th Pope (855-858).

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Proclus

Died April 17, 485 b. 412

Greek mathematician. He discovered that with a given point only one line can be drawn which is parallel to another given line.

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