What Happened On
Sock It To Me
September 16, 1968
U.S. Presidential candidate Richard Nixon delivers the line "Sock it to me" on the TV show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. Nixon's five-second appearance took six takes to get it right. They had offered him the line, "You bet your sweet bippy," but he turned it down stating he didn't know what a "bippy" was and didn't want to find out. Some credit this appearance before a large mostly younger audience as helping him win a close election.
World's Largest Scramble for Free Land
September 16, 1893
More than 100,000 homesteaders descend on the 6,000,000-acre Cherokee Strip to stake their claim on 40,000 homesteads. This territory would become part of Oklahoma in 1907.
The land had originally been set aside for the Cherokee Indians. However, U.S. President Benjamin Harrison forbade grazing leases in the Cherokee Outlet after October 2 of 1890, thus eliminating tribal profits from cattle leases, and the Cherokee agreed to sell these lands to the government.
The settlers were known as "Boomers" and weren't supposed to enter the territory until noon September 16, but many snuck in early becoming known as "Sooners."
Great Seal of the U.S.
September 16, 1782
The seal bearing a spread eagle with the motto "E Pluribus Unum" (Out of many, one) is first used. It was used on an authorization for George Washington to negotiate prisoner-of-war exchanges with the British.
Ozone Protection
September 16, 1987
24 countries sign an agreement in Montreal to reduce the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). The gases, which are used in aerosols and refrigerants, are blamed for creating a hole in the Earth's ozone layer.
Miami Vice
September 16, 1984
Miami Vice debuts on NBC.
Webster
September 16, 1983
Webster debuts on ABC.
Episcopal Church Ordains Women
September 16, 1976
The Episcopal Church officially approves the ordination of women, thus allowing the recognition of 15 women previously ordained in Philadelphia and Washington.
The Bob Newhart Show
September 16, 1972
The Bob Newhart Show debuts on CBS. Bob Newhart played a psychologist with Suzanne Pleshette playing his wife. The show often featured a carryover from Newhart's stand-up comedy, where he would have a one-sided phone conversation.
First CinemaScope Feature
September 16, 1953
20th Century-Fox releases The Robe using its new wide-screen stereophonic film process.
American Legion
September 16, 1919
This patriotic organization the American Legion is chartered by an act of Congress. It was formed the previous March in Paris, France by a thousand officers and men of the American Expeditionary Forces.
Haiti
September 16, 1915
Treaty signed with Haiti making it a protectorate of the U.S. for 10 years.
General Motors
September 16, 1908
The automobile company General Motors is incorporated. It was formed by the merger of Buick and Oldsmobile.
Birthdays
Peter Falk
Born September 16, 1927 d. 2011
American Emmy-winning actor. TV: Columbo (1971-2003, title role). Film: The Princess Bride (1987, Grandpa the narrator).
Just one more thing… Falk wore an artificial eye after his right eye was surgically removed at the age of three due to a retinoblastoma. In a 1997 interview, Falk said: "I remember once in high school the umpire called me out at third base when I was sure I was safe. I got so mad I took out my glass eye, handed it to him and said, 'Try this.' I got such a laugh you wouldn't believe."
Lauren Bacall (Betty Joan Perske)
Born September 16, 1924 d. 2014
American Tony-winning actress. Film: To Have and Have Not (1944), Key Largo (1948), and Applause (1970, Tony).
The Peter Principle
Laurence J. Peter
Born September 16, 1919 d. 1990
Canadian author. Creator of the Peter Principle - "Every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence."
Quote: "Noblest of all dogs is the hot-dog; it feeds the hand that bites it."
Writings: The Peter Principle (1969).
The Father of Electric Razors
Colonel Jacob Schick
Born September 16, 1877 d. 1937
American-born Canadian inventor. Known as "The Father of Electric Razors," he patented his electric razor (1928) and formed the Schick Dry Shaver, Inc. razor company.
The patent application stated, "The invention is designed to provide a shaving implement that does not require the usual prior application of lather, or its equivalent to the face as the cutting of the hair can be done while the face and hairs are comparatively dry."
Schick became a Canadian citizen in 1935 to avoid an investigation for tax evasion after he moved most of his wealth to a series of holding companies in the Bahamas.
David Copperfield (David Seth Kotkin)
Born September 16, 1956
American magician. He made both a Lear Jet (1981) and the Statue of Liberty disappear (1983) on TV. He is the most commercially successful magician in history, having grossed over a billion USD in revenue.
David Bellamy
Born September 16, 1950
American singer, with the Bellamy Brothers. Music: Let Your Love Flow (1976, #1), If I Said You Had a Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me? (1979, #1), and Kids of the Baby Boom (1987, #1).
Ed Begley Jr.
Born September 16, 1949
American actor. TV: St. Elsewhere (Dr. Victor Ehrlich).
Kenny Jones
Born September 16, 1948
British drummer. With Small Faces (1965-78), then joined The Who (1979) after the death of Keith Moon.
Thomas Hooker
Born September 16, 1934 d. 1993
American policeman. Thomas Hooker claimed to be the inspiration for the TV show T.J. Hooker (1982-85) character Thomas Jefferson Hooker, portrayed by William Shatner. Early in his career, he earned his department's Medal of Valor for braving 40-foot (12m) flames to save occupants of a burning apartment building.
Years later, he died in a house fire set by his wife and adopted son David. After Hooker's son David returned home after 10 years in prison for bank robbery, David and Hooker's wife began having an affair. They set fire to the house and escaped together leaving Hooker, blind and disabled from diabetes, unable to escape. He died of smoke inhalation.
Anne Francis
Born September 16, 1930 d. 2011
American actress. Film: Forbidden Planet (1956, Alta Morbius). TV: Honey West (1965-66), Rip Tide (1984, charter boat operator Mama Jo). She started as a child star of radio soap operas. Honey West was the first TV series with a female detective character's name in the title.
Tommy Bond
Born September 16, 1926 d. 2005
American actor. Film: The Little Rascals (1933-34 as Tommy and 1936-40 as the bully Butch). He appeared in 27 Our Gang films. Film: Superman serials (1948, Superman's pal Jimmy Olsen) and Atom Man vs. Superman (1950, Jimmy Olsen).
Robert H. Schuller
Born September 16, 1926 d. 2015
American televangelist. Founder of the Crystal Cathedral and host of TV's Hour of Power (1970-2010).
B.B. King (Riley B. King)
Born September 16, 1925 d. 2015
American Grammy-winning blues singer. He was the first blues singer to tour the USSR (1979). Music: Three O'Clock Blues (1951, #1).
Allen Funt
Born September 16, 1914 d. 1999
American TV personality, creator and host of Candid Camera.
J.C. Penney (James Cash Penney, Jr.)
Born September 16, 1875 d. 1971
American businessman. Founded the J.C. Penney department store chain (1902).
Deaths
19-year-old nude dancer Micheline Bernardini modeling the Bikini
Photo Credit: Auto Universum
19-year-old nude dancer Micheline Bernardini modeling the BikiniPhoto Credit: Auto Universum
Inventor of the Bikini
Louis Réard
Died September 16, 1984 b. 1897
French automobile engineer, fashion designer. He introduced the bikini (1946), the two-piece swimsuit. When none of his regular models would wear it, he hired a 19-year-old nude dancer to model it. It was named after Bikini Island in the Pacific Ocean.
Inventor of Square-Bottomed Paper Grocery Bag
Luther Childs Crowell
Died September 16, 1903 b. 1840
American inventor. Invented the square-bottomed paper bag (1872). "My invention relates to the manufacture of square-bottomed bags; and consists in so folding and cementing a strip of paper that when cut into sections of suitable length, one end being closed by one fold, the bottom of the bag or case thus formed when opened or filled will assume a quadrangular shape." U.S. Patent #123,811 and 123,812.
Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit
Died September 16, 1736 b. 1686
German physicist. He created the mercury thermometer (1714) and devised the Fahrenheit temperature scale (1714).
Jane Powell (Suzanne Lorraine Burce)
Died September 16, 2021 b. 1929
American actress. Film: A Date with Judy (1948), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954), and Hit the Deck (1955).TV: Growing Pains (1988-92, Irma Seaver).
Edward Albee
Died September 16, 2016 b. 1928
American Pulitzer-Tony-winning playwright. Writings: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1961), A Delicate Balance (1966, Pulitzer), and Three Tall Women (1994, Pulitzer).
Tom Wilson
Died September 16, 2011 b. 1931
American cartoonist. Creator of Ziggy (1969).
Gordon Gould
Died September 16, 2005 b. 1920
American Physicist. He is credited with inventing the laser (1957). He coined the term "laser" (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation). Although he was the first to document plans on how to build a laser, he was not the first to actually build one (See Theodore Maiman).
Sheb Wooley
Died September 16, 2003 b. 1921
American actor, singer. Music: The Purple People Eater (1958, #1), and Hee Haw (cast member and wrote the theme song). TV: Rawhide (Pete Nolan).
James Gregory
Died September 16, 2002 b. 1911
American actor. TV: Barney Miller (Inspector Luger).
Marc Bolan (Mark Feld)
Died September 16, 1977 b. 1947
English musician, lead singer for T-Rex. Music: Bang a Gong (1971, #1 Britain) and Jeepster (1971, #2 Britain). He died in a car accident.
The first ascent of the Matterhorn by Gustave Doré
The first ascent of the Matterhorn by Gustave Doré
Edward Whymper
Died September 16, 1911 b. 1840
British explorer. First person to climb the Matterhorn (1865). Four of his seven-member team died during the descent.
Herman Long
Died September 16, 1909 b. 1866
American baseball player. He holds the record for most career errors (1,037 errors during 1,877 games from 1889-1904). In 1900 he led the National League in home runs.
Louis XVIII (Louis Stanislas Xavier)
Died September 16, 1824 b. 1755
King of France (1814-24).
Anne Dudley Bradstreet
Died September 16, 1672 b. 1612
American poet. First published poet of New England (1650).
Tomás de Torquemada
Died September 16, 1498 b. 1420
Dominican prior. He organized the Spanish Inquisition for which he became famous for the severity in which he administered the office.
Victor III
Died September 16, 1087 b. circa 1026
Italian religious leader, 158th Pope (1086-87).
Saint Martin I
Died September 16, 655 b. ????
Italian religious leader, 74th Pope (649-655). He was deposed in 653 by Emperor Constans II for condemning the Monothelite heretics at the Lateran Synod of 649.