What Happened On
Willie Nelson Smokes Pot at the White House
September 13, 1980
U.S. President Jimmy Carter, a fan of Willie Nelson, invited the country singer to perform on the South Lawn of the White House. Rosalynn Carter even joined Nelson for a duet, singing Up Against the Wall Redneck Mother. Later that night, Nelson went on the roof of the White House where he lit up a "big fat Austin torpedo" (marijuana cigarette) and smoked it with Carter's son.
President Carter claimed not to have known of Nelson's after-hours activities.
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!
September 13, 1969
The Mystery Machine gets rolling when the TV series Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! premieres.
Scooby was voiced by Don Messick and the voice of Norville 'Shaggy' Rogers was provided by Casey Kasem.
World War II - Commando Kelly - The One Man Army
September 13, 1943
The war hero Charles "Commando" Kelly begins a series of actions that would make him the first WWII U.S. solider in the European war theater to receive the Medal of Honor and earned him the title, "The One Man Army". He had made several reconnaissance missions under fire. While protecting an ammo dump from the encroaching Germans, several of the automatic rifles he was firing jammed due to overheating. He then picked up 60mm mortar shells, pulled the safety pins, and used the shells as grenades, killing at least 5 of the enemy. After it became necessary to evacuate, Kelly volunteered to stay behind and hold off the Germans so the others could evacuate.
Prior to his military service, Kelly made his living with a street gang in his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and frequently got in trouble with the law. After the war, he opened a gas station, but had to sell it after a downturn in business the following year. His wife was diagnosed with uterine cancer that same year, and died in 1951. The cost of the radiation treatments eventually resulted in Kelly losing his home in foreclosure. He remarried in 1952 and held a series of short-term jobs. Poor health, financial problems, and alcohol led to a divorce in 1962. In late 1984 Kelly was admitted to Veterans Hospital, suffering from kidney and liver failure and died a few months later.
Photo Credit: Jörg Bittner Unna
Photo Credit: Jörg Bittner Unna
Michelangelo's David
September 13, 1501
The Italian Renaissance artist Michelangelo begins work on his marble sculpture of David, completing it in 1504. It was originally commissioned for the Florence Cathedral, but after completion they realized there was no way to move the 6-ton statue to the top of the cathedral. So instead, it was placed in front of the Piazza della Signoria. In 1873, it was moved to the Accademia Gallery, Florence. A replica was placed in the Piazza della Signoria in 1910.
PLO-Israeli Peace Treaty
September 13, 1993
PLO chairman Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin sign the historic treaty at the White House.
Dating Game Killer
September 13, 1978
Today's episode of The Dating Game featured serial killer Rodney Alcala as one of the bachelors. The bachelorette chose Alcala as the winner, winning a prize-filled date with him, but later refused to go on the date because she thought he was creepy.
Alcala killed at least three women after his Dating Game appearance before he was arrested in July of 1979.
Prior to his Dating Game appearance, Alcala had served two different jail terms for sexually assaulting young girls.
In 2012, he pleaded guilty to the 1977 murder of Ellen Jane Hover, the 23-year-old goddaughter of Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr.
He was sentenced to death in California for five murders committed between 1977 and 1979, and received an additional 25 years to life after pleading guilty to two other homicides committed in New York State in 1971 and 1977. Although the exact number is not known, he is believed to have killed up to 130 people.
Alcala posed as a professional photographer and compiled a collection of more than 1,000 photographs of women, teenage girls and boys, many in sexually explicit poses, some of whom became his victims.
First U.S. Made Diesel Automobile
September 13, 1977
General Motors introduces the Oldsmobile 88 and 98 models.
Photo Credit: Bronayur
Photo Credit: Bronayur
Attica Prison Riot
September 13, 1971
The Attica Prison Riot comes to an end when police use helicopters to drop tear gas on the yard and then fired 3,000 rounds into the haze. Ten hostages and 29 inmates were killed in the raid. It was initially claimed that the inmates slit the hostages' throats, but autopsies showed the hostages had been shot by police.
Four days earlier, 1,200 prisoners revolted killing a guard. Officials were able to gain back control of most of the prison, but 1,281 prisoners gathered in an exercise field holding 39 hostages.
First New York City Marathon
September 13, 1970
Won by Gary Muhrcke.
Yesterday
September 13, 1965
The single Yesterday by the Beatles is released in the U.S.
Written primarily by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney, it was initially released on the album Help!
The Beatles didn't initially want to release the song as a single, since it did not fit with their image. They prevented it from being released as a single in the U.K., but were unsuccessful in stopping it from being released in the U.S. where it quickly rose to #1.
It is now one of the most recorded songs in pop music history.
New York City Established as U.S. Capital
September 13, 1788
New York City is established as the capital of the U.S. by Congress.
Birthdays
Richard Kiel as Voltaire and as Jaws
Richard Kiel as Voltaire and as Jaws
Richard Kiel
Born September 13, 1939 d. 2014
American 7-foot 2-inch (218 cm) tall actor. Film: The Spy Who Loved Me (1977, Jaws - Bond's steel-mouthed foe), Moonraker (1979, Jaws), The Longest Yard (1974), and Happy Gilmore (1996, Mr. Larson). TV: The Wild Wild West (1965-68, Voltaire).
Kiel was originally cast as the Hulk for the TV series The Incredible Hulk (1977), but was replaced by Lou Ferrigno. One scene with him remained in the pilot episode.
Mae Questel (Mae Kwestel)
Born September 13, 1908 d. 1998
American actress. Mae Questel voiced the cartoon character Betty Boop (1931-39), Olive Oyl (1933-38, 1944-1967), Swee'Pea (1936-38), and even voiced Popeye for a few episodes while the usual voice actor was off to serve in World War II.
She also played Aunt Bethany in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) and voiced Betty Boop for Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988).
She started her career as a voice impersonator, of voices such as Fanny Brice and Mae West. Max Fleischer hired her when he saw her doing an impersonation of Helen Kane's "Boop-boop-a-doop" routine. Fleischer had based the Betty Boop character on Helen Kane and was looking for someone to voice his cartoon character.
Famous Last Words: They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance
John Sedgwick
Born September 13, 1813 d. 1864
American general. Killed in the Civil War battle of Spotsylvania. His last words were "They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance," just as he was shot by a confederate sharpshooter.
Nell Carter
Born September 13, 1948 d. 2003
American Tony-Emmy-winning actress. TV: Gimme a Break (1981-87, Nell Harper). Broadway: Ain't Misbehavin' (1978, Tony).
Jacqueline Bisset
Born September 13, 1944
English actress. Film: Casino Royale (1967, Miss Goodthighs).
Miss Manners (Judith Martin)
Born September 13, 1938
author, journalist.
Fred Silverman
Born September 13, 1937 d. 2020
American television executive. Silverman worked for all three major networks (CBS, ABC, NBC). While working for CBS, he was responsible for the "rural purge", in which successful shows such as The Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres, Mayberry R.F.D., and Hee Haw were canceled. They were replaced with shows considered more appealing to advertisers and baby boomers, such as All in the Family, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, M*A*S*H, The Waltons, and The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour.
He was also responsible for Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! and such spinoffs as Maude and The Jeffersons, and Rhoda.
Joseph "Mr. Google Eyes" August
Born September 13, 1931 d. 1992
American pioneer rhythm and blues musician. When he tried to break up with a white woman he was dating, she shot him in the abdomen. Though he recovered, he was charged for violating interracial relationship laws. He reportedly got his nickname from "Mr. Google Eyes" for his habit of ogling attractive female customers at the restaurant where he worked.
Barbara Bain
Born September 13, 1931
American actress. TV: Mission: Impossible (Cinnamon Carter).
Mel Tormé (Melvin Howard Tormé)
Born September 13, 1925 d. 1999
American singer, actor. "The Velvet Fog." He co-wrote Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire (1946). Music: Careless Love (1949, #1). TV: Night Court (Judge Stone's favorite).
Scott Brady (Gerald Tierney)
Born September 13, 1924 d. 1985
American actor. He turned down the role of Archie Bunker on All in the Family. TV: Laverne & Shirley (Shirley Feeney's dad).
Norman Alden
Born September 13, 1924 d. 2012
American actor. TV: Rango (Ranger Rango's boss).
Yma Sumac
Born September 13, 1922 d. 2008
Peruvian-born singer. She was one of the most famous proponents of exotica music. Music: Voice of the Xtabay (1950, #1).
Roald Dahl
Born September 13, 1916 d. 1990
British author, coined the word "Gremlin" and wrote Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (made into the 1971 movie Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory).
"Gorgeous" George Arena
Born September 13, 1907 d. 1992
American wrestler. Platinum-haired villain of the early days of TV wrestling. Known for his three-inch platform shoes and silk robes.
Alberta Christine Williams King
Born September 13, 1904 d. 1974
mother of civil-rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. She was shot to death while playing the organ during a church service by a 21-year-old black man who proclaimed "all Christians are my enemies."
Claudette Colbert (Claudette Lily Chauchoin)
Born September 13, 1903 d. 1996
Oscar-winning French-American actress. Film: It Happened One Night (Oscar).
First Major League Umpire to Wear Glasses
Eddie Rommel (Edwin Americus Rommel)
Born September 13, 1897 d. 1970
American baseball pitcher, umpire. He was the first major-league umpire to wear glasses in a regular season game (1956, American League).
John Joseph Pershing
Born September 13, 1860 d. 1948
American general. He was commander in chief of the American forces during World War I (1917-19) and U.S. Army chief of staff (1921-24).
Walter Reed
Born September 13, 1851 d. 1902
American Army surgeon. He proved that Aëdes aegypti mosquitoes carry the yellow-fever virus (1900).
William Augustus Barstow
Born September 13, 1813 d. 1865
American politician, governor of Wisconsin (1854-56). After the discovery of election irregularities, he became the first U.S. governor removed from office by a state supreme court (1856).
Samuel Wilson
Born September 13, 1766 d. 1854
American meatpacker, the original "Uncle Sam." During the War of 1812 he stamped his merchandise with "U.S." - the initials of his nickname - causing it to be confused with government approved packages.
Caspar Wistar
Born September 13, 1761 d. 1818
American physician. The botanist Thomas Nuttall named the Wisteria in his honor.
Deaths
Kenneth Starr
Died September 13, 2022 b. 1946
American lawyer. He investigated the death of the deputy White House counsel Vince Foster, the Whitewater land transactions by U.S. President Bill Clinton, and submitted the Starr Report to Congress, which led to Clinton's impeachment on charges arising from the Monica Lewinsky scandal.
Photo Credit: Gary Stevens
Photo Credit: Gary Stevens
Jean-Luc Godard
Died September 13, 2022 b. 1930
French film director. Godard was arguably the most influential French filmmaker of the post-war era. Film: Breathless (1959) and A Woman is a Woman (1961).
Paul Burke
Died September 13, 2009 b. 1926
American actor. He and Harry Connick, Sr., New Orleans District Attorney, were indicted on racketeering charges for aiding and abetting a gambling operation (1989). They were both acquitted of the charges, while two other defendants in the case were found guilty. TV: Naked City (Adam Flint), Twelve O'Clock High (Joe Gallagher), and Dynasty (Congressman Neal McVane).
Dorothy McGuire
Died September 13, 2001 b. 1916
American actress. Film: The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965, the Virgin Mary) and Swiss Family Robinson (1960, the mother).
George Corley Wallace
Died September 13, 1998 b. 1919
Alabama governor (1963-67, 71-79, 83-87). He barred two black students from registering at the University of Alabama (1963). He was shot and partially paralyzed by Arthur Herman Bremer (1972).
Father Gabriel Richard
Died September 13, 1832 b. 1767
French Roman Catholic priest. He was the first Catholic priest to serve in the U.S. Congress (1823-25, nonvoting delegate of the Michigan Territory to the U.S. House of Representatives). He was also a co-founder of the University of Michigan (1817, originally named Catholepistemiad of Michigania).
John Barry
Died September 13, 1803 b. 1745
American naval commander. Fought in the American Revolution, became the first American commodore (1794).
Philip II
Died September 13, 1598 b. 1527
King of Spain, Naples, and Sicily (1556-98), and King of Portugal (1580-98). His armada was destroyed after attacking England (1588), giving rule of the seas to England.