Today's Trivia and What Happened on October 13

Fill each box with a mathematical operator to make the equation true: 8 [ ] 0 [ ] 6 [ ] 9 = 10

Fill each box with a mathematical operator to make the equation true: 8 [ ] 0 [ ] 6 [ ] 9 = 10 Close Large View

Puzzle Answer

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Quote: He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire. - Sir Winston Churchill

Quote: He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire. - Sir Winston Churchill Close Large View

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What Happened On

Rugby Team Eats Their Dead

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Rugby Team Eats Their Dead

October 13, 1972

A flight containing members of the Uruguayan Old Christians Rugby team crashes in the Andes. They would have to resort to cannibalism to survive the 72 days until their rescue. Only 16 of the 45 people on board survived. Twelve died in the crash or shortly thereafter; another five died by the next morning; and one more succumbed to injuries on the eighth day. Many had suffered injuries from the crash, including broken legs from the aircraft's seats piling together. On October 29th, an avalanche cascaded down on the survivors as they slept in the fuselage, killing eight more. Others died of their injuries and exposure.
Their ordeal is the basis for the 1993 film Alive.
Shortly after the movie Alive came out in 1993, Jose Luis Inciarte, one of the survivors, would share a $2.5 million lottery with members of his family who pitched in to buy the tickets.

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Kula (left), Ollie (middle) and Fran Kula (left), Ollie (middle) and Fran

Kula (left), Ollie (middle) and Fran Kula (left), Ollie (middle) and Fran
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Kukla, Fran and Ollie

October 13, 1947

The children's show Junior Jamboree debuts locally on Chicago's WBKB-TV. The name was changed to Kukla, Fran, and Ollie when Fran Allison and the Kuklapolitan Players were picked up by NBC the following year. The unscripted show was ad-libbed and was soon watched by more adults than children. Burr Tillstrom was the creator and puppeteer for the show.
In 1953, an episode of Kukla, Fran and Ollie was the first publicly announced NTSC "compatible color" system program, although it was viewable in color only at the network's headquarters.

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Boston, as the Eagle and the Wild Goose See It Boston, as the Eagle and the Wild Goose See It

Boston, as the Eagle and the Wild Goose See It Boston, as the Eagle and the Wild Goose See It
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First Aerial Photograph of the U.S.

October 13, 1860

James Wallace Black takes a photograph of Boston from a balloon tethered 1,200 feet above the city. He titled the photograph, "Boston, as the Eagle and the Wild Goose See It."

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Templars Burned at the Stake Templars Burned at the Stake

Templars Burned at the Stake Templars Burned at the Stake
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Friday the 13th - Templar's Doom

October 13, 1307

King Phillip IV of France orders the arrest of the French Knights Templar, claiming that during Templar initiation ceremonies recruits were forced to spit on the Cross, deny Christ, and engage in indecent kissing. They were also accused of worshiping idols, and the order was said to have encouraged homosexual practices. The following month, Philip pressured Pope Clement V into arresting all Templars and seizing their assets. They were then tortured into confessions and many were burned at the stake. Philip was deeply in debt to the Templars and used these persecutions as an opportunity to free himself of this debt.
When Templar Grand Master Jacques de Molay was being burned at the stake in 1314 he announced, "God knows who is wrong and has sinned. Soon a calamity will occur to those who have condemned us to death." Pope Clement died a month later and Philip died eight months later in a hunting accident.
This is believed to be the basis for the belief that Friday the 13th is bad luck.

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Record Around-the-World Flight by a Commercial Aircraft

October 13, 1992

An Air France Concorde makes the flight in 33 hours, 1 minute.

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Domestic Partnership

October 13, 1992

California passes an ordinance giving legal recognition to unmarried couples, including those of the same sex.

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Negative of the shroud Negative of the shroud

Negative of the shroud Negative of the shroud
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Shroud of Turin

October 13, 1988

Believed by many to be Christ's burial cloth, it is announced that carbon dating determined it to have been created no earlier than the 13th century. This date coincides with the first-known exhibition of the shroud in France in 1357. The Roman Catholic Church states it never officially claimed it was a holy relic, but they will continue to regard it with reverence.

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King Tut's grandmother Queen Tiye King Tut's grandmother Queen Tiye

King Tut's grandmother Queen Tiye King Tut's grandmother Queen Tiye
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King Tut's Grandmother

October 13, 1976

A 3,300-year-old mummy is identified as King Tutankhamen's (King Tut) grandmother, Queen Tiye (1397-1360 BC). Her mummy had been found in 1898, along with two other mummies, in a side chamber of Amenhotep II's tomb. Four miniature coffins containing a lock of hair and inscribed with King Tut's grandmother's name had been found in King Tut's tomb. DNA analysis showed that this previously discovered mummy was a match for the locks of hair in the miniature coffins.

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Worst Commercial Air Disaster

October 13, 1972

A Soviet jet crashes in Moscow killing all 174 persons aboard. It was the worst commercial air disaster up to that date in history. The plane was descending for landing, but never returned to horizontal flight and crashed into the ground with landing gear still up at a speed of (385.2 mph) 620 km/h. The cause of the crash had never been determined, but the pilots either had been incapacitated or lost control of the plane.

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First Official Game of the American Basketball Association

October 13, 1967

First Official Game of the American Basketball Association (ABA): The Oakland Oaks defeat the Anaheim Amigos (134-129).

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World War II - Italy Declares War on Germany

October 13, 1943

Italy declares war on their former Axis partner Germany. Italy, after deposing Benito Mussolini and surrendering to the U.S., began cooperation with the Allies to drive Germany out of Italy.

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First World Series

October 13, 1903

Boston of the American League defeats Pittsburgh of the National League five games to three.

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B'nai B'rith

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B'nai B'rith

October 13, 1843

B'nai B'rith (Sons of the Covenent), the first Jewish fraternal society in the U.S. is formed by Henry Jones and 11 other Jewish men in New York City. It was originally named Söhne des Bundes (German for Sons of the Covenant), but was changed to B'nai B'rith when English was adopted as the formal language for the group.

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War of 1812 - Battle of Queenstown Heights

October 13, 1812

1,000 U.S. troops are injured or killed just north of Niagara Falls in a battle against the British in the War of 1812.

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Sodium Discovered

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Sodium Discovered

October 13, 1807

English scientist Humphry Davy obtains atomic element 11 by electrolyzing caustic soda.

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White House

October 13, 1792

The Cornerstone is laid by U.S. President George Washington. He is the only president to never have lived there.

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U.S. Navy

October 13, 1775

Congress establishes the service by authorizing the construction of two warships and appointing a Marine Committee in response to the news that the British fleet was coming.

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Birthdays

Jesse LeRoy Brown

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First Black American Naval Aviator

Jesse LeRoy Brown

Born October 13, 1926 d. 1950

American aviator. He was the first black U.S. Navy aviator and also became the first black U.S. naval aviator killed in the Korean War, after being shot down over Korea. The USS Jesse L. Brown (launched 1972) was the first U.S. Navy ship named in honor of a black naval officer. He was also a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross.

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Margaret Hilda Roberts Thatcher

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Margaret Hilda Roberts Thatcher

Born October 13, 1925 d. 2013

Prime Minister of Great Britain (1979-90). She was Great Britain's first woman prime minister.

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Nancy Kerrigan

Born October 13, 1969

American figure skater. She won bronze in the 1992 Olympics and was the U.S. Champion (1993). Shortly before the 1994 Olympics, she was attacked by a man with a club. The attack was planned by rival Tonya Harding's ex-husband. Kerrigan went on to win silver.

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Javier Sotomayor

Born October 13, 1967

Cuban high jumper, first to break the 8-foot barrier (1989).

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Marie Osmond

Born October 13, 1959

American singer with The Osmonds and brother Donny Osmond. Music: Paper Roses (1973, #1) and Meet Me In Montana (1985, #1).

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Sammy Hagar

Born October 13, 1947

American singer. Music: Bad Motor Scooter (1973) and I Can't Drive 55 (1984). In 1986, he replaced David Lee Roth in the groupVan Halen.

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Demond Wilson

Born October 13, 1946

American actor. TV: Sanford and Son (Lamont - son).

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Paul Simon

Born October 13, 1941

American singer-songwriter, formerly teamed with Art Garfunkel. Music: 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover (1975, #1).

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Ray Brown

Born October 13, 1926 d. 2002

American Grammy-winning jazz string bassist. Performed with Dizzy Gillespie in the late '40s. He was married to Ella Fitzgerald (1947-52).

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Lenny Bruce

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Lenny Bruce (Leonard A. Schneider)

Born October 13, 1925 d. 1966

American "blue" comedian, author of How to Talk Dirty and Influence People: An Autobiography (1965). He was deported from Britain in 1963, arrested for obscenity on several occasions, and banned from Australia after his first performance there.
His attempt to be discharged from World War II service by dressing in a WAVES uniform was the inspiration for Jamie Farr's character Max Klinger in the TV series M*A*S*H (1972).
Quote: "Every day people are straying away from the church and going back to God."
Quote: "The liberals can understand everything but people who don't understand them."

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Yves Montand (Ivo Livi)

Born October 13, 1921 d. 1991

Italian-born French singer, actor. Film: The Wages of Fear (1953) and Let's Make Love (1960).

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Laraine Day

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The First Lady of Baseball

Laraine Day (La Raine Johnson)

Born October 13, 1920 d. 2007

American actress. After her marriage to baseball manager Leo Durocher, she took an interest in the sport and became known as "The First Lady of Baseball." TV: Dr. Kildare (Nurse Lamont).

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Robert Walker

Born October 13, 1918 d. 1951

American actor. Film: Bataan (1943), The Clock (1945), Strangers on a Train (1951, the psychopathic killer in Alfred Hitchcock's thriller).

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Burr Tillstrom

Born October 13, 1917 d. 1985

American Emmy-winning puppeteer. TV: Kukla, Fran, and Ollie (creator and operator of the puppets). The show was ad-libbed and soon had more adult viewers than children.

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Cornel Wilde (Cornelius Wilde)

Born October 13, 1912 d. 1989

Hungarian-American actor. Film: A Song to Remember (1945, Chopin). He quit the 1936 U.S. Olympic fencing team to pursue his acting career.

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Edith S. Sampson

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Edith S. Sampson (Edith Spurlock Sampson)

Born October 13, 1898 d. 1979

African-American judge. She was the first black delegate appointed to the United Nations (1950) and the first black woman elected judge in the state of Illinois (1962, Chicago Municipal Court).

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Founder of Cellular Pathology

Rudolf Virchow

Born October 13, 1821 d. 1902

German scientist, political leader. "Founder of Cellular Pathology."

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Molly Pitcher

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Molly Pitcher (Mary Hays McCauley)

Born October 13, 1744 d. 1832

American Revolutionary War heroine. She risked her life to carry water to the troops during the Battle of Monmouth (June 1778) and operated her husband's cannon after he was wounded. For her bravery, General George Washington made her a noncommissioned officer.

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Deaths

Ed Sullivan

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Ed Sullivan

Died October 13, 1974 b. 1901

American Broadway columnist, TV personality. Host of a "Really big shew", The Ed Sullivan Show, for 23 years (1948-71).

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E. C. Segar

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Creator of Popeye

E. C. Segar (Elzie Crisler Segar)

Died October 13, 1938 b. 1894

American cartoonist, creator of Popeye the Sailor (1929). It is claimed that Frank "Rocky" Fiegel was the real-life inspiration for the Popeye character. Fiegel was unusually strong, had a characteristic pipe, and a propensity for fist-fighting. He was from Segar's hometown and according to Popeye historian Michael Brooks, Segar regularly sent him money.
Segar also coined the word "goon" and some claim the jeep was named after a character Segar created in 1936, called Eugene the Jeep. Eugene the Jeep was small, able to move between dimensions, and could solve seemingly impossible problems, qualities World War II serviceman attributed to the Willys MB light utility vehicle. The word "jeep" itself had been in use as early as World War I as U.S. Army slang for new uninitiated recruits and by Army mechanics to refer to new unproven vehicles.
The Popeye characters started in Segar's comic strip Thimble Theatre in 1919, later renamed Popeye after the introduction of the Popeye character in 1929. Segar drew inspiration for a number of his Popeye characters from real people he knew in his home town of Chester, Illinois, such Dora Paskel from whom he based the Olive Oyl character.

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Blanche Monnier

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Imprisoned in Attic for 26 Years by Her Mother

Blanche Monnier

Died October 13, 1913 b. 1849

French socialite. When she was 25 years old, her mother locked her in a small room in the attic for the next 26 years. Her mother disapproved of her intentions to marry an older lawyer, stating that she would not allow her daughter to marry a "penniless lawyer". She said she would not release her until she agreed to break off the courtship, which Blanche refused to do. Blanche was renowned for her beauty and had attracted many other potential suitors for marriage. After her imprisonment, her mother and brother continued on with their daily lives, pretending to mourn Blanche's disappearance. During the time of her imprisonment she had no outside contact, not even exposure to sunlight.
She was rescued after 26 years when the police received an anonymous letter about her confinement. When found, her room was covered in bugs, feces, urine, and old food and she weighed only 55 pounds (25 kg). Her mother was arrested, but fell ill and died 15 days later. Her brother was tried and found guilty and sentenced to 15 months in prison, but was acquitted on appeal claiming that Blanche could have left at any time, but chose not to.

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Bhumibol Adulyadej

Died October 13, 2016 b. 1927

King of Thailand (1946-2016). His wealth was estimated at US$30 billion.

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Gary Collins

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Gary Collins

Died October 13, 2012 b. 1938

American Emmy-winning actor, talk-show host. TV: Hour Magazine (1980-88), The Home Show (1989-94), and Miss America Pageant (1982-90, host).

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Al Martino

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Al Martino (Alfred Cini)

Died October 13, 2009 b. 1927

American singer, actor. Music: Here in My Heart (1952, #1 U.S. and was also #1 on the first U.K. Singles Chart), Spanish Eyes (1965), and Volare (1975). Film: The Godfather (1972, singer Johnny Fontane, on whose behalf the Godfather makes someone an offer they can't refuse). He was also wounded at the WWII Battle of Iwo Jima where he witnessed the famous flag raising.

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Ruth Gilbert

Died October 13, 1993 b. 1912

American actress. TV: Milton Berle Show (1953-55, Max the scatterbrained secretary; Her plea, "Let's not fight this, Mil-l-ton, it's bigger than both of us," became a national catchphrase). Film: Alice in Wonderland (1931 - the first sound version of the classic, with Gilbert playing Alice).

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Douglas Edwards

Died October 13, 1990 b. 1917

American broadcaster. He was the first American network news TV anchorman (1948 CBS).

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Jackie Condon (John Condon)

Died October 13, 1977 b. 1918

American child actor, one of the original Little Rascals. He appeared in 78 Our Gang films.

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Bea Benaderet

Died October 13, 1968 b. 1906

American actress. TV: The Flintstones (voice of Betty Ruble), The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (Blanche Morton), and Petticoat Junction (Shady Rest Hotel owner Kate Bradley).

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Invented the Hershey Bar

Milton Snavely Hershey

Died October 13, 1945 b. 1857

American candy-maker. Invented the Hershey bar (1894).

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Maximilian I

Died October 13, 1825 b. 1756

King of Bavaria (1806-25).

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William Prescott

Died October 13, 1795 b. 1726

American soldier. At the Battle of Bunker Hill (1775), he proclaimed, "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes."

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Claudius I

Died October 13,  54 b. 10 

Roman Emperor (A.D. 41-54). Took office after the murder of Caligula. He was killed by his fourth wife Agrippina.

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