Epic Idiot's what happened
On This Day

May 16

1988
Smoking: The Surgeon General issues a report declaring tobacco products as addictive. The Tobacco Institute refuted the report.

1983
Michael Jackson: The King of Pop performs his moonwalk for the first time.

1975
First woman to climb Mt. Everest: Junko Tabei of Japan.

1929
First Academy awards: Wings wins the Oscar for best film.

1888
The flat disc record player is publicly demonstrated for the first time, by inventor Emile Berliner.

1866
The nickel 5-cent piece is authorized by Congress, replacing the silver half-dime. It is composed of 25% nickel and 75% copper. (Source: Famous First Facts)

1970
Gabriela Sabatini, Argentine tennis player, U.S. Open winner (1990).

1966
Janet Jackson, American singer, actress, sister of the Jackson Five members. TV: Diff'rent Strokes (Charlene DuPrey), and Good Times (Penny).

1955
Olga Korbut, Russian gymnast, winner of three gold medals in the 1972 Olympics. She was the first person to a backwards somersault on the balance beam.

1955
Debra Winger, American actress. Film: E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982, voice of E.T., along with Pat Walsh).

1952
Peirce Brosnan, Irish-born actor. TV: Remington Steele (Remington Steele).

1952
Christopher Browne, cartoonist, son of Hagar the Horrible creator Dik Browne. After his father's death (1989) he became the artist and writer for Hagar the Horrible.

1928
Billy Martin (Alfred Manuel Martin), baseball manager.

1919     d. 1987
Liberace (Wladziu Valentino Liberace), American flamboyant pianist. He captivated audiences with his extravagant costumes and elaborate candelabra. He died of AIDS.

1916     d. 1997
Adriana Caselotti, Italian-American singer, actress.  She was the voice of Snow White in the 1937 Walt Disney classic, for which she was paid $970.

1905     d. 1982
Henry Fonda, American Oscar-winning actor. Film: My Darling Clementine (1946), Mr. Roberts (1955), and On Golden Pond (1981, Oscar).

1824     d. 1920
Levi Parsons Morton, 22nd U.S. Vice-President (1889-93).

1801     d. 1872
William Henry Seward, American statesman. He purchased Alaska for the U.S. from Russia for 2¢ and acre, which was derisively called "Seward's Folly." He was also governor of New York (1839-43), U.S. Senator (1849-61), and U.S. Secretary of State (1861-69).

1611     d. 1689
Innocent XI, Italian religious leader, 240th Pope (1676-89).

1990     b. 1925
Sammy Davis Jr., American singer, dancer, actor. Music: That Old Black Magic (1956) and Candy Man (1972, #1). After a 1954 car crash that robbed him of his left eye, he joked of being "the world's only one-eyed Jewish nigger."

1990     b. 1936
Jim Henson, American muppeteer, created the Muppets (1956) and has won 18 Emmy, 7 Grammy, 4 Peabody, and 5 ACE awards. He died of toxic shock syndrome.

1985     b. 1902
Margaret Hamilton, American actress, Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz (1939), and as Cora who sold Maxwell House coffee in the TV commercials.

1984     b. 1949
Andy Kaufman, American actor, comedian. TV: Taxi (Latka Gravas). He was banned from Saturday Night Live after losing a viewer phone-in vote by 26,358 votes.

1924     b. 1848
Candy Cummings (William Arthur Cummings), American baseball Hall of Famer, inventor of the curveball.

1920     b. 1824
Levi Parsons Morton, 22nd U.S. Vice-President (1889-93).

1899     b. 1807
William Nast, American clergyman, founder of the first German Methodist church in the U.S.

1830     b. 1768
Jean Baptiste Joseph Fourier, French mathematician. He developed the Fourier Series, one of the landmarks of mathematics.

1703     b. 1628
Charles Perrault, French author. In 1697, he published his now famous versions of popular folk tales, which included: Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Bluebeard, Little Red Riding-Hood, and Puss in Boots.

Please send Corrections and Omissions to epicidiot.com