May 13th... What Happened? 1607 - First Permanent English Settlement in North America Jamestown, Virginia is founded by Captain John Smith, making it the first permanent English settlement in North America. 1846 - Mexican War The U.S. declares war on Mexico. After Mexico had refused to sell California the previous January, U.S. President James K. Polk ordered General Zachary Taylor to enter Mexico and provoke them into war. 1918 - First U.S. Airmail Stamps A 24¢ denomination picturing a Curtis Jenny biplane is issued. These included the infamous "Inverted Jenny" stamp, in which the airplane was accidentally printed upside down. The stamps were for use with the newly-created Washington-Philadelphia-New York route. 1935 - First Werewolf Movie - Henry Hull as the Werewolf - Werewolf of London is released. It was the first werewolf film by a major Hollywood studio. It starred Warner Oland (of Charlie Chan fame) as a werewolf who infects Dr. Glendon (played by Henry Hull) who becomes the main werewolf of the film. The makeup was done by famed makeup artist Jack Pierce. 1940 - I Have Nothing to Offer But Blood and Toil and Tears and Sweat Winston Churchill declares to the House of Commons, "I have nothing to offer but blood and toil and tears and sweat."
MAY 13th - 1970 - The Beatles The world premiere of The Beatles film 'Let It Be' took place in New York City. The film which was originally planned as a television documentary features an unannounced rooftop concert by the group, their last performance in public. Released just after the album, it was the final original Beatles release.
Friday May 14th - 2021 In the past... Skylab May 14, 1973 The U.S. space station Skylab is launched. About a minute after take-off a protective shield and a solar panel broke off, damaging the other solar panel in the process. The crew was sent up on the 25th and made repairs. Suzanne, the plans they made put an end to you May 14, 1968 Suzanne Schneer commits suicide. Her suicide was the inspiration for the lyrics in James Taylor's Fire and Rain. She was a friend of Taylor who committed suicide by jumping in front of a New York subway train. Taylor was in London recording at the time. His band members did not tell him of her death until later, so as not to distract him from the recording sessions. First Vaccination May 14, 1796 English physician Edward Jenner vaccinates an 8-year-old boy for protection against smallpox. After observing that milkmaids were generally immune to smallpox, Jenner postulated that the pus in the blisters that milkmaids received from cowpox (a disease similar to smallpox, but much less virulent) could protect someone from smallpox. He then went on to test and prove his theory. Although others had previously observed that those who contracted cowpox were immune to smallpox, it was Jenner who proved that the pus from someone with cowpox would provide immunity. It was estimated at the time that 60% of the population acquired smallpox and 20% of the population died of it. It is said that his work has saved more lives than the work of any other human. Smallpox eventually became the first disease eradicated by man. Napoleon Bonaparte, who at the time was at war with Britain, vaccinated all of his troops. When Jenner requested he release English prisoners of war and permit their return home, Napoleon did so, remarking he could not "refuse anything to one of the greatest benefactors of mankind."
1957 England Petrol Rationing Ends 1957 : Petrol rationing, which has been in force in Britain and France for five months following the Suez crisis ends. But surcharges on petrol prices and the four-day working week for many factories are to remain in place till oil supplies are normalized. BBC ON THIS DAY | 14 | 1957: Cheers as petrol rationing ended.
1939: Lina Medina becomes the youngest confirmed mother in recorded medical history, delivering a son at the age of 5. The Peruvian child delivered a 5-pound, 8-ounce boy via cesarean section; her small pelvis made it impossible for the baby to pass through the birth canal. Lina Marcela Medina de Jurado is a Peruvian woman who became the youngest confirmed mother in history when she gave birth aged five years, seven months, and 21 days. Based on the medical assessments of her pregnancy, she was less than five years old when she became pregnant. Wikipedia Born: 27 September 1933 (age 87 years), Ticrapo District, Peru Known for: Youngest confirmed mother in history Spouse: Raúl Jurado Children: Gerardo Medina Parents: Tiburelo Medina, Victoria Losea
MAY 14th: (Death of the King Rat) Died May 14, 1998 (aged 82) Los Angeles, California, U.S. Frank Sinatra - Wikipedia
Worst Movie Ever Made - Ishtar May 15, 1987 The film that would become synonymous with "box office flop," Ishtar is released. Starring Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman with a production cost of $55 million, it made only $14 million at the box office. Although it maintains a strong cult following, many call it the worst movie ever made.
Nylon Stockings May 15, 1940 Nylon stockings first go on sale across the U.S. Stronger and cheaper than silk stockings, they were an instant hit selling out all 4,000,000 pairs in four days. Prior to this, they were only available in Wilmington, Delaware stores, home of DuPont where they were manufactured. And you had to prove you were a Wilmington resident in order to buy them.
First Mickey Mouse Cartoon - Plane Crazy with Minnie Mouse! May 15, 1928 Plane Crazy is test screened in a theater as a silent film. It featured Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. It didn't test well and was not distributed to other theaters. However, after the success of Steamboat Willie, sound was added and it was released in 1929.
Amelia Earhart May 15, 1922 The famed aviator Amelia Earhart is issued her pilot's license. She was the 16th woman to be issued a pilot's license by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.
MAY 15th: 1974 Frank Zappa and his wife announced the birth of their third child, a boy named Ahmet Rodan, after the Japanese movie monster that lived off a steady diet of 707 planes.
McDonald brothers Dick and Mac proudly opened up the fast food outlet in 1940 in San Bernardino, California, where they flogged hamburgers for just 15 cents (around 11p). Before the Golden Arches became world-renowned, the original menu was extremely simple.
MAY 15th: 1982 Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney started a seven week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Ebony And Ivory'. The song gave McCartney his 24th US No.1 as a songwriter. The title was inspired by McCartney hearing Spike Milligan say "black notes, white notes, and you need to play the two to make harmony folks!". Ebony and Ivory (1982) | Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder - YouTube - It was later named as the tenth worst song of all time by Blender magazine and in 2007 was named the worst duet in history by BBC 6 Music listeners.
MAY 15th: >... 1959 - Elvis Presley scored his fourth No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'A Fool Such As I / I Need Your Love Tonight.' A Fool Such As I - Elvis Presley - YouTube His first ballad to hit No.1. And then in > . . . 1961 - Floyd Cramer was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'On The Rebound.' The US singer's only UK No.1. On The Rebound - Floyd Cramer ( 1961 ) - YouTube The Nashville pianist played on many Elvis Presley hits.
What is special about May 15th? 1942 – World War II: In the United States, a bill creating the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) is signed into law. 1943 – Joseph Stalin dissolves the Comintern (or Third International). ... 1970 – President Richard Nixon appoints Anna Mae Hays and Elizabeth P. Hoisington the first female United States Army generals.
