29 fun facts for January, 16

Discover dozens of fun facts for this special day. Read the summary for a quick recap on what happened.
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Summary
January 16 is a day filled with notable achievements and milestones, including the launch of refrigerated railroad cars, the sale of the first magnetic tape recorder, and the debut of Superman in a comic strip format. Additionally, it's marked by important sports events, such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scoring his 36,000th career point, and the birthday of basketball player Lisa Leslie.
29 Fun facts
  1. On January 16, 1868, the first refrigerated railroad car entered service in the United States. These refrigerator cars revolutionized the transportation of perishable goods such as food, ensuring freshness during long-distance journeys.
  2. The first magnetic tape recorder was sold on January 16, 1948, by the Minnesota-based 3M company. This advancement in audio recording technology allowed for better audio quality and greater recording capacity.
  3. On January 16, 1920, Prohibition went into effect in the United States, making it illegal to manufacture, sell, or transport alcohol. The 18th Amendment to the Constitution enforced this ban, lasting for 13 years until it was repealed.
  4. The longest recorded underwater scuba dive took place on January 16, 2013, by an Egyptian scuba diver named Ahmed Gabr. His underwater dive lasted a total of 8 days, staying submerged at various depths throughout.
  5. In the world of sports, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar reached a major milestone on January 16, 1988, scoring his 36,000th career point in the NBA, solidifying his legendary status in professional basketball.
  6. January 16 is annually observed as National Fig Newton Day, a nationally recognized day dedicated to an American childhood favorite - the fig newton cookie.
  7. On January 16, 1941, the famous comic strip, "Superman," debuted in a daily comic strip format published by the McClure Newspaper Syndicate, making Superman even more accessible to the American public.
  8. On January 16, in 2020, the United States Senate opened its impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. This marked only the third impeachment trial in the history of the country.
  9. In the world of music, Decca Records announced on January 16, 1962, that they would not sign the Beatles, claiming that "guitar groups are on their way out" and that the band had no future in show business.
  10. India celebrates National Army Day on January 16 to honor the Indian army and its soldiers who serve to protect the country and its citizens.
  11. On this day in 1964, the musical "Hello, Dolly!" starring Carol Channing had its first Broadway performance in New York City at the St. James Theatre.
  12. In 1909, British explorers Robert Scott, Ernest Shackleton, and Edward Wilson reached the farthest south latitude at 88°23'S, becoming the southernmost travelers to that date.
  13. In 1969, the Soviet Union launched Soyuz 4 and Soyuz 5, their first dual manned spaceflight mission.
  14. On January 16, 1957, three B-52 Stratofortresses completed the first non-stop, around-the-world flight by jet aircraft, showcasing the reach of American military power.
  15. In 1979, the final episode of the classic sitcom, "The Fugitive," aired. The show starred David Janssen as Dr. Richard Kimble, a man unjustly accused of murdering his wife.
  16. On this day in 1970, eight-time Olympic gold medalist and former professional basketball player, Lisa Leslie, was born. Leslie is recognized as one of the founding members of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).
  17. A.J. Foyt became the first driver to win the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway in a car he co-drove on January 16, 1983.
  18. On January 16, 1988, "48 Hrs," a gritty crime drama and action-comedy film featuring Eddie Murphy, was the top-grossing movie in the United States.
  19. In 1919, Nebraska became the 36th state to ratify the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which was the deciding vote needed to pass the amendment.
  20. On January 16, 1956, the first black-controlled radio station in the United States, WERD, began broadcasting in Atlanta, Georgia.
  21. In 1961, Mickey Mantle officially became the highest-paid baseball player in Major League Baseball, signing a $75,000 contract with the New York Yankees.
  22. On January 16, 1967, journalist and television host Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to travel to space, following the Soviet Union's launch of the Vostok-6 spacecraft.
  23. "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida," the iconic album by Iron Butterfly, was certified Platinum on January 16, 1970.
  24. On January 16, 1985, the first British man to walk in space, astronaut Michael Foale, was born.
  25. In 1883, the United States Civil Service Commission was established to address issues of favoritism and patronage in the federal government.
  26. On January 16, 1986, boxer and politician Imelda Marcos was threatened with 25 to 125 years of imprisonment for her 35 corruption charges.
  27. January 16 is the traditional day for celebrating the birthday of Roman Emperor Valentinian I, who ruled between 364 and 375 CE.
  28. In 2010, Haiti was hit by a major earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0, devastating the country and resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people.
  29. Pope Francis visited the Philippines on January 16, 2015, as part of a historic tour, where millions of Filipino Catholics gathered to greet him.

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