Ken P's Today in History
January 16

What happened in history on this day: January 16? Since 1995, I have been collecting information on a variety of topics, creating several timelines of history. Here you will find specific events from those databases for this day, on the topics of personal computers, video games, the Walt Disney Company, Chevrolet Corvettes, A&W Root Beer, Sweden, and Canadian coins. On January 16 in ... Personal computer history: 1997 - Microsoft ships Microsoft Office 97 application suite for Windows. It includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and Outlook. Standard version price is US$499; upgrade price is US$209. Professional version price is US$599; upgrade price is US$309. Walt Disney Company history: 1930 - The Silly Symphony film Summer is released to theaters. 1932 - The Silly Symphony film The Bird Store is released. 1942 - The Donald Duck film The Village Smithy is released to theaters. 1957 - The ABC TV network airs the Disneyland TV show, entitled Your Host, Donald Duck. 1959 - The ABC TV network airs the Walt Disney Presents TV show, featuring the film Niok. 1966 - The NBC TV network airs the Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color show, featuring Moon Pilot, part one. 1977 - The NBC TV network airs The Wonderful World of Disney show, featuring Kit Carson and the Mountain Men, part two. 1982 - The CBS TV network airs the Walt Disney show, entitled Tales of the Apple Dumpling Gang. This is a remake of the film The Apple Dumpling Gang, a pilot for a proposed series. 1983 - Merlin's Magic Shop at Disneyland closes. 1985 - Disney licenses seven recent films to Showtime and Home Box Office, including Splash!. 1988 - The film Three Men and a Baby breaks the US$100 million mark in ticket sales, the first time for a Disney movie. 1996 - Dominica issues fourteen postage stamps depicting various Disney characters and the Lunar Year animals. 2003 - In Anaheim, California, Disney premieres the stage show Disney's Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular. 2004 - The Disney Channel airs the Disney Channel Original Movie Pixel Perfect. 2005 - The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the US. A souvenir jacket for Disney's 1995 film Operation Dumbo Drop appears. A man lies in a glass covered bed waiting for a cure for his disease, looking similar to Snow White sleeping under glass. Chevrolet Corvette history: 1953 - The General Motors Motorama at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City opens to the press. The press take their first pictures of the prototype Corvette. 1989 - General Motors design vice president Chuck Jordan calls John Schinella at General Motors' Advanced Concepts Center in California to order Schinella to create a "California Corvette". 2002 - In Scottsdale, Arizona, the 31st Annual Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction is held, over five days. Some Corvette sales highlights: 1955 serial #002, oldest surviving V-8 Corvette, 265-ci, frame-off restoration, automatic, Bloomington Gold certified, sold for $120,000. 1957 black, white coves 283-ci 245-hp restored US$60,000. 1963 silver convertible fuel-injection 4-speed 3:70 positraction differential restored US$61,000. 1967 convertible L-89 435-hp 427-ci side exhaust $205,000. 1967 convertible 400-hp 427-ci air conditioning, 4-speed US$72,000. 2007 - In Scottsdale, Arizona, the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction is held, over six days. Over 150 Corvettes are included. Some highlights: 1954 Pennant Blue: US$97,000; 1957 red with white coves, fuel-injected 283-ci 283-hp engine, 4-speed transmission,38,000 miles, both tops: US$135,000; 1957 red with white coves, beige interior and top, 283-ci 283-hp fuel-injected engine, 4-speed transmission: US$235,000; 1958 Panama Yellow convertible with white coves, black interior, 283-ci 245-hp engine, 4-speed transmission, electric top: US$150,000; 1958 white exterior, red interior, 283-ci fuel-injected engine, hard top, Thrill Show Chitwood: US$140,000; 1959 black with silver coves, black interior, fuel-injected 283-ci 290-hp engine, 4-speed transmission: US$140,000; 1961 Fawn Beige with white coves, 283-ci 245-hp, automatic transmission, both tops, dual quad carburetors: US$120,000; 1961 Ermine White with silver coves, red interior, fuel-injected 283-ci 315-hp engine, 4-speed transmission, both tops: US$105,000; 1962 Fawn Beige exterior, beige interior, 327-ci 360-hp fuel injected engine, 4-speed transmission, hard top: US$120,000; 1963 white convertible, red interior, 327-ci 360-hp fuel-injected engine, 4-speed transmission: US$110,000; 1963 dark blue coupe, black interior, 327-ci 250-hp engine, automatic transmission, 62,000 miles: US$95,000; 1963 Z06 red convertible, 327-ci 250-hp engine, automatic transmission, big tank, and 1963 red coupe: US$510,000; 1965 Nassau Blue coupe, blue interior, 327-ci 300-hp engine, 9226 miles, automatic transmission, air-conditioning, radio delete: US$97,500; 1965 blue roadster, blue interior, 454-ci 600-hp fuel-injected engine, 6-speed transmission, "space-tube design" chassis, side exhausts: US$90,000; 1966 red convertible with black stripe, black interior, 427-ci 450-hp engine, 4-speed transmission, side exhausts: US$110,000; 1967 Marina Blue convertible with white stinger, white and blue interior, 427-ci engine, side exhausts: US$105,000; 1967 Marlboro Maroon with black stinger, black interios, 427-ci 390-hp engine, 4-speed transmission, side exhausts: US$95,000; 1967 blue convertible with black stinger, black interior, 427-ci 435-hp engine, side exhausts: US$140,000; 1967 black convertible with white stinger, saddle interior, 427-ci 435-hp engine, 4-speed transmission: US$185,000; 1967 white convertible, bright blue interior, 327-ci 435-hp engine, 4-speed transmission, side exhausts: US$210,000; 1967 Lynndale Blue convertible with black stinger, blue interior, 427-ci 400-hp engine, side exhausts: US$200,000; 1967 silver coupe with black stinger, black interior, side exhausts, last Sting Ray built: US$600,000; 1967 blue convertible with black stinger, 427-ci 435-hp engine, side exhausts: US$145,000; 1967 black coupe with red stinger, 427-ci 435-hp engine, 4-speed transmission, 100 miles, side exhausts: US$170,000; 1967 blue convertible with black stinger, blue interior, 427-ci 400-hp engine, 4-speed transmission: US$160,000; 1967 silver convertible with black stinger, black interior, 427-ci 400-hp engine, 4-speed transmission, side exhausts, hard top: US$125,000; 1967 Rally Red coupe with black stinger, black interior, 427-ci 435-hp engine, 4-speed transmission, side exhausts: US$90,000; 1967 black convertible with red stinger, black interior, 427-ci 400-hp engine, 4-speed transmission, side exhausts: US$110,000; 1969 dark green coupe, 427-ci 400-hp engine, 4-speed transmission, 13760 miles: US$95,000; 1969 olive green coupe, black interior, 427-ci 430-hp L88 engine, 4-speed: US$240,000; 1972 yellow convertible, 350-ci 370-hp LT1 engine, 4-speed transmission, 21,813 miles: US$100,000. 2009 - At the RM Phoenix auction, a white 1957 Corvette 4-speed fuel-injected 283ci 310hp $157 race car sells for US$74,900. A 1963 Corvette Grand Sport roadster is bid to US$4.9 million, but not sold. World War II history: 1943 - (evening) 201 British Lancaster and Halifax bombers attack Berlin. 1945 - In Germany, Arthur Nebe is arrested. He had been director of Reich Criminal Police and member of Nazi resistance since 1938. He was in hiding since July 24. 1945 - In Athens, Greece, the National People's Liberation Army is defeated by government and British forces. 1945 - (evening) 328 British bombers attack Zeitz, near Leipzig, Germany. 1945 - (evening) 237 British bombers attack the oil plant at Brüz, in Czechoslovakia. 1946 - At Labaun, Borneo, the Australian war crimes court passes death sentences on 28 Japanese as war criminals. Long prison terms are the sentence for another 29, and eight are acquitted. 1974 - The USSR issues a postage stamp marking the 30th anniversary of victory near Leningrad. 1994 - Marshall Islands issues a postage stamp marking the 50th anniversary of the SHAEF Commander Eisenhower. 2004 - Russia issues a postage stamp to mark the 60th anniversary of World War II offensives of 1944. Video game history: 2003 - Sony announces it has shipped over 50 million PlayStation 2 systems worldwide to date. Regional totals are: North America 21.5 million, Europe 16 million, Japan 12.5 million. 2003 - Microsoft launches its Xbox Live online service in Japan. Microsoft begins selling an Xbox Live starter kit for about US$58, including several games, a voice communicator, and a one-year online subscription. Canadian coin history: 1990 - A Royal proclamation specifies that the design of the $100 gold coin mark the International Year of Literacy. 1995 - The Minister of Public Works and Government Services unveils the second $1 coin in the Peace and Remembrance series. It features the Peacekeeping Monument in Ottawa, on the reverse. 2009 - At the Whistler Olympic Park, the Royal Canadian Mint launches the 2010 Olympic circulating 25-cent featuring cross-country skiing. Sports history: 1883 - Québec Rugby Football Union forms. 1905 - Baseball outfielder Frank Huelsman traded for 6th time in 8 months. 1907 - Alfred Shaw cricketer (seven Tests for England 1877-82), dies. 1931 - Bradman scores 223 Australia versus West Indies, 297 minutes, 26 fours. 1952 - US Standard Board clears Stan Musial to get an $85,000 salary. 1953 - 27th Australian Womens Tennis: Maureen Connolly beat J Sampson (6-3, 6-2). 1953 - 41st Australian Mens Tennis: Ken Rosewall beats Mervyn Rose (6-0, 6-3, 6-4). 1955 - Jackie Pung wins LPGA Sea Island Golf Open. 1955 - NFL Pro Bowl: West beats East 26-19. 1964 - American League owners vote 9-1 against Charlie Finley moving Kansas City Athletics to Louisville. 1965 - AFL Pro Bowl: West beats East 38-14. 1968 - 21st NHL All-Star Game: Toronto Maple Leafs beat All-Stars 4-3 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 1970 - AAU player Steve Myers makes a basketball field goal of 92 feet 3.5 inches from out of bounds, in Tacoma, Washington - it shouldn't have counted, but was allowed. 1970 - Curt Flood files a civil lawsuit challenging baseball's reserve clause. 1970 - NFL re-aligns into three divisions (down from four). 1971 - Ard Schenk skates world record 1500m (1:58.7). 1972 - Atje Keulen-Deelstra becomes European all-round lady skating champ. 1972 - Super Bowl VI: Dallas Cowboys-24, Miami-3 in New Orleans; Most Valuable Player: Roger Staubach, Quarterback. 1974 - New York Yankees' Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford elected to Baseball Hall of Fame. 1977 - Washington Capitals' H Monahan scores on second penalty shot against New York Islanders. 1981 - Boxer Leon Spinks is mugged, his assailants even take his gold teeth. 1981 - Ivan Lendl intentionally loses a match in the Volvo Masters in order to avoid having to play Björn Borg. 1988 - Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder fired from CBS for racial remarks. 1988 - NFL Saint Louis Cardinals announce move to Phoenix. 1994 - Noël Foré, Belgian cyclist (Paris-Roubaix 1959), dies at age 61. 1994 - Scott skates world record 1000m (1:12.54). 1996 - Harry Potts, footballer/manager, dies at age 75. 1997 - Anthony Stuart takes ODI hat-trick, Australia versus Pakistan, Melbourne Cricket Ground. 1997 - Jim Kensil, NFL president (New York Jets), dies of heart failure at age 66. 2002 - Death of Bobo Olson, American boxer (born 1928). 2007 - Death of Benny Parsons, American race car driver and television personality (born 1941). Space exploration history: 1969 - Soviet Soyuz 4 and Soyuz 5 perform first transfer of crew in space. 1973 - USSR's Lunakhod 2 begins radio-controlled exploration of the Moon. 1978 - Soyuz 27 returns to Earth. 1989 - USSR announces plan for two-year manned mission to Mars. 1998 - NASA announces that John Glenn, age 76, will return to space when the Space Shuttle Discovery blasts off in October. Extreme weather history: 1219 - Floods in Northern Netherlands after storm, 1,000s killed. 1889 - In Cloncurry, Queensland, an Australian record hot temperature of 128 degrees F (53 degrees C) is recorded. 1974 - L A landslide kills 9, Canyonville, Oregon. 1979 - In Iran, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake occurs. 1994 - In Pennsylvania, a magnitude 4.6 earthquake occurs. Felt throughout southeastern Pennsylvania and as far as Baltimore, Maryland and New York City. Also felt at Toronto, Canada. 1995 - An avalanche hits the village Súðavík in Iceland, killing 14 people. Other history: 1547 - Ivan IV the Terrible crowns himself first tsar of Russia. 1970 - Colonel Kadhaffi becomes premier of Libya. 1991 - Operation Desert Storm begins - USA and 27 allies attack Iraq for occupying Kuwait (air war begins January 17 at 2:38AM (local time), with an Apache helicopter attack). You can pick a particular day to view that day's events in history. Bookmark this URL:   http://www.islandnet.com/~kpolsson/today/   and revisit each day. (this URL will automatically re-direct to the file containing the current day's events) Or, visit my Timelines of History page. Other web pages of interest: Chronology of World History What's Notable About this Year? Ken P's Coin/Stamp/Bill Novelties