Discover what happened on May 23 in history, along with notable events that shaped entertainment, technology, sports, and American culture.
What Happened on May 23 in History?
Important events on this day include Mickey Mouse speaking for the first time in a cartoon, the release of the Java programming language, and the ambush of Bonnie and Clyde.
MAY 23 – TODAY IN HISTORY:
1785 – Benjamin Franklin wrote in a letter that he had invented bifocals.
1788 – South Carolina became the eighth state to ratify U.S. Constitution.
1827 – The first nursery school in the U.S. was established in New York, NY.
1846 – Arabella Mansfield was born. She was the first woman in the U.S. to pass the bar exam, though she never used her law degree.
1876 – Boston’s Joe Borden pitched the very first no-hitter in the history of the National League.
1879 – The first U.S. veterinary school was established by Iowa State University.
1922 – Walt Disney incorporated his first movie company, LaughoGram Films.
1922 – “Daylight Saving Time” was debated in the first debate ever to be heard on radio in Washington, DC.
1929 – The first cartoon with Mickey Mouse talking was released. It was called “The Karnival Kid”.
1934 – In Bienville Parish, LA, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were ambushed and killed by Texas Rangers. The bank robbers were riding in a stolen Ford Deluxe.
1941 – Joe Louis beat Buddy Baer in the seventh round to retain the heavyweight crown.
1962 – The National Basketball Association agreed to transfer the Philadelphia Warriors to San Francisco, CA. The team became the San Francisco Warriors (and later the Golden State Warriors).
1973 – Clive Davis was fired as president of Columbia Records for allegedly using company funds for his personal use. They included $53,700 for work on his apartment and $20,000 for his son’s bar mitzvah.
1984 – The movie “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” premiered in theaters.
1984 – The Surgeon General warned that smokers can inflict lung damage on non-smokers who inhale second-hand smoke.
1995 – The first version of the Java programming language was released.
1995 – The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, OK, was demolished.
1997 – The movie “The Lost World: Jurassic Park” premiered in theaters.
1999 – Gerry Bloch, at age 81, became the oldest climber to scale El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. He broke his own record that he set in 1986 when he was 68 years old.
2005 – Tom Cruise publicly declared his love for Katie Holmes on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” by jumping up and down on Winfrey’s couch during the show. Cruise and Holmes married in 2006 and divorced in 2012.
2010 – Bret Michaels won Season 3 of TV’s “The Celebrity Apprentice”.
2012 – Phillip Phillips won the 11th season of TV’s “American Idol”.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS ON MAY 23:
Barbara Barrie – 95 years old (1931) – Actress
Rod Thorn – 85 years old (1941) – Basketball player, coach, and executive
Daniel DiNardo – 77 years old (1949) – Cardinal
Buck Showalter – 70 years old (1956) – Baseball player, coach, and manager
Mitch Albom – 68 years old (1958) – Journalist, author, and screenwriter
Drew Carey – 68 years old (1958) – Actor, game show host, and entrepreneur
Lea DeLaria – 68 years old (1958) – Actress and singer
Linden Ashby – 66 years old (1960) – Actor
Karen Duffy – 64 years old (1962) – Actress
Melissa McBride – 61 years old (1965) – Actress
H. Jon Benjamin – 60 years old (1966) – Actor, comedian, writer, and producer
Guinevere Turner – 58 years old (1968) – Actress and screenwriter
Bryan Herta – 56 years old (1970) – Race car driver and businessman, co-founded Bryan Herta Autosport
Maxwell – 53 years old (1973) – Singer-songwriter and producer
Jewel – 52 years old (1974) – Singer-songwriter, guitarist, actress, and poet
Scott Raynor – 48 years old (1978) – Drummer
Chris Gethard – 46 years old (1980) – Actor, comedian and writer
Tim Robinson – 45 years old (1981) – Comedian, actor, and screenwriter
Ryan Coogler – 40 years old (1986) – Film director and screenwriter
Morgan Pressel – 38 years old (1988) – Golfer
Aaron Donald – 35 years old (1991) – Football player
Coy Craft – 29 years old (1997) – Footballer
Luca de la Torre – 28 years old (1998) – Soccer player
James Charles – 27 years old (1999) – Internet personality
Trinidad Cardona – 27 years old (1999) – Singer and songwriter
Sandro Mamukelashvili – 27 years old (1999) – Georgian-American basketball player
DAYS OF THE YEAR FOR MAY 23:
- Medical Coder Day: Celebrate Medical Coder Day by honoring the experts who translate medical records into accurate codes, supporting fair billing, clear data, and quality patient care.
- National Drinking with Chickens Day: Celebrate National Drinking with Chickens Day by unwinding outdoors, sipping your favorite drink, and enjoying light-hearted, clucky company and simple joys.
- National Italian Beef Day: Celebrate National Italian Beef Day with juicy, gravy-soaked roast beef sandwiches, bold peppers, and shared traditions that honor this beloved Chicago classic.
- International Day to End Obstetric Fistula: Discover the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula, raising awareness, support, and advocacy to prevent childbirth injuries and restore women’s dignity.
- National Lucky Penny Day: Celebrate National Lucky Penny Day by exploring penny superstitions, fun hunts with kids, and creative ways small change can teach value and support charity.
- World Turtle Day: Discover World Turtle Day, honoring turtles and tortoises, raising awareness of their survival challenges, and inspiring education, conservation, and habitat protection.
- National Taffy Day: Celebrate National Taffy Day by savoring chewy, colorful taffy, exploring its candy-making history, inventing new flavors, and sharing sweet memories with others.
- National Vegetarian Week: National Vegetarian Week is a lively celebration that spotlights the vibrant and tasty world of vegetarianism. Organized by the Vegetarian Society, this week-long event is a time to enjoy and explore the many benefits and flavors of a plant-based lifestyle. It aims to inspire people to try new vegetarian dishes...
- Amateur Radio Military Appreciation Day: Amateur Radio Military Appreciation Day unites hams and communities to honor military, veterans, and first responders with live on-air messages of gratitude.
- Dementia Action Week: Dementia Action Week is a key time of action. It’s time to step up your game on behalf of those who live with the disease. This event means different things while being significant to many different people. But one thing about it is the same -- it should bring us all...
- National Safe Sun Week: National Safe Sun Week is a special time dedicated to educating people about the dangers of too much sun and how to stay safe. Held in the last week of May, right before the Memorial Day holiday, it marks the beginning of summer. This is when folks often start spending...
- National Children’s Gardening Week: Did you know that children who spend time in gardens often grow up to be more environmentally conscious? National Children’s Gardening Week aims to inspire a love for gardening among kids. Held annually in the late spring, this event is a great opportunity to encourage children to explore nature! How to...
- Foster Care Fortnight: Foster Care Fortnight, an annual event in the UK, typically happens in the first two weeks of May. This initiative is driven by The Fostering Network, a leading charity that promotes foster care awareness and recruitment. The event raises awareness about the growing need for foster carers and their vital...
- British Sandwich Week: British Sandwich Week is a lively celebration of one of Britain's most iconic culinary creations: the sandwich. This week, sandwich lovers from all walks of life come together to indulge in the art of sandwich making and tasting. Whether it’s a classic ham and cheese or a gourmet concoction with...
- International Heritage Breeds Week: Support the survival of classic livestock breeds like Oberhasli goats, Wiltshire Wild Horn sheep, and Gloucester Old Spot pigs during Heritage Breeds Week.
- Epilepsy Awareness Week: Epilepsy Awareness Week is a significant event held annually to highlight epilepsy's impact on millions worldwide. Taking place in May, this week-long event aims to inform and engage people in understanding this neurological condition. The goal is to dispel myths and encourage conversations about epilepsy. The purpose of epilepsy is to...
- Be Nice to Nettles Week: Be Nice to Nettles Week is a vibrant annual event that shines a spotlight on the humble nettle plant. Celebrated in mid-May, this period encourages us to appreciate the ecological and health benefits of nettles. How to Celebrate Be Nice to Nettles Week Here are five quirky and playful ways to dive...
- Tracky Dack Day: Tracky Dack Day is a funny name for a serious cause. This annual event, run by TLC for Kids, encourages people to wear their favorite track pants (aka 'tracky dacks'!) to support children in hospitals! The name brings a smile, but the mission is profound. It raises awareness and funds...
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