January 19

Scott Winters January 19, 2026 0 Comments

A quick look at Today in History, check out some Celebrity Birthdays, and find out what Days of the Year to celebrate.

TODAY IN HISTORY:

1825 – Ezra Daggett and Thomas Kensett of New York City patented a canning process to preserve salmon, oysters and lobsters.

1841 – The State of Michigan’s first farm magazine, the “Western Farmer”, was published. The first issue had 8 pages and 100 readers.

1861 – Georgia joined South Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, and Alabama in seceding from the United States.

1883 – The first electric lighting system employing overhead wires, built by Thomas Edison, began operation in Roselle, NJ.

1907 – The first film reviews appeared in “Variety” magazine.

1915 – George Claude, of Paris, France, patented the neon discharge tube for use in advertising signs.

1935 – Coopers Inc. began selling the world’s first briefs.

1937 – Howard Hughes set a transcontinental air record. He flew from Los Angeles, CA, to New York, NY, in 7 hours, 28 minutes and 25 seconds.

1949 – The salary of the President of the United States was increased from $75,000 to $100,000 with an additional $50,000 expense allowance for each year in office.

1952 – The National Football League (NFL) bought the franchise of the New York Yankees from Ted Collins. The franchise was then awarded to a group in Dallas on January 24.

1953 – 71.7 percent of all televisions in the U.S. were tuned into CBS, as Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball), of “I Love Lucy,” delivered a baby boy.

1955 – President Dwight Eisenhower allowed a filmed news conference to be used on television (and in movie newsreels) for the first time.

1957 – Philadelphia comedian, Ernie Kovacs, did a half-hour TV show without saying a single word of dialogue.

1963 – The Bluegrass duo Flatt and Scruggs topped Billboard’s country chart with “The Ballad of Jed Clampett,” the theme song from “The Beverly Hillbillies”.

1977 – Snow fell in Miami, FL. This was the only time in the history of the city that snow had fallen. It also fell in the Bahamas.

1977 – President Gerald Ford pardoned Iva Toguri D’Aquino (the “Tokyo Rose”).

1978 – The last Volkswagon Beetle made in Germany leaves the VW plan in Emden. Beetle production continued in Latin America until 2003.

1979 – Former U.S. Attorney General John N. Mitchell was released on parole after serving 19 months at a federal prison in Alabama.

1983 – The Apple Lisa, the first commercial personal computer from Apple Inc. to have a graphical user interface and a computer mouse, was announced.

1986 – The first IBM PC computer virus was released.

1988 – The CBS documentary/news magazine television show “48 Hours” debuted.

1989 – Michigan Governor James Blanchard banned corporal punishment in public schools

1990 – The movie “Tremors”, starring Kevin Bacon, made its premiere in theaters.

1993 – IBM announced a loss of $4.97 billion for 1992. It was the largest single-year loss in U.S. corporate history.

1994 – The Animals, The Band, Duane Eddy, The Grateful Dead, Elton John, John Lennon, Bob Marley and Rod Stewart are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

1996 – First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton was subpoenaed to appear before a federal grand jury looking into the Whitewater real estate investment venture.

1997 – The cooking TV show “Emeril Live” debuted on the Food Network.

1999 – The Supreme Court refused to hear a 1998 lawsuit brought by ticket buyers against TicketMaster, claiming that the firm engaged in anti-competitive behavior and price-fixing with promoters.

1999 – RIM released their first Blackberry. It was a two-way pager that could receive email. It was named after it’s keyboard’s likeness to the fruit.

2000 – In New York’s Time Square, the first WWF restaurant opened.

2006 – The New Horizons probe was launched by NASA on the first mission to investigate Pluto.

2011 – Jennifer Lopez made her debut as a judge on TV’s “American Idol”. She joined fellow newcomer Steven Tyler of Aerosmith and holdover Randy Jackson.

2013 – In Scottsdale, AZ, the original Batmobile for the TV series “Batman” sold at auction for $4.6 million. It was the first of six Batmobiles produced for the show.

2024 – The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s probe landed on the moon, making Japan the 5th country to land a spacecraft on the moon.

BIRTHDAYS:

Tippi Hedren – 96 years old (1930) – Model, actress, and animal rights-welfare activist

Richard Lester – 94 years old (1932) – American-English director, producer, and screenwriter

Larry Clark – 83 years old (1943) – Director, producer, and screenwriter

Shelley Fabares – 82 years old (1944) – Actress and singer

Thom Mayne – 82 years old (1944) – Architect and academic, designed the San Francisco Federal Building and Phare Tower

Dolly Parton – 80 years old (1946) – Singer-songwriter and actress

Paula Deen – 79 years old (1947) – Chef and author

Nancy Lynch – 78 years old (1948) – Computer scientist and academic

Martha Davis – 75 years old (1951) – Singer

Dewey Bunnell – 74 years old (1952) – English-American singer-songwriter and guitarist

Desi Arnaz Jr. – 73 years old (1953) – Actor and singer

Katey Sagal – 72 years old (1954) – Actress and singer

Cindy Sherman – 72 years old (1954) – Photographer and director

Susan Solomon – 70 years old (1956) – Atmospheric chemist

Ottis Anderson – 69 years old (1957) – Football player and sportscaster

Danese Cooper – 67 years old (1959) – Computer scientist and programmer

Jeff Pilson – 67 years old (1959) – Bass player, songwriter, and actor

Paul McCrane – 65 years old (1961) – Actor, director, and singer

William Ragsdale – 65 years old (1961) – Actor

Chris Sabo – 64 years old (1962) – Baseball player and coach

Jeff Van Gundy – 64 years old (1962) – Basketball player and coach

Michael Adams – 63 years old (1963) – Basketball player and coach

Whitfield Crane – 58 years old (1968) – Singer-songwriter

Edwidge Danticat – 57 years old (1969) – Haitian-American novelist and short story writer

Trey Lorenz – 57 years old (1969) – Singer-songwriter and producer

Shawn Wayans – 55 years old (1971) – Actor, producer, and screenwriter

John Wozniak – 55 years old (1971) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist

Drea de Matteo – 54 years old (1972) – Actress

Frank Caliendo – 52 years old (1974) – Comedian, actor, and screenwriter

Walter Jones – 52 years old (1974) – Football player

Ian Laperrière – 52 years old (1974) – Canadian-American ice hockey player and coach

Drew Powell – 50 years old (1976) – Actor

Pasha Kovalev – 46 years old (1980) – Russian-American dancer and choreographer

Luke Macfarlane – 46 years old (1980) – Canadian-American actor and singer

Elizabeth Tulloch – 45 years old (1981) – Actress

Pete Buttigieg – 44 years old (1982) – Politician

Mike Komisarek – 44 years old (1982) – Ice hockey player

Jodie Sweetin – 44 years old (1982) – Actress and singer

Hikaru Utada – 43 years old (1983) – American-Japanese singer-songwriter and producer

Elvis Dumervil – 42 years old (1984) – Football player

Damien Chazelle – 41 years old (1985) – Film director, screenwriter, and producer

Benny Feilhaber – 41 years old (1985) – Soccer player

JaVale McGee – 38 years old (1988) – Basketball player

Shaunette Renée Wilson – 36 years old (1990) – Guyanese-American actress

Erin Sanders – 35 years old (1991) – Actress

Shawn Johnson East – 34 years old (1992) – Gymnast

Logan Lerman – 34 years old (1992) – Actor

Jack Schlossberg – 33 years old (1993) – Writer and political candidate

Jonathan Taylor – 27 years old (1999) – Football player

TODAY IS:

National Popcorn Day: Settle down with a bowl of this classic movie treat, sample flavors from salty to spicy or get creative with edible decorations like garlands.
Blue Monday: Beat the bleak, post-festive slump by setting (or resetting) resolutions, getting some exercise in the fresh air or watching an uplifting movie.
Brew Monday: It’s time to check in on a friend, neighbor or family member over a cup of coffee or tea!
Elementary School Teacher Day: Elementary school teachers are superheroes, inspiring young minds to learn, grow and achieve their dreams.
Brew a Potion Day: Gather ingredients from the garden, mix them in a cauldron with care. Add some magic and stir until bubbles appear. Voila! A potion is born!
National Conservation Dog Day:
Tenderness Toward Existence Day:
Idaho Human Rights Day: Everyone deserves to be treated with respect, dignity and fairness. Upholding human rights means promoting equality and justice for all.
National Tin Can Day: These cylindrical containers, the unsung heroes of pantry organization, are like mini storage champs, keeping your food fresh and ready.
World Quark Day: Delight your palate with a unique dairy creation, blending tradition and innovation for a savory experience.
Good Memory Day : The best moments in life are often the simplest. Long-cherished experiences can brighten our spirits and fill us with gratitude.
Artist as Outlaw Day: Artists who make statements with their work challenge us to think, question, and see the world in new and meaningful ways.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day: A champion for justice, he led with unwavering determination, inspiring change and fostering unity, leaving an indelible mark on history.
Wellington Anniversary Day: Located on New Zealand's North Island, this vibrant city boasts a stunning harbor, a thriving arts scene, and a rich cultural heritage.
Surva Mummers Festival:
Cancer Talk Week:
No Name Calling Week:
Hunt for Happiness Week: