September 16

Scott Winters September 16, 2025 2 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:

1620 – The Mayflower departed from Plymouth, England with 102 passengers on board. The ship arrived at Provincetown, MA, on November 21st and then at Plymouth, MA, on December 26th.

1630 – The Massachusetts village of Shawmut changed its name to Boston.

1782 – The Great Seal of the United States was used for the first time when it was impressed on document to negotiate a prisoner of war agreement with the British.

1840 – The term “O.K.” was created when “The O.K. Club” was organized as a new Democratic political group. The initials stood for the birthplace of president Martin Van Buren, Old Kinderhook, New York.

1908 – The General Motors Company was founded by William Crapo “Billy” Durant in Flint, MI. The company was formed by merging the Buick and Oldsmobile car companies.

1919 – The American Legion was incorporated.

1920 – A bomb in a horse wagon exploded in front of the J.P. Morgan building in New York, NY, killing 38 and injuring 400. It was one of the deadliest attacks on American soil at the time, and although never conclusively solved, it remains a significant event in the history of U.S. terrorism.

1924 – Grand Rapids, MI’s first radio station signed on the air. It was WEBK, which would later become WOOD Radio.

1940 – President Theodore Roosevelt signed into law the Selective Training and Service Act, which set up the first peacetime military draft in U.S. history. This law required men aged 21 to 36 to register for the draft as the nation prepared for possible involvement in World War II.

1955 – Play-Doh was introduced.

1959 – The first color television broadcast of the World Series occurred. This was a significant technological milestone for broadcasting and sports in the U.S., marking the increased prevalence of color TV in American households.

1959 – The first successful photocopier, the Xerox 914, was introduced in a demonstration on live television from New York, NY.

1960 – The U.S. and Canada began construction of the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge.

1963 – The TV show “The Outer Limits” premiered on ABC.

1965 – The TV show “The Dean Martin Show” premiered on NBC.

1968 – The final episode of TV show “The Andy Griffith Show” aired on CBS.

1972 – The TV show “The Bob Newhart Show” premiered on CBS. It would run for 6 seasons.

1974 – President Gerald Ford announced a conditional amnesty program for draft-evaders and deserters during the Vietnam War.

1976 – The Episcopal Church formally approved women to be ordained as priests and bishops.

1984 – The TV show “Miami Vice” premiered.

1988 – Bobby McFerrin’s “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” became the first a cappella record to reach #1 on U.S. rock music charts.

1993 – The first episode of “Frasier” aired on TV. The series would run for 11 seasons and pick up a total of 37 Prime-time Emmy awards.

1994 – Exxon Corporation was ordered by federal jury to pay $5 billion in punitive damages to the people harmed by the Exxon Valdez spill in 1989.

1994 – The movie “Timecop” premiered in theaters.

1994 – Two astronauts from the Space Shuttle “Discovery” go on the first unthethered spacewalk in 10 years.

1996 – “Judge Judy” debuted on TV.

1998 – Universal paid $9 million for the rights to the Dr. Seuss classics “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and “Oh, the Places You’ll Go.”

1998 – Meryl Streep received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

2004 – Hurricane Ivan made landfall in Gulf Shores, AL as a Category 3 hurricane.

2005 – Johnny Depp placed his handprint and footprints in cement at Hollywood’s Grauman’s Chinese Theater, in Hollywood, CA.

2007 – O.J. Simpson was arrested in Las Vegas, NV, for his involvement in the alleged armed robbery of sports memorabilia from a hotel room at the Palace Station Hotel and Casino.

BIRTHDAYS:

George Chakiris – 93 years old (1932) – Actor

Billy Boy Arnold – 90 years old (1935) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist

Butch Buchholz – 85 years old (1940) – Tennis player

Joe Butler – 84 years old (1941) – Singer, autoharp player, and drummer

Richard Perle – 84 years old (1941) – Political scientist and politician

Susan L. Graham – 83 years old (1942) – Computer scientist and academic

Linda Kaye Henning – 81 years old (1944) – Actress

Betty Kelly – 81 years old (1944) – Soul/R&B singer

Sonny LeMaire – 79 years old (1946) – Country music singer-songwriter and bass player

Ron Blair – 77 years old (1948) – Bass player

Rosemary Casals – 77 years old (1948) – Tennis player and sportscaster

Susan Ruttan – 77 years old (1948) – Actress

Ed Begley Jr. – 76 years old (1949) – Actor and environmental activist

David Bellamy – 75 years old (1950) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist

Henry Louis Gates Jr. – 75 years old (1950) – Historian, scholar, and journalist

Loyd Grossman – 75 years old (1950) – American-English singer, guitarist, and television host

Vince Bell – 74 years old (1951) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist

Mickey Rourke – 73 years old (1952) – Boxer and actor

Kurt Fuller – 72 years old (1953) – Character actor

Nancy Huston – 72 years old (1953) – Canadian-American author and translator

Earl Klugh – 72 years old (1953) – Musician

Jerry Pate – 72 years old (1953) – Golfer and sportscaster

Christopher Rich – 72 years old (1953) – Actor

William McKeen – 71 years old (1954) – Author and academic

Ron Brewer – 70 years old (1955) – Basketball player

Robin Yount – 70 years old (1955) – Baseball player and coach

David Copperfield – 69 years old (1956) – Magician and actor

D. C. Drake – 68 years old (1957) – Wrestler

Orel Hershiser – 67 years old (1958) – Baseball player and coach

Jennifer Tilly – 67 years old (1958) – Actress and poker player

Tim Raines – 66 years old (1959) – Baseball player, coach, and manager

Victory Tischler-Blue – 66 years old (1959) – Bass player, director, and producer

Jayne Brook – 65 years old (1960) – Actress

Graham Haynes – 65 years old (1960) – Trumpet player and composer

Mike Mignola – 65 years old (1960) – Author and illustrator

Richard Marx – 62 years old (1963) – Singer-songwriter and producer

Dave Sabo – 61 years old (1964) – Guitarist and songwriter

Molly Shannon – 61 years old (1964) – Actress, comedian and producer

Katy Kurtzman – 60 years old (1965) – Actress and producer

Stephen Shareaux – 60 years old (1965) – Singer-songwriter

John Bel Edwards – 59 years old (1966) – Attorney and politician

Wil McCarthy – 59 years old (1966) – Author and playwright

Kevin Young – 59 years old (1966) – Hurdler

Marc Anthony – 57 years old (1968) – Singer-songwriter, actor, and producer

Walt Becker – 57 years old (1968) – Director, producer, and screenwriter

Mark Schultz – 55 years old (1970) – Singer-songwriter

Joel Heyman – 54 years old (1971) – Actor, producer, and screenwriter

Charlie Jacobs – 54 years old (1971) – Businessman

Amy Poehler – 54 years old (1971) – Actress, comedian, and producer

Richard Slinger – 54 years old (1971) – Wrestler

Shawntel Smith – 54 years old (1971) – Beauty pageant contestant

Mark Bruener – 53 years old (1972) – Football player

Mike Doyle – 53 years old (1972) – Actor and producer

Justin Haythe – 52 years old (1973) – Author and screenwriter

Joaquin Castro – 51 years old (1974) – Lawyer and politician

Julian Castro – 51 years old (1974) – Lawyer and politician, 16th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

Greg Buckner – 49 years old (1976) – Basketball player and coach

Gregory Ball – 48 years old (1977) – Captain and politician

Musiq Soulchild – 48 years old (1977) – Singer-songwriter

Dan Dickau – 47 years old (1978) – Basketball player and coach

Brian Sims – 47 years old (1978) – Lawyer, politician, and LGBT activist

Bobby Korecky – 46 years old (1979) – Baseball player

Flo Rida – 46 years old (1979) – Rapper, singer, and songwriter

Alexis Bledel – 44 years old (1981) – Actress

Brandon Moss – 42 years old (1983) – Baseball player

Legedu Naanee – 42 years old (1983) – Football player

Sabrina Bryan – 41 years old (1984) – Singer-songwriter, dancer, and actress

Matt Harrison – 40 years old (1985) – Baseball player

Madeline Zima – 40 years old (1985) – Actress

Gordon Beckham – 39 years old (1986) – Baseball player

Ian Harding – 39 years old (1986) – Actor

Kyla Pratt – 39 years old (1986) – Actress and singer

Anthony Padilla – 38 years old (1987) – Internet personality and filmmaker

Travis Wall – 38 years old (1987) – Dancer and choreographer

Teddy Geiger – 37 years old (1988) – Singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actress

Bailey De Young – 36 years old (1989) – Actress

Robbie Grossman – 36 years old (1989) – Baseball player

Nick Jonas – 33 years old (1992) – Singer-songwriter and guitarist

Chase Stokes – 33 years old (1992) – Actor

Metro Boomin – 32 years old (1993) – Record producer and songwriter

Bryson DeChambeau – 32 years old (1993) – Golfer

Aaron Gordon – 30 years old (1995) – Basketball player

Jackie Young – 28 years old (1997) – Basketball player

Brady Tkachuk – 26 years old (1999) – Ice hockey player

Sam Howell – 25 years old (2000) – Football player

TODAY IS:

National Play-Doh Day: Just because we grow up doesn’t mean we have to stop having fun. Let your inner child out and play with play-doh! Get creative and have fun sculpting and mashing.
National Guacamole Day: Learn to make guacamole at home, and discover some of the many versatile uses for this tasty invention, from a simple dip to a sandwich spread and more.
National Stepfamily Day: Even if they weren’t there at birth, stepfamilies can be as much your family as birth families. Let your stepfamily know you love them, and spend time together.
Mayflower Day: A voyage across the Atlantic, a new land to call home, and the beginning of a story that would shape a nation.
National Working Parents Day: For parents trying to balance work and raising kids, a day off is more than needed. Help out a working parent you know, or do some extra chores for your own.
International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer: Our planet's natural sunscreen is in need of some TLC! Let's rally together to protect the Earth's protective shield.
Trail of Tears Commemoration Day:
National Cinnamon Raisin Bread Day: It’s got cinnamon. It’s got raisins. It’s got sweet, bready goodness. That’s right, try out your own cinnamon raisin bread recipe and impress your friends and family.
Teenager Workout Day: Teenagers, it’s time to get in shape. Parents of teenagers, it’s time to help your kids learn about safe, daily exercise routines that can keep them healthy.
Pet Promise Day: Supporting pet well-being involves sincere commitment, ensuring animals receive comprehensive care for a fulfilling, healthy life.
International Day for Interventional Cardiology:
World Barber Day:
Stay Away From Seattle Day:
National School Backpack Awareness Day:
National Choose Your Chocolate Day:
Collect Rocks Day: Be a geologist for a day and see what interesting rocks you can find. Pick up a book on local rocks or hop on the internet to identify what you find.
National GED Day:
National Sit With a Stranger Day:
National Tattoo Story Day:
National Uniform Day:
Anne Bradstreet Day:
Mexican Independence Day: An important moment in Mexico's history, a celebration of freedom and resilience that unites people in colorful festivities and pride.
Hari Malaysia:
National Neonatal Nurses Week : Providing compassionate care to newborns and support for families, these healthcare heroes play a crucial role in healthcare.
Rtveli:
Fiesta de San Pacho:
Healthcare Environmental Services Week:
Biscuits and Gravy Week:
National Assisted Living Week :
Hispanic Heritage Month: Join an event, forum, or exhibition for Hispanic Heritage Month, and appreciate the art, history, and cultural offerings of this rich and expansive heritage.
Housekeepers Week: Housekeeping is tough and often thankless work, so make sure to give a big thank-you and even a small gift to the housekeepers who keep hotels and the like clean.