Ken P's Today in History
December 13

Copyright © 2006-2024 Ken Polsson
internet e-mail: ken@kpolsson.com
URL: http://kpolsson.com/today/
(this URL will automatically re-direct to the file containing a single day's events)

What happened in history on this day: December 13?

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 December 13 in ...

Personal computer history:

  • 1982 - Atari introduces the 1200XL home computer, with 64 kB RAM, and 256 color capability. Price: US$900-1000.
  • 1993 - Cyrix and Texas Instruments file lawsuits against each other over Cyrix's 486 processor design databases. Texas Instruments is demanding that Cyrix deliver the design databases, and Cyrix is demanding that Texas Instruments cease manufacturing and distributing Cyrix licensed products.
  • 1994 - Apple Computer licenses PowerMac technology to Bandai.
  • 1995 - Symantec licenses Java from Sun Microsystems.

Walt Disney Company history:

  • 1925 - Disney ships the Alice Comedy film Alice's Balloon Race to M.J. Winkler Productions.
  • 1926 - Film Booking Offices releases the Alice Comedy film Alice's Brown Derby to theaters.
  • 1926 - Disney ships the 45th Alice Comedy film, Alice in the Alps, to Winkler Pictures.
  • 1940 - The Donald Duck film Fire Chief is released to theaters. Huey, Dewey, and Louie also appear.
  • 1964 - The NBC TV network airs the Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color show, featuring Big Red, part two.
  • 1970 - The NBC TV network airs The Wonderful World of Disney show, featuring an extended version of the film It's Tough to Be a Bird.
  • 1971 - Buena Vista generally releases the film Bedknobs and Broomsticks to theaters in the US.
  • 1975 - Walt Disney Productions announces it will begin construction of EPCOT in 1976, instead of 1977 as planned.
  • 1989 - Buena Vista releases the Touchstone Pictures live-action feature film Blaze to theaters. It cost US$25 million to make.
  • 1990 - Dominica issues ten postage stamps depicting Disney characters on carousel animals.
  • 1990 - Disney and the family of Jim Henson announce the cancelling of Disney's planned acquisition of Henson Associates. Frank Wells had asked for a US$25 million cut in the price of the deal, due to the decreased value of Henson Associates following the death of founder Jim Henson.
  • 1996 - Buena Vista Pictures releases the Touchstone Pictures / Samuel Goldwyn Co. live-action feature film The Preacher's Wife to theaters in the US. The film cost US$70 million to produce.
  • 1997 - The Toon Up Treats shop opens in Mickey's Toontown at Disneyland.
  • 1998 - Disney and Infoseek launch a test version of the Go Network (go.com) Internet Web portal. The new portal combines content from Disney-owned Web sites, including ABC News, ESPN, Family.com, and Mr. Showbiz.
  • 2005 - Disney releases the film Kronk's New Groove on DVD in the USA.
  • 2006 - The ABC TV network airs the last Day Break TV show.
  • 2015 - The ABC TV network airs the Behind the Magic: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs special.
  • 2015 - The ABC TV network airs the final episode of Blood & Oil.

Chevrolet Corvette history:

  • 1997 - Home Box Office releases the film Breast Men to the home video market in the USA.
    • A Bright Red 1986-87 Corvette is t-boned by a concrete truck.
    • The front end of a silver 1973-79 Corvette appears.

  • 1999 - The Corvette Plant makes the 1000th delivery of a new Corvette via the National Corvette Museum, by regular production option R8C. The Corvette is a Millennium Yellow convertible.

World War II history:

  • 1939 - British cruisers Exeter and Ajax, and New Zealand Achilles attack German pocket-battleship Admiral Graf Spee in the south Atlantic off South America.
  • 1940 - Adolf Hitler issues Directive No. 20: "Undertaking Marita", to prevent the English establishment of an air base in the Balkans, which would threaten Italy and Romania. To achieve this, the forces in Romania must be increased, to be moved across Bulgaria to the north coast of Aegean when weather permits.
  • 1941 - Final British forces on the Hong Kong mainland evacuate to the island.
  • 1941 - Japanese commander Lieutenant-General Takashi Saki issues an ultimatum to the Governor of Hong Kong, requesting a surrender of the island.
  • 1941 - Bulgaria declares war on Great Britain and the United States.
  • 1941 - Hungary declares war on Great Britain and the United States.
  • 1941 - Almost 200 Japanese bombers and fighters attack over Luzon, Philippines.
  • 1941 - Sir Mark Young, Governor of Hong Kong, rejects a Japanese demand for the surrender of Hong Kong.
  • 1941 - (night) In the Mediterranean, three British destroyers, Sikh, Maouri, and Legion, and Netherlands destroyer Isaac Sweers encounter two Italian cruisers with two destroyers. The Italian ships alter course to evade an assumed attack from a lone British bomber, making themselves vulnerable to a massive torpedo and shelling attack. All four ships are sunk, with no British or Netherland losses.
  • 1944 - The US 3rd Army captures Metz, France.
  • 1944 - The New York Times reports American Air Force airmen have encountered silver-colored spheres in the air over German territory.
  • 1974 - The Falkland Islands issues four postage stamps marking the 35th anniversary of the Battle of the River Plate (the sinking of the German pocket-battleship Admiral Graf Spee).
  • 1989 - Marshall Islands issues four postage stamps marking the 50th anniversary of the Battle of the River Plate.
  • 1996 - In Bonn, Germany, the Swiss National Bank publicly acknowledges that it had profited from wartime dealings in gold bullion with the German central bank, but that there is no evidence that the gold was stolen from Holocaust victims, and no gold in Swiss possession bears German stamps. Total value of wartime gold transactions was 1.2 million Swiss francs, with profit of about 20 million francs.

Video game history:

  • 1994 - Apple Computer announces the Pippin video game system specification, based on the Macintosh personal computer. It features a PowerPC 603 processor, produces graphics with 640x480 resolution in 24-bit color on a television, and uses CD-ROM disks. A license is granted to Bandai of Japan to manufacture and sell units, tentatively called the Power Player.
  • 2003 - Sony releases the PSX in Japan. The unit combines a PlayStation 2 with DVR and DVD player/recorder. Price is close to US$1000.
  • 2005 - Midway releases the Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows video game for the Xbox and PlayStation 2 in the US.
  • 2009 - The Fox Broadcasting Company airs The Simpsons TV show in the USA.
    • A child plays what appears to be an Xbox 360 with wireless remote.
    • The characters Mario and Luigi, part of Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. franchise appear.
    • Someone says "I've got video games".

Swedish history:

  • 1503 - Sten Sture dies at Jönköping, en route to Stockholm. His party continues the journey, with servant Lasse Birgersson in his place, so that Danes would not yet know of the death.

A&W Root Beer history:

  • 2005 - A & W Restaurants is granted a registered trademark of an image with text "WISCONSIN FRESH CHEESE CURDS LEGENDARY TASTE!".

Canadian coin history:

  • 2002 - Unitrade Press releases the 21st edition (2003) of Coins of Canada book, by J. Haxby and R. Willey.

USA coin history:

  • 1912 - The Philadelphia Mint strikes the last Liberty Head 5-cent coins for circulation.
  • 1921 - The Commission of Fine Arts unanimously selects for the dollar coin the designs of sculptor Anthony de Francisci.
  • 1963 - Trial strikes of the John Kennedy half dollar are sent to Mint Director Eva Adams.
  • 1978 - The US Mint at Philadelphia makes ceremonial first strikes of the Susan Anthony dollar coins for circulation.
  • 1990 - US Mint Chief Engraver Elizabeth Jones resigns.
  • 2005 - The House of Representatives passes the Senate's revised version of the Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005.
  • 2007 - Representative Ron Paul of Texas introduces H.R. 4683, the "Free Competition in Currency Act" in the House of Representatives, seeking repeal of sections of the U.S. Code that prohibit private currencies that compete with US Mint products.
  • 2011 - Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner announces a suspension of production of Presidential dollars for circulation, due to the surplus of dollar coins in Federal Reserve Banks and storage facilities.

Sports history:

  • 1901 - Test debut of S F Barnes versus Australia Sydney Cricket Ground, takes 5-65 in first innings.
  • 1907 - George Gunn scores 119 on Test debut versus Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground.
  • 1922 - Charles Ebbets proposes putting numbers on baseball players' sleeves or caps.
  • 1930 - George Sisler's baseball career ends when Boston Braves release him.
  • 1936 - Final Boston Redskins NFL game, lose to Green Bay Packers 21-6, move to Washington DC.
  • 1936 - Green Bay Packers win NFL championship.
  • 1942 - Washington Redskins defeat Chicago Bears 14-6, to win NFL title.
  • 1956 - Brooklyn Dodgers trade Jackie Robinson to New York Giants for pitcher Dick Littlefield and $35,000; Robinson retires.
  • 1960 - Italy beats US in Davis Cup (first time in 24 years US not in finals).
  • 1964 - Shirley Englehorn and Sam Snead win Haig and Haig Mixed Foursome Golf.
  • 1966 - Test debut of Clive Lloyd, versus India Bombay, 82 and 78.
  • 1967 - United Soccer Association and National Pro Soccer League merge into NASL.
  • 1969 - Billy Martin fired as Minnesota Twins' manager.
  • 1970 - Greg Chappell scores 108 on Test debut versus England at the WACA.
  • 1973 - World Football League grants first franchise (Detroit Wheels).
  • 1975 - Jane Blalock wins LPGA 14 Colgate Triple Crown Golf Tournament.
  • 1975 - Roy Fredericks hits 169 versus Australia at WACA, hundred in 71 balls.
  • 1977 - Entire University of Evansville basketball team (14 players) die in plane crash.
  • 1981 - 70th Davis Cup: USA beats Argentina in Cincinnati (3-1).
  • 1982 - 71st Australian Men's Tennis: Johan Kriek beats Steve Denton (6-3, 6-3, 6-2).
  • 1982 - New Jersey Devils' first hat trick-Steve Tambellini.
  • 1983 - The Denver Nuggets and the visiting Detroit Pistons combine for an NBA record 370 points, with Detroit winning in triple overtime, 186-184.
  • 1983 - New York Islander's Butch Goring scores four goals against Edmonton Oilers.
  • 1985 - David Boon's first Test century, 123 versus India at Adelaide.
  • 1985 - Test debut of Merv Hughes, Geoff Marsh and Bruce Reid (v India).
  • 1987 - Cleveland Browns set club record for most points scored in a quarter, 28.
  • 1989 - Walter Davis (Denver Nuggets) ends NBA free throw streak of 53 games.
  • 1991 - Ricky Pierce (Seattle SuperSonics) ends NBA free throw streak of 75 games.
  • 1992 - Dawn Coe-Jones wins Pizza-La LPGA Match Play Golf Championship.
  • 1996 - Free agent Roger Clemens signs with Toronto Blue Jays.
  • 1997 - 63rd Heisman Trophy Award: Charles Woodson, Michigan (CB).
  • 2000 - The Boston Red Sox sign Manny Ramirez to an eight-year, $160 million contract.
  • 2001 - The New York Yankees sign Jason Giambi to a seven-year deal worth US$120 million.
  • 2007 - Former US Senator George J. Mitchell publicly releases a report accusing 88 retired and active Major League Baseball players of anabolic steroid use.

Space exploration history:

  • 1920 - F Pease's interferometer measures first stellar diameter (Betelgeuse).
  • 1962 - Relay 1 communication satellite launched.
  • 1993 - Space shuttle STS-61 (Endeavour 5) lands.
  • 2020 - After taking off from Mojave Air and Space Port, New Mexico, USA, VMS Eve carrier aircraft launches VSS Unity rocket plane, which then flies into space and back.

USA history:

  • 1816 - Patent for a dry dock issued to John Adamson, Boston, Massachusetts.
  • 1861 - Battle of Alleghany Summit, West Virginia.
  • 1862 - Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia, CSA (Marye's Heights); CSA beats USA.
  • 1864 - Former Treasury Secretary Salmon P. Chase is sworn in as chief justice of the US.
  • 1864 - Battle of Fort McAllister, Georgia.
  • 1870 - The first national bank charter is granted in New Mexico Territory, to land owner Lucien Maxwell, for the First National Bank of Sante Fe.
  • 1879 - First federal fish hatching steamer launched (Wilmington, Delaware).
  • 1903 - Wright Brothers make first flight at Kittyhawk.
  • 1918 - US army of occupation crosses the Rhine, enters Germany.
  • 1918 - Woodrow Wilson becomes first US President to make a foreign visit as President (France).
  • 1933 - Treasury Secretary William Woodin resigns.
  • 1941 - Bulgaria declares war on Great Britain and the United States.
  • 1941 - Hungary declares war on Great Britain and the United States.
  • 1944 - Japanese kamikaze crashes into US cruiser Nashville, kills 138.
  • 1962 - Relay 1 communication satellite launched.
  • 1964 - In El Paso, Texas, US President Lyndon Johnson and Mexican President Gustavo Diaz Ordaz set off an explosion diverting Rio Grande, to reshape US-México border.
  • 1966 - First US bombing of Hanoi, Vietnam.
  • 1966 - US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site.
  • 1976 - Golden Gate Bridge District starts ferry service to Larkspur, California.
  • 1976 - Longest non-stop passenger airflight (Sydney to San Francisco, 13 hours 14 minutes).
  • 1977 - Entire University of Evansville basketball team (14 players) die in plane crash.
  • 1978 - The first Susan B. Anthony dollar coin enters circulation in the USA.
  • 1988 - Three men end 29-hour all-466-station subway ride in New York City, New York.
  • 1991 - New York assembly speaker Mel Miller is convicted of federal mail fraud.
  • 1993 - A U-2 spyplane crashes on a local training flight at Beale Air Force Base in California; US Air Force pilot Captain Richard Schneider is killed.
  • 1994 - American Eagle commuter plane crashes in North Carolina, killing 15.
  • 1995 - US Federal Court rules that cable companies must carry local stations.
  • 2000 - The U.S. Supreme Court stops the Florida presidential recount, effectively giving the state, and the Presidency, to George W. Bush.
  • 2000 - US Vice President Al Gore concedes defeat to Texas Governor George W. Bush in the presidential election.
  • 2000 - The Texas 7 escape from their prison unit in Kenedy, Texas, and start a crime spree.
  • 2001 - U.S. President George W. Bush announces the United States' withdrawal from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.
  • 2007 - Former US Senator George J. Mitchell publicly releases a report accusing 88 retired and active Major League Baseball players of anabolic steroid use.
  • 2020 - After taking off from Mojave Air and Space Port, New Mexico, USA, VMS Eve carrier aircraft launches VSS Unity rocket plane, which then flies into space and back.

Other history:

  • 1642 - New Zealand discovered by Dutch navigator Abel Tasman.
  • 1774 - First incident of the American Revolution - 400 attack Fort William and Mary, New Hampshire.
  • 1816 - Patent for a dry dock issued to John Adamson, Boston.
  • 1843 - "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens published, 6,000 copies sold.
  • 1903 - Wright Brothers make first flight at Kittyhawk.
  • 1916 - Avalanche kills 10,000 Austrian and Italian troops in 24 hours in Tyrol.
  • 1920 - League of Nations establishes International Court of Justice in The Hague.
  • 1949 - Knesset votes to transfer Israel's capitol to Jerusalem.
  • 1964 - In El Paso, Texas, USA, LBJ and Mexican President Gustavo Diaz Ordaz set off an explosion diverting Rio Grande, to reshape US-México border.
  • 1968 - President Da Costa e Silva of Brazil disbands parliament/grabs power.
  • 1974 - Malta becomes a republic.
  • 1978 - Susan B Anthony dollar issued, first US coin to honor a woman.
  • 2001 - The Parliament of India is attacked by terrorists, killing 14 people. This brings India and Pakistan to the brink of war.

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