On This Day: January 12

This is the 12th day of the year.

Fact of the Day: Batman

Batman premiered on ABC on this day in 1966. This crime-fighting show made it to the "Top 10" in the Nielsen ratings in its first season. Based on the DC Comics characters created by Bob Kane in 1939, Adam West starred as millionaire Bruce Wayne and his superhero alter ego, Batman. Burt Ward costarred as Dick Grayson/Robin, the Boy Wonder. The most fun part of Batman was the assortment of villains guest-starring each week: Cesar Romero, Eartha Kitt, Julie Newmar, Burgess Meredith, Frank Gorshin, and many more. The last telecast was in March 1968, but movies have followed it. (Dynasty also premiered on this date in 1981.)

Holidays

Feast day of St. Benedict or Benet Biscop, St. Tatiana, St. Margaret Bourgeoys, St. Arcadius, St. Caesaria, St. Victorian, and St. Eutropius.

Tanzania: Zanzibar Revolution Day.

Events

1773 - The first public museum (the Charleston Museum) in America was established, in Charleston, South Carolina.

1866 - The Royal Aeronautical Society was founded in London.

1879 - The British-Zulu War began.

1908 - A wireless message was sent long-distance for the first time, from the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

1915 - The U.S. House of Representatives rejected a proposal to give women the right to vote.

1915 - Congress established Rocky Mountain National Park.

1932 - Hattie W. Caraway became the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate.

1959 - "The Bell Telephone Hour," a musical series, premiered on television.

1966 - "Batman" premiered on TV.

1971 - "All in the Family" premiered on television.

Births

1588 - John Winthrop, the first governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony.

1737 - John Hancock, American, first signer of the Declaration of Independence.

1876 - Jack London (John Chaney), American author.

Deaths

1976 - Agatha Christie, English detective-story writer.