This Day in Pop Culture for August 13

2010: Scott Faced the World and Lost – Sort of

Based on the graphic novel of the same name, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World opened in theaters on this day and bombed. Despite largely favorable reviews from critics, the masses didn’t come to same him. Universal Pictures acknowledged that they had a hard time marketing the film to a mainstream audience. However, the movie received over 70 award nominations and today has a strong cult following.

The movie was directed by Edgar Wright and is known for its unique visual style and humor. It is told with a mix of different art imagery. Kevin Smith said that Wright brought the comic book to life. The movie starred Michael Cera as Scott, a teenager tasked with defeating seven of his new girlfriend’s exes. Cera’s co-stars included Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Chris Evans, Anna Kendrick, Mae Whitman, Brie Larson, Aubrey Plaza and Jason Schwartzman. (Universal Pictures)

1860: Annie Oakley is Born

Anything you can do, she could do better. At least, that is how the song goes in the stage musical, Annie Get Your Gun based on the life of Annie Oakley. Welcomed to the world as Phoebe Ann Mosey, “Annie” was born in Woodland, Ohio. By the age of seven, Annie had learned the art of trapping and a year later learned how to shoot and hunt animals.

Annie did not attend school regularly as a child and 1870, she was sent to work as a nanny agreeing to the pay of fifty cents per week and an education. It is said that Annie spent two years serving in a near-slavery conditions where she was mentally and physically abused.

Later when she returned home, Annie sold what she caught to local restaurants and hotels. By the age of 15 she was able to pay off her mother’s farm. It was the same year that Annie took on Frank E. Butler, a traveling show marksman in a shooting competition. Butler missed his 25th shot and Annie took home $100. However, in a sense, they both won as he began to court Annie and the two were married a year later.

The two joined the Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show in 1885 and was known as “Little Sure Shot” in many of the show’s advertisements. It is believed that Annie taught about 15,000 women how to use a gun during her lifetime.

1992: Left-Handers Unite!

It is estimated that about 10% of the world’s population are left-handed. However, for many years, left-handed children in grade schools were forced to write with their right hands. In 1990, The Left Handers Club began campaigning for designers to create more left-handed products. Two years later on this day, they created the unofficial holiday, Left-Handers Day to raise awareness of the struggles that left-handed children and adults face every day. (Image: Stefan Schweihofer/Pixabay)

2021: ‘CODA’ Debuts on Streaming Service

CODA, a remake of the French-Belgian film La Famille Bélier, debuted on Apple TV+ on this day. Directed by Sian Heder, the comedy/drama film centers mostly on Ruby Rossi (Emilia Jones) a young woman who is the only hearing member of her family. The movie used deaf actors to play the deaf characters. Marlee Matlin played Ruby’s mother, Troy Kotsur played her father and Daniel Durant played her brother.

Having been released on the Apple TV+ streaming service, CODA was the first movie to win the Best Picture Oscar even though it had never been available on physical media. The movie also won Oscars for Best Supporting Actor (Kotsur) and Best Adapted Screenplay.

In August of 2024, Deaf West Theatre announced that they were working on a musical stage play based on the movie.

1967: Bonnie and Clyde

Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway starred in Bonnie and Clyde which was released on this day. The movie was directed by Arthur Penn.

2015: Picasso

More of Picasso’s paintings has been stolen than any other artist. “La Coiffeuse” was returned to Paris’ National Museum of Modern Art after being stolen 17 years earlier.

1997: South Park

Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the foul-mouthed, adult animation show South Park debuted on Comedy Central.

1918: The First Woman Joined the U.S. Marine Corps

During World I, Opha May Johnson became the first woman to join the United States Marine Corps Reserve. She was the first in line of 300 or so women. And she was 39 years old at the time too. Some of her first duties were to serve as a clerk managing records of other women reservists. By that September, she was the highest-ranking woman in the corps. (U.S. Marine Corps/Wikipedia)