Sanarchive:Selected anniversaries/January 16

16 January: Major events in the arts

1605 – The first edition of Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes was published in Madrid, becoming one of the most influential works of Western literature.
1886 – French composer Claude Debussy's L'enfant prodigue was performed for the first time, a work that helped him win the prestigious Prix de Rome.
1939 – The first issue of the comic book Superman was published as a standalone title, cementing the character's status as a global pop culture icon.
1957 – The Cavern Club opened in Liverpool, which would later become the historic launching pad for The Beatles and the Merseybeat movement.
1969 – Czech student Jan Palach set himself on fire in Prague to protest the Soviet occupation; his sacrifice inspired numerous poems, films, and songs across Europe.