Monthly Archives: March 2013

Kennedy family filmed relaxing at Camp David 50 years ago today (1963)


Video: 'Camp David (Caroline with Macaroni), Sunday, 31 March 1963'

(Sunday, March 31 1963) — U.S. President John F. Kennedy was filmed today at Camp David, relaxing with his family: First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, Caroline Kennedy, John F. Kennedy Jr., and Undersecretary of the Navy Paul “Red” Fay. Caroline rides her pony “Macaroni.”

Kubrick’s ‘Fear and Desire’ opens in New York City 60 years ago today (1953)


Video: 'Fear and Desire' trailer

(Tuesday, March 31, 1953)Fear and Desire, a military action/adventure film about four soldiers trapped behind enemy lines who must confront their fears and desires, arrived today at the Guild Theatre in New York City.

Directed by Stanley Kubrick (his first feature film), the movie starred Frank Silvera, Kenneth Harp, Paul Mazursky, Steve Coit and Virginia Leith.

Musical play ‘Oklahoma!’ opens on Broadway 70 years ago today (1943)


Video: 'Celeste Holm - I Cain't Say No'

(Wednesday, March 31, 1943)Oklahoma!, the first musical play by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, opened today on Broadway at the St. James Theatre in New York City. Ten years later, Oklahoma! would be described as “a new musical that broke all the rules: it had no big-name stars, no bare-legged chorus and, worst of all, it contained a ‘high-brow’ ballet.” Continue reading Musical play ‘Oklahoma!’ opens on Broadway 70 years ago today (1943)

Crematorium II becomes operational at Auschwitz death camp 70 years ago today (1943)


Video: 'Auschwitz II Birkenau Crematorium II'

(Wednesday, March 31, 1943, part of The Holocaust during World War II) — Crematorium II, with the capacity to burn 1440 corpses a day, became operational today at the Auschwitz II–Birkenau extermination camp in Nazi-occupied Poland.

Originally designed as a mortuary, with morgues in the basement and ground-level furnaces, Crematorium II was converted to increase greatly the gassing capacity of Birkenau by placing a gas-tight door on the morgues and adding vents for Zyklon-B and ventilation equipment to remove the gas.

President Roosevelt signs act creating Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) 80 years ago today (1933)


Video: 'The CCC' (parts 1-5)

(Friday, March 31, 1933; during the Great Depression) — President Franklin D. Roosevelt today signed the Emergency Conservation Work Act, which created the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), which provided unskilled manual labor jobs related to the conservation and development of natural resources in rural lands owned by federal, state and local governments.

Paul McCartney performs in Barcelona 10 years ago tonight (2003)


Video: 'Paul McCartney 29.03.2003 , Barcelona, Spain - you never give me your money - incomplete'

(Saturday, March 29, 2003) — Ex-Beatle Paul McCartney performed tonight at Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona, Spain, the second stop and third performance of his Back in the World tour. Continue reading Paul McCartney performs in Barcelona 10 years ago tonight (2003)

‘Unforgiven’ wins Best Picture at 65th Academy Awards 20 years ago this hour (1993)


Video: '1992 Oscar Winners'

(Monday, March 29, 1993, 8:00 p.m. EST)Unforgiven won four Oscars tonight at the 65th Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Clint Eastwood for Best Director. Al Pacino won Best Actor for Scent of a Woman and Emma Thompson won Best Actress for Howards End. Continue reading ‘Unforgiven’ wins Best Picture at 65th Academy Awards 20 years ago this hour (1993)

McCartney films more ‘Broad Street’ scenes 30 years ago today (1983)


Video: 'Paul McCartney-Give My Regards to Broad Street-Full Movie-HQ' (cape/top hat scenes begin at 1:18:46)

(Wednesday, March 29, 1983) — Ex-Beatle Paul McCartney filmed scenes today at Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, England, for the movie Give My Regards To Broad Street, wearing a top hat and cape. The film, directed by Peter Webb, was written and starred McCartney.

Rationing of meat, fats and cheese begins in U.S. 70 years ago today (1943)

(Monday, March 29, 1943; during World War II) — Rationing of meat, fats and cheese began today in the United States. Rationed meats included beef, pork, veal, lamb, and tinned meats and fish. Poultry, eggs, fresh milk—and Spam—were not rationed. Cheese rationing started with hard cheeses since they were more easily shipped overseas.