Monthly Archives: June 2015

Yul Brynner performs in ‘The King and I’ on Broadway for final time 30 years ago tonight (June 30 1985)


Video: 'Shall We Dance? Yul Brynner Patricia Morrison 1971'

(Sunday, June 30, 1985) — Yul Brynner performed for the last time tonight as the King of Siam in The King and I at Broadway Theatre on Broadway in New York. He had done the show off and on for 34 years and more than 4,500 performances (Brynner died of lung cancer less than four months later).

Red mortars hit Da Nang 50 years ago this hour (July 1 1965)


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History - America's Enemy [5/11]' (July 1, 1965, at 24:16)

(Thursday, July 1, 1965, 1:30 a.m. local time; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Communist guerrillas bombarded the big U.S. air base at Da Nang, 375 miles northeast of Saigon, South Vietnam, early today with a surprise mortar and hand grenade attack.

39 American hostages freed 17 days after TWA Flight 847 hijacking 30 years ago today (June 30 1985)


Video: 'June 30, 1985: Hostages Released in Beirut'

(Sunday, June 30, 1985) — 39 Americans who were aboard a Trans World Airlines jet when it was hijacked over Europe on June 14, 1985, were released today in Beirut after the Reagan administration accepted a proposal by Syria to issue an old policy statement on Lebanon that “reaffirms its longstanding support for the preservation of Lebanon, its Government, its stability and security, and for the mitigation of the suffering of its people.”

Eight defendants convicted in Lincoln assassination 150 years ago today (June 30 1865)


Video: 'Ken Burns The Civil War: Episode 9 The Better Angels of Our Nature (1865) |Ken Burns Docum' (June 30, 1865. at 31:48)

(Friday, June 30, 1865) — Eight people, including Mary Surratt and Dr. Samuel Mudd, were convicted today by a military commission of conspiring with John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of President Abraham Lincoln. Four of the defendants, including Surratt, would be executed July 7, 1865; Mudd was sentenced to life in prison, but was pardoned by President Andrew Johnson in 1869.

Ringo Starr appears in Pizza Hut commercial with three Monkees 20 years ago today (June 29 1995)


Video: 'Beatles - Ringo Starr & The Monkees - Pizza Hut Commercial (1995)'

(Sunday, June 29, 1995) — Former Beatle Ringo first appeared in a Pizza Hut television commercial today alongside three members of the group The Monkees, including Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork.

‘Into the Groove’ by Madonna tops USA dance club chart 30 years ago today (June 29 1985)

(Saturday, June 29, 1985)“Into The Groove”” by Madonna peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart for one week.

While a very popular track at the time with heavy rotation on MTV, “Into the Groove” was only available as the B-side of the 12-inch single of “Angel,” and therefore not eligible to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 according to the rules at the time.