Monthly Archives: February 2014

‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’ wins Best Picture at 76th Academy Awards 10 years ago (Feb 29 2004)


Video: '76th (2004) Oscars' (28 videos)

(Sunday, February 29, 2004, 8:38 p.m. EST)The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King won a recording tying 11 Oscars tonight at the 76th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Peter Jackson for Best Director. Sean Penn won Best Actor for Mystic River and Charlize Theron won Best Actress for Monster. Continue reading ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’ wins Best Picture at 76th Academy Awards 10 years ago (Feb 29 2004)

Michael Jackson wins record 8 Grammy Awards 30 years ago this hour (Feb 28 1984)


Video: 'Michael Jackson Grammys 1984'

(Tuesday, February 28, 1984, 8:00-11:00 p.m. EST) — Michael Jackson won a record eight Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year for Thriller. But, Jackson lost to Sting of the Police in the Song of the Year category, when “Every Breath You Take” won. Continue reading Michael Jackson wins record 8 Grammy Awards 30 years ago this hour (Feb 28 1984)

President Tyler escapes injury in deadly USS Princeton explosion 170 years ago this hour (Feb 28 1844)

(Wednesday, February 28, 1844, shortly after 4:00 p.m.) — U.S. President John Tyler barely escaped injury today when a 12-inch gun aboard the USS Princeton exploded as the ship was sailing on the Potomac River. Secretary of State Abel P. Upshur, Navy Secretary Thomas W. Gilmer and four others were killed.

Nuclear test causes most significant accidental radiological contamination ever by U.S. 60 years ago this hour (Mar 1 1954)


Video: 'Castle Bravo Nuclear Test'

(Monday, March 1, 1954, 6:45 a.m. local time; Sunday, February 28, 1954, 1:45 p.m. EST) — The United States detonated a dry-fuel hydrogen bomb, codenamed Castle Bravo, at Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands today. The explosive yield of 15 megatons, much greater than expected, dropped radioactive fallout on occupied islands hundreds of miles away.

Clay defeats Liston to become world heavyweight boxing champion 50 years ago tonight (Feb 25 1964)


Video: 'Sonny Liston vs Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) Boxing Match'

(Tuesday, February 25, 1964, evening) — Muhammad Ali (then known as Cassius Clay) became the world heavyweight boxing champion today as he defeated Sonny Liston at Convention Hall Miami Beach, Florida. The victory was scored as a technical knockout when an injured Liston failed to answer the bell for the seventh round.

The Beatles begin recording ‘And I Love Her’ 50 years ago this hour (Feb 25 1964)


Video: 'And I Love Her' (take 2, mono)

(Tuesday, February 25, 1964, 2:30-5:30 p.m. GMT) — The Beatles worked on two songs this afternoon which ended up on the A Hard Day’s Night soundtrack. “And I Love Her” was the first to be tackled. Continue reading The Beatles begin recording ‘And I Love Her’ 50 years ago this hour (Feb 25 1964)

Federal prisoners begin arriving at Andersonville 150 years ago today (Feb 24 1864)


Video: 'Andersonville Prison'

(Wednesday, February 24, 1864; during the American Civil War) — According to the National Park Service, the first Union prisoners arrived at the Confederates’ Andersonville prison camp in Georgia. During its 14 months of existence, the overcrowded camp ended up holding some 45,000 men, more than four times its intended capacity; nearly 13,000 prisoners perished from disease, starvation or exposure.

The Beatles (on tape) perform (again) on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ 50 years ago this hour (Feb 23 1964)


Video: 'The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show'

(Sunday, February 23, 1964, 8:00 p.m. EST) — The Beatles performed three songs for their third of three consecutive appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show variety television series on CBS. Continue reading The Beatles (on tape) perform (again) on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ 50 years ago this hour (Feb 23 1964)