Monthly Archives: May 2014

Battle of Cold Harbor begins near Mechanicsville, Virginia 150 years ago this hour (May 31 1864)


Video: 'Civil War Combat - Battle of Cold Harbor'

(Tuesday, May 31, 1864, 4:00 p.m. local time; during the Battle of Cold Harbor, part of the Overland Campaign of the American Civil War) — The Battle of Cold Harbor, remembered as one of American history’s bloodiest, most lopsided battles, began today as Union cavalry seized the crossroads of Old Cold Harbor, about 10 miles northeast of the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia, holding it against Confederate attacks until the Union infantry arrived.

German soldier stationed in Nantes, France writes home 70 years ago this hour (May 31 1944)


Video: 'Ten Days to D-Day 3/7' (May 31, 1944, at 3:29)

(Wednesday, May 31, 1944, 10:00 a.m. British Double Summer Time (BDST)/4:00 a.m. Eastern War Time(EWT); 6 days before the Normandy landings on the Western Front of World War II) — A German soldier stationed in Nantes, France, writes a letter home as the Allies prepare for D-Day.

American 82nd Airborne have reached final staging post 70 years ago this hour (May 30 1944)


Video: 'Ten Days to D-Day 2/7' (May 30, 1944, at 12:13)

(Tuesday, May 30, 1944, 9:00 a.m. British Double Summer Time (BDST)/3:00 a.m. Eastern War Time(EWT); 7 days before the Normandy landings on the Western Front of World War II) — The American 82nd Airborne have reached their final staging post at Cottesmore airfield in the English Midlands by today for the upcoming invasion of Europe.  Continue reading American 82nd Airborne have reached final staging post 70 years ago this hour (May 30 1944)

McCartney contributes to Billy J Kramer ‘From a Window’ session 50 years ago today (May 29 1964)


Video: 'Billy J Kramer And The Dakotas - From A Window'

(Friday, May 29, 1964) — Paul McCartney of The Beatles attended a recording session today at EMI Studios in London for the Lennon-McCartney composition “From a Window” as performed by Bill J Kramer, singing the final syllable: “…niiiight.”

The Beatles release ‘Ain’t She Sweet/If You Love Me, Baby’ 50 years ago today (May 29 1964)


Video: 'The Beatles - Ain't She Sweet (2013 Stereo Remix & Remaster)'

(Friday, May 29, 1964) — The Beatles released “Ain’t She Sweet”/“If You Love Me, Baby” (B-side with Tony Sheridan on lead vocal; both tracks recorded in Hamburg, West Germany, in June 1961) today in the UK as a single on the Polydor label. Continue reading The Beatles release ‘Ain’t She Sweet/If You Love Me, Baby’ 50 years ago today (May 29 1964)

‘Dial M for Murder’ opens in New York City 60 years ago today (May 29 1954)


Video: 'Dial M for Murder' trailer

(Saturday, May 29, 1954)Dial M for Murder, a crime thriller film about a straying husband who frames his wife for the murder of the man he’d hired to kill her, opened today in New York City at the Paramount theater.

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, the film starred Ray Milland, Grace Kelly, Robert Cummings and John Williams.