Category Archives: Movies 1940s

‘Sunday, Monday, or Always’ by Bing Crosby peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 11 1943)

(Saturday, September 11, 1943) — “Sunday, Monday, or Always” by Bing Crosby (with the Ken Darby Singers) was the #1 song on today’s Billboard National List of Best Selling Retail Records chart for the first of seven consecutive weeks (Sept. 11/18/25, Oct. 2/9/16/23, 1943). Continue reading ‘Sunday, Monday, or Always’ by Bing Crosby peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 11 1943)

‘Taking a Chance on Love’ by Benny Goodman peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 12 1943)

(Saturday, June 12, 1943) — “Taking a Chance on Love” by Benny Goodman and his Orchestra (vocal chorus by Helen Forrest) peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard National List of Best Selling Retail Records chart for the first of three consecutive weeks (June 12/19/26, 1943). Continue reading ‘Taking a Chance on Love’ by Benny Goodman peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 12 1943)

‘I Had the Craziest Dream’ by Harry James peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 13 1943)

(Saturday, February 13, 1943) — “I Had the Craziest Dream” by Harry James and his Orchestra (vocal chorus by Helen Forrest) was the #1 song on today’s Billboard National Best Selling Retail Records chart for the first of two consecutive weeks (Feb. 13/20, 1943). Continue reading ‘I Had the Craziest Dream’ by Harry James peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 13 1943)

‘Casablanca’ romantic drama film opens at Hollywood Theater in New York City 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 26 1942)


Video: 'Casablanca' (trailer)

(Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, 1942, 12 noon EST)Casablanca, a romantic drama film about an American saloon owner in North Africa who is drawn into World War II when his lost love turns up, opened today at the Hollywood Theater at 237 W. 51st Street in the Manhattan borough of New York City. Continue reading ‘Casablanca’ romantic drama film opens at Hollywood Theater in New York City 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 26 1942)

‘(I’ve Got a Gal In) Kalamazoo’ by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 12 1942)

(Saturday, September 12, 1942) — “(I’ve Got a Gal In) Kalamazoo” by Glenn Miller & His Orchestra (vocal refrain by Tex Beneke, Marion Hutton, and The Modernaires) peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for the first of seven consecutive weeks (Sept. 12/19/26, Oct. 3/10/17/24, 1942). Continue reading ‘(I’ve Got a Gal In) Kalamazoo’ by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 12 1942)

Bing Crosby records ‘White Christmas,’ best-selling single of all-time, in Los Angeles 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 29 1942)

(Friday, May 29, 1942) — “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby, the world’s best-selling single (in terms of sales of physical media), was recorded today with the John Scott Trotter Orchestra and the Ken Darby Singers at the Radio Recorders recording studio, 932 N. Western Avenue in Los Angeles. Continue reading Bing Crosby records ‘White Christmas,’ best-selling single of all-time, in Los Angeles 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 29 1942)

‘Tangerine’ by Jimmy Dorsey peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 9 1942)

(Saturday, May 9, 1942) — “Tangerine” by Jimmy Dorsey And His Orchestra (vocal choruses by Bob Eberly and Helen O’Connell) peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for the first of six consecutive weeks (May 9/16/23/30, June 6/13, 1942). Continue reading ‘Tangerine’ by Jimmy Dorsey peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 9 1942)

‘Blues in the Night (My Mama Done Tol’ Me)’ by Woody Herman peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 14 1942)

(Saturday, February 14, 1942) — “Blues in the Night (My Mama Done Tol’ Me)” by Woody Herman And His Orchestra (with brief cameo vocal appearances by composer Harold Arlen) peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for one week. Continue reading ‘Blues in the Night (My Mama Done Tol’ Me)’ by Woody Herman peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 14 1942)

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill becomes first head of state to cross Atlantic Ocean by plane 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 17 1942)


Video: 'Mr Churchill Comes Home (1942)'

(Saturday, January 17, 1942, shortly before 10:00 a.m. British Summer Time; during World War II) — British Prime Minister Winston Churchill became the first head of state to cross the Atlantic Ocean by plane when he landed this morning in Plymouth, England, after an eighteen-hour flight from Bermuda following the Arcadia Conference with U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Continue reading British Prime Minister Winston Churchill becomes first head of state to cross Atlantic Ocean by plane 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 17 1942)

Actress Carole Lombard, 33, killed in plane crash near Las Vegas 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 16 1942)


Video: 'Carole Lombard Paramount Death Report Footage'

(Friday, January 16, 1942, 7:20 p.m. PST) — Academy Award nominated actress Carole Lombard, particularly noted for her energetic, often off-beat roles in screwball comedies, and 21 other people, including Lombard’s mother, were killed tonight when TWA Flight 3 crashed into a mountain near Las Vegas. Continue reading Actress Carole Lombard, 33, killed in plane crash near Las Vegas 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 16 1942)