Category Archives: Movies 1970s

Ex-Beatle John Lennon attends AFI tribute to James Cagney in Los Angeles 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 13 1974)


Video: 'AFI Salutes James Cagney American Film Institute March 31st 1974' (John Lennon at 25:37-25:41)

(Wednesday, March 13, 1974, evening PDT) — One day after being ejected from the Troubadour Club for heckling during a performance by the comedy duo The Smothers Brothers, a clean and sober looking John Lennon attended the American Film Institute tribute dinner to legendary film actor James Cagney tonight at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. Continue reading Ex-Beatle John Lennon attends AFI tribute to James Cagney in Los Angeles 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 13 1974)

Mel Brooks’ ‘Blazing Saddles’ comedy film opens in Manhattan 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 7 1974)


Video: 'Blazing Saddles' trailer

(Thursday, February 7, 1974, scheduled to start at 12 noon EST)Blazing Saddles, an American satirical postmodernist Western black comedy film about a black sheriff who takes on a corrupt town boss and a sultry saloon singer, opened today at the Sutton Theater at 205 E. 57th Street in Manhattan. Continue reading Mel Brooks’ ‘Blazing Saddles’ comedy film opens in Manhattan 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 7 1974)

‘The Way We Were’ by Barbra Streisand peaks at #1 in USA 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 2 1974)

(Saturday, February 2, 1974) — “The Way We Were” by Barbra Streisand peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for three non-consecutive weeks (Feb 2/16/23, 1974). Continue reading ‘The Way We Were’ by Barbra Streisand peaks at #1 in USA 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 2 1974)

Woody Allen’s ‘Sleeper’ science fiction comedy film opens in U.S. theaters 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 17 1973)


Video: 'Sleeper' trailer

(Monday, December 17, 1973, 12 noon EST)Sleeper, an American science fiction comedy film about the owner of a health food store who is cryogenically frozen in 1973 and defrosted 200 years later in an ineptly-led police state, opened today at Little Carnegie Theatre at 146 W. 57th Street in Manhattan. Continue reading Woody Allen’s ‘Sleeper’ science fiction comedy film opens in U.S. theaters 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 17 1973)

‘Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door’ by Bob Dylan peaks at #12 in USA 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 27 1973)

(Saturday, October 27, 1973) — “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” by Bob Dylan peaked at #12 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks. Continue reading ‘Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door’ by Bob Dylan peaks at #12 in USA 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 27 1973)

‘Send a Little Love My Way’ by Anne Murray peaks at #72 in USA 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 15 1973)

(Saturday, September 15, 1973) — “Send a Little Love My Way” by Anne Murray peaked at #72 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for one week. Continue reading ‘Send a Little Love My Way’ by Anne Murray peaks at #72 in USA 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 15 1973)

‘Live and Let Die’ by Paul McCartney & Wings peaks at #2 in USA 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 11 1973)

(Saturday, August 11, 1973) — “Live and Let Die” by Paul McCartney & Wings peaked at #2 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for three weeks, the most successful James Bond film theme to date. Continue reading ‘Live and Let Die’ by Paul McCartney & Wings peaks at #2 in USA 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 11 1973)

‘The Morning After’ by Maureen McGovern peaks at #1 in USA 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 4 1973)

(Saturday, August 4, 1973) — “The Morning After” by Maureen McGovern peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks (Aug. 4/11, 1973). Continue reading ‘The Morning After’ by Maureen McGovern peaks at #1 in USA 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 4 1973)

‘American Graffiti’ comedy-drama film opens in Los Angeles 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 1 1973)


Video: 'American Graffiti' trailer

(Wednesday, August 1, 1973, 1:30 p.m. PDT)American Graffiti, an American coming-of-age comedy-drama film about a group of teenagers who spend one final night cruising the strip with their buddies before they go off to college, opened today at Avco Center Cinema in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Continue reading ‘American Graffiti’ comedy-drama film opens in Los Angeles 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 1 1973)