Monthly Archives: September 2012

Germans, Russians battle in suburbs of Stalingrad 70 years ago today (1942)

1940s, World War II


Video: Sept. 11, 1942 (at 4:03)

(Friday, September 11, 1942, during the Battle of Stalingrad, part of the Eastern Front of World War II) — Wilhelm Hoffman, a soldier in the 267th Infantry Regiment, 94th Infantry Division of the German 6th Army who chronicled the Battle of Stalingrad in his journal, wrote today:

Our battalion is fighting in the suburbs of Stalingrad. We can already see the Volga; firing is going on all the time. Wherever you look is fire and flames . . . Russian cannon and machine-guns are firing out of the burning city. Fanatics . . .

Former astronaut ‘Buzz’ Aldrin punches skeptic 10 years ago this hour (2002)

2000s, space exploration


Video: 'Buzz Aldrin punches Bart Sibrel'

(Monday, September 9, 2002, 4:30 p.m. PDT) — Former Apollo 11 astronaut Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin was confronted outside the Luxe Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, today by conspiracy theorist Bart Sibrel, who demanded that Aldrin swear on a Bible that he’d actually been to the moon. Aldrin ended up punching Sibrel in the jaw.

‘Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids’ debuts on CBS-TV 40 years ago this hour (1972)

1970s, Television 1970s


Video: 'Fat Albert & the Cosby Kids - Episode 1'

(Saturday, September 9, 1972, 12:30 p.m. EDT) — Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, an animated television series created, produced, and hosted (in live action bookends) by comedian Bill Cosby, based on Cosby’s remembrances of his childhood gang, debuted today on CBS-TV.

‘Are You Being Served?’ debuts on BBC1 40 years ago tonight (1972)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s


Video: 'Comedy Playhouse - Are You Being Served? (Pilot)'

(Friday, September 8, 1972) — Are You Being Served?, a British sitcom set in the ladies’ and gentlemen’s clothing departments of Grace Brothers, a large, fictional London department store, debuted tonight on BBC1 in the form of a pilot for the series Comedy Playhouse. It starred Frank Thornton, Mollie Sugden, John Inman, Wendy Richard and Nicholas Smith.

Wartime detention of Japanese-Americans upheld 70 years ago today (1942)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'Fred Korematsu - PROTEST'

(Tuesday, September 8, 1942, during World War II) — U.S. District Court Judge Martin I. Welsh, ruling from Sacramento, California, on a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of Fred Korematsu, upheld the wartime detention of Japanese-Americans as well as Japanese nationals.

Memorial service held for murdered Israeli athletes, Olympic Games resume 40 years ago today (1972)

1970s


Video: 'ABC News 1972 Munich massacre coverage'

(Wednesday, September 6, 1972) — Athletes and officials from the competing nations clogged the Olympic Stadium today in a memorial service for slain members of the Israeli team, but International Olympic Committee President Avery Brundage said the terror would not disrupt the 20th Summer Games. Continue reading Memorial service held for murdered Israeli athletes, Olympic Games resume 40 years ago today (1972) →

‘The (New) Price Is Right’ debuts on CBS-TV 40 years ago this hour (1972)

1970s, Television 1970s


Video: 'The New Price Is Right - episode 01 - VTR Aug 19th 1972'

(Monday, September 4, 1972, Labor Day, 10:30 a.m. EDT) — The (New) Price Is Right, a game show that revolved around contestants competing to identify the pricing of merchandise to win cash and prizes, debuted today on CBS-TV (taped Aug. 19, 1972, at CBS Television City in Hollywood) with Bob Barker as host.

‘The Joker’s Wild’ debuts on CBS-TV 40 years ago this hour (1972)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s


Video: 'The Joker's Wild - First Episode 1972'

(Monday, September 4, 1972, Labor Day, 10:00 a.m. EDT) — The Joker’s Wild, a game show where contestants answered questions based on categories that were determined randomly by a mechanism resembling a slot machine, debuted today on CBS-TV (taped at CBS Television City in Hollywood) with Jack Barry as host (click here to watch the entire first episode).

General Lee informs President Davis that he intends to invade the North 150 years ago today (1862)

1860s, American Civil War


Video: Sept. 3, 1862 (at 40:20)

(Wednesday, September 3, 1862, during the American Civil War) — Just two days after the Battle of Chantilly, Confederate General Robert E. Lee wrote to President Jefferson Davis today that he had decided to cross into Maryland unless the president objected. Lee also began shifting his army north and west from Chantilly towards Leesburg, Virginia.

‘The Crying Game’ opens in U.S. 20 years ago today (1992)

1990s, movies 1990s


Video: 'The Crying Game' trailer

(Wednesday, September 2, 1992) — The Crying Game, an intriguing tale of a group of IRA kidnappers and the British soldier they nab and want to exchange for one of their own, premiered today at the Venice Film Festival

Directed by Neil Jordan, the film starred Stephen Rea, Jaye Davidson, Miranda Richardson and Forest Whitaker. It would go on to receive six Oscar nominations, including Best Picture.