Monthly Archives: April 2013

‘High Plains Drifter’ opens in New York City 40 years ago today (1973)

1970s, Movies 1970s


Video: 'High Plains Drifter' (trailer)

(Thursday, April 19, 1973) — High Plains Drifter, a Western film about a mysterious gunfighter hired by the residents of a corrupt frontier mining town to defend them against a group of criminals, opened today in New York City.

Directed by Clint Eastwood, the film stars Eastwood, Verna Bloom and Marianna Hill.

‘Soylent Green’ opens in New York City 40 years ago today (1973)

1970s, Movies 1970s


Video: 'Soylent Green' (clip)

(Thursday, April 19, 1973) — Soylent Green, a science fiction film about a New York police detective in an overpopulated futuristic Earth who finds himself marked for murder by government agents when he gets too close to a bizarre state secret involving the origins of a revolutionary and needed new foodstuff, opened today in New York City.

Directed by Richard Fleischer, the film stars Charlton Heston, Leigh Taylor-Young and Edward G. Robinson.

U.S. goes off gold standard 80 years ago today (1933)

1930s


Video: 'FDR Ends Gold Standard in 1933'

(Wednesday, April 19, 1933; during the Great Depression) — President Franklin D. Roosevelt took the United States off the gold standard today by ordering that gold exports to other nations be halted. The effect would be to devalue the U.S. dollar by 36% (against gold-backed currencies) over the next eight months. However, the Dow Jones Industrial Average had increased by 55% on July 18, 1933.

Nixon asks John Dean to resign 40 years ago today (1973)

1970s, Watergate


Video: Apr. 17, 1973 (at 16:26)

(Tuesday, April 17, 1973; during the Watergate scandal) — U.S. President Richard Nixon, aware that White House Counsel John Dean is talking to the Watergate investigators, asks Dean to resign, passing him a drafted letter written in the form of a confession. Nixon also tells Dean that he is also planning to remove two of his top aides Bob Haldeman and John Ehrlichman.

McCartney films more ‘Broad Street’ scenes 30 years ago today (1983)

1980s, Movies 1980s, Popular Music 1980s, The Beatles 1980s


Video: 'Paul McCartney-Give My Regards to Broad Street-Full Movie-HQ' (visiting Jim sequence begins at 1:24:46)

(Friday, April 15, 1983) — Ex-Beatle Paul McCartney filmed more scenes today at Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, England, for the movie Give My Regards To Broad Street, visiting Jim, looking for Harry. The film, directed by Peter Webb, was written and starred McCartney.

Judy Garland performs on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ 50 years ago this hour (1963)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s, Television 1960s


Video: 'Judy Garland - Smile'

(Sunday, April 14, 1963, 8 p.m. EST) — Judy Garland performed “Smile (Though Your Heart Is Breaking)” and “I Could Go on Singing” on tonight’s edition of the CBS-TV variety show The Ed Sullivan Show, taped in London. Continue reading Judy Garland performs on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ 50 years ago this hour (1963) →

Paul McCartney performs in Birmingham 10 years ago tonight (2003)

2000s, Popular Music 2000s, The Beatles 2000s


Video: 'Paul McCartney - Birmingham, 14 April 2003 (Driving USA Tour)'

(Monday, April 14, 2003) — Ex-Beatle Paul McCartney performed tonight at National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England, the sixth stop and tenth performance of his Back in the World tour. Continue reading Paul McCartney performs in Birmingham 10 years ago tonight (2003) →

Bill Cosby, Billy Preston, Steely Dan perform on ‘Midnight Special’ 40 years ago this hour (1973)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s, Television 1970s


Video: 'Bill Cosby - Ursulena'

(Saturday, April 14, 1973, 1:00 a.m. EST) — Billy Preston and Steely Dan were among the performers on tonight’s episode of the late-night musical variety NBC-TV series The Midnight Special as hosted tonight by Bill Cosby. Continue reading Bill Cosby, Billy Preston, Steely Dan perform on ‘Midnight Special’ 40 years ago this hour (1973) →