(Monday, May 18, 1953) — Jacqueline Cochran, 47, became the first woman to break the sound barrier today as she piloted a Canadair F-86 Sabre jet over Rogers Dry Lake, California, at an average speed of 652.337 mph
Monthly Archives: May 2013
Paul McCartney performs in Munich 10 years ago this hour (2003)
Video: 'Paul Clip 12 Fool Medium'
(Sunday, May 18, 2003, 7:00 p.m. Central European Summer Time) — Ex-Beatle Paul McCartney performed tonight at Königsplatz in Munich, Germany, the 17th stop and 28th performance of his Back in the World tour. Continue reading Paul McCartney performs in Munich 10 years ago this hour (2003)
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Siege of Vicksburg begins 150 years ago today (1863)
Video: 'Two Turning Points The Battles of Vicksburg Gettysburg'
(Monday, May 18, 1863; part of the Vicksburg Campaign in the American Civil War) — Union General Ulysses S. Grant today surrounded Vicksburg, the last Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River. The forces under Confederate Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton would hold out until July 4, 1863.
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U.S. News & World Report begins publishing as United States News 80 years ago today (1933)
Video: 'US News & World Report 75th Anniversary'
(Wednesday, May 17, 1933) — U.S. News & World Report had its beginnings today as David Lawrence began publishing a weekly newspaper called United States News.
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Michael Jackson introduces ‘moonwalk’ dance on Motown special 30 years ago this hour (1983)
Video: 'Moonwalk - Michael Jackson - Billie Jean - The First Moonwalk King Of Pop'
(Monday, May 16, 1983, 9:00 p.m. EST) — Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever was broadcast tonight on NBC. The highlight was Michael Jackson lip syncing and dancing to his song “Billie Jean” and performing for the first time his “moonwalk” dance. In 2004, TV Guide rated it as the 27th most memorable TV moment of all time. Continue reading Michael Jackson introduces ‘moonwalk’ dance on Motown special 30 years ago this hour (1983)
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Czechs relesae AP correspondent William N. Oatis 60 years ago today (1953)
(Saturday, May 16, 1953; during the Cold War) — Associated Press correspondent William N. Oatis was released today by communist authorities in Czechoslovakia, where he’d been imprisoned for two years after being forced to confess to espionage while working as the AP’s Prague bureau chief.
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Paul McCartney performs in Budapest 10 years ago this hour (2003)
Video: 'Paul McCartney - All My Loving (Live In Budapest)'
(Thursday, May 15, 2003, 9:05 p.m. Central European Summer Time) — Ex-Beatle Paul McCartney performed tonight at Budapest Sportaréna in Budapest, Hungary, the 16th stop and 26th performance of his Back in the World tour. Continue reading Paul McCartney performs in Budapest 10 years ago this hour (2003)
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Tony Bennett wins top Grammy awards 50 years ago today (1963)
Video: 'I Left My Heart In San Francisco by Tony Bennett (Subtitled)'
(Wednesday, May 15, 1963) — Tony Bennett won Record of the Year for “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” at the 5th Grammy Awards tonight, held in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York (click here to watch Bob Newhart at the ceremony). Continue reading Tony Bennett wins top Grammy awards 50 years ago today (1963)
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Weight Watchers incorporated in New York 50 years ago today (1963)
Video: 'Weight Watchers History'
(Wednesday, May 15, 1963) — Weight Watchers, an international company based in the United States that offers various products and services to assist weight loss and maintenance, was incorporated today by Brooklyn homemaker Jean Nidetch.
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Edouard Manet’s ‘Le dejeuner sur l’herbe’ goes on display, shocks viewers 150 years ago today (1863)
(Friday, May 15, 1863) — Edouard Manet’s painting Le dejeuner sur l’herbe (The Lunch on the Grass) went on display in Paris today, scandalizing viewers with its depiction of a nude woman seated on the ground with two fully dressed men at a picnic in a wooded area.
