Monthly Archives: July 2014

Country singer Jim Reeves dies in plane crash 50 years ago this hour (July 31 1964)


Video: 'EXCLUSIVE! Jim Reeves Plane Crash Video'

(Friday, July 31, 1964, 4:52 p.m. local time) — Country singer-songwriter Jim Reeves, 40, and his manager, Dean Manuel, were killed today when the private plane Reeves was piloting crashed in bad weather near Nashville. Continue reading Country singer Jim Reeves dies in plane crash 50 years ago this hour (July 31 1964)

Anti-war French Socialist leader Jean Jaurès assassinated while dining 100 years ago tonight (July 31 1914)


Video: 'The Great War episode 1 Exposion' (July 31, 1914, at 48:31)

(Friday, July 31, 1914; during World War I) — Jean Leon Jaures, the French Socialist leader who tried to prevent the First World War, was assassinated tonight in a Parisian café, Le Croissant, 146 rue Montmartre, by Raoul Villain, a 29-year-old French nationalist.

Ranger 7 reaches the moon, transmits pictures back to Earth 50 years ago this hour (July 31 1964)


Video: 'Ranger VII Photographs of the Moon 1964 NASA JPL First Successful US Lunar Spacecraft'

(Friday, July 31, 1964, 16:50:00 UTC) — Ranger 7 radioed to earth today the first close-up pictures of the moon — a historic collection of 4,000 pictures one thousand times as clear as anything ever seen through earth-bound telescopes.

Federals blow up a tunnel to break Confederate lines at Petersburg, Virginia 150 years ago this hour (July 30 1864)


Video: 'Voices of the Civil War Episode 30: "Battle of the Crater"'

(Saturday, July 30, 1864, 4:44 a.m. local time; during the Battle of the Crater, part of the American Civil War) — Union forces tried to take Petersburg, Virginia, today by exploding a gunpowder-laden mine shaft that had been dug out beneath Confederate defense lines; the attack failed.

Pop singer Cass Elliot, 32, dies of a heart attack 40 years ago today (July 29 1974)


Video: 'Death by Excess - Mama Cass'

(Monday, July 29, 1974) — Singer Cass Elliot (born Ellen Naomi Cohen), 32, was found dead today in a London apartment where she was staying. It was rumored that the former Mamas and Papas lead singer choked on a ham sandwich, but a coroner ruled she had suffered a heart attack in her sleep overnight. Continue reading Pop singer Cass Elliot, 32, dies of a heart attack 40 years ago today (July 29 1974)

1984 Summer Olympics open in Los Angeles 30 years ago tonight (July 28 1984)


Video: '1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games - Opening Ceremony'

(Saturday, July 28, 1984) — The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, opened tonight at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as 93,000 people looked on and cheered Rafer Johnson, an Olympic decathlon gold medalist and this year’s the final torchbearer.

Teamsters president Hoffa convicted on use of funds 50 years ago today (July 26 1964)


Image: 'Hoffa, second row, center, leaves court after being found guilty of jury tampering in 1964'

(Sunday, July 26, 1964) — A federal jury found James R. Hoffa, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (who is appealing a Chattanooga federal court conviction for jury tampering), guilty of mail and wire fraud and conspiracy today in the use of his union’s pension fund; six co-defendants were found guilty of conspiracy.