Monthly Archives: February 2015

Grammy Awards pay posthumous tribute to Ray Charles 10 years ago this hour (Feb 13 2005)

2000s, Popular Music 2000s


Video: 'Popular 47th Annual Grammy Awards & Grammy Awards videos' (52 videos)

(Sunday, February 13, 2005, 8:00 p.m. EST) — Ray Charles, the blind visionary who revolutionized American music with fusions of soul, rock, jazz and country, broke the mold once more tonight at the 47th annual Grammy Awards, posthumously dominating the telecast with wins in eight categories for his final album Genius Loves Company.

Queen Latifah hosted the televised ceremonies from the Staples Center in Los Angeles (click here for 12 official videos from the event).

Soviets capture Budapest from the Germans 70 years ago today (Feb 13 1945)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'The soviet invasion of Hungary and the Siege of Budapest 1944-1945 Budapest Ostroma'

(Tuesday, February 13, 1945; during the Siege of Budapest, part of the Budapest Offensive on the Eastern front of World War II) — The Red Army today completed its conquest of Budapest, ending a 50-day siege of the battle-scarred capital of Axis Hungary.

Actress Lauren Bacall sits atop piano while VP Truman plays 70 years ago today (Feb 10 1945)

1940s, Movies 1940s, World War II

(Saturday, February 10, 1945; during World War II) — During a luncheon today at the National Press Club, Vice President Harry Truman sat down at the piano to play the “Missouri Waltz” when suddenly 20-year-old actress Lauren Bacall perched herself on top of the piano for some publicity portraits, showing a rather daring amount of leg by 1945 standards (click here for a relevant clip from “American Experience: Truman” at 1:27:35).

Legendary child actress Shirley Temple interviewed for ’60 Minutes’ 30 years ago this hour (Feb 9 1975)

1970s, Movies 1970s, Television 1970s

Video: 'Shirley Temple: From child star to ambassador'

(Sunday, February 9, 1975, 6:00 p.m. EST) — Legendary child actress Shirley Temple (Black) was interviewed by correspondent Morley Safer tonight on the CBS television magazine series 60 Minutes as she embarked on a new career as the U.S. ambassador to Ghana.

‘Witness’ opens in U.S. theaters 30 years ago today (Feb 8 1985)

1980s, Movies 1980s


Video: 'Witness' trailer

(Friday, February 8, 1985) — Witness, a thriller film about a detective who protects a young Amish boy who becomes a target after he witnesses a murder in Philadelphia, opened today in U.S. theaters (including the Astor Plaza in New York City).

Directed by Peter Weir, the film starred Harrison Ford and Kelly McGillis.

‘The Birth of a Nation’ premieres in Los Angeles 100 years ago today (Feb 8 1915)

1910s, Movies 1910s


Video: 'The Birth of a Nation (1915) [HD] - Lillian Gish'

(Monday, February 8, 1915) — The silent, groundbreaking and controversial epic film drama The Birth of a Nation, which chronicles the relationship of two families in the Civil War and Reconstruction eras, premiered today in Los Angeles.

Directed by D. W. Griffith, the film starred Lillian Gish, Mae Marsh, Henry B. Walthall, Miriam Cooper, Ralph Lewis and George Siegmann.

President Reagan calls for ‘second revolution’ 30 years ago this hour (Feb 6 1985)

1980s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'State of the Union: President Reagan's State of the Union Speech - 2/6/85'

(Wednesday, February 6, 1985, 9:00 p.m. EST) — U.S. President Ronald Reagan called tonight for “a second American revolution of hope and opportunity” in a State of the Union address that celebrated economic and scientific achievements and made scant mention of the spending sacrifices his new budget asks of a broad spectrum of Americans.

Bush urges Congress to ‘save’ Social Security 10 years ago this hour (Feb 2 2005)

2000s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'State of the Union Address'

(Wednesday, February 2, 2005, 9:00 p.m. EST) — In his State of the Union address, President George W. Bush called tonight for changes in Social Security that would combine reduced government benefits for younger workers with “a chance to build a nest egg” through personal accounts.

‘The Lost World’ premieres in the U.S. 90 years ago today (Feb 2 1925)

1920s, movies 1920s


Video: 'The Lost World FULL MOVIE! (1925)'

(Monday, February 2, 1925) — The Lost World, a silent fantasy adventure film based on the Arthur Conan Doyle novel about explorers who encounter living prehistoric animals in South America, had its world premiere today in the U.S.

Directed by Harry Hoyt, the film starred Bessie Love, Lewis Stone, Wallace Beery, Lloyd Hughes and Alma Bennett.