Monthly Archives: March 2015

Johnson opens fight on Klan after FBI seizes 4 members for Liuzzo murder 50 years ago this hour (Mar 26 1965)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Statement on the Arrest of 4 KKK Members, 3/26/65.MP551.'

(Friday, March 26, 1965, 12:40 p.m. EST; during the African-American Civil Rights Movement (1954–68)) — U.S. President Lyndon Johnson Johnson declared war on the Ku Klux Klan today after announcing the arrest of four Klansmen in connection with the slaying last night of Viola Liuzzo, a white mother of five from Detroit who had come to Alabama to support voting rights for blacks, while she was ferrying marchers back to Selma from Montgomery. Continue reading Johnson opens fight on Klan after FBI seizes 4 members for Liuzzo murder 50 years ago this hour (Mar 26 1965) →

White civil rights activist murdered by Ku Klux Klan 50 years ago tonight (Mar 25 1965)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: 'Eyes on the Prize (VI) — Bridge to Freedom, 1965 [with English subtitles]' (Mar. 25, 1965, at 54:24)

(Sunday, March 25, 1965, evening; during the African-American Civil Rights Movement (1954–68)) — Viola Liuzzo, a white mother of five from Detroit who had come to Alabama to support voting rights for blacks, was shot and killed by Ku Klux Klan members tonight as she drove a black volunteer who took part in the Selma to Montgomery march that ended today to the airport.

‘Amadeus’ wins Best Picture at 57th Academy Awards 30 years ago this hour (Mar 25 1985)

1980s, Movies 1980s, Television 1980s


Video: '1985 Oscars' (25 videos)

(Monday, March 25, 1985, 6:00 p.m. PST) — Amadeus, a period drama film about the 18th century composer Salieri who confesses to a deadly rivalry with Mozart, won eight Oscars tonight at the 57th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Miloš Forman for Best Director and F. Murray Abraham for Best Actor. Continue reading ‘Amadeus’ wins Best Picture at 57th Academy Awards 30 years ago this hour (Mar 25 1985) →

Iwo Jima officially declared ‘secured’ 70 years ago this hour (Mar 26 1945)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'The World At War 1973(World War II Documentary)Episode-23 Pacific (February 1942 – July 1945)' (Mar. 26, 1945, at 42:00)

(Monday, March 26, 1945, 9:00 a.m. JST; during the Battle of Iwo Jima, part of the Pacific Theatre of World War II) — The Japanese island of Iwo Jima was officially declared “secured” this morning, ending five weeks of some of the fiercest and bloodiest fighting of the War in the Pacific of World War II with an American victory and a staging area for attacks on the Japanese main islands.

King leads 25,000 civil rights activists to Alabama state capitol 50 years ago this afternoon (Mar 25 1965)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: 'Eyes on the Prize (VI) — Bridge to Freedom, 1965 [with English subtitles]' (Mar. 21, 1965, at 51:25)

(Sunday, March 25, 1965, shortly afternoon; during the African-American Civil Rights Movement (1954–68)) — Martin Luther King, Jr. and 25,000 civil rights activists successfully ended a 5-day march to protest the denial of voting rights to blacks from Selma, Alabama, to the capitol in Montgomery today, declaring: Continue reading King leads 25,000 civil rights activists to Alabama state capitol 50 years ago this afternoon (Mar 25 1965) →

Confederates attack Federals at Fort Stedman but forced to withdraw 150 years ago this hour (Mar 25 1865)

1860s, American Civil War


Video: 'Ken Burns - The Civil War: Episode 8 - War Is All Hell (1865) | Ken Burns Documentary' (Mar. 25, 1865, 36:26)

(Saturday, March 25, 1865, 4:15 a.m. local time; during the American Civil War) — The Battle of Fort Stedman was fought today as the Union Army fortification in the siege lines around Petersburg, Virginia, was attacked in a pre-dawn Confederate assault by troops led by Maj. Gen. John B. Gordon.

The attack was the last serious attempt by Confederate troops to break the Siege of Petersburg. After an initial success, Gordon’s men were driven back by Union troops of the IX Corps commanded by Maj. Gen. John G. Parke.

‘The Office’ debuts on NBC-TV 10 years ago this hour (Mar 24 2005)

2000s, Television 2000s


Video: 'The Office U.S. S01E01 [Pilot]'

(Thursday, March 24, 2005, 9:30 p.m. EST) — The Office, a television comedy series (adapted from the BBC series of the same name) depicting the everyday lives of office employees in the Scranton, Pennsylvania branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, debuted tonight as a television series on NBC.

It starred Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer and B. J. Novak.

Ali stops Wepner in 15th and retains title, decking challenger with right-hand punch 40 years ago tonight (Mar 24 1975)

1970s


Video: 'Muhammad Ali - Chuck Wepner. 1975 03 24'

(Monday, March 24, 1975, evening) — Muhammad Ali registered a knockout over Chuck Wepner with only 19 seconds remaining in the 15th round of a brawling bout tonight and retained his world heavyweight title before 14,847 spectators at the Richfield Coliseum in Richfield, Ohio, south of Cleveland.

Wepner, a journeyman known as the “Bayonne Bleeder,” inspired Sly Stallone to make his Rocky films.

Robert Kennedy places flag on summit of mountain named for his brother 50 years ago this hour (Mar 24 1965)

1960s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'A Kennedy Climbs Mr. Kennedy (1965)'

(Wednesday, March 24, 1965, 5:00 p.m. EST) — Senator Robert F. Kennedy reached the top of Mount Kennedy today and became the first person to scale the 13,900-foot peak. Continue reading Robert Kennedy places flag on summit of mountain named for his brother 50 years ago this hour (Mar 24 1965) →