Monthly Archives: March 2015

Allies secure Germany’s Rhine River 70 years ago today (Mar 22 1945)


Video: 'The World At War 1973(World War II Documentary)Episode 19-Pincers(August 1944-March 1945)' (Mar. 22, 1945, at 50:35)

(Thursday, March 22, 1945; on the Western Front of World War II) — As of today, no German soldier was fighting west of the Rhine River along Germany’s western border.

First regular electronic TV service begins in Germany 80 years ago today (Mar 22 1935)


Video: 'First 2 Television Broadcasts of The Third Reich Nazi Germany (1935 & 1936)'

(Friday, March 22, 1935) — The first regular electronic television service in Germany began today in Berlin, as Deutscher Fernseh Rundfunk.

Broadcasting from the Fernsehsender Paul Nipkow, it used a 180-line system, and was on air for 90 minutes, three times a week. Very few receivers were ever privately owned, and viewers went instead to Fernsehstuben (television parlors).

100,000 refugees crowd Da Nang by 40 years ago today (Mar 21 1975)


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 11' (Mar. 21, 1975, at 29:21)

(Friday, March 21, 1975; during the The Hue–Da Nang Campaign of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — 100,000 refugees, many of them troops and their families, had crowded into Da Nang by today as South Vietnam’s collapse intensified.

Chemical terrorists kill 12 people in Tokyo subway 20 years ago this hour (Mar 20 1995)


Video: 'March 20, 1995: Gas Attack on Tokyo Subway'

(Monday, March 20, 1995, 7:00–8:10 a.m. JST) — 12 people were killed and more than 5,500 others sickened when packages containing the deadly chemical sarin were leaked on five separate subway trains in Tokyo by Aum Shinrikyo cult members.

Inner-city school drama ‘Blackboard Jungle’ opens in New York City 60 years ago today (Mar 19 1955)


Video: 'Blackboard Jungle' trailer

(Saturday, March 19, 1955)Blackboard Jungle, a social commentary film about teachers in an inner-city school, opened today at Loew’s State Theatre in New York City. The film marked the rock and roll revolution by featuring Bill Haley & His Comets’ “Rock Around the Clock.”

Directed by Richard Brooks, the film starred Glenn Ford, Anne Francis, Louis Calhern and Sidney Poitier.

Hitler orders destruction of German infrastructure with ‘Nero Decree’ 70 years ago today (Mar 19 1945)


Video: '1945 - Nero Decree'

(Monday, March 19, 1945; during World War II) — Adolf Hitler ordered the destruction of German facilities that could fall into Allied hands today in his so-called “Nero Decree,” which was largely disregarded.

‘Abyssinia, Henry’ episode airs on ‘M*A*S*H’ 40 years ago this hour (Mar 18 1975)


Video: 'MASH Season 3 E-24 Abyssinia Henry'

(Tuesday, March 18, 1975, 8:30 p.m. EST) — The 4077th MASH’s commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake (played by McLean Stevenson), finally gets his discharge on tonight’s episode of the CBS-TV sitcom M*A*S*H. Continue reading ‘Abyssinia, Henry’ episode airs on ‘M*A*S*H’ 40 years ago this hour (Mar 18 1975)

Franklin Roosevelt marries Eleanor Roosevelt in New York City 110 years ago today (Mar 17 1905)


Video: 'Eleanor & Franklin (1976) - ABC: Wedding Day'

(Friday, March 17, 1905, afternoon local time) — President Theodore Roosevelt visited New York City today to attend the wedding of his niece, Eleanor Roosevelt, 20, to her fifth cousin and future president Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 23, at the home of Eleanor’s grandmother on East 76th Street. The president gave the bride away. Continue reading Franklin Roosevelt marries Eleanor Roosevelt in New York City 110 years ago today (Mar 17 1905)

First Battle of Champagne ends in stalemate 100 years ago today (Mar 17 1915)


Video: 'The First Battle of Champagne'

(Wednesday, March 17, 1915; part of the Western Front of World War I) — The First Battle of Champagne between the French Fourth Army and the German Third Army in the Champagne region of France ended today in stalemate after three months of bloody fighting.

‘Going My Way’ wins Best Picture at 17th Academy Awards 70 years ago this hour (Mar 15 1945)


Video: '1944 Oscar Winners'

(Thursday, March 15, 1945, 8:00 p.m. PST)Going My Way won seven Oscars tonight, including Best Motion Picture, Best Director (Leo McCarey) and Best Actor (Bing Crosby) at the 17th Academy Awards ceremony at Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California.

Ingrid Bergman won the Best Actress award for Gaslight. The ceremonies at Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood were hosted by John Cromwell and Bob Hope.