Monthly Archives: March 2015

The Beach Boys complete ‘Help Me, Rhonda’ (single version) 50 years ago today (Mar 21 1965)


Video: 'Help Me, Rhonda [Single Version] - The Beach Boys (with lyrics)'

(Friday, January 15, 1965) — The Beach Boys overdubbed vocals to the Dec. 16, 1964, instrumental master of “Kiss Me, Baby” today at United Western Recorders studio in Los Angeles for the group’s album The Beach Boys Today!.

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.

Freedom march begins at Selma, troops on guard 50 years ago today (Mar 21 1965)


Video: 'Eyes on the Prize (VI) — Bridge to Freedom, 1965 [with English subtitles]' (Mar. 21, 1965, at 45:24)

(Sunday, March 21, 1965, during the African-American Civil Rights Movement (1954–68)) — Protected by federal and federalized troops, civil rights demonstrators led by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. began their successful march out of Selma today. Continue reading Freedom march begins at Selma, troops on guard 50 years ago today (Mar 21 1965)

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.

‘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)