Monthly Archives: March 2015

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.

Two former Beatles reunite at California party 40 years ago tonight (Mar 24 1975)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s, The Beatles 1970s

(Monday, March 24, 1975) — Former Beatle Paul McCartney hosted a party today celebrating the end of the recording sessions for the Venus And Mars album aboard the ocean liner Queen Mary, which is permanently docked in Long Beach, California, and converted into a hotel.

Among the 200 guests was fellow former Beatle George Harrison, marking the first time that George and Paul are seen socializing together since the break-up of The Beatles five years earlier.

‘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) →

The Beatles return to Twickenham to resume filming ‘Help!’ 50 years ago today (Mar 24 1965)

1960s, Movies 1960s, Popular Music 1960s


Video: 'The Beatles - 'You got to hide your love away' music video'

(Wednesday, March 24, 1965) — Following three weeks of filming in the Bahamas and Austria, work on The Beatles second feature film Help! resumed today at Twickenham Film Studios in England, where much of A Hard Day’s Night had been shot the previous year.

From today through Apr. 2, 1965, The Beatles filmed various parts, including interior temple, laboratory and railway station scenes.

Allies launch huge airborne operation on eastern bank of Rhine 70 years ago today (Mar 24 1945)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'The World At War 1973(World War II Documentary)Episode 21-Nemesis:Germany(February-May 1945)' (Mar. 24, 1945, at 7:01)

(Saturday, March 24, 1945; on the Western Front of World War II) — The Allies today launched Operation Varsity, landing two airborne divisions on the eastern bank of the Rhine near the village of Hamminkeln and the town of Wesel to secure a foothold across the Rhine River in western Germany as part of Operation Plunder.

Involving more than 16,000 paratroopers and several thousand aircraft, it was the largest airborne operation in history to be conducted on a single day and in one location.


Video: 'The World At War 1973(World War II Documentary)Episode 19-Pincers(August 1944-March 1945)' (Mar. 24, 1945, at 51:16)