Monthly Archives: April 2015

‘Queen for a Day’ debuts on Mutual Radio Network 70 years ago this hour (Apr 30 1945)


Video: 'Queen For a Day Radio Show Jan 23 1951'

(Monday, April 30, 1945, 2:30 p.m. EWT; during World War II)Queen for Today (later Queen for a Day), a radio game show that helped to usher in American listeners’ and viewers’ fascination with big-prize giveaway shows, premiered today on the Mutual Radio Network in New York City.

The Beatles film studio, jeweler and elevator scenes for ‘Help!’ film 50 years ago today (Apr 30 1965)


Video: 'Help 1965' (Apr. 30, 1965, at 10:43-11:09; 12:55-16:10; 22:52-24:04)

(Friday, April 30, 1965) — The Beatles continued production on their second feature film Help! today, spending most of the day filming the scene in which they record “You’re Going To lose That Girl” at Twickenham Studios in London.

They also filmed the scenes in which an Asprey’s jeweler, played by Peter Copley, examines the ring stuck on Ringo Starr’s finger and another in which a magnetized elevator attracts all metal objects to the walls apart from the ring.

Adolf Hitler, Eva Braun commit suicide 70 years ago this hour (Apr 30 1945)


Video: 'The World At War 1973(World War II Documentary)Episode 21-Nemesis:Germany(February-May 1945)' (Apr. 30, 1945, at 46:10)

(Monday, April 30, 1945, 3:30 p.m. CEST; during the Battle of Berlin on the Eastern Front during World War II) — As Soviet troops approached his Berlin bunker, Adolf Hitler committed suicide today along with his wife of one day, Eva Braun.

Hitler, 56, shot himself and Braun, 33, took cyanide.

In accordance with Hitler’s instructions, the bodies were burned in the garden behind the Reich Chancellery.

Ed Ames teaches Johnny Carson how throw a tomahawk 50 years ago this hour (Apr 29 1965)


Video: 'Ed Ames Teaches Johnny Carson to Throw a Tomahawk'

(Thursday, April 29, 1965, aired at 11:30 p.m. EDT) — Ed Ames, who was currently performing on the Daniel Boone TV series as the half-Cherokee Mingo, demonstrated his tomahawk-throwing prowess tonight during a guest spot on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, creating one of the longest sustained laughs in the history of television.

Minh surrenders, Vietcong in Saigon 40 years ago this hour (Apr 30 1975)


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 11' (Apr. 30, 1975, at 50:04)

(Wednesday, April 30, 1975, 10:24 a.m. ICT; during the 1975 Spring Offensive of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — South Vietnamese President Duong Van Minh announced today the unconditional surrender of the Saigon Government and its military forces to the Vietcong. Continue reading Minh surrenders, Vietcong in Saigon 40 years ago this hour (Apr 30 1975)

Last American troops depart Vietnam 40 years ago this hour (Apr 30 1975)


Video: 'Vietnam The Ten Thousand Day War 12of13 Surrender (Apr. 30, 1975, at 41:44)

(Sunday, April 30, 1975, 7:53 a.m. ICT; during the 1975 Spring Offensive of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — The last ten Marine security guards and their commander (Major Kean) at the U.S. Embassy in Saigon, South Vietnam, were evacuated on a Marine Corps helicopter this morning, concluding the United States presence in Vietnam. Total U.S. casualties for the war: 58,303 dead and 303,644 wounded. Continue reading Last American troops depart Vietnam 40 years ago this hour (Apr 30 1975)

Ambassador Graham Martin departs Vietnam 40 years ago this hour (Apr 30 1975)


Video: 'Vietnam The Ten Thousand Day War 12of13 Surrender (Apr. 30, 1975, at 40:02)

(Sunday, April 30, 1975, 4:58 a.m. ICT; during the 1975 Spring Offensive of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — U.S. Ambassador Graham Martin boarded a Marine Corps helicopter this morning in Saigon and was flown to the USS Blue Ridge. Continue reading Ambassador Graham Martin departs Vietnam 40 years ago this hour (Apr 30 1975)

The Beatles film hand drier, Ringo rescue scenes for ‘Help!’ film 50 years ago today (Apr 29 1965)


Video: 'Help 1965' (Apr. 29, 1965, at 11:49-12:54; 15:53-16:24)

(Thursday, April 29, 1965) — The Beatles re-shot the scene for their second feature film Help! today at Twickenham Film Studios in London in which a night club hand drier sucks excessively in an attempt to steal Ringo Starr’s ring.

Another scene was re-shot today was of Starr tethered to a table in a room underneath The Beatles’ recording studio, before being rescued by Ahme, played by Eleanor Bron.