Video: 'The Night of the Hunter' trailer
(Tuesday, July 26, 1955, evening CDT) — The Night of the Hunter, a horror film about a bogus preacher who marries an outlaw’s widow in search of the man’s hidden loot, premiered today in Des Moines, Iowa.
Directed by Charles Laughton, the film starred Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish and Gloria Castillo.
Video: 'Scopes Monkey Trial FULL' (July 26, 1925, 1:07:58)
(Sunday, July 26, 1925, 4:45 p.m. EDT) — Just five days after winning a conviction in the Scopes Trial against John T. Scopes for teaching Darwin’s Theory of Evolution in Dayton, Tennessee (the verdict was later overturned), prosecutor William Jennings Bryan died today of a heart attack at age 65.
Bryan was the Democratic presidential nominee in 1896, 1900 and 1908 (losing all three times; to Republicans William McKinley in 1896 and 1900 and William Taft in 1908) and served as Secretary of State under President Woodrow Wilson (1913-1915).
Video: 'July 26, 1945 Potsdam Declaration by US, UK, China'
(Thursday, July 26, 1945, 9:30 p.m. CEST; during Potsdam Conference of World War II) — U.S. President Harry S. Truman, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Chinese leader Chiang Kai-shek today issued the Potsdam Declaration, which called upon Imperial Japan to unconditionally surrender, or face “prompt amd utter destruction” (click here for a clip of this event from “American Experience: Truman” at 2:07:39). Continue reading Japan warned to surrender or face ‘prompt and utter destruction’ 70 years ago this hour (July 26 1945)
Video: 'Labour's Landslide Election Win (1945)'
(Thursday, July 26, 1945, 8:30 p.m. BDST; during World War II) — Winston Churchill, who led Britain during World War II and currently represents his nation at the Potsdam Conference with U.S. President Harry S. Truman and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, resigned as Britain’s prime minister tonight after his Conservatives were soundly defeated by the Labour Party; Clement Attlee succeeded him.
(Saturday, July 26, 1975) — “The Hustle” by Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for one week.
(Saturday, July 26, 1975) — “I’m Not in Love” by 10cc peaked at #2 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for three weeks.
(Saturday, July 26, 1975) — “Swearin’ to God” by Frankie Valli peaked at #6 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for one week.
