Monthly Archives: December 2016

278 people killed in Brooklyn Theatre fire 140 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 5 1876)


Video: 'Brooklyn Theatre fire Top # 7 Facts'

(Tuesday, December 5, 1876, at about 11:17 p.m. local time) — The Brooklyn Theatre Fire broke out tonight near the southeast corner of Washington and Johnson streets in the then-city of Brooklyn, now a borough of New York City, New York, killing at least 278 people, with some accounts reporting more than 300 dead. Continue reading 278 people killed in Brooklyn Theatre fire 140 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 5 1876)

Peru rebels raid envoy’s home and seizes hundreds of hostages 20 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 17 1996)


Video: 'Japanese Embassy Hostage Crisis - The CNN Documentary with Alberto Fujimori'

(Tuesday, December 17, 1996, just after 8:00 p.m. PET) — Dressed as waiters bearing champagne and hors d’oeuvres, about 30 Peruvian guerrillas slipped into a party at the Japanese Ambassador’s house tonight in Lima, then set off explosions and took as hostages hundreds of diplomats and government officials. Continue reading Peru rebels raid envoy’s home and seizes hundreds of hostages 20 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 17 1996)

Presley, Cash, Lewis and Perkins ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ jam in Memphis studio 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 4 1956)


Video: 'Elvis Presley - Million Dollar Quartet [December 4, 1956]'

(Tuesday, December 4, 1956) — Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins made a series of impromptu recordings today at the Sun Record Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, released 25 years later under the title “The Million Dollar Quartet.” Continue reading Presley, Cash, Lewis and Perkins ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ jam in Memphis studio 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 4 1956)

Monroe defeats King in presidential election landslide 200 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 4 1816)


Video: 'The American Presidential Election of 1816'

(Wednesday, December 4, 1816, during the United States presidential election, 1816) — Democratic-Republican Secretary of State James Monroe of Virginia was elected President of the United States today over Federalist Senator Rufus King of New York. Continue reading Monroe defeats King in presidential election landslide 200 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 4 1816)

Mars Pathfinder speeds toward red planet 20 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 4 1996)


Video: 'USA: MARS PATHFINDER SPACECRAFT FINALLY LAUNCHED'

(Wednesday, December 4, 1996, 1:58:07 a.m. EST) — The unmanned American spacecraft Mars Pathfinder lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, this morning and began speeding toward the red planet on a seven-month, 310 million-mile odyssey to deliver the first remotely controlled roving vehicle designed to traverse the landscape of another planet. Continue reading Mars Pathfinder speeds toward red planet 20 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 4 1996)

English novelist Agatha Christie temporarily goes missing 90 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 3 1926)


Video: 'DW - Step Back in Time: The Mystery of the Missing Crime Queen'

(Friday, December 3, 1926, at around 9:45 p.m. GMT) — A real-life mystery began tonight as English novelist Agatha Christie, 36, drove away from her home in Sunningdale, Berkshire, and disappeared. Continue reading English novelist Agatha Christie temporarily goes missing 90 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 3 1926)

George Harrison interviewed for ‘Granada Reports’ 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 3 1976)


Video: 'George Harri?on Interview - Granada TV Centre, Manchester - December 3, 1976'

(Friday, December 3, 1976) — Former Beatle George Harrison, promoting the release of his album Thirty-Three and 1/3, was interviewed for tonight’s edition of ITV’s Granada Reports at Granada TV Centre in Manchester, England. Continue reading George Harrison interviewed for ‘Granada Reports’ 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 3 1976)