Video: 'How America Got Its Name'
(Sunday, April 25, 1507) — A world map produced today by German cartographer Martin Waldseemueller contained the first recorded use of the term “America,” in honor of Italian navigator Amerigo Vespucci. Continue reading First map bearing the name ‘America’ produced 510 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 25 1507)
Video: 'THE FROST/NIXON INTERVIEWS'
(Saturday, April 23, 1977, 11:30 p.m.-1:00 p.m. EST) — David Frost (Eric Idle) sat down with Richard Nixon (Dan Aykroyd) to discuss the former president’s childhood, and many other topics, over 20 hours of interviews on tonight’s episode of the NBC late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show Saturday Night Live. Continue reading SNL spoofs David Frost’s interview with Richard Nixon 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 23 1977)
Video: 'SOYUS 1 CRASH: The last words of the Cosmonaut Komarov, April 24, 1967'
(Monday, April 24, 1967, 03:22:52 UTC; during the Cold War) — Soviet cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov, 40, became the first person to be killed during a spaceflight today when the parachute of his space capsule Soyuz 1 failed during re-entry. Continue reading Soviet cosmonaut killed as his spaceship crashes 50 years ago this hour #OTD #OnThisDay (Apr 24 1967)
Video: 'Joan Rivers on "The Ed Sullivan Show"'
(Sunday, April 23, 1967, 8:00-9:00 p.m. EST) — Comedian Joan Rivers talked about troubles plaguing women on tonight’s CBS television variety show The Ed Sullivan Show live from CBS Studio No. 50 in New York City. Continue reading Joan Rivers performs on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 23 1967)
(Saturday, April 23, 1977) — “Don’t Leave Me This Way” by Thelma Houston peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for one week. Continue reading ‘Don’t Leave Me This Way’ by Thelma Houston peaks at #1 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 23 1977)
(Saturday, April 22, 1967) — “I Think We’re Alone Now” by Tommy James and the Shondells peaked at #4 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for one week. Continue reading ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’ by Tommy James and the Shondells peaks at #4 in USA 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 22 1967)
(Saturday, April 22, 1967) — “Western Union” by Five Americans peaked at #5 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for one week.
(Saturday, April 22, 1967) — “At the Zoo” by Simon and Garfunkel peaked at #16 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks.
Video: 'Annie [1977] The original cast performs a medley on the Tony Awards'
(Wednesday, April 21, 1977, 6:15 p.m. EST) — The musical play Annie, based on the “Little Orphan Annie” comic strip, opened tonight on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre in New York, beginning a run of 2,377 performances. Continue reading ‘Annie’ musical play opens on Broadway 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 21 1977)
Video: 'Svetlana Stalina daughter of Josef Josef Stalin Defects to United States 1967 newsreel footage'
(Friday, April 21, 1967, 2:45 p.m. EST; during the Cold War) — Joseph Stalin’s daughter, Svetlana Alliluyeva, 42, arrived today at Kennedy Airport in New York aboard a Swiss airplane from Zurich, apparently set on closing a deal with sell her memoirs of life with her father. Continue reading Stalin’s daughter arrives in U.S. to ‘seek self-expression’ 50 years ago this hour #OTD #OnThisDay (Apr 21 1967)
