Monthly Archives: May 2018

U.S. begins NYC to DC airmail service 100 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 15 1918)

1910s


Video: 'The First U.S. Air Mail Flight (1918) - 1976 Commemorative Clip'

(Wednesday, May 15, 1918, first flight from Belmont Park at 11:30 a.m. EDT) — The United States officially established airmail service between New York and Washington, D.C. today, using six converted United States Army Air Service Curtiss JN-4HM “Jenny” biplanes flown by Army pilots between Washington, D.C. (Washington Polo Grounds) and New York City (Belmont Park) with an intermediate stop in Philadelphia (Bustleton Field). Continue reading U.S. begins NYC to DC airmail service 100 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 15 1918) →

‘Nature Boy’ by King Cole peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 15 1948)

1940s, Popular Music 1940s

(Saturday, May 15, 1948) — “Nature Boy” by King Cole with orchestra conducted by Frank De Vol peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for seven consecutive weeks (May 15/22/29, June 5/12/19/26, 1948). Continue reading ‘Nature Boy’ by King Cole peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 15 1948) →

Arab armies attack new state of Israel 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 15 1948)

1940s


Video: 'Israel Birth of a Nation Documentary' (May 15, 1948, at 34:47)

(Saturday, May 15, 1948) — Hours after declaring its independence, the new state of Israel was attacked today by Transjordan, Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon, launching the 10-month 1948 Arab–Israeli War. Continue reading Arab armies attack new state of Israel 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 15 1948) →

Frank Sinatra, 82, dies in Los Angeles 20 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 14 1998)

1990s, Popular Music 1990s


Video: 'SINATRA PASSING OF A LEGION' (51 videos)

(Thursday, May 14, 1998, 10:50 p.m. PDT) — American singer, actor, and producer Frank Sinatra, one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century, died tonight at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after a heart attack. He was 82. Continue reading Frank Sinatra, 82, dies in Los Angeles 20 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 14 1998) →

Lennon, McCartney appear on ‘The Tonight Show’ 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 15 1968)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s, Television 1960s, The Beatles 1960s


Video: 'John Lennon & Paul McCartney on The Tonight Show NYC in 1968'

(taped Tuesday, May 14, 1968/aired Wednesday, May 15, 1968, midnight-1:00 a.m. EDT) — John Lennon and Paul McCartney of The Beatles, on a promotional trip to the United States to launch Apple Corps, appeared tonight on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (with guest host Joe Garagiola and actress Tellulah Bankhead) from NBC’s Studio 6B at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. Continue reading Lennon, McCartney appear on ‘The Tonight Show’ 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 15 1968) →

Bobby Kennedy wins Nebraska primary 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 14 1968)

1960s, U.S. Presidents


Video: '68 The Year Nebraska Mattered' (May 14, 1968, at 44:54)

(Tuesday, May 14, 1968, polls closed at 10:00 p.m. EDT; during the Democratic Party presidential primaries, 1968) — Senator Robert F. Kennedy won his second presidential test tonight in the Nebraska Democratic primary, defeating Senator Eugene McCarthy by a margin of 52 to 31 percent. Continue reading Bobby Kennedy wins Nebraska primary 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 14 1968) →

76 million watch ‘Seinfeld’ finale 20 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 14 1998)

1990s, Television 1990s


Video: 'The Final Ending of Seinfeld'

(Thursday, May 14, 1998, 8:45-10:00 p.m. EDT) — Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer are arrested for violating the “Good Samaritan Law” after standing idly by during a carjacking in fictional Latham, Massachusetts, on “The Finale,” a two-part series finale of the American sitcom Seinfeld that aired tonight on NBC to an audience of 76 million viewers. Continue reading 76 million watch ‘Seinfeld’ finale 20 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 14 1998) →

Ringo Starr performs on ‘The View’ 20 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 14 1998)

1990s, Popular Music 1990s, Television 1990s, The Beatles 1990s


Video: 'Ringo Starr The View 6 17 1998'

(Thursday, May 14, 1998) — Former Beatle Ringo Starr performed today at ABC Television Studios in New York City for the June 17, 1998, edition of the talk show The View. Continue reading Ringo Starr performs on ‘The View’ 20 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 14 1998) →

Lennon-McCartney news conference on Apple 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 14 1968)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s, The Beatles 1960s


Video: 'John Lennon and Paul McCartney Press Conference Americana Hotel, New York City May 14, 1'

(Tuesday, May 14, 1968, 1:30 p.m. EDT) — John Lennon and Paul McCartney of The Beatles, on a promotional trip to the United States to launch Apple Corps, held a news conference today at the Americana Hotel at 811 Seventh Avenue in New York City. Continue reading Lennon-McCartney news conference on Apple 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 14 1968) →

Former VP Nixon campaigns in McMinnville, Oregon 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 14 1968)

1960s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'KEVU April Part 2 1968 Oregon Primary RDTV' (May 14, 1968, at 11:09)

(Tuesday, May 14, 1968; during the Republican Party presidential primaries, 1968) — Former Vice President Richard Nixon, seeking the 1968 Republican presidential nomination, drew heavy applause today at a jammed National Guard Amory in McMinnville, Oregon, when he called for greater self-reliance and pulling at “bootstraps” in order to solve economic problems. Continue reading Former VP Nixon campaigns in McMinnville, Oregon 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 14 1968) →