Video: 'Being There' trailer
(Thursday, December 20, 1979, 12:00 p.m. EST) — Political pundits mistake an illiterate gardener for a media genius and turn him into a national hero in Being There, an American comedy-drama film that opened today at The Coronet in Manhattan in New York City. Continue reading ‘Being There’ opens in Manhattan 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 20 1979)
(Saturday, December 20, 1969) — “Volunteers” by Jefferson Airplane peaked at #65 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks. Continue reading ‘Volunteers’ by Jefferson Airplane peaks at #65 in USA 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 20 1969)
Video: 'Beatles Christmas 1969 - The Beatles' Seventh Christmas Record'
(Friday, December 19, 1969) — The Beatles’ Seventh Christmas Record: Happy Christmas 1969, the band’s seventh and final Christmas record, was released today to members of their fan club in the UK. Continue reading ‘The Beatles’ Seventh Christmas Record: Happy Christmas 1969′ released 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 19 1969)
(Thursday, December 19, 1839; following the 1839 Whig National Convention) — Former Senator William Henry Harrison of Ohio accepted the Whig presidential nomination in a letter dated today. Continue reading Harrison accepts Whig presidential nomination 180 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 19 1839)
Video: 'December 18, 1969 - The Royal World Premiere of On Her Majesty's Secret Service Odeon Theatre London'
(Thursday, December 18, 1969, 8:30 p.m. GMT) — On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, the sixth spy film in the James Bond series, and the first and only to star George Lazenby (replacing Sean Connery, who had retired from the role) as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond, premiered tonight at the Odeon Leicester Square in London. Continue reading James Bond film ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’ premieres in London 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 18 1969)
Video: 'John & Yoko December 1969' (Dec. 18, 1969, at 0:56-1:50/33:18-33:42/40:08-40:32/47:31-48:04)
(Thursday, December 18, 1969) — On the second day of their Canadian peace campaign, John Lennon of The Beatles and his wife, Yoko Ono, spent the day at Ronnie Hawkins’ Farm in Mississauga, recording messages and conducting interviews. Continue reading Lennon, Ono interviewed for CBC-TV, AP in Canada 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 18 1969)
Video: 'Wings Scotland interview 1979'
(Tuesday, December 18, 1979; during the Wings UK Tour 1979) — One day after wrapping up a 19-date concert tour of the United Kingdom, former Beatle Paul McCartney and his band Wings were interviewed today at Scottish Television Studios in Glasgow for today’s edition of Scotland Today. Continue reading McCartney & Wings interviewed in Glasgow 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 18 1979)
Video: '30 million viewers watch Tiny Tim's wedding on 'Tonight Show''
(Wednesday, December 17, 1969, 11:30 p.m.-1:00 a.m. EST) — In a record for an American late-night television show, at least 30 million people tuned in tonight to watch the wedding of 37-year-old falsetto-voiced singer Herbert Buckingham Khaury, better known by his stage name Tiny Tim, and his 17-year-old bride, Victoria Mae Budinger, nicknamed “Miss Vicky,” on The Tonight Show, hosted by Johnny Carson.
The ceremony itself took place before an audience of 250 people at 7:43 p.m. EST during the videotaping of The Tonight Show at its studio at the NBC television network’s headquarters in New York.
Tiny Tim, famous for his bestselling recording of “Tiptoe Through the Tulips,” walked to the altar through 10,000 tulips imported from the Netherlands for the occasion.
Video: 'The Simpsons Intro Season 1 1990'
(Sunday, December 17, 1989, 8:30-9:00 p.m. EST) — The American animated sitcom television series The Simpsons, a satirical depiction of working-class life, epitomized by the Simpson family, debuted tonight on Fox. Continue reading ‘The Simpsons’ animated sitcom series debuts on Fox-TV 30 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 17 1989)
Video: 'Paul McCartney & Wings Live In Glasgow, 12/17/79'
(Monday, December 17, 1979, 7:30 p.m. GMT; during the Wings UK Tour 1979) — Former Beatle Paul McCartney and his band Wings performed the second of two shows tonight at The Apollo in Glasgow, Scotland, the final date of the group’s 19-date tour of the United Kingdom to promote their recent album, Back to the Egg. Continue reading McCartney & Wings perform again at The Apollo in Glasgow 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 17 1979)
