Monthly Archives: December 2020

The Beatles send ‘From Then to You’ Christmas compilation album to UK fans 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 18 1970)

1970s, Christmas, Popular Music 1970s, The Beatles 1970s


Video: 'Beatles Christmas Messages' (first 7 videos constitute original album)

(Friday, December 18, 1970) — From Then to You, a compilation LP of all seven of the annual The Beatles’ Christmas records (spoken and musical messages recorded 1963-1969), was sent out today to the group’s fan club in the UK (in the U.S., the album sent out by the fan club as The Beatles’ Christmas Album around springtime 1971).
Continue reading The Beatles send ‘From Then to You’ Christmas compilation album to UK fans 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 18 1970) →

134 die as two airliners collide over foggy New York Harbor 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 16 1960)

1960s


Video: 'New York Mid-Air Collision'

(Friday, December 16, 1960, 10:37 a.m. EST; during the 1960 New York mid-air collision) — A United Airlines Douglas DC-8, bound for Idlewild Airport (now John F. Kennedy International Airport) in New York City collided in midair with a TWA Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation descending into the city’s LaGuardia Airport today in fog and sleet, killing all 128 people on the two aircraft and six people on the ground. Continue reading 134 die as two airliners collide over foggy New York Harbor 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 16 1960) →

Hunkpapa Lakota leader Sitting Bull killed in skirmish with Indian agency police 130 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 15 1890)

1890s


Video: 'A KID EXPLAINS SITTING BULL'

(Monday, December 15, 1890, between 12 noon and 1:00 p.m. local time) — Sitting Bull, a Hunkpapa Lakota leader who led his people during years of resistance against U.S. government policies, and 11 other tribe members were killed today in Grand River, South Dakota, during a confrontation with Indian police.
Continue reading Hunkpapa Lakota leader Sitting Bull killed in skirmish with Indian agency police 130 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 15 1890) →

‘From a Distance’ by Bette Midler peaks at #2 in USA 30 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 15 1990)

1990s, Popular Music 1990s

(Saturday, December 15, 1990) — “From a Distance” by Bette Midler peaked at #2 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for one week.
Continue reading ‘From a Distance’ by Bette Midler peaks at #2 in USA 30 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 15 1990) →

John Lennon, Yoko Ono shoot ‘Fly’ art film in New York 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 14 1970)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s, The Beatles 1970s


Video: 'Fly John Lennon & Yoko Ono, 1970'

(Monday, December 14, 1970) — Production on Fly, an art film by former Beatle John Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, that shows a fly crawling over the body of a motionless naked woman, began today in a top floor loft in a derelict building in the Bowery neighborhood in the southern portion of the New York City borough of Manhattan. Continue reading John Lennon, Yoko Ono shoot ‘Fly’ art film in New York 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 14 1970) →

Silent tribute to John Lennon’s memory observed throughout the world 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 14 1980)

1980s, Popular Music 1980s, The Beatles 1980s


Video: 'WABC-TV CH 7 NYC JOHN LENNON TRIBUTE 12-14-80 PT 1'

(Sunday, December 14, 1980, 2:00 p.m. EST; following the Murder of John Lennon) — In silence and in song, Beatles fans around the world paid final tribute today in parks, plazas and even parking lots, to John Lennon, who was murdered by a deranged fan on Dec. 8, 1980, outside his New York City apartment building. Continue reading Silent tribute to John Lennon’s memory observed throughout the world 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 14 1980) →

Supreme Court votes 5-4 to give presidential election to George W. Bush 20 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 12 2000)

2000s, U.S. Presidents


Video: '2000 Election December 12 Gore v. Bush Supreme Court Decision' (5 videos)

(Tuesday, December 12, 2000, about 10 p.m. EST; during the United States presidential election, 2000) — Five weeks after one of the most unsettled presidential elections in American history, Texas Governor George W. Bush, a Republican, became president-elect tonight as the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 it was reversing the ruling of the Florida Supreme Court allowing hand recount of votes in Florida.

The ruling, in effect, ensured Bush would win the presidency over incumbent Vice President Al Gore of Tennessee, a Democrat. Continue reading Supreme Court votes 5-4 to give presidential election to George W. Bush 20 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 12 2000) →

Jim Morrison performs final show with The Doors 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 12 1970)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s, The Doors


Video: 'Riders On The Storm - The Doors Live In New Orleans 1970'

(Saturday, December 12, 1970, following the 8:00 p.m. CST scheduled start time for opening act Kansas) — Jim Morrison, facing a losing battle with alcoholism, gave his final live performance with The Doors tonight at a rock and roll venue in New Orleans, Louisiana, known at the time as “a Warehouse.” Continue reading Jim Morrison performs final show with The Doors 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 12 1970) →

‘The Tears of a Clown’ by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles peaks at #1 in USA 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 12 1970)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s

(Saturday, December 12, 1970) — “The Tears of a Clown” by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two consecutive weeks (Dec. 12/19, 1970). Continue reading ‘The Tears of a Clown’ by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles peaks at #1 in USA 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 12 1970) →