Monthly Archives: February 2021

Apollo 14 astronauts land within a mile of target after a ‘terrific flight’ to the Moon 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 9 1971)

1970s, space exploration


Video: 'Apollo 14 CBS' (72 videos; Apollo 14 splashdowns on video #50 at 10:17)

(Tuesday, February 9, 1971, 4:05 p.m. EST/21:05:00 UTC) — The Apollo 14 astronauts rode their spaceship to a safe, successful and precise splashdown in the Pacific Ocean today, marking the end of the nation’s 24th manned space flight, the sixth mission to the moon and the third to have landed men who explored that desolate world some 238,000 miles from the earth.
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‘Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)’ by C+C Music Factory featuring Martha Wash and Freedom Williams peaks at #1 in USA 30 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 9 1991)

1990s, Popular Music 1990s

(Saturday, February 9, 1991) — “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)” by C+C Music Factory featuring Martha Wash and Freedom Williams peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two consecutive weeks (Feb. 9/16, 1991).
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Satchel Paige becomes first Negro League player voted into baseball’s Hall of Fame 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 9 1971)

1970s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: 'Satchel Paige Biography'

(Tuesday, February 9, 1971) — Pitcher Satchel Paige became the first primarily Negro League player to be voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, today.
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Jefferson Davis elected provisional president of the Confederate States of America 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 9 1861)

1860s


Video: 'Jefferson Davis - First President of the Confederacy | Mini Bio | BIO'

(Friday, February 9, 1861) — One day after adopting a provisional constitution forming the Confederate States of America (CSA), the Confederate States Congress, meeting today in the Alabama Capitol at Montgomery, unanimously chose former U.S. Secretary of War and U.S. Senator Jefferson Davis as Provisional President and former U.S. Rep. Alexander H. Stephens as Provisional Vice President.
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65 people killed as heavy earthquake rocks Los Angeles area 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 9 1971)

1970s


Video: 'San Fernando Valley Sylmar Earthquake (1971)'

(Tuesday, February 9, 1971, 6:00:41 a.m. PST; during the 1971 San Fernando earthquake) — A major earthquake rumbled through southern California early today with a strong ground motion duration of about 12 seconds, killing 65 people, injuring another 2,000 and causing more than a half billion dollars in damage to homes, businesses and roadways in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas.
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The Beatles perform at Liverpool’s Cavern Club for first time 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 9 1961)

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


Video: 'The Cavern Club: The Beat Goes On - Official Trailer'

(Thursday, February 9, 1961, 12:00-2:00 p.m. GMT) — The English rock band The Beatles (featuring John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe and Pete Best) debuted today at The Cavern Club, situated on Mathew Street in central Liverpool, swiftly establishing themselves as the club’s signature act and attracting a loyal audience.
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Seven secessionist slave states form Confederate States of America 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 8 1861)

1860s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'The Confederate States of America'

(Friday, February 8, 1861, at around midnight local time) — The Confederate States of America (CSA), an unrecognized breakaway state that fought against the United States of America during the American Civil War, was formed late tonight in the Alabama Capitol at Montgomery when representatives from seven secessionist slave states unanimously ratified a Provisional Constitution.
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Gladys Knight & the Pips, Robert Klein perform on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 7 1971)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s, Television 1970s


Video: 'GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS "If I Were Your Woman" on The Ed Sullivan Show'

(Sunday, February 7, 1971, 8:00-9:00 p.m. EST) — Gladys Knight & the Pips performed “If I Were Your Woman” and comedian Robert Klein told jokes about going to the dentist on tonight’s episode of the CBS-TV variety series The Ed Sullivan Show live from the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City.
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South Vietnamese units supported by U.S. military drive into Laos to strike enemy supply line 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 8 1971)

1970s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam The Ten Thousand Day War The Village War 10 13' (Operation Lam Son 719 at 32:22)

(Monday, February 8, 1971, 7:00 a.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Operation Lam Son 719, an attack by the First Infantry Division of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) from South Vietnam into the Kingdom of Laos, was launched today in the Vietnam War against North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces operating across the border.
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‘Celebration’ by Kool & the Gang peaks at #1 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 7 1981)

1980s, Popular Music 1980s

(Saturday, February 7, 1981) — “Celebration” by Kool & the Gang peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two consecutive weeks (Feb. 7/14, 1981).
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