Monthly Archives: April 2021

‘I’ve Been Thinking About You’ by Londonbeat peaks at #1 in USA 30 years ago#OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 13 1991)

1990s, Popular Music 1990s

(Saturday, April 13, 1991) — “I’ve Been Thinking About You” by Londonbeat was the #1 song on today’s Billboard‘s Hot 100 singles chart for one week.
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John Lennon records ‘God Save Oz’ demo 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 13 1971)

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


Video: 'God Save Us (Demo)'

(Tuesday, April 13, 1971) — Former Beatle John Lennon recorded a demo today of his song “God Save Oz,” written with the hope of raising defense funds for the editors of the British-based Oz magazine, who were facing a conviction for contributing to the delinquency of minors.
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NASA’s first space shuttle rockets into orbit with two astronauts aboard 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 12 1981)

1980s, space exploration


Video: 'NBC News Coverage of STS-1 The 1st Space Shuttle Mission' (25 videos; launch is on video #6 at 3:07)

(Sunday, April 12, 1981, 7:00:03 a.m. EST) — The world’s first reusable spacecraft, the space shuttle Columbia, with two crew members, astronauts John W. Young and Robert L. Crippen, lifted off this morning from Pad A, Launch Complex 39, at the Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, Florida.
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American Civil War begins as Confederate troops fire on Fort Sumter in South Carolina’s Charleston Harbor 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 12 1861)

1860s, American Civil War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Fort Sumter: Animated Battle Map'

(Friday, April 12, 1861, 4:30 a.m. local time; during the Battle of Fort Sumter, part of the American Civil War) — The American Civil War, a civil war fought between northern states loyal to the Union and southern states that had seceded to preserve the enslavement of black people, began early today when secessionist forces attacked Fort Sumter in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina.
Continue reading American Civil War begins as Confederate troops fire on Fort Sumter in South Carolina’s Charleston Harbor 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 12 1861) →

Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes first human blasted into outer space 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 12 1961)

1960s, Cold War, space exploration


Video: 'Yuri Gagarin: First Man In Space | Chasing the Moon | American Experience | PBS'

(Wednesday, April 12, 1961, at 12:07 p.m. Alma-Ata Time; during the Space Race and the Cold War) — Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, 27, became the first human to go into outer space today, launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site No.1, a spaceport in an area of southern Kazakhstan leased to Russia, aboard the Vostok 1 spacecraft.
Continue reading Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes first human blasted into outer space 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 12 1961) →

‘Kiss on My List’ by Hall & Oates peaks at #1 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 11 1981)

1980s, Popular Music 1980s

(Saturday, April 11, 1981) — “Kiss on My List” by Daryl Hall and John Oates was the #1 song on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for the first of three consecutive weeks (April 11/18/25, 1981).
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Former Nazi Adolf Eichmann goes on trial in Israel for role in The Holocaust 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 11 1961)

1960s, The Holocaust


Video: 'Eichmann Trial Complete' (86 clips)

(Tuesday, April 11, 1961, 9:01 a.m. Israel Standard Time; during the Eichmann trial) — Adolf Eichmann, the former Nazi charged with delivering millions of Jews to extermination camps during The Holocaust, went on trial today in Israel before a special tribunal of the Jerusalem District Court.
Continue reading Former Nazi Adolf Eichmann goes on trial in Israel for role in The Holocaust 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 11 1961) →

U.S. President Harry S. Truman relieves General Douglas MacArthur 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 11 1951)

1950s, Korean War


Video: 'Korean War: Truman vs MacArthur over Korea' (April 11, 1951, at 17:29)

(Wednesday, April 11, 1951, 1:00 a.m. EST; during the Korean War, part of the Cold War and the Korean conflict) — U.S. President Harry S. Truman relieved General of the Army Douglas MacArthur of all his commands in the Far East early today after MacArthur made public statements which contradicted the administration’s policies.
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‘What’s Going On’ by Marvin Gaye peaks at #2 in USA 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 10 1971)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s

(Saturday, April 10, 1971) — “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye peaked at #2 on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart for the first of three weeks.
Continue reading ‘What’s Going On’ by Marvin Gaye peaks at #2 in USA 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 10 1971) →