Video: '14th December 1911: Roald Amundsen reaches the South Pole'
(Thursday, December 14, 1911, at around 3:00 p.m. local time; during Amundsen’s South Pole expedition) — Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen became the first person to reach the South Pole today, beating out a British expedition led by Robert F. Scott. Continue reading Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen becomes first person to reach South Pole 110 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 14 1911)
Video: 'Ten For Two - The John Sinclair Benefit - Part 2' (Dec. 13, 1971, at 19:57)
(Monday, December 13, 1971) — Three days after the John Sinclair Freedom Rally, a protest and concert headlined by former Beatle John Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, at the Crisler Arena at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, John Sinclair was unexpectedly released today from Southern Michigan Prison in Jackson after serving more than two years of a 10-year prison term for possession of two marijuana cigarettes. Continue reading John Sinclair released from prison, telephones John Lennon & Yoko Ono 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 13 1971)
Video: 'Solidarity Poland 1981' (martial law declared in Poland at 9:28)
(Sunday, December 13, 1981, 12:00 midnight Central European Time; during Martial law in Poland, part of the Soviet reaction to the Polish crisis of 1980–1981) — Poland’s new military leaders issued a decree of martial law today, drastically restricting civil rights and suspending the operations of the Solidarity union. Continue reading Polish government declares martial law in crackdown on Solidarity labor movement 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 13 1981)
(Saturday, December 12, 1981) — “Our Lips Are Sealed” by The Go-Go’s peaked at #20 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks. Continue reading ‘Our Lips Are Sealed’ by The Go-Go’s peaks at #20 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 12 1981)
(Saturday, December 12, 1981) — “Heart Like a Wheel” by The Steve Miller Band peaked at #24 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks. Continue reading ‘Heart Like a Wheel’ by The Steve Miller Band peaks at #24 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 12 1981)
(Saturday, December 12, 1981) — “Wrack My Brain” by former Beatle Ringo Starr peaked at #38 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for one week. Continue reading ‘Wrack My Brain’ by Ringo Starr peaks at #38 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 12 1981)
Video: 'Guglielmo Marconi Wireless Telegraphy' (Dec. 12, 1901, at 7:05)
(Thursday, December 12, 1901, 12:30 p.m. Newfoundland Standard Time) — Italian physicist and radio pioneer Guglielmo Marconi received the first radio transmission across the Atlantic Ocean today, sent 1,700 miles from Poldhu in Cornwall, England to Signal Hill in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada. It was the letter “S” (“…” in Morse code). Continue reading Guglielmo Marconi receives first radio transmission across Atlantic Ocean 120 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 12 1901)
(Saturday, December 11, 1971) — “Have You Seen Her” by The Chi-Lites peaked at #3 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks. Continue reading ‘Have You Seen Her’ by The Chi-Lites peaks at #3 in USA 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 11 1971)
Video: 'December 11, 1941 US Congress declares War on Germany'
(Thursday, December 11, 1941, 3:00 p.m. in Washington/10:00 p.m. in Berlin) — Nearly eight hours after Germany and Italy, Japan’s Axis partners, declared war on the United States, the U.S. responded in kind today, declaring war on Germany and Italy. Continue reading U.S. declares war on Nazi Germany, Italy 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 11 1941)
(Saturday, December 11, 1971) — “Got to Be There” by Michael Jackson peaked at #4 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart one week. Continue reading ‘Got to Be There’ by Michael Jackson peaks at #4 in USA 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 11 1971)
