Monthly Archives: April 2023

Paul McCartney performs at Anaheim Stadium in California 30 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 17 1993)


Video: 'Paul McCartney 4-17-93 Anaheim CA UNRELEASED'

(Saturday, April 17, 1993, video collage began at 8:20 p.m. PDT) — Ex-Beatle Paul McCartney performed tonight at Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim, California, on the second stop of the North America leg of his The New World Tour to promote McCartney’s ninth studio album Off the Ground. Continue reading Paul McCartney performs at Anaheim Stadium in California 30 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 17 1993)

Isoroku Yamamoto, mastermind of Japanese sneak attack on U.S. fleet at Pearl Harbor, killed in action 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 18 1943)


Video: 'The Spy Game That Killed Yamamoto - WW2 - Spies & Ties 17'

(Sunday, April 18, 1943, 9:35 a.m. local time; during Operation Vengeance, part of Solomon Islands campaign, part of the Pacific Theater of World War II) — Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, commander-in-chief of the Japanese Combined Fleet and mastermind of the sneak attack on the U.S. fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, was killed today as his plane was shot down by U.S. Army fighter pilot Thomas Lanphier, Jr while approaching Bougainville in the Solomon Islands after American code breakers identified his flight plans. Continue reading Isoroku Yamamoto, mastermind of Japanese sneak attack on U.S. fleet at Pearl Harbor, killed in action 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 18 1943)

2 of 4 officers found guilty in Rodney King beating by federal jury in Los Angeles 30 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 17 1993)


Video: 'ABC News special report on the Rodney King trial verdicts (April 17, 1993)'

(Saturday, April 17, 1993, all the verdicts read by 7:06 a.m. PDT) — A federal jury today convicted two Los Angeles police officers and acquitted two others of violating the civil rights of motorist Rodney King during his 1991 arrest and beating.

Many residents of this tense city greeted the convictions of Sgt. Stacey C. Koon and Officer Laurence M. Powell with cheers, while the police, on full mobilization with riot gear, relaxed their guard (Koon and Powell would later be sentenced to 30 months in prison).

Reaction centered more on the two convictions than on the acquittals of Officer Theodore J. Briseno and former Officer Timothy E. Wind, who played smaller roles in the beating, which was captured on amateur videotape and shown nationwide (Wind and Briseno were soon dismissed by the LAPD for their role in the beating).


Video: '30 years after Rodney King LAPD beating video, what has changed?'

Los Angeles seemed to exhale in relief as the verdicts brought to a close two years of turmoil after the March 3, 1991, beating of King, an African American man who was stopped for speeding.

Acquittals of the four officers on assault charges in a state trial in 1992 touched off the worst urban rioting this century; 52 people died and property damage was estimated at nearly $1 billion.

Though the basic facts were the same as in a state trial, the prosecution presented a more coherent and forceful case, relying less heavily on the videotape, as it faced the higher legal burden of proving criminal intent.

The second prosecution was possible, despite the Constitution’s prohibition against double jeopardy, because the state and the Federal Government are considered separate jurisdictions.

Paul McCartney headlines Earth Day concert at Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles 30 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 16 1993)


Video: 'Paul McCartney - Live in Los Angeles (April 16th, 1993) - Best Source Merge'

(Friday, April 16, 1993, ‘Earth Day’ concert was scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. PDT) — Ex-Beatle Paul McCartney headlined an Earth Day concert tonight at the Hollywood Bowl in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, during a break in his The New World Tour to promote McCartney’s ninth studio album Off the Ground. Continue reading Paul McCartney headlines Earth Day concert at Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles 30 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 16 1993)

‘James Paul McCartney’ TV special starring Paul McCartney and Wings debuts on ABC 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 16 1973)


Video: 'James Paul McCartney and Wings (TV special 1973)'

(Monday, April 16, 1973, 8:00 p.m. EST)James Paul McCartney, a television special produced by ATV and starring English musician Paul McCartney and his then-current rock group Wings, was first broadcast tonight on the ABC network in the United States. Continue reading ‘James Paul McCartney’ TV special starring Paul McCartney and Wings debuts on ABC 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 16 1973)

Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. writes ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail’ while imprisoned in Alabama for protesting segregation 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 16 1963)


Video: 'The March That Led to MLK's Arrest and Famous Letter'

(Tuesday, April 16, 1963; during the Birmingham Campaign, part of the Civil Rights Movement) — The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” today in which the civil rights activist responded to a group of local clergymen who had criticized him for leading street protests; King defended his tactics, writing, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Continue reading Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. writes ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail’ while imprisoned in Alabama for protesting segregation 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 16 1963)

Two pressure-cooker bombs explode near Boston Marathon finish line, killing three people 10 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 15 2013)


Video: 'RAW: Watch Boston Marathon explosions'

(Sunday, April 15, 2013, 2:49:43 p.m. EST; during the Boston Marathon bombing) — Two bombs made from pressure cookers exploded today at the Boston Marathon finish line, killing two women and an 8-year-old boy and injuring more than 260, as one of this city’s most cherished rites of spring was transformed from a scene of cheers and sweaty triumph to one of screams and carnage. Continue reading Two pressure-cooker bombs explode near Boston Marathon finish line, killing three people 10 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 15 2013)