Daily Archives: July 17, 2025

Disneyland opens in Anaheim, California during live TV special 70 years ago this hour (July 17 1955)


Video: '1955 Disneyland Opening Day [Complete ABC Broadcast]'

(Sunday, July 17, 1955, 4:30 p.m. PDT) — The theme park Disneyland was dedicated today in Anaheim, California, during a nationally televised “International Press Preview” event on ABC-TV anchored by Art Linkletter, Bob Cummings and Ronald Reagan.

U.S., Soviet astronauts unite ships, join in historic handshakes 50 years ago this hour (July 17 1975)


Video: 'APOLLO-SOYUZ: Crew Handshakes and Enters Soyuz - TV and Film from Apollo & Soyuz (1975/07/17)'

(Thursday, July 17, 1975, 3:19 p.m. EDT) — Astronauts of the United States and the Soviet Union united spaceships today and then Apollo commander Tom Stafford and Soyuz commander Alexei Leonov joined hands in the first international meeting away from earth, a symbolic gesture of the two nations’ expressed desire to cooperate in the exploration of space. Continue reading U.S., Soviet astronauts unite ships, join in historic handshakes 50 years ago this hour (July 17 1975)

‘Here Comes the Night’ by Them peaks at #24 in USA 60 years ago today (July 17 1965)

(Saturday, July 17, 1965) — “Here Comes the Night” by Them peaked at #24 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks. Continue reading ‘Here Comes the Night’ by Them peaks at #24 in USA 60 years ago today (July 17 1965)

‘Unchained Melody’ single by The Righteous Brothers released in USA 60 years ago today (July 17 1965)


Video: 'Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody (High Quality)'

(Saturday, July 17, 1965) — The single “Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers was released today in the U.S. on the Phillies label. Continue reading ‘Unchained Melody’ single by The Righteous Brothers released in USA 60 years ago today (July 17 1965)

Potsdam Conference of Truman, Churchill and Stalin called to order 80 years ago this hour (July 17 1945)


Video: 'Berlin including Churchill, Stalin and Truman at Potsdam Conference - 1945' (Potsdam Conference begins at 6:45)

(Tuesday, July 17, 1945, 5:10 p.m. CEST; during World War II) — The Potsdam Conference, convened to decide how to administer punishment to the defeated Nazi Germany and plan the final stages of the Pacific Theater of World War II, was called to order this afternoon at Cecilienhof, the home of Crown Prince Wilhelm Hohenzollern, in Potsdam, occupied Germany (click here for a clip of this event from “American Experience: Truman” at 1:57:58). Continue reading Potsdam Conference of Truman, Churchill and Stalin called to order 80 years ago this hour (July 17 1945)

Soviet leader Joseph Stalin calls on U.S. President Harry S. Truman in Babelsberg 80 years ago this hour (July 17 1945)

(Tuesday, July 17, 1945, 12:00 p.m. CEST; hours before the Potsdam Conference during World War II) — Soviet leader Joseph Stalin called on U.S. President Harry S. Truman today at U.S. headquarters at Babelsberg, Germany, ahead of the Potsdam Conference with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Stalin. (click here for a clip of this event from “American Experience: Truman” at 1:56:04).