Monthly Archives: July 2025

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

1970s, space exploration


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)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s

(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)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s


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)

1940s, U.S. Presidents, World War II


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)

1940s, U.S. Presidents, World War II

(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).

First parking meters installed in Oklahoma City 90 years ago today (July 16 1935)

1930s


Video: 'Oklahoma City site of first parking meter'

(Tuesday, July 16, 1935) — The first parking meters, a device used to collect money in exchange for the right to park a vehicle in a particular place for a limited amount of time, were installed today in Oklahoma City.

U.S. President Harry S. Truman inspects ruins of Berlin 80 years ago this hour (July 16 1945)

1940s, U.S. Presidents, World War II


Video: 'MP76-35 reel 1 - NEW FILM TRANSFER - President Truman’s Trip to the Berlin Conference' (Truman inspects Berlin ruins at 12:30)

(Monday, July 16, 1945, 4:57 p.m. CEST; one day before the Potsdam Conference during World War II) — U.S. President Harry S. Truman, in Germany for the Potsdam Conference with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin (whose late arrival delayed the conference to July 17, 1945), visited Berlin this afternoon to inspect the city’s ruins following the end of World War II in Europe (click here for a clip of this event from “American Experience: Truman” at 1:53:59).

President Truman inspects 2nd Armored ‘Hells on Wheels’ Division in Germany 80 years ago this hour (July 16 1945)

1940s, U.S. Presidents, World War II


Video: 'President Truman reviews troops of the 2nd Armored Division, along a section of t...HD Stock Footage'

(Monday, July 16, 1945, 3:40 p.m. CEST; one day before the Potsdam Conference during World War II) — U.S. President Harry S. Truman, in Germany for the Potsdam Conference with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin (whose late arrival delayed the conference to July 17, 1945), left U.S. headquarters at Babelsberg this afternoon to inspect the ruins of Berlin,stopping to inspect the famous 2nd Armored “Hells on Wheels” Division drawn up along the wide AVUS super-highway between Potsdam and Berlin.

Atomic Age begins! U.S. explodes first experimental atomic bomb in New Mexico 80 years ago this hour (July 16 1945)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'Explosion and smoke cloud of the first Atomic Bomb detonation rising at Alamogord...HD Stock Footage'

(Sunday, July 16, 1945, 5:29:45 a.m. Mountain War Time; during World War II) — The Atomic Age began this morning when the United States successfully detonated a plutonium-based test nuclear weapon at the Trinity bomb site near Alamogordo, New Mexico, unleashing an explosion equivalent to that of 19 kilotons of TNT (click here for a clip of this event from “American Experience: Truman” at 1:55:04). Continue reading Atomic Age begins! U.S. explodes first experimental atomic bomb in New Mexico 80 years ago this hour (July 16 1945) →