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800 arrested at Berkeley, students paralyze campus 50 years ago today (Dec 3 1964)


Video: 'Mario Savio: Sproul Hall Steps, December 2, 1964'

(Thursday, December 3, 1964, 3:45 a.m. PST; during the Free Speech Movement (FSM)) — Police arrested about 800 students today at the University of California, Berkeley, following their takeover of and massive sit-in at the Sproul Hall administration building. Continue reading 800 arrested at Berkeley, students paralyze campus 50 years ago today (Dec 3 1964) →

Napoleon crowned emperor of France 210 years ago today (Dec 2 1804)


Video: 'J. F. Lesueur & N. Roze: Coronation music for Napoleon I (Paris, 1804) / V. Tchernouchenko'

(Sunday, December 2, 1804) — Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself Emperor of the French today at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, the first French Emperor in a thousand years.

‘Beverly Hills Cop’ premieres in Los Angeles 30 years ago today (Dec 1 1984)


Video: 'Beverly Hills Cop' (trailer)

(Saturday, December 1, 1984) — Beverly Hills Cop, an action comedy film about a street-smart Detroit cop who heads to Beverly Hills, California, to solve the murder of his best friend, premiered today in Los Angeles.

Directed by Martin Brest, the film starred Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold and John Ashton.

Tom Brokaw signs off as ‘NBC Nightly News’ anchor 10 years ago this hour (Dec 1 2004)


Video: 'Tom Brokaw Says Farewell to NBC Nightly News'

(Wednesday, December 1, 2004, 6:30-7:00 p.m. EST) — Tom Brokaw signed off for the last time tonight as anchor of the NBC Nightly News, ending 22 years on the Nightly News desk and a 21-year run as the network’s chief newsman, a record tenure in NBC’s history. Brokaw was succeeded by Brian Williams the following day.

Meteorite hits home, Alabama woman hurt 60 years ago this hour (Nov 30 1954)


Video 'Woman Struck by Meteorite | Smarter Every Day 84'

(Tuesday, November 30, 1954, 1:00 p.m. local time) — The Hodges Meteorite crashed through a roof today and struck a woman taking an afternoon nap In Sylacauga, Alabama, in the only documented case of a human being hit by a rock from space.

Beatles convention, McCartney interview featured on ‘ET’ 30 years ago today (Nov 27 1984)


Video: 'Paul McCartney on Entertainment Tonight - 1984'

(Tuesday, November 27, 1984) — A Beatles convention in Los Angeles was featured on today’s edition of Entertainment Tonight. The program also included a previously recorded separate interview with former Beatle Paul McCartney (taped Oct. 25, 1984).

‘Confederate Army of Manhattan’ attempts to burn down New York City 150 years ago this hour (Nov 25 1864)

(Friday, November 25, 1864, beginning around 8:45 p.m. local time; during American Civil War) — A group of Confederate operatives calling themselves the Confederate Army of Manhattan started fires today (the day after Thanksgiving Day, what is now known as Black Friday) in more than 20 locations in an unsuccessful attempt to burn down New York City.

John Wilkes Booth acts in ‘Julius Caesar’ benefit performance in New York City 150 years ago tonight (Nov 25 1864)


Image: John Wilkes Booth, Edwin Booth and Junius Booth, Jr. (from left to right) in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar in 1864.

(Friday, November 25, 1864, evening local time; during American Civil War) — Actor John Wilkes Booth (later the assassin of U.S. president Abraham Lincoln) played Mark Antony today in a benefit performance of Julius Caesar at the Winter Garden Theater in New York City (with his brothers Junius, Jr. and Edwin). This landmark production raised funds to erect a statue of Shakespeare in Central Park, which remains to this day. Continue reading John Wilkes Booth acts in ‘Julius Caesar’ benefit performance in New York City 150 years ago tonight (Nov 25 1864) →

New Saigon riots by Buddhists bring crackdown in South Vietnam 50 years ago today (Nov 25 1964)


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History - LBJ Goes to War [3/11]' (November 1964 at 28:25)

(Wednesday, November 25, 1964; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Measures based on martial law were imposed on Saigon, South Vietnam, tonight after rioting that spread across the capital.

German V-2 rocket falls on packed Woolworths store in London 70 years ago today (Nov 25 1944)

(Saturday, November 25, 1944, 12:26 p.m. BST; during World War II) — A German V-2 rocket fell on a packed Woolworths store today in New Cross Road, South London, killing 168 people (including 15 children), injuring 122 others and razing the building to the ground. The neighbouring London Co-operative Society store was also demolished in the attack.