Video: 'Yankee Doodle Dandy' trailer
(Friday, May 29, 1942) — Yankee Doodle Dandy, a biographical musical film about George M. Cohan, known as “The Man Who Owns Broadway,” premiered tonight during a war-bonds benefit at the Hollywood Theatre in New York.
Directed by Michael Curtiz, the film stars James Cagney as George M. Cohan, Joan Leslie, Walter Huston and Richard Whorf. Continue reading ‘Yankee Doodle Dandy’ premieres in New York 70 years ago tonight (1942)
Video: 'The March of the Bonus Army' (late May 1932 at 9:39)
(Sunday, May 29, 1932, during the Great Depression) — With American flags flying before them, sixteen truckloads of World War I veterans arrived in Washington today to demand cash bonuses they weren’t scheduled to receive until 1945. Eventually, 43,000 “Bonus Army” marchers – 17,000 World War I veterans, their families, and affiliated groups – would gather in Washington.
Video: Second Battle of Kharkov (at 12:46)
(Thursday, May 28, 1942, part of the Eastern Front of World War II) — The Second Battle of Kharkov in the eastern Ukraine ended today as Germany scored a victory by knocking out the Russian force threatening Kharkov. In all, 170,958 Soviets were killed, missing or captured since May 12. Continue reading Soviets defeated in Second Battle of Kharkov 70 years ago today (1942)
(Wednesday, May 27, 1942, during World War II) — Navy Cook 3rd Class Doris “Dorie” Miller became the first African-American to receive the Navy Cross today for his “extraordinary courage and disregard for his own personal safety” during Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor. Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet, presented to Miller on board aircraft carrier Enterprise for his extraordinary courage in battle.
Video: Nazis push toward Tobruk (at 4:49)
(Tuesday, May 26, 1942, part of the Western Desert Campaign during World War II) — The Battle of Gazala began today as German and Italian units pushed toward the port of Tobruk in Libya.
Video: 'The "Today" Show Talks with New "Tonight" Show Host, Jay Leno - May, 1992!'
(Monday, May 25, 1992, 11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. EDT) — Comedian Jay Leno made his debut tonight as host of NBC’s Tonight Show, succeeding Johnny Carson. Leno’s first guest was actor, comedian Billy Crystal.
Video: 'The Joseph Warren Stilwell Story - The Big Picture'
(Monday, May 25, 1942, during World War II) — U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Joseph Stilwell, frustrated over being driven out of Burma by Japanese troops, bluntly told reporters in Delhi, India today, “I claim we got a hell of a beating.”
Video: 'The Pianist' trailer
(Friday, May 24, 2002) — The Pianist, a biographical war film about a Polish Jewish musician who struggles to survive the destruction of the Warsaw ghetto of World War II, premiered today at the Cannes Film Festival. Continue reading ‘The Pianist’ premieres at Cannes 10 years ago today (2002)
Video: May 24, 1962 (at 20:50)
(Thursday, May 24, 1962, 12:41:21 p.m. EDT) — Astronaut Malcolm Scott Carpentered orbited the world three times today in his Aurora 7 spacecraft, but overshot the planned landing area in the Atlantic Ocean by 200 miles. Splashing down to earth at 12:41 p.m. EDT, Carpenter was sighted in a life raft outside his floating Mercury space capsule shortly after 1:20 p.m. EDT.
Video: May 24, 1952 (at 6:18)
(Saturday, May 24, 1952, during the Korean War, part of the Cold War) — South Korean President Syngman Rhee declared martial law today around the temporary capital of Pusan (now spelled Buson), and had some of his opponents in the National Assembly arrested. Continue reading President Rhee proclaims martial law in Pusan, South Korea 60 years ago today (1952)
