(Saturday, September 9, 1939) — “Over the Rainbow” by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra (Ray Eberle, vocal) peaked at #1 on today’s Your Hit Parade weekly music chart for seven non-consecutive weeks (Sep. 9/16/23/30, Oct. 7/14/28, 1939). Continue reading ‘Over the Rainbow’ by Glenn Miller peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 9 1939)
Category Archives: 1930s
Roosevelt urges national unity as war breaks out in Europe 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 3 1939)
Video: 'FDR - Fireside Chat - Germany's Invansion of Poland 09-03-1939'
(Sunday, September 3, 1939, 10:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time; during the Invasion of Poland, part of World War II) — Pleading that the United States face Europe’s havoc with “national unity,” not selfish partisanship, President Franklin D. Roosevelt tonight solemnly promised the nation his utmost effort to keep the United States neutral. Continue reading Roosevelt urges national unity as war breaks out in Europe 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 3 1939)
King George VI urges subjects to ‘stand calm and firm’ against Nazi Germany 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 3 1939)
Video: 'HM King George VI - War outbreak speech - 3 September 1939'
(Sunday, September 3, 1939, 6:00 p.m. British Summer Time; during the Invasion of Poland, part of World War II) — Seven hours after Britain declared war on Nazi Germany, King George VI of England urged his subjects all over the world tonight to “stand calm and firm” in the face of a war in which “it is unthinkable that we should refuse to meet the challenge” during a radio address from Buckingham Palace in London. Continue reading King George VI urges subjects to ‘stand calm and firm’ against Nazi Germany 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 3 1939)
British PM Chamberlain proclaims ‘this country is at war with Germany’ 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 3 1939)
Video: 'BBC News 39 - Sunday 3 September 1939 - (Part 7 of 14)'
(Sunday, September 3, 1939, 11:15 a.m. British Summer Time; during the Invasion of Poland, part of World War II) — Two days after Nazi Germany invaded Poland, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain announced this morning that Great Britain and France were at war with Nazi Germany. Continue reading British PM Chamberlain proclaims ‘this country is at war with Germany’ 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 3 1939)
Chamberlain: Hitler has not yet responded to Britain’s ultimatum 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 2 1939)
Video: 'BBC News 39 - Saturday 2 September 1939 - (Part 6 of 14)'
(Saturday, September 2, 1939, 7:44 p.m. British Summer Time; during the Invasion of Poland, part of World War II) — One day after Nazi Germany invaded Poland, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain informed the House of Commons tonight that no reply had yet been received from Germany regarding last night’s ultimatum which declared that unless the British government received “satisfactory assurances” that Germany was prepared to withdraw from Polish territory, “His Majesty’s Government will without hesitation fulfill their obligation to Poland.” Continue reading Chamberlain: Hitler has not yet responded to Britain’s ultimatum 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 2 1939)
World War II begins as Nazi Germany invades Poland 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 1 1939)
Video: 'BBC News 39 - Friday 1 September 1939 - (Part 5 of 14)'
(Friday, September 1, 1939, 4:45 a.m. Central European Time; during the Invasion of Poland in the European theatre of World War II) — World War II, the deadliest conflict in human history, marked by 50 to 85 million fatalities, began this morning as Nazi Germany invaded Poland. Continue reading World War II begins as Nazi Germany invades Poland 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 1 1939)
Nazi Germany, Soviet Union sign non-aggression pact 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 24 1939)
Video: 'Signing the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact'
(Thursday, August 24, 1939, early morning Moscow Standard Time) — Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact tonight in Moscow, agreeing not to attack each other and to remain neutral if attacked by a third power. Continue reading Nazi Germany, Soviet Union sign non-aggression pact 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 24 1939)
‘The Wizard of Oz’ premieres in Hollywood 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 15 1939)
Video: 'The Wizard of Oz' trailer
(Tuesday, August 15, 1939, 8:30 p.m. PDT) — The Wizard of Oz, an American musical fantasy film about a Kansas farm girl who dreams herself into a magical land where she must fight a wicked witch to escape, premiered tonight at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in the Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles. Continue reading ‘The Wizard of Oz’ premieres in Hollywood 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 15 1939)
‘Moon Love’ by Glenn Miller peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 12 1939)
(Saturday, August 12, 1939) — “Moon Love” by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra (Ray Eberle, vocal) peaked at #1 on today’s Your Hit Parade weekly music chart for four consecutive weeks (Aug. 12/19/26, Sep. 2, 1939). Continue reading ‘Moon Love’ by Glenn Miller peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 12 1939)
FDR signs Hatch Act restricting political activities of federal workers 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 2 1939)
Video: 'The Hatch Act Explained'
(Wednesday, August 2, 1939) — President Franklin D. Roosevelt today signed the Hatch Act of 1939, a United States federal law whose main provision prohibits employees in the executive branch of the federal government, except the president, vice-president, and certain designated high-level officials, from engaging in some forms of political activity. Continue reading FDR signs Hatch Act restricting political activities of federal workers 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 2 1939)