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)
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)
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)
(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)
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)
Video: 'Energie atomique : Albert Einstein; Dr. Leo Szilard'
(Wednesday, August 2, 1939) — German-born theoretical physicist Albert Einstein signed a letter today written by Hungarian-German-American physicist and inventor Leo Szilard and addressed to U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, warning that Nazi Germany might develop an atomic weapon and suggesting that the United States should start its own nuclear program. Continue reading Einstein signs letter urging FDR to build nuclear weapons 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 2 1939)
(Saturday, July 15, 1939) — “Stairway to the Stars” 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 (July 15/22/29, Aug. 5, 1939). Continue reading ‘Stairway to the Stars’ by Glenn Miller peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 15 1939)
Video: 'From The Bottom Of My Heart'
(Thursday, July 13, 1939) — Singer Frank Sinatra, 23, made his first commercial recording, “From the Bottom of My Heart” and “Melancholy Mood,” with Harry James and his Orchestra today in New York for the Brunswick label. Continue reading Frank Sinatra makes first commercial recording 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 13 1939)
Video: 'Lou Gehrig's Toughest Day in Yankee Stadium'
(Tuesday, July 4, 1939, mid-afternoon EDT) — Lou Gehrig of the New York Yankees, diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a debilitating motor neuron disease, delivered his famous farewell speech today at Yankee Stadium in which he called himself “the luckiest man on the face of the earth” Continue reading Lou Gehrig delivers ‘Luckiest Man’ speech at Yankee Stadium 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 4 1939)
(Saturday, June 17, 1939) — “Wishing (Will Make It So)” 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 (May 20/27, June 3/10, 1939). Continue reading ‘Wishing (Will Make It So)’ by Glenn Miller peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 17 1939)
