Category Archives: 1940s

Winston Churchill delivers his ‘Iron Curtain’ speech 80 years ago this hour (Mar 5 1946)

1940s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Winston Churchill's "Iron Curtain speech" regarding USSR and Eastern Bloc, at Wes...HD Stock Footage'

(Tuesday, March 5, 1946, around 4:00 p.m. CST) — In what is considered one of the opening volleys of the Cold War, former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill condemned the Soviet Union’s policies in Europe today during a speech at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, declaring “From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the continent, allowing police governments to rule Eastern Europe.” Continue reading Winston Churchill delivers his ‘Iron Curtain’ speech 80 years ago this hour (Mar 5 1946) →

‘Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief’ by Betty Hutton peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago today (Mar 2 1946)

1940s, Movies 1940s, Popular Music 1940s

(Saturday, March 2, 1946) — “Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief” by Betty Hutton (with Paul Weston and his Orchestra; recorded June 29, 1945) peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for one week. Continue reading ‘Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief’ by Betty Hutton peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago today (Mar 2 1946) →

New ‘famine’ board asks U.S. cut wheat use by a fourth 80 years ago this hour (Mar 1 1946)

1940s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Herbert Hoover Biography' (Hoover with Truman at 21:13)

(Friday, March 1, 1946, 3:15 p.m. EST) — An appeal to all Americans to deny themselves a substantial part of their daily bread “so that millions may survive who are otherwise doomed to death by starvation,” was voiced today by a newly formed Famine Emergency Committee under the honorary chairmanship of former U.S. President Herbert Hoover following its first meeting with President Harry Truman at the White House.

Norwegian statesman Trygve Lie chosen to be first UN secretary-general 80 years ago today (Feb 1 1946)

1940s


Video: 'TRYGVE LIE BECOME SECRETARY GENERAL TO UNO'

(Friday, February 1, 1946) — Norwegian statesman Trygve Lie was chosen today in London to be the first secretary-general of the United Nations (he would be formally inducted the following day). Continue reading Norwegian statesman Trygve Lie chosen to be first UN secretary-general 80 years ago today (Feb 1 1946) →

‘Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!’ by Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago today (Jan 26 1946)

1940s, Popular Music 1940s

(Saturday, January 26, 1946) — “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” by Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra (vocal refrain by Vaughn Monroe and The Norton Sisters) was the #1 song on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for five consecutive weeks (Jan. 26, Feb. 2/9/16/23, 1946). Continue reading ‘Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!’ by Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago today (Jan 26 1946) →

‘I Can’t Begin to Tell You’ by Bing Crosby and Carmen Cavallaro peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago today (Jan 19 1946)

1940s, Movies 1940s, Popular Music 1940s

(Saturday, January 19, 1946) — “I Can’t Begin to Tell You” by Bing Crosby with Carmen Cavallaro at the piano was the #1 song on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for one week.

First United Nations Security Council session held in London 80 years ago this hour (Jan 17 1946)

1940s


Video: 'First Filming Of UN In Session (1946)'

(Thursday, January 17, 1946, 3:10 p.m. GMT) — The United Nations Security Council (UNSC), charged with the maintenance of international peace and security as well as accepting new members to the United Nations and approving any changes to its United Nations Charter, held its first session today at Church House, Westminster, in London, England. Continue reading First United Nations Security Council session held in London 80 years ago this hour (Jan 17 1946) →

First man-made contact with the moon made 80 years ago this hour (Jan 10 1946)

1940s, space exploration


Video: 'U.S. Army Makes Radar Contact With the Moon 1946'

(Thursday, January 10, 1946, 11:58 a.m. EST) — The first man-made contact with the moon was made today as radar signals transmitted by the U.S. Army Signal Corps from a laboratory in Belmar, New Jersey, as part of Project Diana were bounced off the lunar surface, measuring its exact distance from the Earth (a mean of 238,857 miles or 384,403 kilometers), and proving that communication is possible between Earth and outer space. Continue reading First man-made contact with the moon made 80 years ago this hour (Jan 10 1946) →

First General Assembly of the United Nations convenes in London 80 years ago this hour (Jan 10 1946)

1940s


Video: 'First Session of UN General Assembly - 10 January 1946'

(Thursday, January 10, 1946, 3:00 p.m. GMT) — The fifty-one nations of the greatest wartime coalition in history, representing four-fifths of the people in the world, started another chapter in man’s melancholy search for peace and security today as the First session of the United Nations General Assembly convened at Westminster Central Hall in London.

The Doors guitarist Robby Krieger born in Los Angeles 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 8 1946)

1940s, The Monkees


Video: '"Break on Through": How The Doors began'

(Tuesday, January 8, 1946) — guitarist Robby Krieger, a founding member of the rock band The Doors, was born Robert Alan Krieger today in Los Angeles. Continue reading The Doors guitarist Robby Krieger born in Los Angeles 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 8 1946) →