Category Archives: 1940s

‘There Are Such Things’ by Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 16 1943)

(Saturday, January 16, 1943) — “There Are Such Things” by Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra (vocal refrain by Frank Sinatra and The Pied Pipers), was the #1 song on today’s Billboard National List of Best Selling Retail Records chart for the first of five weeks (Jan. 16/23/30, Feb. 6/27, 1943). Continue reading ‘There Are Such Things’ by Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 16 1943)

The Pentagon, headquarters building for U.S. Department of War, completed 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 15 1943)


Video: 'The Pentagon - Decades TV Network'

(Friday, January 15, 1943; during World War II)The Pentagon, headquarters building of the United States Department of War (now Defense), was completed today only 16 months after ground was broken in Arlington County, Virginia. Continue reading The Pentagon, headquarters building for U.S. Department of War, completed 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 15 1943)

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt arrives in Casablanca, Morocco for wartime conference with UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 14 1943)


Video: 'Churchill - Roosevelt Casablanca Conference Aka Churchill - Roosevelt Casablanca Meeting (1943)'

(Thursday, January 14, 1943, FDR’s plane landed at Medouina Airport, Casablanca, Morocco, at 6:20 p.m. Western European Summer Time; during the Casablanca Conference) — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt arrived in Morocco tonight to join British Prime Minister Winston Churchill for a 10-day conference in Casablanca that would map the course the Allies would pursue in fighting World War II, including the “unconditional surrender” demand of their enemies. Continue reading U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt arrives in Casablanca, Morocco for wartime conference with UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 14 1943)

Red Army launches final assault on Germans trapped at Stalingrad 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 10 1943)


Video: '177- Food for Leningrad, Breaking the Siege! - WW2 - January 15th, 1943' (Operation Koltso at 0:57)

(Sunday, January 10, 1943, 8:05 a.m. local time; during the Battle of Stalingrad on the Eastern Front in the European theatre of World War II) — The Red Army today launched Operation Koltso under the command of General Konstantin Rokossovsky, the final annihilation of the tattered remnants of Germany’s Sixth Army, which was surrounded at Stalingrad and refused surrender terms on Jan. 8, 1943, by its commander, Friedrich “José” Paulus. Continue reading Red Army launches final assault on Germans trapped at Stalingrad 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 10 1943)

Monkees singer and guitarist Michael Nesmith born in Houston, Texas 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 30 1942)


Video: 'Michael Nesmith Of ‘The Monkees’ Dies | 10 News First'

(Wednesday, December 30, 1942) — American musician, songwriter, and actor Michael Nesmith, best known as the quiet member of the pop rock band the Monkees and co-star of the TV series The Monkees (1966–1968), was born Robert Michael Nesmith today in Houston, Texas. Continue reading Monkees singer and guitarist Michael Nesmith born in Houston, Texas 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 30 1942)

Scientists demonstrate first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction at at the University of Chicago 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 2 1942)


Video: '1942: UChicago’s race to the first nuclear reaction'

(Wednesday, December 2, 1942, 3:25 p.m. CST, part of the Manhattan Project, during World War II) — The Atomic Age was born today when scientists at the Metallurgical Laboratory demonstrated the first artificially created, self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction at a laboratory inside an enormous tent on a squash court under the stands of the University of Chicago’s Stagg Field. Continue reading Scientists demonstrate first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction at at the University of Chicago 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 2 1942)

492 people killed as fire engulfs Cocoanut Grove nightclub in Boston 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 28 1942)


Video: 'The Cocoanut Grove Disaster | A Short Documentary | Fascinating Horror'

(Saturday, November 28, 1942, 10:15 p.m. EST; during the Cocoanut Grove fire) — Fire engulfed the Cocoanut Grove nightclub in Boston tonight, killing 492 people in the deadliest nightclub blaze ever. Most victims suffocated or were trampled to death. Continue reading 492 people killed as fire engulfs Cocoanut Grove nightclub in Boston 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 28 1942)

‘Casablanca’ romantic drama film opens at Hollywood Theater in New York City 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 26 1942)


Video: 'Casablanca' (trailer)

(Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, 1942, 12 noon EST)Casablanca, a romantic drama film about an American saloon owner in North Africa who is drawn into World War II when his lost love turns up, opened today at the Hollywood Theater at 237 W. 51st Street in the Manhattan borough of New York City. Continue reading ‘Casablanca’ romantic drama film opens at Hollywood Theater in New York City 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 26 1942)

Alaska Highway dedicated at Soldier’s Summit in Yukon Territory 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 20 1942)


Video: 'Alaskan Highway documentary' (Nov. 20, 1942, at 33:45)

(Friday, November 20, 1942) — The Alaska Highway constructed during World War II to connect the contiguous United States to Alaska across Canada, was dedicated today at Soldier’s Summit in the Yukon Territory. Continue reading Alaska Highway dedicated at Soldier’s Summit in Yukon Territory 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 20 1942)

U.S. President Joe Biden born in Scranton, Pennsylvania 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 20 1942)


Video: 'President Biden (full documentary) | FRONTLINE'

(Friday, November 20, 1942)Joe Biden, the 46th and current president of the United States and the 47th vice president from 2009 to 2017 under President Barack Obama, was born Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. today at St. Mary’s Hospital in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Continue reading U.S. President Joe Biden born in Scranton, Pennsylvania 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 20 1942)