Category Archives: 1940s

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)

World War II Naval Battle of Guadalcanal begins in Solomon Islands 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 13 1942) – all five Sullivan brothers killed


Video: 'The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal: How the US Won a Strategic Victory | Battle 360 | History'

(Friday, November 13, 1942, 1:48 a.m. Solomon Islands Time) — The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, the decisive engagement in a series of naval battles between Allied (primarily American) and Imperial Japanese forces during the months-long Guadalcanal Campaign, part of the Solomon Islands campaign of the Pacific Theater of World War II, began early this morning when the Japanese destroyers Akatsuki and Hiei turned on large searchlights and illuminated the American light cruiser Atlanta only 3,000 yards away – almost point-blank range for the battleship’s main guns. Continue reading World War II Naval Battle of Guadalcanal begins in Solomon Islands 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 13 1942) – all five Sullivan brothers killed

Operation Torch: Allies invade French North Africa in first mass involvement of US troops in European–North African Theatre of World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 8 1942)


Video: '168 - Axis and Allies Both Invade France - WW2 - November 13, 1942' (Operation Torch at 1:11)

(Sunday, November 8, 1942, during Operation Torch, part of the North African Campaign of World War II)Operation Torch, an amphibious military invasion of French North Africa, in particular the French-held territories of Algeria and Morocco, began today as more than 400,000 U.S. and British forces went ashore in French North Africa. Continue reading Operation Torch: Allies invade French North Africa in first mass involvement of US troops in European–North African Theatre of World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 8 1942)

Rommel disobeys Hitler’s orders and retreats from El Alamein in North Africa 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 4 1942)

Video: 'The World at War: The Desert: North Africa - 1940-1943 (8 of 26)' (Nov. 4, 1942, at 49:41)

(Wednesday, November 4, 1942, 5:30 p.m. Eastern European Time; during the Second Battle of El Alamein, part of Western Desert Campaign of World War II) — German Field Marshall Erwin Rommel disobeyed Adolf Hitler’s orders today and began a retreat from El Alamein in North Africa. Continue reading Rommel disobeys Hitler’s orders and retreats from El Alamein in North Africa 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 4 1942)

‘White Christmas’ by Bing Crosby peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago today (Oct 31 1942)

(Saturday, October 31, 1942) — “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby with Ken Darby Singers and John Scott Trotter and His Orchestra peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for the first of eleven weeks (Oct. 31, Nov. 7/14/21/28, Dec. 5/12/19/26, 1942, Jan. 2/9, 1943). Continue reading ‘White Christmas’ by Bing Crosby peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago today (Oct 31 1942)