Category Archives: 1940s

LBJ wins Senate runoff in Texas by 87 votes 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 3 1948)

1940s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'PBS LBJ Part 1' (1948 campaign at 22:57)

(Friday, September 3, 1948) — U.S. Rep. Lyndon B. Johnson defeated former Governor Coke Stevenson today in the Democratic runoff primary for the U.S. Senate post vacated by Wilbert Lee O’Daniel by 87 votes when, miraculously, six days after voters cast their ballots (Aug. 28, 1948), an additional 202 votes were discovered in Box 13 in tiny Alice, Texas. Continue reading LBJ wins Senate runoff in Texas by 87 votes 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 3 1948) →

‘Twelfth Street Rag’ by Pee Wee Hunt and His Orchestra peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 28 1948)

1940s, Popular Music 1940s

(Saturday, August 28, 1948) — “Twelfth Street Rag” by Pee Wee Hunt and His Orchestra peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for eight non-consecutive weeks (Aug. 28, Sept. 4/11/18/25, Oct. 2/23/30, 1948). Continue reading ‘Twelfth Street Rag’ by Pee Wee Hunt and His Orchestra peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 28 1948) →

‘Red River’ opens in four states along Chisholm Trail 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 26 1948)

1940s, Movies 1940s


Video: 'Red River' trailer

(Thursday, August 26, 1948) — Red River, an American western film about a young cowhand who rebels against his rancher stepfather during a perilous cattle drive, opened today in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and New Mexico, to commemorate the 83rd anniversary of the opening of the Chisholm Trail, used in the post-Civil War era to drive cattle overland. Continue reading ‘Red River’ opens in four states along Chisholm Trail 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 26 1948) →

‘You Call Everybody Darlin” by Al Trace and His New Orchestra peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 21 1948)

1940s, Popular Music 1940s

(Saturday, August 21, 1948) — “You Call Everybody Darlin'” by Al Trace and His New Orchestra (vocal by Bob Vincent) peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for two consecutive weeks (Aug. 14/21, 1948). Continue reading ‘You Call Everybody Darlin” by Al Trace and His New Orchestra peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 21 1948) →

Baseball legend Babe Ruth dies 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 16 1948)

1940s


Video: 'Babe Ruth Day 1947 death'

(Monday, August 16, 1948, 8:01 p.m. EDT) — George Herman “Babe” Ruth Jr., regarded as one of the greatest sports heroes in American culture and is considered by many to be the greatest baseball player of all time, died tonight at Memorial Hospital in New York City. Continue reading Baseball legend Babe Ruth dies 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 16 1948) →

First Republic of Korea established 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 15 1948)

1940s, Cold War


Video: 'Korean War - PART 2, Prelude to war (1946-1947) 6.25' (Aug. 15, 1948, at 9:26)

(Sunday, August 15, 1948) — The First Republic of Korea, South Korea’s first independent government, was established on today with Syngman Rhee as the first president. Continue reading First Republic of Korea established 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 15 1948) →

Hiss denies he was ever a communist 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 5 1948)

1940s, Cold War


Video: '1948 HUAC Hearing with Alger Hiss'

(Thursday, August 5, 1948; during the Second Red Scare and the Cold War) — Former U.S. State Department official Alger Hiss voluntarily appeared before the House Un-American Activities Committee today and denied under oath that he had ever been a communist. Continue reading Hiss denies he was ever a communist 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 5 1948) →

Chambers accuses Hiss of being a communist spy 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 3 1948)

1940s, Cold War


Video: 'President Richard Nixon's Legacy' (Aug. 3, 1948 at 20:08)

(Tuesday, August 3, 1948; during the Second Red Scare and the Cold War) — Time magazine editor Whittaker Chambers testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee today that he had been part of a Communist underground organization prior to his leaving the movement in 1937. Continue reading Chambers accuses Hiss of being a communist spy 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 3 1948) →

1948 Summer Olympics open in London 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 29 1948)

1940s


Video: 'London 1948 Olympic Games - Olympic Flame & Opening Ceremony'

(Thursday, July 29, 1948, 4:00 p.m. BST) — 75,000 people jammed Wembley Stadium in London this afternoon as King George VI of England declared the 1948 Summer Olympics officially open, the first Summer Olympics since the Berlin Games in 1936. Continue reading 1948 Summer Olympics open in London 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 29 1948) →

Truman accepts Democratic POTUS nomination 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 15 1948)

1940s, U.S. Presidents


Video: '1948 Truman DNC Acceptance Speech (Full)'

(Thursday, July 15, 1948, 1:45 a.m. EDT) — President Harry S. Truman of Missouri accepted the Democratic Presidential nomination in a fighting mood this morning at the 1948 Democratic National Convention, predicted victory in November and announced that he would call the Republican-controlled Congress back into session on July 26, 1948, to deal with housing, education, civil rights and other controversial measures. Continue reading Truman accepts Democratic POTUS nomination 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 15 1948) →