Video: 'KTLA Celebrates Its 69th Birthday'
(Wednesday, January 22, 1947, 8:30 p.m. PST) — America’s first commercially licensed television station west of the Mississippi, KTLA-TV in Los Angeles, made its official debut tonight. Continue reading First commercial TV station west of Mississippi River begins operation 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 22 1947)
Video: '80th Congress Convenes; Truman State of the Union 1947/1/6' (Jan. 6, 1947, at 1:15-3:22)
(Monday, January 6, 1947, 1:00 p.m. EST) — Delivering his State of the Union message in person (the first to be broadcast on television), President Harry Truman today handed the new Republican 80th United States Congress a legislative program topped by recommendations for new labor laws and asked its members to work with him for a new and finer “state of well being” in America (click here to listen to the complete address).
Video: '80th Congress Convenes; Truman State of the Union 1947/1/6' (Jan. 3, 1947, at 0:00-1:15)
(Friday, January 3, 1947, 12:30 p.m. EST) — Congressional proceedings were televised for the first time today as viewers in Washington, Philadelphia and New York got to see some of the opening ceremonies of the 80th United States Congress. Continue reading Congressional proceedings televised for the first time this hour 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 3 1947)
(Tuesday, December 31, 1946, 10:30 a.m. EST) — U.S. President Harry Truman, in a surprise proclamation, terminated formally the period of hostilities in World War II as of noon today. Continue reading President Truman officially proclaims end of hostilities in World War II 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 31 1946)
(Saturday, December 28, 1946) — “The Old Lamp-Lighter” by Sammy Kaye and His Orchestra (Billy Williams, vocal) peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for seven consecutive weeks (Dec. 28, 1946, Jan. 4/11/18/25, Feb. 1/8, 1947).
Video: 'It's A Wonderful Life' trailer
(Friday, December 20, 1946, 8:30 p.m. EST) — It’s a Wonderful Life, an American Christmas fantasy drama film about an angel who helps a compassionate but despairingly frustrated businessman by showing what life would have been like if he never existed, premiered tonight at special benefit showing for the Boys’ Club of New York at the Globe theatre at 205 West 46th Street in midtown-Manhattan. Continue reading ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ premieres in New York City 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 20 1946)
Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 1' (First Indochina War begins at 34:08)
(Thursday, December 19, 1946, 8:03 p.m. ICT; during the Cold War) — The First Indochina War, primarily between between French forces and their Viet Minh opponents, broke out tonight in French Indochina when Viet Minh soldiers under Ho Chi Minh plunged Hanoi into darkness and began attacking French military positions and French homes in the Battle of Hanoi. Continue reading First Indochina War breaks out 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 19 1946)
Video: 'UN in 3D: The story of building where history is made'
(Saturday, December 14, 1946, soon after 9:30 p.m. EST) — A six-block tract in the Turtle Bay neighborhood of Manhattan offered as a $8.5 million gift by John D. Rockefeller, Jr., was chosen late tonight as the permanent world capital of the United Nations by a vote of 46 to 7. Continue reading General Assembly votes to establish the U.N.’s headquarters in New York 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 14 1946)
(Saturday, December 14, 1946) — “Ole Buttermilk Sky” by Kay Kyser and His Orchestra (Michael Douglas, vocal) peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for two consecutive weeks (Dec. 14/21, 1946).
Video: 'UNICEF 1946-1959: An Agency for Children is Born'
(Wednesday, December 11, 1946, 12:00 p.m. EST) — The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) was created by the United Nations General Assembly today to provide emergency food and healthcare to children in countries that had been devastated by World War II. Continue reading United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) established 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 11 1946)
