Category Archives: 1940s

British raid Altmark in Norway waters, free 299 Spee captives 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 16 1940)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'The World At War 1973(World War II Documentary) 02.Distant War (September 1939 – May 1940)' (Feb. 16, 1940, at 30:43)

(Friday, February 16, 1940, 10:20 p.m. Central European Time; part of World War II and Phoney War) — Forces of the Royal Navy seized the German steamer Altmark today in Norwegian waters and freed 299 prisoners of war whose ships were sunk by the pocket battleship Graf Spee in the Southern Atlantic Ocean. Continue reading British raid Altmark in Norway waters, free 299 Spee captives 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 16 1940) →

‘Careless’ by Glenn Miller peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 3 1940)

1940s, Popular Music 1940s

(Saturday, February 3, 1940) — “Careless” by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra (vocal refrain by Ray Eberle) peaked at #1 on today’s Your Hit Parade weekly music chart for four non-consecutive weeks (Feb. 3/17, Mar. 2/23, 1940). Continue reading ‘Careless’ by Glenn Miller peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 3 1940) →

‘All the Things You Are’ by Tommy Dorsey peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 27 1940)

1940s, Popular Music 1940s

(Saturday, January 27, 1940) — “All the Things You Are” by Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra (vocal refrain by Jack Leonard) peaked at #1 on today’s Your Hit Parade weekly music chart for two non-consecutive weeks (Jan. 27, Feb. 10, 1940). Continue reading ‘All the Things You Are’ by Tommy Dorsey peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 27 1940) →

‘The Grapes of Wrath’ opens in New York City 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 24 1940)

1940s, Movies 1940s


Video: 'The Grapes of Wrath' trailer

(Wednesday, January 24, 1940, 9:30 a.m. EST) — The Grapes of Wrath, an American drama film about Oklahoma farmers dispossessed during the Depression who fight for better lives in California, opened this morning at Rivoli Theatre in New York City. Continue reading ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ opens in New York City 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 24 1940) →

‘Mule Train’ by Frankie Laine peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 26 1949)

1940s, Popular Music 1940s

(Saturday, November 26, 1949) — “Mule Train” by Frankie Laine and the Muleskinners peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for six consecutive weeks (Nov. 26, Dec. 3/10/17/24/31, 1949). Continue reading ‘Mule Train’ by Frankie Laine peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 26 1949) →

‘That Lucky Old Sun’ by Frankie Laine peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 1 1949)

1940s, Popular Music 1940s

(Saturday, October 1, 1949) — “That Lucky Old Sun (Just Rolls around Heaven All Day)” by Frankie Laine (with Judd Conlon’s Rhythmaires, Harry Geller and His Orchestra, Carl Fischer on piano) peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for eight consecutive weeks (Oct. 1/8/15/22/29, Nov. 5/12/19, 1949). Continue reading ‘That Lucky Old Sun’ by Frankie Laine peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 1 1949) →

Mao Zedong proclaims communist People’s Republic of China 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 1 1949)

1940s, Cold War


Video: '1st October 1949: Mao Zedong declares the establishment of the People's Republic of China'

(Saturday, October 1, 1949, 3:00 p.m. China Standard Time) — Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the People’s Republic of China, , a single-party state controlled by the Communist Party of China, during a ceremony today in Beijing. Continue reading Mao Zedong proclaims communist People’s Republic of China 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 1 1949) →

‘You’re Breaking My Heart’ by Vic Damone peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 3 1949)

1940s, Popular Music 1940s

(Saturday, September 3, 1949) — “You’re Breaking My Heart” by Vic Damone with Glenn Osser’s Orchestra peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for four consecutive weeks (Sept. 3/10/17/24, 1949). Continue reading ‘You’re Breaking My Heart’ by Vic Damone peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 3 1949) →

‘White Heat’ opens in New York City 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 2 1949)

1940s, Movies 1940s


Video: 'White Heat' trailer

(Friday, September 2, 1949, 8:30 a.m. EDT) — White Heat, a film noir about a government agent who infiltrates a gang run by a mother-fixated psychotic, opened this morning at the Strand Theater on Broadway at W. 47th Street in New York City. Continue reading ‘White Heat’ opens in New York City 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 2 1949) →

‘The Third Man’ premieres in Hastings, England 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 1 1949)

1940s, Movies 1940s


Video: 'The Third Man' trailer

(Thursday, September 1, 1949, 8:30 p.m. BST) — A man’s investigation of a friend’s death uncovers corruption in post-World War II Vienna in The Third Man, a British film noir that premiered today at the Ritz Cinema in Hastings, East Sussex, on the south coast of England. Continue reading ‘The Third Man’ premieres in Hastings, England 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 1 1949) →