(Monday, June 21, 1948, evening EDT) — In a blistering address tonight at the 1948 Republican National Convention, former Rep. Clare Boothe Luce of Connecticut drew burst after burst of appreciative laughter, calling Democratic President Harry S. Truman a “gone goose” (Click here to watch the video at 15:01).
(Monday, June 21, 1948, evening EDT) — Gov. Dwight H. Green, of Illinois, keynoting the 1948 Republican National Convention which opened today at Convention Hall in Philadelphia, accused the Democratic administration of President Harry S. Truman tonight of squandering the victory of the Second World War, and pledged the GOP to pursue “every avenue of peace” (Click here to watch the video at 18:20). Continue reading GOP keynoter blames ‘New Deal’ for ‘Cold War’ 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 21 1948)
Video: 'The Ed Sullivan Show - Vol. 1 (Hosted by Carol Burnett)' (June 20, 1948, at 10:17)
(Sunday, June 20, 1948, 9:00-10:00 p.m. EDT) — Toast of the Town, an American television variety show hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan, debuted tonight on CBS, broadcast live from CBS Studio 51, The Maxine Elliott Theater at Broadway and 39th St. in New York City. Continue reading ‘Toast of the Town’ debuts on CBS-TV 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 20 1948)
Video: 'PBS Documentary "Television" - Episode 3 of 8' (June 8, 1948, at 47:03)
(Tuesday, June 8, 1948, 8:00-9:00 p.m. EDT) — The television version of the American comedy-variety radio series Texaco Star Theatre debuted tonight on NBC with Milton Berle as the first host (Berle was named the permanent host that fall). Continue reading ‘Texaco Star Theatre’ debuts on NBC-TV 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 8 1948)
Video: 'Dewey Stassen Debate (1948) First Presidential Election Debate'
(Monday, May 17, 1948, 6:00 p.m. PST/10:00 p.m. EDT; during the Republican Party presidential primaries, 1948) — New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey and former Minnesota Governor Harold Stassen discussed the legal status of the Communist Party of the U.S. during the first audio-recorded presidential debate to ever take place in the United States tonight in Portland, four days before the 1948 Oregon Republican presidential primary. Continue reading First audio-recorded presidential debate in U.S. held 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 17 1948)
(Saturday, May 15, 1948) — “Nature Boy” by King Cole with orchestra conducted by Frank De Vol peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for seven consecutive weeks (May 15/22/29, June 5/12/19/26, 1948). Continue reading ‘Nature Boy’ by King Cole peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 15 1948)
Video: 'Israel Birth of a Nation Documentary' (May 15, 1948, at 34:47)
(Saturday, May 15, 1948) — Hours after declaring its independence, the new state of Israel was attacked today by Transjordan, Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon, launching the 10-month 1948 Arab–Israeli War. Continue reading Arab armies attack new state of Israel 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 15 1948)
Video: 'Declaration of Independence of the State of Israel (English subtitles)'
(Friday, May 14, 1948, 4:00 p.m. Israel Standard Time) — The state of Israel, the first Hebrew nation in 2000 years, was born today in a Jewish declaration of independence asserting the “historic right” of the Jews of Palestine to reconstitute their national home. Continue reading Independent state of Israel proclaimed 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 14 1948)
Video: 'American Experience The Kennedys 1' (Kennedy's death at 53:57)
(Thursday, May 13, 1948, 6:30 p.m. local time) — Kathleen Cavendish, Marchioness of Hartington, the 28-year-old daughter of Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. and Rose Kennedy, sister of future U.S. President John F. Kennedy and widow of the heir to the Devonshire dukedom, died today in a plane crash in the French Alps at Saint-Bauzile, Ardèche, France. Continue reading Kennedy sister killed in plane crash 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 13 1948)
Video: 'Hamlet' trailer
(Thursday, May 6, 1948, evening BST) — Hamlet, a British film adaptation of William Shakespeare’s play of the same name about a melancholy Dane who flirts with insanity while trying to prove his uncle murdered his father, premiered today at The Odeon, Leicester Square, London. Continue reading Laurence Olivier’s ‘Hamlet’ premieres in London 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 6 1948)
