Category Archives: 1940s

‘Brigadoon’ musical opens on Broadway 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 13 1947)


Video: 'Brigadoon (Original Broadway Cast Recording)' (10 videos)

(Thursday, March 13, 1947, 8:30 p.m. EST) — The Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe musical Brigadoon, about a Scottish village which magically reappears once every hundred years, opened tonight on Broadway at the Ziegfeld Theatre, where it ran for 581 performances. Continue reading ‘Brigadoon’ musical opens on Broadway 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 13 1947)

Truman Doctrine proclaimed to help stem the spread of Communism 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 12 1947)


'Video: 'Truman Doctrine'

(Wednesday, March 12, 1947, 1:00 p.m. EST; during the Cold War) — In a historic message to Congress, President Harry S. Truman announced todaywhat became known as the Truman Doctrine to help Greece and Turkey resist Communism. (click here for a clip of this event from “American Experience: Truman” at 2:43:43). Continue reading Truman Doctrine proclaimed to help stem the spread of Communism 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 12 1947)

‘Managua, Nicaragua’ by Freddy Martin and His Orchestra peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 1 1947)

(Saturday, March 1, 1947)“Managua, Nicaragua” by Freddy Martin and His Orchestra (vocal refrain by Stuart Wade and ensemble) peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for two consecutive weeks (Mar. 1/8, 1947).

‘Open the Door, Richard!’ by Count Basie and His Orchestra peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 22 1947)

(Saturday, February 22, 1947)“Open the Door, Richard!” by Count Basie and His Orchestra (vocal refrain by Harry Edison and Bill Johnson) peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for one week.

Edwin H. Land publicly demonstrates his Polaroid Land camera 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 21 1947)


'Video: '1950s POLAROID CAMERA COMMERCIAL'

(Friday, February 21, 1947) — Inventor Edwin H. Land publicly demonstrated his Polaroid Land camera today in Cambridge, Massachusetts, using self-developing film to produce a black & white photograph in 60 seconds. Continue reading Edwin H. Land publicly demonstrates his Polaroid Land camera 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 21 1947)

U.S. Vice President Dan Quayle born 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 4 1947)


Video: ‘Who is Dan Quayle? Part 1 of 2’

(Tuesday, February 4, 1947)Dan Quayle, the 44th Vice President of the United States who served under President George H.W. Bush (1989-1993), was born James Danforth Quayle today in Indianapolis, Indiana. Continue reading U.S. Vice President Dan Quayle born 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 4 1947)

First commercial TV station west of Mississippi River begins operation 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 22 1947)


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)

President Truman proposes some curbs on unions in State of the Union address 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 6 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).