Category Archives: 1940s

‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ premieres in New York City 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 20 1946)

1940s, Movies 1940s


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) →

First Indochina War breaks out 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 19 1946)

1940s, Cold War, First Indochina War


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) →

General Assembly votes to establish the U.N.’s headquarters in New York 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 14 1946)

1940s


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) →

‘Ole Buttermilk Sky’ by Kay Kyser and His Orchestra peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 14 1946)

1940s, Popular Music 1940s

(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).

United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) established 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 11 1946)

1940s


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) →

23 Nazi doctors go on trial in Nuremberg 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 9 1946)

1940s


Video: 'Defendants plead not guilty at the Doctors' Trial of War Criminals before the US ...HD Stock Footage'

(Monday, December 9, 1946) — The “subsequent Nuremberg trials” began today with the “Doctors’ trial,” prosecuting physicians and officers alleged to be involved in Nazi human experimentation and mass murder under the guise of euthanasia. Continue reading 23 Nazi doctors go on trial in Nuremberg 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 9 1946) →

119 killed in deadliest hotel fire in U.S. history 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 7 1946)

1940s


Video: 'Winecoff Hotel Fire'

(Saturday, December 7, 1946, 3:15 a.m. local time) — The 15-story Winecoff Hotel on Peachtree Street in the heart of downtown Atlanta was destroyed early this morning killing 119 people, including hotel founder W. Frank Winecoff, in the deadliest hotel fire in U.S. history. Continue reading 119 killed in deadliest hotel fire in U.S. history 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 7 1946) →

French cruiser opens fire on Haiphong, Vietnam, killing thousands of civilians 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 23 1946)

1940s, Cold War


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 1' (Nov. 23 1946, at 32:27)

(Saturday, November 23, 1946, 9:45 a.m. ICT; during the Haiphong incident) — The French cruiser Suffren bombarded the Vietnamese coastal city of Haiphong today, killing 6,000 Vietnamese people in the first armed clash in a series of outbreaks that would lead to the Battle of Hanoi on Dec. 19, 1946, and with it the official outbreak of the First Indochina War.

‘The Best Years of Our Lives’ premieres in New York City 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 21 1946)

1940s, Movies 1940s


Video: 'The Best Years of Our Lives' trailer

(Thursday, November 21, 1946, 8:30 p.m. EST) — The Best Years of Our Lives, an American drama film about three returning servicemen who fight to adjust to life after World War II, premiered tonight at the Astor theater in New York City.

Directed by William Wyler, the film starred Myrna Loy, Fredric March, Dana Andrews, Teresa Wright, Virginia Mayo and Harold Russell.

Kennedy, Nixon elected to House as GOP captures Congress in midterm elections 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 5 1946)

1940s, U.S. Presidents


Image: 'JFK & Nixon (Back Row on Right)'

(Tuesday, November 5, 1946; during the United States elections, 1946) — Future presidents Democratic John F. Kennedy, 29, and Republican Richard Nixon, 33, first won election to Congress today as Republicans captured control of both the Senate and the House in midterm elections.