Category Archives: 1940s

‘The Big Sleep’ opens in New York City 70 years ago this hour (Aug 23 1946)


Video: 'The Big Sleep' trailer

(Friday, August 23, 1946, doors opened at 9:00 a.m. EDT)The Big Sleep, a film noir about a private eye who investigates a society girl’s involvement in the murder of a pornographer, opened this morning at the Strand theater in New York City.

Directed by Howard Hawks, the film starred Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall.

U.S. President Bill Clinton born in Hope, Arkansas 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 19 1946)


Video: 'Bill Clinton: Mini Biography'

(Monday, August 19, 1946, 8:51 a.m. CST)Bill Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States (1993-2001), was born William Jefferson Blythe III today at Julia Chester Hospital in Hope, Arkansas. Continue reading U.S. President Bill Clinton born in Hope, Arkansas 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 19 1946)

10,000 people killed in religious rioting in India beginning 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 16 1946)


Video: 'Direct Action in Calcutta & Noakhali, 1946'

(Friday, August 16, 1946, before 10:00 a.m. IST; during Direct Action Day) — A protest in favor of creating a separate Muslim nation of “Pakistan” rather than having a Hindu-majority government in an independent British India turned into rioting today that killed more than 10,000 people in and around Calcutta.

‘Notorious’ premieres in New York City 70 years ago this hour (Aug 15 1946)


Video: 'Notorious' trailer

(Thursday, August 15, 1946, 10:15 a.m. EDT)Notorious, a thriller film about a U.S. agent who recruits a German expatriate to infiltrate a Nazi spy ring in Brazil, premiered this morning at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Continue reading ‘Notorious’ premieres in New York City 70 years ago this hour (Aug 15 1946)

‘The Lost Weekend’ wins Best Motion Picture at 18th Academy Awards 70 years ago this hour (Mar 7 1946)


Video: 'Academy Awards 1945'

(Thursday, March 7, 1946, 8:00-9:41 p.m. PST)The Lost Weekend, a noir drama film about an alcoholic writer, won four Oscars tonight, including Best Motion Picture, Best Director (Billy Wilder) and Best Actor (Ray Milland) at the 18th Academy Awards ceremony at Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California. Continue reading ‘The Lost Weekend’ wins Best Motion Picture at 18th Academy Awards 70 years ago this hour (Mar 7 1946)

Exhausted FDR arrives in Warm Springs for rest, recuperation 70 years ago today (Mar 30 1945)


Video: 'American Experience - FDR (Franklin Roosevelt) - Part 1/2 (PBS Documentary' (Mar. 30, 1945, at 2:08:24)

(Good Friday, March 30, 1945; during World War II) — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt arrived in Warm Springs, Georgia, today suffering from exhaustion.

The great push to end the war was on, and Roosevelt needed to recuperate to lead it and take part in the momentous events afterward. Total rest was his doctor’s recommendation, and for several days he followed the instructions.

Soviets invade Austria 70 years ago today (Mar 30 1945)

(Good Friday, March 30, 1945; on the Eastern Front of World War II) — The Red Army today surged across the Austrian frontier north of the Hungarian border town of Koeszeg, 52 miles south of Vienna, to make Austria, the last nation still dominated by Hitlerite Germany, a battleground.

Eisenhower declares German army ‘whipped’ 70 years ago today (Mar 27 1945)


Video: 'Generals Eisenhower, Bradley, Patton, Tour Rhine Bridgehead, Remagen Area, Germany, March 26, 1945'

(Tuesday, March 27, 1945; on the Western Front of World War II) — The German Army’s “main defensive line has been broken” and the Germans “as a military force on the Western Front are a whipped army,” Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower declared today.

Iwo Jima officially declared ‘secured’ 70 years ago this hour (Mar 26 1945)


Video: 'The World At War 1973(World War II Documentary)Episode-23 Pacific (February 1942 – July 1945)' (Mar. 26, 1945, at 42:00)

(Monday, March 26, 1945, 9:00 a.m. JST; during the Battle of Iwo Jima, part of the Pacific Theatre of World War II) — The Japanese island of Iwo Jima was officially declared “secured” this morning, ending five weeks of some of the fiercest and bloodiest fighting of the War in the Pacific of World War II with an American victory and a staging area for attacks on the Japanese main islands.