Category Archives: 1950s

Vietnamese insurgents overrun French forces at Dien Bien Phu 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 7 1954)

1950s, Cold War, First Indochina War


Video: 'Why France Lost The Battle of Dien Bien Phu 1954 (4K Documentary)' (May 7, 1954, at 17:02)

(Friday, May 7, 1954, 5:30 p.m. local time; during the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, part of the First Indochina War) — The 55-day Battle of Dien Bien Phu, fought in Vietnam between the French Union’s colonial Far East Expeditionary Corps and Viet Minh communist revolutionaries, ended this afternoon when rebel Viet Minh forces overran the French stronghold of Dien Bien Phu, bringing about the end of French control in Indochina and creating the division of Vietnam. Continue reading Vietnamese insurgents overrun French forces at Dien Bien Phu 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 7 1954) →

‘Wanted’ by Perry Como peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 10 1954)

1950s, Popular Music 1950s

(Saturday, April 10, 1954) — “Wanted” by Perry Como with Hugo Winterhalter’s Orchestra and Chorus peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for the first of eight consecutive weeks (Apr. 10/17/24, May 1/8/15/22/29, 1954). Continue reading ‘Wanted’ by Perry Como peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 10 1954) →

‘Make Love to Me’ by Jo Stafford peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 13 1954)

1950s, Popular Music 1950s

(Saturday, March 13, 1954) — “Make Love to Me” by Jo Stafford peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for the first of three non-consecutive weeks (Mar. 13/27, Apr. 3, 1954). Continue reading ‘Make Love to Me’ by Jo Stafford peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 13 1954) →

CBS newsman Edward Murrow condemns McCarthyism with epic TV commentary 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 9 1954)

1950s, Cold War, Television 1950s


Video: 'See It Now (CBS) - 1954-03-09'

(Tuesday, March 9, 1954, 10:30 p.m. EST; during the Second Red Scare) — CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow critically reviewed Wisconsin Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy’s anti-communism campaign on tonight’s edition of See It Now. Continue reading CBS newsman Edward Murrow condemns McCarthyism with epic TV commentary 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 9 1954) →

‘Secret Love’ by Doris Day peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 27 1954)

1950s, Popular Music 1950s

(Saturday, February 27, 1954) — “Secret Love” by Doris Day peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for the first of three non-consecutive weeks (Feb. 27, Mar. 6/20, 1954). Continue reading ‘Secret Love’ by Doris Day peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 27 1954) →

Marilyn Monroe marries Joe DiMaggio at San Francisco City Hall 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 14 1954)

1950s, Movies 1950s


Video: 'Marilyn Monroe And Joe Dimaggio Marry Jan 14th 1954'

(Thursday, January 14, 1954, 1:48 p.m. PST) — Actress Marilyn Monroe and married retired New York Yankees baseball star Joe DiMaggio today at the San Francisco City Hall. Continue reading Marilyn Monroe marries Joe DiMaggio at San Francisco City Hall 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 14 1954) →

‘Oh! My Pa-Pa (O Mein Papa)’ by Eddie Fisher peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 2 1954)

1950s, Popular Music 1950s

(Saturday, January 2, 1954) — “Oh! My Pa-Pa (O Mein Papa)” by Eddie Fisher peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for the first of eight consecutive weeks (Jan. 2/9/16/23/30, Feb. 6/13/20, 1954). Continue reading ‘Oh! My Pa-Pa (O Mein Papa)’ by Eddie Fisher peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 2 1954) →

Color television debuts nationwide as NBC broadcasts Rose Parade 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 1 1954)

1950s, Television 1950s


Video: 'NBC Tournament of the Roses Parade 1954'

(Friday, January 1, 1954, 9:15 a.m. PST) — NBC broadcast the first coast-to-coast color TV program today as it presented live coverage of the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, in NTSC color. Continue reading Color television debuts nationwide as NBC broadcasts Rose Parade 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 1 1954) →

‘Rags to Riches’ by Tony Bennett peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 21 1953)

1950s, Popular Music 1950s

(Saturday, November 21, 1953) — “Rags to Riches” by Tony Bennett with Percy Faith & His Orchestra was the #1 song on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for the first of six consecutive weeks (Nov. 21/28, Dec. 5/12/19/26, 1953). Continue reading ‘Rags to Riches’ by Tony Bennett peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 21 1953) →

‘St. George and the Dragonet’ by Stan Freberg peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 10 1953)

1950s, Popular Music 1950s, Television 1950s

(Saturday, October 10, 1953) — “St. George and the Dragonet” by Stan Freberg peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for the first of four consecutive weeks (Oct. 10/17/24/31, 1953). Continue reading ‘St. George and the Dragonet’ by Stan Freberg peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 10 1953) →