Category Archives: 1960s

‘The Defenders’ and ‘The Dick Van Dyke Show’ top Emmys 50 years ago this hour (1963)

1960s, Television 1960s


Video: 'The Defenders TV Intro'

(Sunday, May 26, 1963, 10 p.m. EDT) — The courtroom drama The Defenders captured top honors tonight at the 15th Primetime Emmy Awards, winning five Emmys including Outstanding Program Achievement in the Field of Drama for the second year in a row.

The Dick Van Dyke Show, the situation comedy about a television comedy writer, was hailed as the Outstanding Program Achievement in the Field of Humor. Continue reading ‘The Defenders’ and ‘The Dick Van Dyke Show’ top Emmys 50 years ago this hour (1963) →

Greek politician Grigoris Lambrakis fatally attacked by right-wingers 50 years ago today (1963)

1960s


Video: 'Z (Costa Gavras, 1969)' (May 22, 1963, at 1:44:04)

(Wednesday, May 22, 1963) — Greek politician Grigoris Lambrakis was attacked by right-wingers after delivering a speech in Thessaloniki; he died five days later. The assassination inspired a book as well as the 1969 Costa-Gavras film “Z.”

Tony Bennett wins top Grammy awards 50 years ago today (1963)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s


Video: 'I Left My Heart In San Francisco by Tony Bennett (Subtitled)'

(Wednesday, May 15, 1963) — Tony Bennett won Record of the Year for “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” at the 5th Grammy Awards tonight, held in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York (click here to watch Bob Newhart at the ceremony). Continue reading Tony Bennett wins top Grammy awards 50 years ago today (1963) →

U.S. Supreme Court overturns death sentence because prosecution withheld evidence 50 years ago today (1963)

1960s


(Monday, May 13, 1963) — The U.S. Supreme Court, in Brady v. Maryland, upheld today, 7-2, a lower court decision overturning the death sentence (but not the conviction) of John L. Brady for murder because the prosecution had withheld from the defense a statement by a separately tried accomplice, Charles D. Boblit, that he’d actually carried out the 1958 killing of William Brooks during a robbery.

Brady spent years in prison in legal limbo, declining his right to another sentencing hearing; he was eventually paroled. Boblit, 79, remains imprisoned in Maryland.

Bob Dylan walks off ‘Ed Sullivan Show’ set in censorship dispute 50 years ago today (1963)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s, Television 1960s


(Sunday, May 12, 1963) — Bob Dylan walked off the set of the variety TV program The Ed Sullivan Show this afternoon because CBS would not allow him to sing “Talking John Birch Society Blues” on tonight’s show. Continue reading Bob Dylan walks off ‘Ed Sullivan Show’ set in censorship dispute 50 years ago today (1963) →

Betty Miller becomes first woman to fly solo across Pacific Ocean 50 years ago this hour (1963)

1960s


(Sunday, May 12, 1963, 10:20 p.m. local time) — Pilot Betty Miller, 36, became the first woman to fly solo across the Pacific Ocean today as she landed her Piper Apache in Brisbane, Australia, having left Oakland, Calif., on April 30, making three stopovers along the way.

JFK hails Birmingham racial truce 50 years ago this hour (1963)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: 'President John F. Kennedy's 55th News Conference, May 8, 1963'

(Wednesday, May 8, 1963, 4:00 p.m. EDT; during the Birmingham Campaign, part of the African-American Civil Rights Movement (1955–68)) — U.S. President John F. Kennedy today at his news conference hailed what looked like a compromise in the tense racial situation in Birmingham, Alabama — the halt of African-American demonstrations in exchange for “steps to meet the justifiable needs of the Negro community.”

Children’s Crusade begins in Birmingham, Alabama 50 years ago today (1963)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: 'Birmingham 1963' (May 2, 1963, at 0:53)

(Thursday, May 2, 1963; during the American Civil Rights Movement‘s Birmingham Campaign) — The Children’s Crusade began today in Birmingham, Alabama, as more than 1,000 black schoolchildren skipped classes and marched downtown to protest racial segregation; hundreds were arrested. During another march the following day, authorities unleashed police dogs and fire hoses on the young protesters.