Category Archives: 1970s

Jim Morrison, lead singer of The Doors, dies of ‘heart failure’ in Paris 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 3 1971)


Video: 'Jim Morrison: The Final 24 (Full Documentary)'

(Saturday, July 3, 1971, 5:00 a.m. Central European Time)James Douglas “Jim” Morrison, an American singer, musician, songwriter and poet, who was the lead vocalist of the rock band The Doors and regarded by music critics and fans as one of the most iconic and influential frontmen in rock history, died unexpectedly this morning in Paris. He was 27. Continue reading Jim Morrison, lead singer of The Doors, dies of ‘heart failure’ in Paris 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 3 1971)

George Harrison attends Schaefer Musical Festival in New York’s Central Park 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 2 1971)


Video: 'George Harrison with Art Garfunkel at Carly Simon concert NYC Central Park 07/27/71'

(Friday, July 2, 1971, concert was scheduled to begin at 8:00 p.m. EDT) — Former Beatle George Harrison was captured briefly on videotape tonight chatting with singer Art Garfunkel in New York City’s Central Park during the beginning of a performance by Carly Simon at the Schaefer Music Festival. Continue reading George Harrison attends Schaefer Musical Festival in New York’s Central Park 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 2 1971)

John Lennon & Yoko Ono filmed aboard steamboat on New York’s Hudson River 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 1 1971)


Video: 'John Lennon - Borrowed Time. Top Of The Pops 1984' (July 1, 1971, at 2:12)

(Thursday, July 1, 1971, 10:00 a.m.-7:30 p.m. EDT) — Former Beatle John Lennon and and his wife, Yoko Ono, were filmed today aboard the PS Alexander Hamilton for a day long trip up and down New York`s Hudson River. Continue reading John Lennon & Yoko Ono filmed aboard steamboat on New York’s Hudson River 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 1 1971)

States ratify constitutional amendment lowering voting age to 18 for all elections 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 1 1971)


Video: '26th Amendment & Voting Age - Decades TV Network'

(Thursday, July 1, 1971, morning EDT; during the Vietnam War) — The Twenty-sixth Amendment to the Constitution, prohibiting the states and the federal government from using age as a reason for denying the right to vote to citizens of the United States who are at least eighteen years old, was ratified today as North Carolina became the 38th state to approve it, providing the necessary three-quarters majority necessary to become law. Continue reading States ratify constitutional amendment lowering voting age to 18 for all elections 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 1 1971)

Supreme Court allows publication of top-secret ‘Pentagon Papers’ history of Vietnam War 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 30 1971)


Video: 'Freedom of the Press: New York Times v. United States'

(Wednesday, June 30, 1971, 2:30 p.m. EDT; New York Times Co. v. United States) — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled today that The New York Times and The Washington Post newspapers could publish articles based on the then-classified Pentagon Papers on the origins of the Vietnam War, rejecting government injunctions as unconstitutional prior restraint. Continue reading Supreme Court allows publication of top-secret ‘Pentagon Papers’ history of Vietnam War 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 30 1971)

John Lennon & Yoko Ono attend ‘dumpling party’ at a Fluxhouse in New York City 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 29 1971)


Video: 'Warhol and Maciunas'

(Tuesday, June 29, 1971, evening EDT) — Former Beatle John Lennon and and his wife, Yoko Ono, were filmed tonight attending a “dumpling party” at a Fluxus gathering put on by artist and a Fluxus founding member, George Maciunas, at a Fluxhouse at 80 Wooster Street in the Soho neighborhood in Lower Manhattan in New York City. Continue reading John Lennon & Yoko Ono attend ‘dumpling party’ at a Fluxhouse in New York City 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 29 1971)

‘Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory’ premieres in Coral Gables, Florida 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 29 1971)


Video: 'Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory' trailer

(Tuesday, June 29, 1971, 7:30 p.m. EDT)Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, an American musical fantasy film adaptation of the 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, premiered tonight at Loew’s Riviera in Coral Gables, Florida, to benefit the Miami Herald‘s Send-a-Kid-to-Camp fund. Continue reading ‘Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory’ premieres in Coral Gables, Florida 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 29 1971)

Three Soviet cosmonauts who set endurance record for space flights die on return to Earth 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 30 1971)


Video: 'Soyuz 11 - Death Of Three Astronauts'

(Wednesday, June 30, 1971, approximately 1:47 a.m. Moscow Standard Time) — After a successful mission aboard Salyut 1, the world’s first manned space station, the crew of the Soyuz 11 spacecraft were killed today during their return into Earth’s atmosphere after 23 days on the orbiting station, setting a new record for time spent in space. Continue reading Three Soviet cosmonauts who set endurance record for space flights die on return to Earth 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 30 1971)

‘When You’re Hot, You’re Hot’ by Jerry Reed peaks at #9 in USA 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 26 1971)

(Saturday, June 26, 1971) — “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot” by Jerry Reed peaked today at #9 on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart for the first of three weeks. Continue reading ‘When You’re Hot, You’re Hot’ by Jerry Reed peaks at #9 in USA 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 26 1971)

‘It’s Too Late’/’I Feel the Earth Move’ by Carole King peaks at #1 in USA 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 19 1971)

(Saturday, June 19, 1971) — The double A-sided single “It’s Too Late” and “I Feel the Earth Move” by Carole King peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for the first of five consecutive weeks (June 19/26, July 3/10/17, 1971). Continue reading ‘It’s Too Late’/’I Feel the Earth Move’ by Carole King peaks at #1 in USA 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 19 1971)