Category Archives: 1970s

100,000 refugees crowd Da Nang by 40 years ago today (Mar 21 1975)


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 11' (Mar. 21, 1975, at 29:21)

(Friday, March 21, 1975; during the The Hue–Da Nang Campaign of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — 100,000 refugees, many of them troops and their families, had crowded into Da Nang by today as South Vietnam’s collapse intensified.

‘Abyssinia, Henry’ episode airs on ‘M*A*S*H’ 40 years ago this hour (Mar 18 1975)


Video: 'MASH Season 3 E-24 Abyssinia Henry'

(Tuesday, March 18, 1975, 8:30 p.m. EST) — The 4077th MASH’s commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake (played by McLean Stevenson), finally gets his discharge on tonight’s episode of the CBS-TV sitcom M*A*S*H. Continue reading ‘Abyssinia, Henry’ episode airs on ‘M*A*S*H’ 40 years ago this hour (Mar 18 1975)

Thieu orders South Vietnamese forces to abandon northern, central provinces 40 years ago this hour (Mar 14 1975)


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 11' (Mar. 14, 1975, at 27:04)

(Friday, March 14, 1975, 11:00 a.m. ICT; during the Battle of Ban Me Thuot, part of the Vietnam War, the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu today ordered his forces to abandon the northern and central provinces and form a new line of defense further south.

But, hoping to avoid panic, he did not announce the withdrawal or reveal his plans. As the rumors flew, fear spread. Nobody knew what to believe and nobody wanted to be left behind.

Four Grammys given to Stevie Wonder, Marvin Hamlisch 40 years ago this hour (Mar 1 1975)


Video: '17th Grammy Awards 74' (5 videos)

(Saturday, March 1, 1975, 10:00-11:30 p.m. EST) — The blind singer-composer Stevie Wonder and composer Marvin Hamlisch each received four awards tonight at 17th Annual Grammy Awards at Uris Theatre in New York City.

Record of the Year went to a British-born singer Olivia Newton-John, for “I Honestly Love You.”

Legendary child actress Shirley Temple interviewed for ’60 Minutes’ 30 years ago this hour (Feb 9 1975)

Video: 'Shirley Temple: From child star to ambassador'

(Sunday, February 9, 1975, 6:00 p.m. EST) — Legendary child actress Shirley Temple (Black) was interviewed by correspondent Morley Safer tonight on the CBS television magazine series 60 Minutes as she embarked on a new career as the U.S. ambassador to Ghana.

Khmer Rouge attacks force thousands into Phnom Penh 40 years ago this hour (Jan 1 1975)


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History - Cambodia and Laos [8/11]' (Jan. 1, 1975, at 42:32)

(Wednesday, January 1, 1975, 1:20 a.m. local time; during the Cambodian Civil War, part of the Vietnam War, Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Communist-led insurgents known as the Khmer Rouge launched a series of attacks on the outskirts of Phnom Penh today and thousands of refugees, hundreds of them injured, streamed into the capital.

Thousands watch Hollywood farewell to Jack Benny 40 years ago today (Dec 29 1974)


Video: 'Jack Benny - CBS News Tribute/Obituary (Dec 29, 1974)' (Benny's funeral at 32:47)

(Sunday, December 29, 1974) — The show-business world turned out today at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City, California, to say goodbye to Jack Benny, the gentle comedian who charmed millions of Americans over a long career that carried him through the top ranks of vaudeville, radio, movies and television.

Benny died Dec. 26, 1974, of cancer at the age of 80.

Comedian Jack Benny, 80, dies of cancer in Los Angeles 40 years ago today (Dec 26 1974)


Video: 'JACK BENNY COMEDY IN BLOOM'

(Thursday, December 26, 1974)Jack Benny, the master comedian who won America’s laughter for 50 years by portraying himself as a violin playing miser, died today of pancreatic cancer in Bel Air, Los Angeles, California. He was 80 years old.

Mick Taylor leaves The Rolling Stones 40 years ago today (Dec 12 1974)


Video: 'Rolling Stones;1969-74 - The Mick Taylor Years'

(Thursday, December 12, 1974) — The Rolling Stones announced today guitarist Mick Taylor, who had replaced Brian Jones in 1969, had left the band after more than five years. Ronnie Wood would eventually replace Taylor.

Solzhenitsyn collects Nobel Prize he won in 1970 40 years ago today (Dec 10 1974)


Video: 'Receiving the Nobel Prize for Literature'

(Tuesday, December 10, 1974, during the Cold War) — Exiled Soviet writer Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn took possession today of the Nobel Prize for Literature that he was unable to claim when it was awarded to him in 1970.