Category Archives: 1970s

The Who asks for volunteer after drummer Keith Moon collapses twice during concert 40 years ago today (1973)


Video: 'The Who 11-20-1973 Daly City Cow Palace'

(Tuesday, November 20, 1973) — The Who drummer Keith Moon collapsed twice tonight during the opening concert for the the rock group’s Quadrophenia U.S. tour at the Cow Palace in Daly City, a suburb just south of San Francisco, apparently because of jet lag. Continue reading The Who asks for volunteer after drummer Keith Moon collapses twice during concert 40 years ago today (1973)

David Bowie’s first TV special ‘The 1980 Floor Show’ airs on NBC 40 years ago this hour (1973)


Video: '1980 Floor Show'

(Saturday, November 17, 1973, 1:00 a.m. EDT) — David Bowie’s first TV special The 1980 Floor Show, the first appearance of Bowie since his much publicized retirement on July 3, 1973, at the Hammersmith Odeon and his last appearance as “Ziggy Stardust,” aired tonight on NBC.

Skylab 4 crew blasts off on ‘holiday cruise’ to space station 40 years ago this hour (1973)


Video: 'Skylab 4 Part 2 CBS News Coverage of Launch' (launch at 10:19)

(Friday, November 16, 1973, 9:01:23 EST; part of NASA’s Skylab program) — Three rookie American astronauts rocketed safely into orbit this morning to start man’s longest space voyage, an 84-day “holiday cruise” aboard the Skylab space station. It was the third and final manned mission to the station.

Princess Anne weds Mark Phillips 40 years ago this hour (1973)


Video: 'Princess Anne marries Mark Phillips' (parts 1-5)

(Wednesday, November 14, 1973, 12:30 p.m. GMT) — Britain’s Princess Anne married Mark Phillips, a lieutenant in the 1st Queen’s Dragoon Guards, at Westminster Abbey in London in a ceremony that was televised around the world, with an estimated audience of 100 million.

Parsons’ manager fined for stealing singer’s body 40 years ago today (1973)


Video: 'The Extraordinary - Gram Parsons - 1995'

(Monday, November 5, 1973) — Singer Gram Parsons’ manager, Phil Kaufman, was fined $300 today for stealing Parsons’ body from the Los Angeles International Airport. The body was cremated instead of taken to Parsons’ funeral. Kaufman claimed that it was Parsons’ wish to be cremated.

Heavy fighting breaks out in Vietnam 40 years ago today (1973)


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 11' (late 1973 at 15:17)

(Sunday, November 4, 1973; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — The heaviest fighting since the January 1973 signing of the Vietnam cease-fire broke out in pre-dawn darkness today as North Vietnamese troops and tanks backed by artillery and at least 20 tanks attacked a former U.S. Green Beret outpost 115 miles northeast of Saigon, military spokesman said.

John Lennon interviewed on Malibu Beach, California 40 years ago today (1973)


Video: 'Imagine John Lennon Documentation HD part 6' (Nov. 1, 1973, at :49-1:40)

(Thursday, November 1, 1973) — Ex-Beatle John Lennon was interviewed today by Elliott Mintz of Channel 7’s ABC Eyewitness News on Malibu Beach, California, to promote his new album Mind Games (click here to watch more of the interview). Continue reading John Lennon interviewed on Malibu Beach, California 40 years ago today (1973)

Leon Jaworski appointed new Watergate special prosecutor 40 hours ago today (1973)


Image: Robert Bork, Acting Attorney General speaking at the microphone in the White House Press Room (Nov. 1, 1973)

(Thursday, November 1, 1973; during the Watergate scandal) — Following the Saturday Night Massacre, Acting Attorney General Robert H. Bork today appointed Leon Jaworski to be the new Watergate special prosecutor, succeeding Archibald Cox, who was fired Oct. 20, 1973.

Yom Kippur War truce begins 40 years ago this hour (1973)


Video: 'Our World Fall 1973 Part 1' (Oct. 6-25, 1973, at 3:16)

(Thursday, October 25, 1973, 7 a.m. local time; during the Yom Kippur War, part of the Cold War and Arab–Israeli conflict) — A cease-fire to end The Yom Kippur War, the fourth and largest Arab–Israeli conflict, went into effect this morning, 19 days after Egyptian and Syrian forces attacked Israeli forces in the Sinai Peninsula and Golan Heights. Continue reading Yom Kippur War truce begins 40 years ago this hour (1973)

‘Kojak’ debuts as a regular series on CBS 40 years ago this hour (1973)


Video: 'Kojak: Siege of Terror'

(Wednesday, October 24, 1973, 10:00 p.m. EDT)Kojak, a crime drama TV series about New York City Police Department Detective Lieutenant Theo Kojak, debuted tonight as a regular series on CBS following a 90-minute pilot that aired on Mar. 8, 1973. The program starred Telly Savalas, Dan Frazer and Kevin Dobson.