Category Archives: 1990s

Surviving Beatles turn down $225 million offer to tour 30 years ago today (Mar 4 1996)


Video: 'The Beatles - January / February 1995 Reunion Sessions'

(Monday, March 4, 1996) — The three surviving members of The Beatles — Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr — turned down a $225 million offer today to tour North America, Europe and Japan.

Britain’s Princess Diana agrees to divorce 30 years ago today (Feb 28 1996)


Video: 'NBC News Royal Divorce Princess Diana Agrees To Divorce Coverage August 1996' (actually broadcast Feb. 28, 1996)

(Wednesday, February 28, 1996) — Britain’s Princess Diana announced just before the evening television news tonight that she had reluctantly changed her mind and would agree to divorce her estranged husband, Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne.

Actor, Khmer Rouge death camp survivor Haing S. Ngor murdered 30 years ago this hour (Feb 25 1996)


Video: 'The Killing Fields of Dr Haing S Ngor: KTLA News Report'

(Sunday, February 25, 1996, 8:45 p.m. PST) — Actor Dr. Haing S. Ngor, who won a best supporting actor Oscar for his role in The Killing Fields and was a real-life survivor of the Khmer Rouge death camps, was shot to death today outside his home in Los Angeles. He was 45. Continue reading Actor, Khmer Rouge death camp survivor Haing S. Ngor murdered 30 years ago this hour (Feb 25 1996)

‘Be My Lover’ by La Bouche peaks at #6 in USA 30 years ago today (Feb 24 1996)

(Saturday, February 24, 1996) — “Be My Lover” by La Bouche peaked at #6 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for three weeks. Continue reading ‘Be My Lover’ by La Bouche peaks at #6 in USA 30 years ago today (Feb 24 1996)

Shuttle Columbia takes off for high-wire act 30 years ago this hour (Feb 22 1996)


Video: 'STS-75 launch & landing (2-22-96)'

(Thursday, February 22, 1996, 3:18 p.m. EST/20:18:00 UTC) — The space shuttle Columbia blasted into orbit today on a mission to unreel a satellite on the end of a 12.8-mile tether. (The cord broke just before being extended to its full length.)

‘Missing’ by Everything but the Girl peaks at #2 in USA 30 years ago today (Feb 17 1996)

(Saturday, February 17, 1996) — “Missing” by Everything but the Girl peaked at #2 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for one week. Continue reading ‘Missing’ by Everything but the Girl peaks at #2 in USA 30 years ago today (Feb 17 1996)

‘Trainspotting’ black comedy crime drama film premieres in Glasgow 30 years ago today (Feb 15 1996)


Video: 'Trainspotting' trailer

(Thursday, February 15, 1996)Trainspotting, a British black comedy crime drama film that follows a group of heroin addicts in a late 1980s economically depressed area of Edinburgh, Scotland, and their passage through life, premiered tonight in Glasgow (in aid of Calton Athletic) and Edinburgh, Scotland. Continue reading ‘Trainspotting’ black comedy crime drama film premieres in Glasgow 30 years ago today (Feb 15 1996)

Rock musical ‘Rent’ by opens off-Broadway 30 years ago today (Feb 13 1996)


Video: 'Seasons of Love/La Vie Boheme'

(Tuesday, February 13, 1996) — The rock musical Rent, by Jonathan Larson and loosely based on Giacomo Puccini’s opera La Bohème, opened tonight off-Broadway at the New York Theater Workshop. Continue reading Rock musical ‘Rent’ by opens off-Broadway 30 years ago today (Feb 13 1996)

‘Deep Blue’ computer beats chess champion Garry Kasparov in upset 30 years ago this hour (Feb 10 1996)


Video: 'Deep Blue vs. Kasparov 1996 Game 1'

(Saturday, February 10, 1996, 4:45 p.m. EST) — World chess champion Garry Kasparov lost the first game of a match today in Philadelphia against an IBM computer dubbed “Deep Blue.” Continue reading ‘Deep Blue’ computer beats chess champion Garry Kasparov in upset 30 years ago this hour (Feb 10 1996)

189 killed as German tourist plane crashes 30 years ago this hour (Feb 6 1996)


Video: 'Fatal Alarms - The Mystery of Birgenair Flight 301 | Mayday: Air Disaster'

(Tuesday, February 6, 1996, 11:47 p.m. Atlantic Standard Time) — A Turkish-owned Boeing 757–225 jetliner crashed into the Atlantic Ocean tonight shortly after takeoff from Puerto Plata Airport in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, killing 189 people, mostly German tourists. Continue reading 189 killed as German tourist plane crashes 30 years ago this hour (Feb 6 1996)