Category Archives: Movies 1940s

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill becomes first head of state to cross Atlantic Ocean by plane 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 17 1942)

1940s, Movies 1940s, U.S. Presidents, World War II


Video: 'Mr Churchill Comes Home (1942)'

(Saturday, January 17, 1942, shortly before 10:00 a.m. British Summer Time; during World War II) — British Prime Minister Winston Churchill became the first head of state to cross the Atlantic Ocean by plane when he landed this morning in Plymouth, England, after an eighteen-hour flight from Bermuda following the Arcadia Conference with U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Continue reading British Prime Minister Winston Churchill becomes first head of state to cross Atlantic Ocean by plane 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 17 1942) →

Actress Carole Lombard, 33, killed in plane crash near Las Vegas 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 16 1942)

1940s, Movies 1940s, World War II


Video: 'Carole Lombard Paramount Death Report Footage'

(Friday, January 16, 1942, 7:20 p.m. PST) — Academy Award nominated actress Carole Lombard, particularly noted for her energetic, often off-beat roles in screwball comedies, and 21 other people, including Lombard’s mother, were killed tonight when TWA Flight 3 crashed into a mountain near Las Vegas. Continue reading Actress Carole Lombard, 33, killed in plane crash near Las Vegas 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 16 1942) →

‘Sullivan’s Travels’ opens in Portugal 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 5 1941)

1940s, Movies 1940s


Video: 'Sullivan's Travels' trailer

(Friday, December 5, 1941) — Sullivan’s Travels, a comedy about a movie director who longs to make a socially relevant drama but eventually learns that comedies are his more valuable contribution to society, opened today in Portugal. Continue reading ‘Sullivan’s Travels’ opens in Portugal 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 5 1941) →

‘The Maltese Falcon’ opens in New York City 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 2 1941)

1940s, Movies 1940s


Video: 'Maltese Falcon' trailer

(Thursday, October 2, 1941) — The Maltese Falcon, an American film noir about hard-boiled detective who gets caught up in the murderous search for a priceless statue, opened tonight as a special “preview” showing at the Strand Theatre at 1579 Broadway, at the northwest corner of 47th Street and Broadway in Times Square, New York City. Continue reading ‘The Maltese Falcon’ opens in New York City 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 2 1941) →

‘Citizen Kane’ premieres in New York City 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDate #OTD (May 1 1941)

1940s, Movies 1940s


Video: 'Citizen Kane' trailer

(Thursday, May 1, 1941, 8:30 p.m. EDT) — Citizen Kane, an American drama film about a group of reporters who are trying to decipher the last word ever spoke by Charles Foster Kane, the millionaire newspaper tycoon, premiered tonight at the RKO Palace at 1564 Broadway (at West 47th Street) in New York City.
Continue reading ‘Citizen Kane’ premieres in New York City 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDate #OTD (May 1 1941) →

‘Fantasia’ premieres in New York City 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 13 1940)

1940s, Movies 1940s, Popular Music 1940s


Video: 'Fantasia' trailer

(Wednesday, November 13, 1940, 8:40 p.m. EST) — Fantasia, an American animated film produced by Walt Disney featuring eight animated segments set to pieces of classical music conducted by Leopold Stokowski, seven of which are performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra, premiered tonight at the Broadway Theatre, 1681 Broadway (at 53rd Street) in New York City. Continue reading ‘Fantasia’ premieres in New York City 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 13 1940) →

‘Only Forever’ by Bing Crosby peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 19 1940)

1940s, Movies 1940s, Popular Music 1940s

(Saturday, October 19, 1940) — “Only Forever” by Bing Crosby With John Scott Trotter and His Orchestra peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Selling Singles chart for nine consecutive weeks (Oct. 19/26, Nov. 2/9/16/23/30, Dec. 7/14, 1940). Continue reading ‘Only Forever’ by Bing Crosby peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 19 1940) →

‘The Great Dictator’ premieres in New York City 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 15 1940)

1940s, Movies 1940s


Video: 'The Great Dictator' trailer

(Thursday, October 15, 1940, 8:30 p.m. EST; during World War II) — The Great Dictator, an American political satire comedy-drama film about a Jewish barber who takes the place of a war-hungry dictator, premiered tonight in New York City at the Astor Theatre at 1537 Broadway, at West 45th Street in Times Square and the Capitol Theatre at 1645 Broadway, just north of Times Square. Continue reading ‘The Great Dictator’ premieres in New York City 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 15 1940) →

Bugs Bunny makes his debut in animated short ‘A Wild Hare’ 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 27 1940)

1940s, Movies 1940s

(Saturday, July 27, 1940) — A Wild Hare, a Merrie Melodies cartoon supervised by Tex Avery (credited as Fred Avery on the original issue) and featuring Elmer Fudd and Bugs Bunny, the latter making what is considered his first official appearance, debuted today. Continue reading Bugs Bunny makes his debut in animated short ‘A Wild Hare’ 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 27 1940) →

‘Rebecca’ premieres in Miami 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 21 1940)

1940s, Movies 1940s


Video: 'Rebecca' trailer

(Thursday, March 21, 1940, 8:45 p.m. EST) — Rebecca, an American romantic psychological thriller film about a young bride who is terrorized by the memories of her husband’s glamorous first wife, premiered tonight at the Lincoln Theater in Miami. Continue reading ‘Rebecca’ premieres in Miami 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 21 1940) →