Video: 'Casablanca' (trailer)
(Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, 1942, 12 noon EST) — Casablanca, a romantic drama film about an American saloon owner in North Africa who is drawn into World War II when his lost love turns up, opened today at the Hollywood Theater at 237 W. 51st Street in the Manhattan borough of New York City. Continue reading ‘Casablanca’ romantic drama film opens at Hollywood Theater in New York City 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 26 1942)
(Saturday, September 12, 1942) — “(I’ve Got a Gal In) Kalamazoo” by Glenn Miller & His Orchestra (vocal refrain by Tex Beneke, Marion Hutton, and The Modernaires) peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for the first of seven consecutive weeks (Sept. 12/19/26, Oct. 3/10/17/24, 1942). Continue reading ‘(I’ve Got a Gal In) Kalamazoo’ by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 12 1942)
(Friday, May 29, 1942) — “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby, the world’s best-selling single (in terms of sales of physical media), was recorded today with the John Scott Trotter Orchestra and the Ken Darby Singers at the Radio Recorders recording studio, 932 N. Western Avenue in Los Angeles. Continue reading Bing Crosby records ‘White Christmas,’ best-selling single of all-time, in Los Angeles 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 29 1942)
(Saturday, May 9, 1942) — “Tangerine” by Jimmy Dorsey And His Orchestra (vocal choruses by Bob Eberly and Helen O’Connell) peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for the first of six consecutive weeks (May 9/16/23/30, June 6/13, 1942). Continue reading ‘Tangerine’ by Jimmy Dorsey peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 9 1942)
(Saturday, February 14, 1942) — “Blues in the Night (My Mama Done Tol’ Me)” by Woody Herman And His Orchestra (with brief cameo vocal appearances by composer Harold Arlen) peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for one week. Continue reading ‘Blues in the Night (My Mama Done Tol’ Me)’ by Woody Herman peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 14 1942)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
