Video: 'An incredible speech by Newton Minow in 1961. "Vast Wasteland".'

(Tuesday, May 9, 1961) — Newton N. Minow, the new chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, presented a scorching indictment of contemporary television at the National Association of Broadcasters convention today in Washington, describing it as a “vast wasteland” and implied that the FCC might not renew licenses of those entities that failed to upgrade their product.
Continue reading Television broadcasters urged to reform ‘vast wasteland’ of programming 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 9 1961) →

Video: 'Mister Ed S1e1 The First Meeting'

(Thursday, January 5, 1961, first episode scheduled to air at 7:00 p.m. EST on WRCA-TV in New York) — Mister Ed, a situation comedy TV series starring Alan Young as an eccentric and enormously klutzy yet friendly architect named Wilbur Post whose horse Mister Ed (“played” by gelding Bamboo Harvester and voiced by Allan Lane) could talk, debuted tonight in syndication.
Continue reading ‘Mister Ed’ TV sitcom debuts in syndication 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 5 1961) →

Video: 'The Andy Griffith Show "The New Housekeeper" First Scene'

(Friday, October 3, 1960, 9:30-10:00 p.m. EDT) — The Andy Griffith Show, an American situation comedy television series about the widowed sheriff of Mayberry, North Carolina, a fictional community of 2,000 people, debuted tonight on CBS-TV. Continue reading ‘The Andy Griffith Show’ sitcom series debuts on CBS-TV 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 3 1960) →

Video: 'History of The Flintstones'

(Friday, September 30, 1960, 8:30-9:00 p.m. EDT) — The Flintstones, an American animated situation comedy television series that follows the activities of the title family, the Flintstones, and their next-door neighbors, the Rubbles (who are also their best friends) in a romanticized Stone Age setting, debuted tonight on ABC-TV, becoming the first animated series to hold a prime time slot on television.
Continue reading ‘The Flintstones’ animated sitcom series debuts on ABC-TV 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 30 1960) →

Video: 'MY THREE SONS - S1 E1 CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK'

(Thursday, September 29, 1960, 9:00-9:30 p.m. EDT) — My Three Sons, an American situation comedy television series about widower and aeronautical engineer Stephen Douglas as he raises his three sons, debuted tonight on ABC-TV.
Continue reading ‘My Three Sons’ sitcom series debuts on ABC-TV 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 29 1960) →

Video: '"JFK: IN HIS OWN WORDS" (1988)' (Wisconsin primary at 16:06)

(Tuesday, April 5, 1960, polls open 7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. CST; during the 1960 Democratic Party presidential primaries) — Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts defeated Senator Hubert H. Humphrey today in Wisconsin in the first major primary for the 1960 Democratic presidential nomination. Continue reading Kennedy beats Humphrey in first major 1960 Democratic presidential primary 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 5 1960) →

Video: '1960: Be A Man- Sell Out (1970 documentary narrated by Peter Jennings)' (Sharpeville massacre at 16:06)

(Monday, March 21, 1960, 1:20 p.m. South Africa Standard Time; during the Sharpeville massacre) — White police at the South African township of Sharpeville in Transvaal (today part of Gauteng) fired their guns into a crowd of unarmed black protesters today, killing 69 people and wounding 180. Continue reading 69 killed in South Africa as police fire on rioters 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 21 1960) →

Video: 'The Complicated And Dark History Of Lucille Ball And Desi Arnazs Marriage'

(Thursday, March 3, 1960) — Lucille Ball filed for divorce from Desi Arnaz today in Santa Monica Superior Court, one day after Desi’s 43rd birthday and one day after the filming of Lucy and Desi’s last The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour episode together, titled “Lucy Meets the Mustache.” Continue reading Lucille Ball sues Desi Arnaz for divorce, charges cruelty 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 3 1960) →