Wilson signs Selective Service Act, denies Roosevelt’s request to command volunteer division 100 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 18 1917)

1910s, U.S. Presidents, World War I

(Friday, May 18, 1917; during World War I) — U.S. President Woodrow Wilson today signed the Selective Service Act of 1917, which gave him the power to conscript men ages 21 to 30 and the option of calling up 500,000 volunteers. Continue reading Wilson signs Selective Service Act, denies Roosevelt’s request to command volunteer division 100 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 18 1917) →

38 children killed in America’s deadliest school attack 90 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 18 1927)

1920s


Video: 'Bath School Massacre'

(Wednesday, May 18, 1927, at about 8:45 a.m. EDT) — In America’s deadliest school attack, part of a schoolhouse in Bath Township, Michigan, was blown up today with explosives planted by local farmer Andrew Kehoe, who then set off a bomb in his truck. Continue reading 38 children killed in America’s deadliest school attack 90 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 18 1927) →

37 American sailors killed when Iraqi warplane attacks 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 17 1977)

1980s


Video: 'Remembering USS STARK (FFG-31)'

(Sunday, May 17, 1987, 10:10 p.m. local time) — 37 American sailors were killed tonight when an Iraqi warplane attacked the U.S. Navy frigate Stark in the Persian Gulf (click here to watch news reports at the time). Continue reading 37 American sailors killed when Iraqi warplane attacks 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 17 1977) →

‘King Lear’ premieres at Cannes Film Festival 30 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 17 1987)

1980s, Movies 1980s, Woody Allen


Video: 'King Lear (Jean-Luc Godard, 1987)'

(Sunday, May 17, 1987) — King Lear, a film about a wealthy corporate executive who arrives in Switzerland in search of a reclusive filmmaker to reaffirm his faith in the art form, premiered today at the Cannes Film Festival. Continue reading ‘King Lear’ premieres at Cannes Film Festival 30 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 17 1987) →

Paul McCartney holds a live televised town hall in London 20 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 17 1997)

1990s, Popular Music 1990s, Television 1990s, The Beatles 1990s


Video: '1997 The World Tonight' (10 videos)

(Saturday, May 17, 1997, 6:00 p.m. BST) — Paul McCartney’s Town Hall Meeting, a question and answer event hosted by John Fugelsang featuring the former Beatle, was transmitted live tonight on VH-1 from Bishopsgate Memorial Hall, in Bishopsgate, East London. Continue reading Paul McCartney holds a live televised town hall in London 20 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 17 1997) →

Martin Luther King Jr. delivers first national speech 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 17 1957)

1950s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: 'Martin Luther King Jr. 'Give Us the Ballot' May 17, 1957'

(Friday, May 17, 1957, afternoon EDT) — The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., 28, delivered his first national speech, titled “Give Us the Ballot,” advocating voting rights for African-Americans, during the Prayer Pilgrimage for Freedom gathering at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Continue reading Martin Luther King Jr. delivers first national speech 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 17 1957) →

McCartney’s ‘In The World Tonight’ documentary debuts 20 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 16 1997)

1990s, Popular Music 1990s, Television 1990s, The Beatles 1990s


Video: '1997 The World Tonight' (10 videos)

(Friday, May 16, 1997, 9:00 p.m. EDT) — In the World Tonight, a documentary about the making of Paul McCartney’s Flaming Pie album, received it’s worldwide television premiere tonight on VH-1 in the United States. Continue reading McCartney’s ‘In The World Tonight’ documentary debuts 20 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 16 1997) →

Five killed as helicopter on New York’s Pan Am building keels over 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 16 1977)

1970s

(Monday, May 16, 1977, 5:33 p.m. EDT) — A New York Airways Sikorsky S-61L (N619PA) helicopter idling on the heliport atop the Pan Am Building in midtown Manhattan, just after arriving from John F Kennedy Airport, keeled over on a broken landing gear this afternoon, killing four passengers waiting to board, including movie director Michael Findlay.

Parts of a broken blade fell into the streets below, killing one pedestrian.

The accident precipitated the permanent closure of the heliport.

Harrison, Shankar interviewed at New York’s Plaza Hotel 20 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 16 1997)

1990s, Popular Music 1990s, Television 1990s, The Beatles 1990s


Video: 'Ringo Starr George Harrison Paul McCartney Interview 5/24/1997 Access Hollywood' (May 16 1997, at 1:57 and 5:05 and 5:35)

(Friday, May 16, 1997) — Former Beatle George Harrison and Indian musician Ravi Shankar continued their promotional tour for Chants of India, a new album by Shankar and produced by Harrison, today at the Plaza Hotel in New York with a second of two days of interviews with various media outlets.