Gorbachev picked to succeed Chernenko as Soviet leader 30 years ago this hour (Mar 11 1985)

1980s, Cold War


Video: '3/11/85: Gorbachev Becomes Soviet Leader'

(Monday, March 11, 1985, publicly announced at 6:15 p.m. MSK; during the Cold War) — Mikhail Gorbachev, 54, was elected General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union by the Politburo today, only three hours after the death of Konstantin Chernenko.

Gorbachev’s policies of glasnost (“openness”) and perestroika (“restructuring”) as well as summit conferences with United States President Ronald Reagan and his reorientation of Soviet strategic aims would contribute to the end of the Cold War.

‘Make Room for Daddy,’ ‘The United States Steel Hour’ big winners at Emmy Awards 60 years ago this hour (Mar 7 1955)

1950s, Television 1950s


Video: 'Make Room for Daddy: The Children's Governess' (Feb. 1, 1955)

(Monday, March 7, 1955, 8:30 p.m. PST) — Make Room for Daddy dominated the 7th Emmy Awards tonight, winning two awards, including Best Situation Comedy. Continue reading ‘Make Room for Daddy,’ ‘The United States Steel Hour’ big winners at Emmy Awards 60 years ago this hour (Mar 7 1955) →

‘Peter Pan’ Broadway production airs live on NBC-TV in color 60 years ago this hour (Mar 7 1955)

1950s, Broadway, Popular Music 1950s, Television 1950s


Video: '"Producers' Showcase" Peter Pan (7 March 1955)' (4 videos)

(Monday, March 7, 1955, 7:30-9:00 p.m. EST) — NBC-TV presented the full-length Broadway production of Peter Pan live tonight in color (only a black-and-white kinescope recording survived) as part of Producers’ Showcase, with nearly all of the show’s original cast.

The show attracted a then-record audience of 65-million viewers, the highest ever up to that time for a single television program.

Four Grammys given to Stevie Wonder, Marvin Hamlisch 40 years ago this hour (Mar 1 1975)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s, Television 1970s


Video: '17th Grammy Awards 74' (5 videos)

(Saturday, March 1, 1975, 10:00-11:30 p.m. EST) — The blind singer-composer Stevie Wonder and composer Marvin Hamlisch each received four awards tonight at 17th Annual Grammy Awards at Uris Theatre in New York City.

Record of the Year went to a British-born singer Olivia Newton-John, for “I Honestly Love You.”

Grammys honor Sheryl Crow, Tony Bennett 20 years ago this hour (Mar 1 1995)

1990s, Popular Music 1990s, Television 1990s


Video: 'Sheryl Crow - Grammy Awards 1995'

(Wednesday, March 1, 1995, 8:00-11:00 p.m. EST) — A newcomer, Sheryl Crow, and a pop trouper, Tony Bennett, won the top awards at the 37th Annual Grammy Awards, which were presented tonight at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles and telecast on CBS.

Tony Bennett’s MTV Unplugged, an album of standards featuring duets with such singers as K. D. Lang, was named album of the year. “This is the greatest moment in my whole musical career and the greatest moment in my life,” Bennett said. “It’s such a victorious feeling to sing good American music and have this happen.”

MTV Unplugged, produced by David Kahne, also won Bennett’s third consecutive award in the traditional pop album category. He won his very first Grammy Award for a 1962 recording, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” (click here to watch several videos from tonight’s ceremonies).

‘It Happened One Night’ wins Outstanding Production at 7th Academy Awards 80 years ago this hour (Feb 27 1935)

1930s, movies 1930s


Video: 'Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert at the 1935 Academy Awards'

(Wednesday, February 27, 1935, 8:00-9:45 p.m. PST) — It Happened One Night, a romantic comedy film about a newspaperman who tracks a runaway heiress on a madcap cross-country tour, won five Oscars tonight at the 7th Academy Awards, including Outstanding Production and Frank Capra for Best Director. Continue reading ‘It Happened One Night’ wins Outstanding Production at 7th Academy Awards 80 years ago this hour (Feb 27 1935) →

‘Million Dollar Baby’ dominates Oscars 10 years ago this hour (Feb 27 2005)

2000s, movies 2000s, Television 2000s


Video: '2005 Oscars' (31 videos)

(Sunday, February 27, 2005, 8:30 p.m. EST) — In a year without blockbusters in the biggest Oscar categories, “Million Dollar Baby,” an intimate film about an underdog female boxer, captured four top awards Sunday at the 77th Academy Awards: best picture, best director, best actress and best supporting actor. Continue reading ‘Million Dollar Baby’ dominates Oscars 10 years ago this hour (Feb 27 2005) →

Tina Turner captures three Grammy awards 30 years ago this hour (Feb 26 1985)

1980s, Popular Music 1980s, Television 1980s


Video: 'Grammy Awards' (6 videos from this date)

(Tuesday, February 26, 1985, 8:00-11:00 p.m. EST) — Tina Turner won three Grammys tonight at the 27th Annual Grammy Awards at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, including record of the year, and her hit “What’s Love Got to Do With It” picked up another as song of the year. Continue reading Tina Turner captures three Grammy awards 30 years ago this hour (Feb 26 1985) →

General Khanh accepts Viet ouster 50 years ago this hour (Feb 22 1965)

1960s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History - LBJ Goes to War [3/11]' (Feb. 22, 1965, at 28:40)

(Monday, February 22, 1965, 6:30 a.m. ICT; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Khanh formally announced his resignation today as commander-in-chief of South Vietnamese armed forces during a telephone call to his generals from a military air strip at Da Lat, about 150 miles northeast of Saigon, where his plane landed after running low on fuel.

The Armed Forces Council had unanimously decided late Sunday to replace Khanh with Maj. Gen. Tran Van Minh as commander in chief.

Allied warships launch initial attack on Ottoman forces in the Dardanelles 100 years ago this hour (Feb 19 1915)

1910s, World War I


Video: 'La bataille des Dardanelles (1915)'

(Friday, February 19, 1915, 7:30 a.m. local time; during Naval operations in the Dardanelles Campaign, part of World War I) — British and French warships launched their initial attack today on Ottoman forces in the Dardanelles, a strait in northwestern Turkey. The Gallipoli Campaign that followed proved disastrous for the Allies.