‘Bride of Frankenstein’ premieres in San Francisco 90 years ago this hour (Apr 19 1935)


Video: 'Bride of Frankenstein' (trailer)

(Good Friday, April 19, 1935, 3:00 p.m. PST)Bride of Frankenstein, a horror film about Baron Frankenstein who is forced to tempt fate once again by creating a suitable mate for his monster, premiered today in San Francisco. Continue reading ‘Bride of Frankenstein’ premieres in San Francisco 90 years ago this hour (Apr 19 1935)

‘Rock ‘n’ Roll’ studio album by John Lennon peaks at #6 in USA 50 years ago today (Apr 19 1975)


Video: 'John Lennon - Rock 'N' Roll (Full Album)' (13 tracks)

(Saturday, April 19, 1975)Rock ‘n’ Roll, the sixth studio album by ex-Beatle John Lennon featuring covers of late 1950s and early 1960s songs, peaked at #6 on today’s Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart for one week.

White House funeral for President Abraham Lincoln held 160 years ago this hour (Apr 19 1865)


Video: 'Funeral March for Abraham Lincoln J.G. Barnard 1865'

(Wednesday, April 19, 1865, 12:10 p.m. local time; during the American Civil War) — A funeral was held today at the White House for President Abraham Lincoln, assassinated five days earlier; his coffin was then transported in a procession down Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capitol Rotunda, where a ceremonial burial service was held.

Elie Wiesel urges President Reagan to cancel visit to Nazi cemetery 40 years ago this hour (Apr 19 1985)


Video: 'N Special Report: Reagan Presents Congressional Gold Medal to Elie Wiesel'

(Friday, April 19, 1985, 11:30-11:51 a.m. EST) — U.S. President Ronald Reagan listened intently today as Elie Wiesel, chairman of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, implored him to cancel a visit to a German cemetery where Nazi war dead are buried. Continue reading Elie Wiesel urges President Reagan to cancel visit to Nazi cemetery 40 years ago this hour (Apr 19 1985)

German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger elected Pope, takes name Benedict XVI 20 years ago this hour (Apr 19 2005)


Video: 'NBC News Coverage of the Election of Pope Benedict XVI'

(Tuesday, April 19, 2005, 15:50 UTC) — Roman Catholic cardinals reached to the church’s conservative wing on Tuesday and chose as the 265th pope Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, a seasoned and hard-line German theologian who served as John Paul II’s defender of the faith. Continue reading German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger elected Pope, takes name Benedict XVI 20 years ago this hour (Apr 19 2005)

Nazi concentration subcamp Leipzig-Thekla liberated 80 years ago today (Apr 19 1945)

Video: 'Memory of the Camps (full documentary) | FRONTLINE
(liberation at 51:26)

(Thursday, April 19, 1945; part of The Holocaust during World War II) — Leipzig-Thekla, a subcamp of the Nazi concentration camp Buchenwald near Leipzig, Germany, was liberated today by the U.S. 69th Infantry Division.

The camp had been established in September 1943 to supply labor for the German war effort. At its height, Leipzig-Thekla held approximately 1,400 prisoners.

168 people killed in Oklahoma City bombing 30 years ago this hour (Apr 19 1995)


Video: 'How OKC bombing unfolded on live TV 20 years ago'

(Wednesday, April 19, 1995, 9:02 am CDT) — A truck bomb destroyed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City this morning, killing 168 people and leaving another 680 people injured. Continue reading 168 people killed in Oklahoma City bombing 30 years ago this hour (Apr 19 1995)

New York City radio station WINS-AM launches all-news format 60 years ago this hour (Apr 19 1965)


Video: '1010 WINS Flips From Top 40 Music To All-News - April 18/19, 1965'

(Monday, April 19, 1965, 5:30 a.m. EST) — New York City radio station WINS-AM shut off the rock music (its last record was the Shangri-Las’ “Out in the Streets”) and switched to an all-news format, which continues to this day, making it America’s oldest all-news broadcaster. Continue reading New York City radio station WINS-AM launches all-news format 60 years ago this hour (Apr 19 1965)

American Revolutionary War begins with battles of Lexington and Concord 250 years ago this hour (Apr 19 1775)


Video: 'The Revolution: Boston Bloody Boston' (first shot fired at 34:50)

(Wednesday, April 19, 1775, approximately 5:00 a.m. local time; during the American Revolutionary War, part of the American Revolution) — The first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War began today with the Battles of Lexington and Concord in Middlesex County, Province of Massachusetts Bay, within the towns of Lexington, Concord, Lincoln, Menotomy (present-day Arlington), and Cambridge, near Boston. Continue reading American Revolutionary War begins with battles of Lexington and Concord 250 years ago this hour (Apr 19 1775)