Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 8' (Aug. 6, 1973, at 41:29)
(Monday, August 6, 1973; during the Cambodian Civil War, part of Operation Freedom Deal, part of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — An American B-52 mistakenly dropped its bombs today on Neak Luong, the river town just 30 miles from Phnom Penh, Cambodia. At least 137 Cambodians were killed and another 268 were wounded.
Video: 'August 5, 1963 - Nuclear Test Ban Treaty signed in Moscow, Russia'
(Monday, August 5, 1963; during the Cold War) — In Moscow, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union today signed the first nuclear test ban treaty. The ceremony took place at the Kremlin with U.S. Secretary of State Dean Rusk, British Foreign Secretary Alec Douglas-Home, and Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko signing on behalf of their respective natiions.
Video: 'Korean War - PART 29, Two Koreas...again. 6.25 ??' (Aug. 5, 1953, at 1:43)
(Wednesday, August 5, 1953; during the Cold War) — Operation Big Switch began today as remaining prisoners taken during the Korean War, which ended July 27, 1953, with an armistice, were exchanged at Panmunjom. 3,597 Americans would be returned by December.
Video: 'The World At War: Red Star The Soviet Union 5/5' (Aug. 5, 1943, at 5:50)
(Thursday, August 5, 1943; during the Battle of Kursk on the Eastern Front of World War II) — Soviet troops broke into Belgorod early this morning and liberated the city in the evening. Soviet troops also recaptured Orel from German forces after a 23-day battle.
Video: 'John Lennon - Rock And Roll People [take 5, 08-04-73]'
(Saturday, August 4, 1973) — Former Beatle John Lennon recorded “Rock and Roll People” today at Record Plant Studios in New York during the sessions (which began in July) for his next album Mind Games. Continue reading Lennon records ‘Rock and Roll People’ 40 years ago today (1973)
(Saturday, August 3, 1963) — The Beatles debuted on the American pop charts today when “From Me To You” appeared at #125 on Billboard‘s Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart. The track would peak at #116 on Aug. 10, then fall out of the chart after only a total of three weeks.
The Beatles would not chart again in the U.S. until Jan. 18, 1964; “From Me To You” would be re-leased on Jan. 30, 1964 as the B-side to “Please Please Me” and returned to the chart on Feb. 22, 1964.
Video: 'Hyannis Port, August 1963: 2-5'
(Friday, August 2, 1963, late afternoon) — In a scene captured on film and widely shown in future years, a military helicopter carrying U.S. President John F. Kennedy landed today on the lawn of the Kennedy house at Hyannis Port. Waiting for him are his children and Jackie, obviously pregnant with the couple’s third child and in a simple pink summer dress.
Video: 'Kanter's Dept Store after Harlem Riots, 1943' (includes references to Aug. 1, 1943, riot at 0:54)
(Sunday, August 1, 1943, evening; during the African-American Civil Rights Movement (1896–1954) and World War II) — Rioting broke out today in Harlem, the mostly African-American section of New York City, after a white NYPD officer, James Collins, shot a black soldier, Private Robert Bandy, in the shoulder during a scuffle. Continue reading Six African-Americans killed in Harlem Riot of 1943 70 years ago tonight (1943)
Video: 'Bob McGrath sings Joyce Kilmer's "Trees"'
(Friday, August 1, 1913) — The Joyce Kilmer poem “Trees” was first published today in Poetry: A Magazine of Verse.
(Sunday Wednesday, July 31, 1963, 8:34 p.m.) — A fictional BJ (Billy Joel) and the Affordables performed “Tell Her About It” tonight on The Ed Sullivan Show. Although the 1983 promotional video indicates July 31, 1963, fell on a Sunday (the real ‘Sullivan’ show having aired on Sundays at 8 p.m. on CBS), July 31, 1963, actually fell on a Wednesday. Also on that date, Joel was in reality a 14 year old living in Hicksville, New York.
