Kennedy says 9,000 Russian personnel have left Cuba 50 years ago this hour (1963)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'President John F. Kennedy's 53rd Press Conference (April 3, 1963)'

(Wednesday, April 3, 1963, 4:00 p.m. EST; during the Cold War) — U.S. President John F. Kennedy says 9,000 Soviet troops and technical experts have left Cuba since November, about 4,000 of them within the past six weeks.

Expressing hope of further withdrawals, Kennedy told his news conference today that a rough calculation indicates about 12,000 to 13,000 Soviet citizens remain in Cuba. Continue reading Kennedy says 9,000 Russian personnel have left Cuba 50 years ago this hour (1963) →

Angry Southern women riot over food shortages in Confederate capitol 150 years ago today (1863)

1860s, American Civil War

(Thursday, April 2, 1863; during the American Civil War) — Food shortages incited thousands of people, mostly women, to riot today in Richmond, Virginia, and demand that the Confederate government release emergency supplies. Citizens broke into shops and began seizing clothing, shoes, food and even jewelry before the Militia arrived to restore order.

Kennedy family filmed relaxing at Camp David 50 years ago today (1963)

1960s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Camp David (Caroline with Macaroni), Sunday, 31 March 1963'

(Sunday, March 31 1963) — U.S. President John F. Kennedy was filmed today at Camp David, relaxing with his family: First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, Caroline Kennedy, John F. Kennedy Jr., and Undersecretary of the Navy Paul “Red” Fay. Caroline rides her pony “Macaroni.”

Kubrick’s ‘Fear and Desire’ opens in New York City 60 years ago today (1953)

1950s, Movies 1950s


Video: 'Fear and Desire' trailer

(Tuesday, March 31, 1953) — Fear and Desire, a military action/adventure film about four soldiers trapped behind enemy lines who must confront their fears and desires, arrived today at the Guild Theatre in New York City.

Directed by Stanley Kubrick (his first feature film), the movie starred Frank Silvera, Kenneth Harp, Paul Mazursky, Steve Coit and Virginia Leith.

Musical play ‘Oklahoma!’ opens on Broadway 70 years ago today (1943)

1940s, Broadway


Video: 'Celeste Holm - I Cain't Say No'

(Wednesday, March 31, 1943) — Oklahoma!, the first musical play by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, opened today on Broadway at the St. James Theatre in New York City. Ten years later, Oklahoma! would be described as “a new musical that broke all the rules: it had no big-name stars, no bare-legged chorus and, worst of all, it contained a ‘high-brow’ ballet.” Continue reading Musical play ‘Oklahoma!’ opens on Broadway 70 years ago today (1943) →

Crematorium II becomes operational at Auschwitz death camp 70 years ago today (1943)

1940s, The Holocaust, World War II


Video: 'Auschwitz II Birkenau Crematorium II'

(Wednesday, March 31, 1943, part of The Holocaust during World War II) — Crematorium II, with the capacity to burn 1440 corpses a day, became operational today at the Auschwitz II–Birkenau extermination camp in Nazi-occupied Poland.

Originally designed as a mortuary, with morgues in the basement and ground-level furnaces, Crematorium II was converted to increase greatly the gassing capacity of Birkenau by placing a gas-tight door on the morgues and adding vents for Zyklon-B and ventilation equipment to remove the gas.

President Roosevelt signs act creating Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) 80 years ago today (1933)

1930s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'The CCC' (parts 1-5)

(Friday, March 31, 1933; during the Great Depression) — President Franklin D. Roosevelt today signed the Emergency Conservation Work Act, which created the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), which provided unskilled manual labor jobs related to the conservation and development of natural resources in rural lands owned by federal, state and local governments.

Paul McCartney performs in Barcelona 10 years ago tonight (2003)

2000s, Popular Music 2000s, The Beatles 2000s


Video: 'Paul McCartney 29.03.2003 , Barcelona, Spain - you never give me your money - incomplete'

(Saturday, March 29, 2003) — Ex-Beatle Paul McCartney performed tonight at Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona, Spain, the second stop and third performance of his Back in the World tour. Continue reading Paul McCartney performs in Barcelona 10 years ago tonight (2003) →