‘Rock Around the Clock’ by Bill Haley & His Comets peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago today (July 9 1955)

1950s, Popular Music 1950s

(Saturday, July 9, 1955) — “Rock Around the Clock” by Bill Haley & His Comets, widely considered to be the record that, more than any other, brought rock and roll into mainstream culture around the world, was the #1 song on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for eight consecutive weeks (July 9/16/23/30, Aug. 6/13/20/27, 1955). Continue reading ‘Rock Around the Clock’ by Bill Haley & His Comets peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago today (July 9 1955) →

Ringo Starr performs at Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville, Indiana 30 years ago this hour (July 8 1995)

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


Video: 'Star Plaza Theatre 1995' (21 videos)

(Saturday, July 8, 1995, 7:00 p.m. CDT) — Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band performed tonight at Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville, Indiana, with John Entwistle, Randy Bachman, Mark Farner, Felix Cavaliere, Billy Preston, Zak Starkey and Mark Rivera.

52 killed as bomb destroys Canadian Pacific Air Lines flight 60 years ago this hour (July 8 1965)

1960s


Video 'Bomb on Board: Uncovering the largest unsolved murder on Canadian soil'

(Thursday, July 8, 1965, 3:40 p.m. PDT) — Canadian Pacific Air Lines Flight 21, a Douglas DC-6B, crashed today in British Columbia after the tail separated from the fuselage; all 52 people on board were killed in what authorities said was the result of an apparent bombing.

Jim Morrison bumps into Ray Manzarek, agree to form a band 60 years ago this hour (July 8 1965)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s, The Doors


Video: 'Ray Manzarek in Venice' (July 8, 1965, at 5:02)

(Thursday, July 8, 1965, at approximately 1:00 p.m. PDT) — Jim Morrison ran into former UCLA classmate Ray Manzarek today in Venice Beach, California, and after hearing some of Morrison’s songs, Manzarek agreed to form The Doors with him.

Four Lincoln assassination conspirators executed 160 years ago this hour (July 7 1865)

1860s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.9of9.The.Better.Angels.Of.Our.Nature' (July 7, 1865, at 31:48)

(Friday, July 7, 1865, 1:26 p.m. local time) — Four people, including Mary Surratt, Lewis Powell, David Herold, and George Atzerodt, were hanged today in the Old Arsenal Penitentiary courtyard in Washington, D.C., after being convicted of conspiring with John Wilkes Booth to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln. Continue reading Four Lincoln assassination conspirators executed 160 years ago this hour (July 7 1865) →

Daytime drama ‘Ryan’s Hope’ premieres on ABC-TV 50 years ago this hour (July 7 1975)

1970s, Television 1970s


Video: 'Ryan's Hope, Part I (July 1975-October 1977)' (200 clips)

(Monday, July 7, 1975, 1:00 p.m. EDT) — Ryan’s Hope, a television soap opera that revolves around the trials and tribulations within a large Irish-American family in the Riverside district of New York City, debuted this afternoon on ABC.

U.S. President Harry S. Truman sets sail for Potsdam Conference 80 years ago this hour (July 7 1945)

1940s, World War II

Video: 'MP72-36, reel 1 - Film Log of Harry S. Truman’s Historical Trip to Berlin, July 1945 - Reel 1 of 2'

(Saturday, July 7, 1945, 7:00 a.m. EWT; during World War II) — U.S. President Harry S. Truman departed Newport News, Virginia, this morning aboard the USS Augusta, bound for Antwerp, Belgium, for the Potsdam Conference with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin beginning July 17, 1945, in Potsdam, occupied Germany (click here for a clip of this event from “American Experience: Truman” at 1:52:51). Continue reading U.S. President Harry S. Truman sets sail for Potsdam Conference 80 years ago this hour (July 7 1945) →