‘My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time’ by Les Brown Orchestra peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago today (Apr 7 1945)

(Saturday, April 7, 1945) — “My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time” by the Les Brown Orchestra (with a vocal by Doris Day) was the #1 song on today’s Billboard Best Selling Retail Records chart for seven consecutive weeks (Apr. 7/14/21/28, May 5/12/19, 1945).

Lincoln to Grant: ‘Let the thing be pressed’ 160 years ago this hour (Apr 7 1865)


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.8of9.War.Is.All.Hell' (Apr. 7, 1865, at 48:17)

(Friday, April 7, 1865 11:00 a.m. local time; during the Appomattox Campaign of the American Civil War) — U.S. President Abraham Lincoln sent Gen. Ulysses Grant a telegram today, stating: “Gen. Sheridan says ‘If the thing is pressed I think that Lee will surrender.’ Let the thing be pressed.”

Admiral Kantaro Suzuki becomes Japanese prime minister 80 years ago today (Apr 7 1945)


Video: 'The World At War: The Bomb 2/5' (Apr. 7, 1945, at 2:36)

(Saturday, April 7, 1945; during World War II) — Seven days into the Battle of Okinawa, the growing peace party of Japan secured the appointment of a new cabinet today led by Admiral Kantaro Suzuki following the resignation of Prime Minister Kuniaki Koiso.

Wham! performs in Communist China’s first big-name rock concert 40 years ago today (Apr 7 1985)


Video: 'Wham! / In China Foreign Skies Documentary'

(Easter Sunday, April 7, 1985, evening China Standard Time) — British pop sensation Wham! (George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley) performed before 15,000 people at the Workers’ Gymnasium in Beijing today in Communist China’s first big-name rock concert.

Japanese battleship Yamato sunk by Allied forces 80 years ago this hour (Apr 7 1945)

Video: 'The Lost Evidence Of WWII Episode 17 Okinawa' (Apr. 7, 1945, at 16:24)

(Saturday, April 7, 1945, 12:41-2:23 p.m. JST; during the Battle of Okinawa, part of the Pacific Theatre of World War II) — American planes today intercepted and effectively destroyed a Japanese fleet, which included the battleship Yamato, that was headed to Okinawa on a suicide mission. Continue reading Japanese battleship Yamato sunk by Allied forces 80 years ago this hour (Apr 7 1945)

U.S. launches ‘Early Bird’ communications satellite 60 years ago this hour (Apr 6 1965)


Video: 'COMSAT INTELSAT I SATELLITE PROGRAM 1965 ASSEMBLY & LAUNCH 26824' (launch at 10:48)

(Tuesday, April 6, 1965, 6:47:50 p.m. EST) — The United States launched Intelsat I, also known as the “Early Bird” communications satellite, from Cape Kennedy tonight into geosynchronous orbit.

Confederates defeated at Battle of Sailor’s Creek 160 years ago this hour (Apr 6 1865)


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.8of9.War.Is.All.Hell' (Apr. 6, 1865, 47:54)

(Thursday, April 6, 1865; during the Appomattox Campaign of the American Civil War) — Union cavalry and infantry inflicted 6,000 casualties on the armies of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee and captured eight generals including Lee’s own son, Custis, today in the Battle of Sailor’s Creek near Farmville, Virginia.

Lee now had fewer than 25,000 men facing 125,000 federal troops closing in from three sides.

The Beatles win Radio Caroline ‘first birthday’ award 60 years ago today (Apr 6 1965)


Video: 'Beatles Win Caroline Award (1965)'

(Tuesday, April 6, 1965) — Television talk show host Simon Dee presented The Beatles with a Bell Award from pirate station Radio Caroline today at Twickenham Film Studios in England during a shooting break for the group’s second feature film Help!.

‘Beatles for Sale’ EP released in Britain 60 years ago today (Apr 6 1965)


Video: 'The Beatles ?- Beatles For Sale - EP Vinyl Unboxing'

(Tuesday, April 6, 1965) — The Beatles today released Beatles for Sale, the band’s eighth official extended play release, was released today in Britain, featuring four songs from their fourth studio album of the same title.

Japanese launch kamikaze attacks on Americans off Okinawa 80 years ago this hour (Apr 6 1945)

Video: 'The Lost Evidence Of WWII Episode 17 Okinawa' (Apr. 6, 1945, at 12:38)

(Friday, April 6, 1945, 3:00 p.m. Japan Standard Time; during the Battle of Okinawa, part of the Pacific Theatre of World War II) — Starting today (through the end of the battle on June 22, 1945), the Japanese flew 1,465 kamikaze aircraft in large-scale attacks from Kyushu, 185 individual kamikaze sorties from Kyushu, and 250 individual kamikaze sorties from Formosa. Continue reading Japanese launch kamikaze attacks on Americans off Okinawa 80 years ago this hour (Apr 6 1945)