War in Afghanistan begins as U.S. and Britain launch air strikes 20 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 7 2001)

2000s, 9/11


Video: 'Bombing Afghanistan - Oct 7, 2001 - NBC News Special Report'

(Sunday, October 7, 2001, 9:00 p.m. Afghanistan Time, during the United States invasion of Afghanistan, part of the War in Afghanistan and the War on Terror) — The United States, supported by Britain, began Operation Enduring Freedom, launching bombs and cruise missiles tonight against Taliban military and communications facilities and suspected terrorist training camps. Continue reading War in Afghanistan begins as U.S. and Britain launch air strikes 20 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 7 2001) →

Egypt’s President Anwar Sadat fatally wounded in assassination attempt 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 6 1981)

1980s


Video: Assassination of Anwar El Sadat

(Tuesday, October 6, 1981, 12:40 p.m. Egypt Standard Time; during the Assassination of Anwar Sadat) — President Anwar el-Sadat of Egypt was shot and killed today by members of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, dressed in military uniforms, who hurled hand grenades and fired AK-47 assault rifles and Port Said submachine guns at him as he watched a military parade commemorating Operation Badr, during which the Egyptian Army had crossed the Suez Canal and taken back a small part of the Sinai Peninsula from Israel at the beginning of the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Continue reading Egypt’s President Anwar Sadat fatally wounded in assassination attempt 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 6 1981) →

Barry Bonds breaks MLB season home run record, and then some 10 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 5 2001)

2000s


Video: 'Barry Bonds 71st homerun 2001 ESPN Telecast'

(Friday, October 5, 2001, 8:14 p.m. PDT) — San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds, 37, became baseball’s record single-season home run hitter tonight when he struck his 71st and 72nd homers of the season at Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco. Continue reading Barry Bonds breaks MLB season home run record, and then some 10 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 5 2001) →

Clyde Pangborn and Hugh Herndon Jr. complete first nonstop flight across Pacific Ocean 90 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 5 1931)

1930s


Video: 'Pacific Conquered - the first non-stop trans-Pacific flight, 1931'

(Monday, October 5, 1931, 7:14 a.m. PST) — Clyde Pangborn and Hugh Herndon Jr. completed the first nonstop flight across the Pacific Ocean, making a controlled crash landing of their red Bellanca J-300 Long Distance Special, the Miss Veedol, today on a strip cut out of the sagebrush on Fancher Field near what is now East Wenatchee, Washington, 41 hours and 13 minutes after taking off from Misawa, Japan. Continue reading Clyde Pangborn and Hugh Herndon Jr. complete first nonstop flight across Pacific Ocean 90 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 5 1931) →

‘Piano Concerto in B Flat’ by Freddy Martin #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 4 1941)

1940s, Popular Music 1940s

(Saturday, October 4, 1941) — “Piano Concerto in B Flat” by Freddy Martin peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for the first of eight consecutive weeks (October 4/11/18/25, November 1/8/15/22, 1941). Continue reading ‘Piano Concerto in B Flat’ by Freddy Martin #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 4 1941) →

‘The Dick Van Dyke Show’ debuts on CBS-TV 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 3 1961)

1960s, Television, Television 1960s


Video: 'The Dick Van Dyke Show S1E01 The Sick Boy and the Sitter'

(Tuesday, October 3, 1961, 8:00 p.m. EDT) — Comedy writer Rob Petrie talks his wife Laura into leaving their “sick” son Richie with a babysitter while they attend a big party on tonight’s debut episode of the American television sitcom series The Dick Van Dyke Show on CBS. Continue reading ‘The Dick Van Dyke Show’ debuts on CBS-TV 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 3 1961) →

New York Giant Bobby Thomson hits ‘Shot Heard ‘Round the World’ 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 3 1951)

1950s


Video: 'The Shot Heard 'Round The World'

(Wednesday, October 3, 1951, 3:58 p.m. EST) — New York Giants outfielder Bobby Thomson hit the “Shot Heard ‘Round the World” — a three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning of a playoff game off Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Ralph Branca today at the Polo Grounds in Upper Manhattan, New York City — to send the New York Giants into the World Series. Continue reading New York Giant Bobby Thomson hits ‘Shot Heard ‘Round the World’ 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 3 1951) →

Paul McCartney’s new group Wings completes ‘Love Is Strange’ for debut album 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 3 1971)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s, The Beatles 1970s


Video: 'Paul McCartney & Wings - Love Is Strange (Rough Mix) (2018 Remaster)'

(Sunday, October 3, 1971) — Former Beatle Paul McCartney and his new British-American rock band, Wings, returned to EMI Studios (Abbey Road) in London today, completing “Love Is Strange” with vocals and additional instrumentation overdubs for what would become the group’s debut album, Wild Life. Continue reading Paul McCartney’s new group Wings completes ‘Love Is Strange’ for debut album 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 3 1971) →

‘Who’s Crying Now’ by Journey peaks at #4 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 3 1981)

1980s, Popular Music 1980s

(Saturday, October 3, 1981) — “Who’s Crying Now” by Journey peaked at #4 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks. Continue reading ‘Who’s Crying Now’ by Journey peaks at #4 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 3 1981) →

‘Hold On Tight’ by Electric Light Orchestra peaks at #10 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 3 1981)

1980s, Popular Music 1980s

(Saturday, October 3, 1981) — “Hold On Tight” by Electric Light Orchestra peaked at #10 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks. Continue reading ‘Hold On Tight’ by Electric Light Orchestra peaks at #10 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 3 1981) →