Video: 'Alan Shepard " Launch ", LIVE on TV at NBC, (Mercury / Redstone rocket), May 5, 1961'
(Friday, May 5, 1961, 9:34:13 a.m. EDT/14:34:13 UTC) — Astronaut Alan B. Shepard, Jr., 37, became the first American in space today as Freedom 7 lifted off from Cape Canaveral.
Continue reading Astronaut Alan Shepard becomes first American to travel into space 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 5 1961)
Video: 'The Heinous 1961 KKK Attack on the Freedom Riders'
(Thursday, May 4, 1961; part of the Civil Rights Movement) — Thirteen members of the interracial “Freedom Riders” group, including 21-year-old John Lewis, boarded regular interstate Greyhound and Trailways buses today in Washington, D.C., and headed for the Deep South to challenge the non-enforcement of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Boynton v. Virginia (1960), which declared segregation in interstate bus and rail stations unconstitutional. Continue reading First ‘Freedom Riders’ depart for Deep South to challenge segregation in public transit 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 4 1961)
Video: 'Great Fire of 1901'
(Friday, May 3, 1901, 12:30-8:30 p.m. local time; during the Great Fire of 1901) — The “Great Fire of 1901,” the third largest urban fire in U.S. history, next to the Great Chicago Fire, and the 1906 San Francisco fire, destroyed 146 city blocks today in Jacksonville, Florida, over an area of 455 acres in eight hours.
Continue reading Massive fire destroys 146 city blocks in Jacksonville, Florida 120 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 3 1901)
(Saturday, May 2, 1981) — “Morning Train (Nine to Five)” by Sheena Easton peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two consecutive weeks (May 2/9, 1981).
Continue reading ‘Morning Train (Nine to Five)’ by Sheena Easton peaks at #1 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 2 1981)
Video: 'Citizen Kane' trailer
(Thursday, May 1, 1941, 8:30 p.m. EDT) — Citizen Kane, an American drama film about a group of reporters who are trying to decipher the last word ever spoke by Charles Foster Kane, the millionaire newspaper tycoon, premiered tonight at the RKO Palace at 1564 Broadway (at West 47th Street) in New York City.
Continue reading ‘Citizen Kane’ premieres in New York City 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDate #OTD (May 1 1941)
(Saturday, May 1, 1971) — “Put Your Hand in the Hand” by Ocean peaked at #2 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for one week.
Continue reading ‘Put Your Hand In The Hand’ by Ocean peaks at #2 in USA 50 years #OnThisDay #OTD (May 1 1971)
Video: 'CNN: Inside the raid that killed Osama bin Laden'
(Monday, May 2, 2011, 1:00 a.m. Pakistan Standard Time; during the War on Terror) — Osama bin Laden, founder of the terrorist organization al-Qaeda and mastermind of the September 11 attacks, was killed early this morning in a firefight with United States Navy SEALs of the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Development Group (also known as DEVGRU or SEAL Team Six) in Pakistan.
Continue reading September 11 attacks mastermind Osama bin Laden killed by U.S. commandos in Pakistan 10 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 2 2011)
(Saturday, May 1, 1971) — “Power to the People” by former Beatle John Lennon, credited to John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, peaked today at #11 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks.
Continue reading John Lennon’s ‘Power to the People’ peaks at #11 in USA 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 1 1971)
(Saturday, May 1, 1971) — “We Can Work It Out” by Stevie Wonder (written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney of The Beatles) peaked at #13 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for one week.
Continue reading ‘We Can Work It Out’ by Stevie Wonder peaks at #13 in USA 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 1 1971)
(Saturday, May 1, 1971) — “Lucky Man” by Emerson, Lake & Palmer peaked at #48 on today’s Billboard‘s Hot 100 singles chart for one week.
Continue reading ‘Lucky Man’ by Emerson, Lake & Palmer peaks at #48 in USA 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 1 1971)
