65 people killed as heavy earthquake rocks Los Angeles area 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 9 1971)

1970s


Video: 'San Fernando Valley Sylmar Earthquake (1971)'

(Tuesday, February 9, 1971, 6:00:41 a.m. PST; during the 1971 San Fernando earthquake) — A major earthquake rumbled through southern California early today with a strong ground motion duration of about 12 seconds, killing 65 people, injuring another 2,000 and causing more than a half billion dollars in damage to homes, businesses and roadways in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas.
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The Beatles perform at Liverpool’s Cavern Club for first time 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 9 1961)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s, The Beatles 1960s


Video: 'The Cavern Club: The Beat Goes On - Official Trailer'

(Thursday, February 9, 1961, 12:00-2:00 p.m. GMT) — The English rock band The Beatles (featuring John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe and Pete Best) debuted today at The Cavern Club, situated on Mathew Street in central Liverpool, swiftly establishing themselves as the club’s signature act and attracting a loyal audience.
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Seven secessionist slave states form Confederate States of America 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 8 1861)

1860s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'The Confederate States of America'

(Friday, February 8, 1861, at around midnight local time) — The Confederate States of America (CSA), an unrecognized breakaway state that fought against the United States of America during the American Civil War, was formed late tonight in the Alabama Capitol at Montgomery when representatives from seven secessionist slave states unanimously ratified a Provisional Constitution.
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Gladys Knight & the Pips, Robert Klein perform on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 7 1971)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s, Television 1970s


Video: 'GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS "If I Were Your Woman" on The Ed Sullivan Show'

(Sunday, February 7, 1971, 8:00-9:00 p.m. EST) — Gladys Knight & the Pips performed “If I Were Your Woman” and comedian Robert Klein told jokes about going to the dentist on tonight’s episode of the CBS-TV variety series The Ed Sullivan Show live from the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City.
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South Vietnamese units supported by U.S. military drive into Laos to strike enemy supply line 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 8 1971)

1970s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam The Ten Thousand Day War The Village War 10 13' (Operation Lam Son 719 at 32:22)

(Monday, February 8, 1971, 7:00 a.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Operation Lam Son 719, an attack by the First Infantry Division of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) from South Vietnam into the Kingdom of Laos, was launched today in the Vietnam War against North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces operating across the border.
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‘Celebration’ by Kool & the Gang peaks at #1 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 7 1981)

1980s, Popular Music 1980s

(Saturday, February 7, 1981) — “Celebration” by Kool & the Gang peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two consecutive weeks (Feb. 7/14, 1981).
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85 killed, 500+ hurt in Woodbridge, New Jersey train derailment 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 6 1951)

1950s


Video: '81 Killed In Train Wreck (1951)'

(Tuesday, February 6, 1951, 5:43 p.m. EST; during the Woodbridge train derailment) — A Pennsylvania Railroad passenger train jammed with rush hour commuters derailed today crossing a temporary wooden trestle in Woodbridge, New Jersey, killing 85 people and injuring over 500.
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‘Remember Me’ by Diana Ross peaks at #16 in USA 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 6 1971)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s

(Saturday, February 6, 1971) — “Remember Me” by Diana Ross peaked at #16 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks.
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U.S. President Ronald Reagan born in Tampico, Illinois 110 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 6 1911)

1910s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Ronald Reagan: Movie Star Turned President | Full Documentary | Biography'

(Monday, February 6, 1911, 4:16 a.m. local time) — Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989, was born today in an apartment on the second floor of a commercial building in Tampico, Illinois.
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‘We’re here’: Two Apollo 14 astronauts walk and work for hours on Moon’s surface 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 5 1971)

1970s, space exploration


Video: 'Apollo 14 CBS' (72 videos; Shepard's first step on the lunar surface on video #12 at 4:30)

(Friday, February 5, 1971, 9:57 a.m. EST/14:57 Coordinated Universal Time) — Two Apollo 14 astronauts walked the gentle slopes of Fra Mauro today, setting up instruments, collecting rocks and probing subsurface reaches in search of clues to the Moon’s earliest history.
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