Germans reach English Channel at Abbeville, France 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 20 1940)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'The Allied Clusterf**k - The Battle of France - WW2 - 039 - May 25 1940' (Germans reach English Channel at 5:47)

(Monday, May 20, 1940, 7:00 p.m. Western European Summer Time; during the Battle of France, part of the Western Front of the World War II) — In a crowning series of staggering blows dealt to the Allies in the last few days, the German army reached the English Channel tonight at Abbeville, France, severing all communication between the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in the north and the main French army in the south. Continue reading Germans reach English Channel at Abbeville, France 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 20 1940) →

Huge Rally In New York City Backs Nixon’s Indochina policies 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 20 1970)

1970s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents, Vietnam War


Video: 'Our World Spring 1970 Part 1' (May 20, 1970, at 6:42)

(Wednesday, May 20, 1970, approximately noon EDT; during the Cambodian Campaign, part of the Vietnam War, Cambodian Civil War, Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Marching under a sea of American flags, helmeted construction workers led tens of thousands of noisy but peaceful demonstrators today in a rally and parade in New York City supporting the Vietnam policies of President Richard Nixon and assailing Mayor John Lindsay and other opponents of the war in Indochina. Continue reading Huge Rally In New York City Backs Nixon’s Indochina policies 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 20 1970) →

McCartney interviewed by Tim Rice for ‘Meet Paul McCartney’ 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 19 1980)

1980s, Popular Music 1980s, Television 1980s, The Beatles 1980s


Video: 'Faul McCartney, (Not Real Paul) Interview for Tim Rice 1980 Part one .(HD)'

(Monday, May 19, 1980) — Former Beatle Paul McCartney discussed his new solo album McCartney II with Tim Rice today at Trilion Studios in London for the ITV program Meet Paul McCartney, first broadcast on Aug. 7, 1980. Continue reading McCartney interviewed by Tim Rice for ‘Meet Paul McCartney’ 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 19 1980) →

‘Vogue’ by Madonna peaks at #1 in USA 30 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 19 1990)

1990s, Popular Music 1990s

(Saturday, May 19, 1990) — “Vogue” by Madonna peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for three consecutive weeks (May 19/26, June 2, 1990). Continue reading ‘Vogue’ by Madonna peaks at #1 in USA 30 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 19 1990) →

Republicans nominate Abraham Lincoln for president 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 18 1860)

1860s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Ken Burns’ Civil War, ep1 part 2-3' (Lincoln nominated at 23:05)

(Friday, May 18, 1860, approximately 1:00 p.m. local time) — Former Representative Abraham Lincoln of Illinois was nominated President of the United States today on the third ballot at the 1860 Republican National Convention meeting at The Wigwam in Chicago. Continue reading Republicans nominate Abraham Lincoln for president 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 18 1860) →

Mount St. Helens explodes, 57 people die 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 18 1980)

1980s


Video: 'Photographing a Catastrophic Explosion at Mt. St. Helens'

(Sunday, May 18, 1980, 8:32:17 a.m. PDT; during the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens) — The Mount St. Helens volcano in southwestern Washington state exploded this morning, blowing the top off the mountain and killing 57 people. Continue reading Mount St. Helens explodes, 57 people die 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 18 1980) →

McCartneys appear on ‘Saturday Night Live’ to promote new single 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 18 1980)

1980s, Popular Music 1980s, Television 1980s, The Beatles 1980s


Video: 'The Beatles in the 70's part 3' (May 18, 1980 at 4:45)

(Sunday, May 18, 1980, 4:30-6:00 a.m. BST) — Former Beatle Paul McCartney and his wife, Linda, were interviewed by Don Novello (as the character Father Guido Sarducci) early this morning via satellite from outside their MPL Soho offices in Soho Square, London, for the 11:30 p.m. (May 17, 1980) live broadcast of NBC’s Saturday Night Live out of New York City. Continue reading McCartneys appear on ‘Saturday Night Live’ to promote new single 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 18 1980) →

‘The Empire Strikes Back’ premieres at Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 17 1980)

1980s, Movies 1980s


Video: 'The Empire Strikes Back' trailer

(Saturday, May 17, 1980, 2:30 p.m. EDT) — Three years after the events of Star Wars, Imperial forces continue to pursue the Rebels in The Empire Strikes Back, an American epic space opera film that premiered this afternoon at a benefit premiere for Special Olympics at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Continue reading ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ premieres at Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 17 1980) →

Former U.S. Vice President Levi P. Morton dies 100 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 16 1920)

1920s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'This Place in History: Levi P. Morton'

(Sunday, May 16, 1920, 8:30 p.m. local time) — Levi P. Morton, the 22nd vice president of the United States from 1889 to 1893, during the administration of President Benjamin Harrison, died tonight from bronchial pneumonia at his home at Ellerslie in Rhinebeck, New York, on his 96th birthday. Continue reading Former U.S. Vice President Levi P. Morton dies 100 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 16 1920) →

Paul McCartney interviewed for ‘Thames At Six’ 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 16 1980)

1980s, Popular Music 1980s, The Beatles 1980s


Video: 'PAUL McCARTNEY & WINGS: MACCASPAN 1980 VOL.17' (May 16, 1980, at 2:25)

(Friday, May 16, 1980) — Former Beatle Paul McCartney was interviewed today by Nicky Horne for his Nicky Horne’s Music Scene section, a short 5-minute item encompassed within the Thames regional news program Thames At Six show, transmitted May 19, 1980. Continue reading Paul McCartney interviewed for ‘Thames At Six’ 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 16 1980) →