First Lincoln–Douglas debate held 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 21 1858)

1850s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Inside The Lincoln Douglas Debates - Documentary'

(Saturday, August 21, 1858, 2:30 p.m. local time) — The first of seven Lincoln–Douglas debates between Abraham Lincoln, the Republican candidate for the United States Senate from Illinois, and incumbent Senator Stephen Douglas, the Democratic Party candidate, took place today in Ottawa (click here to watch a reenactment of today’s debate). Continue reading First Lincoln–Douglas debate held 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 21 1858) →

The Beatles complete ‘Sexy Sadie’ 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 21 1968)

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


Video: 'Sexy Sadie (Remastered 2009)'

(Wednesday, August 21, 1968, 7:30 p.m.-7:15 a.m. BST; during sessions for The Beatles, also known as “The White Album”) — The Beatles completed John Lennon’s “Sexy Sadie” tonight at EMI Studio 2 in London, recording various overdubs. Continue reading The Beatles complete ‘Sexy Sadie’ 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 21 1968) →

Ted Kennedy ‘resumes public responsibilities’ 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 21 1968)

1960s


Video: 'American Experience The Kennedys 2' (Aug. 21, 1968, at 1:31:37)

(Wednesday, August 21, 1968) — Senator Edward M. Kennedy, announcing that he was picking up the fallen standard of his brothers, called today for the removal of “our men and our future” from the “bottomless pit” of Vietnam. Continue reading Ted Kennedy ‘resumes public responsibilities’ 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 21 1968) →

‘You Call Everybody Darlin” by Al Trace and His New Orchestra peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 21 1948)

1940s, Popular Music 1940s

(Saturday, August 21, 1948) — “You Call Everybody Darlin'” by Al Trace and His New Orchestra (vocal by Bob Vincent) peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for two consecutive weeks (Aug. 14/21, 1948). Continue reading ‘You Call Everybody Darlin” by Al Trace and His New Orchestra peaks at #1 in USA 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 21 1948) →

Warsaw Pact troops invade Czechoslovakia, crush ‘Prague Spring’ 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 20 1968)

1960s, Cold War


Video: 'Cold War - Red Spring 1960s - Part 14/24' (Aug. 20-21, 1968, at 39:54)

(Tuesday, August 20, 1968, 11:00 p.m. CET; during the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia, part of the Cold War) — The Soviet Union and four other Warsaw Pact nations – Bulgaria, Hungary, East Germany and Poland – began invading Czechoslovakia tonight with approximately 250,000 troops and 2,000 tanks to crush Alexander Dubcek’s Prague Spring liberalisation reforms and strengthened the authority of the authoritarian wing within the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSC). Continue reading Warsaw Pact troops invade Czechoslovakia, crush ‘Prague Spring’ 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 20 1968) →

The Beatles complete ‘Mother Nature’s Son,’ record ‘Wild Honey Pie’ 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 20 1968)

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


Video: 'Mother Nature's Son (Remastered 2009)'

(Tuesday, August 20, 1968, 8:00 p.m.-4:00 a.m. BST; during sessions for The Beatles, also known as “The White Album”) — The Beatles completed Paul McCartney’s “Mother Nature’s Son” with various overdubs and recorded McCartney’s “Wild Honey Pie” tonight at EMI Studio 2 in London. Continue reading The Beatles complete ‘Mother Nature’s Son,’ record ‘Wild Honey Pie’ 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 20 1968) →

The Beatles complete ‘Yer Blues’ 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 20 1968)

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


Video: 'Yer Blues (Remastered 2009)'

(Tuesday, August 20, 1968, 5:00-5:30 p.m. BST; during sessions for The Beatles, also known as “The White Album”) — The Beatles completed John Lennon’s “Yer Blues” today at EMI Studio 3 in London, adding the (what was likely a previously recorded) “Two, three” count-in. Continue reading The Beatles complete ‘Yer Blues’ 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 20 1968) →

‘Run Lola Run’ released in Germany 20 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 20 1998)

1990s, movies 1990s


Video: 'Run Lola Run' trailer

(Thursday, August 20, 1998) — Run Lola Run, a German thriller film about a young woman who has 20 minutes to find 100,000 Deutsche Mark or her boyfriend will be killed, was released today in Germany. Continue reading ‘Run Lola Run’ released in Germany 20 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 20 1998) →

‘You’ by Rita Coolidge peaks at #25 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 19 1978)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s

(Saturday, August 19, 1978) — “You” by Rita Coolidge peaked at #25 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks. Continue reading ‘You’ by Rita Coolidge peaks at #25 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 19 1978) →

Bush accepts GOP POTUS nomination 30 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 18 1988)

1980s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Acceptance Speech | President George H.W. Bush | 1988 Republican National Convention'

(Thursday, August 18, 1988, scheduled for 8:50 p.m. CDT; during the 1988 Republican National Convention) — Vice President George H.W. Bush accepted the Republican presidential nomination tonight at Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, with a pledge not raise taxes (“read my lips: no new taxes”) and praise for America’s clubs and volunteer organizations (“thousand points of light”). Continue reading Bush accepts GOP POTUS nomination 30 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 18 1988) →