Truman signs Marshall Plan to aid Europe 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 3 1948)

1940s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'US President Truman signs the historic Marshall Plan and makes a short statement ...HD Stock Footage'

(Saturday, April 3, 1948, 12:00 p.m. EST; during the Cold War) — President Harry S. Truman today signed the Foreign Assistance Act of 1948, better known as the Marshall Plan, designed to help rebuild Western European economies after the end of World War II and prevent the spread of Communism. Continue reading Truman signs Marshall Plan to aid Europe 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 3 1948) →

‘Dallas’ series debuts on CBS-TV 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 2 1978)

1970s, Television 1970s


Video: '40 Years of "Dallas". Episode 1: "At the Beginning"'

(Sunday, April 2, 1978, 10:00-11:00 p.m. EST) — Dallas, an American prime time television soap opera that revolved around a wealthy and feuding Texas family, the Ewings, debuted tonight CBS. Continue reading ‘Dallas’ series debuts on CBS-TV 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 2 1978) →

‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ premieres in Washington, D.C. 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 2 1968)

1960s, Movies 1960s


Video: '2001: A Space Odyssey' trailer

(Tuesday, April 2, 1968, 8:30 p.m. EST) — 2001: A Space Odyssey, a science-fiction film which follows a voyage to Jupiter with the sentient computer HAL after the discovery of a mysterious black monolith affecting human evolution, premiered today at Uptown Theater in the Cleveland Park neighborhood of Washington, D.C., in its original two-hour and 40 minute version. Continue reading ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ premieres in Washington, D.C. 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 2 1968) →

‘What a Wonderful World’ by Louis Armstrong peaks at #32 in USA 30 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 2 1988)

1980s, Movies 1980s, Popular Music 1980s

(Saturday, April 2, 1988) — “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong peaked at #32 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for one week. Continue reading ‘What a Wonderful World’ by Louis Armstrong peaks at #32 in USA 30 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 2 1988) →

‘A Brief History of Time’ by Stephen Hawking published 30 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 1 1988)

1980s


Video: 'Stephen Hawking - A Brief History of Time Full Audiobook'

(Friday, April 1, 1988) — A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes, a popular-science book on cosmology (the study of the universe) by British physicist Stephen Hawking, was first published today in the United Kingdom and the United States by Bantam Books. Continue reading ‘A Brief History of Time’ by Stephen Hawking published 30 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 1 1988) →

‘Lay Down Sally’ by Eric Clapton peaks at #3 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 1 1978)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s

(Saturday, April 1, 1978) — “Lay Down Sally” by Eric Clapton peaked at #3 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for three weeks. Continue reading ‘Lay Down Sally’ by Eric Clapton peaks at #3 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 1 1978) →

‘Thunder Island’ by Jay Ferguson peaks at #9 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 1 1978)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s

(Saturday, April 1, 1978) — “Thunder Island” by Jay Ferguson peaked at #9 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks. Continue reading ‘Thunder Island’ by Jay Ferguson peaks at #9 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 1 1978) →

‘Boogie Shoes’ by KC and the Sunshine Band peaks at #35 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 1 1978)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s

(Saturday, April 1, 1978) — “Boogie Shoes” by KC and the Sunshine Band peaked at #35 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for two weeks . Continue reading ‘Boogie Shoes’ by KC and the Sunshine Band peaks at #35 in USA 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 1 1978) →

Britain’s Royal Air Force founded 100 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 1 1918)

1910s, World War I


Video: 'The Royal Air Force: Past and Present (Part One 1912-1937)' (Apr. 1, 1918, at 11:58)

(Monday, April 1, 1918; during World War I) — Britain’s Royal Air Force (RAF), the oldest independent air force in the world, came into being today as the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service were merged into a single, independent entity. Continue reading Britain’s Royal Air Force founded 100 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 1 1918) →

LBJ stuns nation, says he won’t seek re-election 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 31 1968)

1960s, Cold War, Television 1960s, U.S. Presidents, Vietnam War


Video: 'President Johnson's Address to the Nation, 3/31/68. MP600.'

(Sunday, March 31, 1968, 9:01-9:41 p.m. EST; during the Democratic Party presidential primaries, 1968: during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — President Lyndon Johnson stunned the country tonight by announcing during a televised address on the Vietnam War from the White House that he would not seek re-election: “I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President.” Continue reading LBJ stuns nation, says he won’t seek re-election 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 31 1968) →