Headlines & Tidbits from the 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s & 80s
World News & the American Experience:
1968 – The Apollo 8 crew orbited the moon 10 times. On Christmas Eve, they transmitted a message to all mankind calling for “peace on earth.”
Movies & TV:
1932 – Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers were in their first movie together, “Flying Down To Rio.”
1937 – Walt Disney released “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” It was the first full-length animated movie with color and sound.
1946 – “It’s A Wonderful Life” by Frank Capra premiered.
1947 – “Howdy Doody” premiered on NBC-TV.
1953 – “Dragnet”, starring Jack Webb as Detective Joe Friday, became the first network program to be sponsored.
1954 – “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” was released.
1955 – The Lennon Sisters debuted on “The Lawrence Welk Show” on ABC-TV. They became regular guests, staying with the show until 1968.
1964 – Shooting begins on the pilot for Star Trek called “The Cage.”
1965 – “Dr Zhivago,” premiered, directed by David Lean.
1969 – Diana Ross made her final TV appearance as a Supreme on the Ed Sullivan Show.
1973 – “Exorcist,” starring Linda Blair premiered.
Music & Radio:
1954 – “The Shadow,” one of radio’s most popular programs, was broadcast for the last time.
1958 – Alvin and the Chipmunks had the top album with “The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)”
1963 – “I Want to Hold Your Hand”, and “I Saw Her Standing There” by the Beatles was released by Columbia Records.
1966 – “Good Vibrations” by the Beach Boys reached gold record status.
1968 – Led Zeppelin began their first concert tour in the US.
1968 – “The Breakfast Club” was broadcast for the last time on ABC radio, after 35 years on the air.
1980 – “Just Like Starting Over,” by John Lennon, stayed at #1 for five weeks on the pop charts. The song rose to the top spot after Lennon was murdered on December 8.
1981 – “For Those About to Rock We Salute You,” AC/DC’s album, went #1 in the U.S. for 3 weeks.
1984 – Madonna’s “Like a Virgin,” single stayed at #1 spot for 6 weeks.
1985 – “Born In The USA” by Bruce Springsteen became the second longest lasting record in the top 10 at 79 weeks. It passed Michael Jackson’s Thriller, and was second to “The Sound of Music.”
Arts & Entertainment:
1932 – Radio City Music Hall opened in New York City.
1950 – Cole Porter’s musical “Out of this World,” premiered in New York City.
Celebrity Headlines:
1933 – Shirley Temple signed a studio contract with Fox. She was 5 years old.
Sports:
1943 – Baseball officials approved the motion that baseballs should be made of a synthetic rubber core.
1951 – Joe DiMaggio announced his retirement.
1951 – The first coast-to-coast televised football game took place. The LA Rams beat the Cleveland Browns 24-17.
Technology & Inventions:
1947 – John Bardeen, Walter H. Brattain and William Shockley invented the transistor. They won the 1956 Nobel Prize in physics for their work.
Automobile News:
1951 – An automobile, made by Crosley, was built with the steering wheel on the right side of the car. It would be used for mail delivery in Cincinnati, OH.
Famous Birthdays:
1937 – Jane Fonda, actress
1943 – Billie Jean King, tennis champion
1945 – Diane Sawyer
1946 – Susan Lucci, actress
1946 – Jimmy Buffett
1948 – Barbara Mandrell, singer
1949 – Sissy (Mary) Spacek, actress
1949 – Twins Maurice and Robin Gibb – Bee Gees
1954 – Chris Evert, tennis champion
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