1939 - This was the day the movie The Wizard of Oz premiered in Hollywood, CA. and showcased a young 17-year-old Judy Garland, already a child star in her own right since the age of two. Garland became famous for the movie's highlight song, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, which became her signature song. The American actress and singer enjoyed a career that spanned 45 of her 47 years, attaining international stardom as an actress in musical and dramatic roles, as a recording artist, and on the concert stage. Respected for her versatility, she received a Juvenile Academy Award, won a Golden Globe Award, as well as Grammy Awards and a Special Tony Award. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in A Star is Born and for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the controversial 1961 film, Judgment at Nuremberg. At 39 years of age, she was the youngest recipient of the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement in the motion picture industry. So…first up we have a trailer of the movie, then, four years later, with a command performance from Garland for the troops fighting in World War Two.
1958 - Buddy Holly married girlfriend Maria Elena Santiago in a private ceremony at his parents home in Lubbock, TX, exactly 53 years ago today. This was a classic case of love at first sight. Maria's mother died when she was just a child, and in 1958 her father sent her to live with her aunt in New York City, where she began working as a receptionist for music publisher Peermusic. Two weeks later, she met Buddy Holly, who asked her out. She had never been out on a date and told Holly he would have to ask her aunt, who was also her guardian, for permission. Holly promptly got her aunt's permission. Five hours into their first date, Buddy handed a rose to Maria and asked her to marry him. Less than two months later they were married, and settled down in Lubbock until Buddy broke up with his band, The Crickets, when the happy couple moved to New York. Maria went on tour with Holly and virtually became his manager. Just six months after their fairytale wedding, Maria pregnant, Holly died in an airplane crash. (If you want details and film footage of the crash go tour archive search engine). Sadly, Maria miscarried, did not go to the funeral, and has never visited the gravesite. She now lives in Dallas, Texas, and promotes her first husband's legacy. This, then, is the 1989 tribute to Maria, from the group The Smithereens.
1965 - The Beatles set a concert record, at the time, for attracting the largest crowd for a single concert at Shea Stadium, today in New York, with an attendance of 56,000. Anyone who still doubts the impact of The Beatles, sit down for 10 minutes and watch these two videos. This is unprecedented hysteria from the crowd, and it has never been repeated by anyone on this scale. also obvious on this 46-year-old vintage footage is the fun the band members had onstage. Amazing footage.
1969 - It is now 42 years since peace and love ruled the world for a very short moment in time, when a new generation showed their momentary power at The Woodstock Music and Art Fair, which began today in Bethel, New York. The three-day concert featured 24 bands and drew over 400,000 people. This is the event that has never been equaled, will never be equaled, the culmination of a generation, a turning point for the baby boomer generation.
1991 - Paul Simon played a free concert at New York's Central Park in front of an estimated 750,000 people, and comedian Chevy Chase sauntered onstage before the sax break, doing the comedy thing live, just as he did in the famous video. And didn't the almost-million strong crowd just love that! Paul Simon remains one of the premiere song writers of our generation.
2006 - Dean Martin's daughter, Deana Martin released her album Memories Are Made of This today, the album featuring her versions of many of her father's hits and other hits by Deano's show biz mates, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. This is nothing against Deana, of course, because I cannot locate videos of versions, but we do have this original Dean Martin clip, and what more appropriate song than this.
1958 - Buddy Holly married girlfriend Maria Elena Santiago in a private ceremony at his parents home in Lubbock, TX, exactly 53 years ago today. This was a classic case of love at first sight. Maria's mother died when she was just a child, and in 1958 her father sent her to live with her aunt in New York City, where she began working as a receptionist for music publisher Peermusic. Two weeks later, she met Buddy Holly, who asked her out. She had never been out on a date and told Holly he would have to ask her aunt, who was also her guardian, for permission. Holly promptly got her aunt's permission. Five hours into their first date, Buddy handed a rose to Maria and asked her to marry him. Less than two months later they were married, and settled down in Lubbock until Buddy broke up with his band, The Crickets, when the happy couple moved to New York. Maria went on tour with Holly and virtually became his manager. Just six months after their fairytale wedding, Maria pregnant, Holly died in an airplane crash. (If you want details and film footage of the crash go tour archive search engine). Sadly, Maria miscarried, did not go to the funeral, and has never visited the gravesite. She now lives in Dallas, Texas, and promotes her first husband's legacy. This, then, is the 1989 tribute to Maria, from the group The Smithereens.
1965 - The Beatles set a concert record, at the time, for attracting the largest crowd for a single concert at Shea Stadium, today in New York, with an attendance of 56,000. Anyone who still doubts the impact of The Beatles, sit down for 10 minutes and watch these two videos. This is unprecedented hysteria from the crowd, and it has never been repeated by anyone on this scale. also obvious on this 46-year-old vintage footage is the fun the band members had onstage. Amazing footage.
1969 - It is now 42 years since peace and love ruled the world for a very short moment in time, when a new generation showed their momentary power at The Woodstock Music and Art Fair, which began today in Bethel, New York. The three-day concert featured 24 bands and drew over 400,000 people. This is the event that has never been equaled, will never be equaled, the culmination of a generation, a turning point for the baby boomer generation.
1991 - Paul Simon played a free concert at New York's Central Park in front of an estimated 750,000 people, and comedian Chevy Chase sauntered onstage before the sax break, doing the comedy thing live, just as he did in the famous video. And didn't the almost-million strong crowd just love that! Paul Simon remains one of the premiere song writers of our generation.
2006 - Dean Martin's daughter, Deana Martin released her album Memories Are Made of This today, the album featuring her versions of many of her father's hits and other hits by Deano's show biz mates, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. This is nothing against Deana, of course, because I cannot locate videos of versions, but we do have this original Dean Martin clip, and what more appropriate song than this.
