(Above: Mercury is really pretty small when compared to the Sun. We don't get this view again until 2032.) May 9, 1970 It's the date that Walter P. Reuther, president of the United Auto Workers, was killed in a plane crash just outside of Pellston, Michigan at the age of 62. His wife May was … Continue reading New this week in ’70: May 9
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New this week in ’70: May 2
(Tin soldiers and Nixon coming. Photo credit: KSU photojournalism student and Valley Daily News staffer John Filo, who won a Pulitzer prize for this image.) May 2, 1970 It's a Saturday, and just after midnight hundreds of Kent State students went into downtown breaking windows and causing commotion in an anti-war protest. This led to … Continue reading New this week in ’70: May 2
New this week in ’70: April 25
April 25, 1970 It's the day after the People's Republic of China became the sixth nation to put a satellite into orbit. That same day was the last airing of Death Valley Days, which had been airing since 1952. Stanley Andrews was the long-running host, giving up the show in 1964 to Ronald Reagan. On … Continue reading New this week in ’70: April 25
New this week in ’70: April 11
April 11, 1970 It's the day after the Daily Mirror runs the headline PAUL QUITS THE BEATLES. McCartney basically confirms this later that day in a press release at the same time he sends forth his first solo LP, McCartney. April 11 is the day that Apollo 13 heads to space. Astronauts Jim Lovell, … Continue reading New this week in ’70: April 11
New this week in ’70: April 4
(Above: a 5th Dimension LP that got an awful lot of play in my house growing up.) April 4, 1970 It's the date of the March for Victory - a pro-war demonstration in Washington that attracted about 50,000 people unhappy with President Nixon's decision to reduce the American forces in North Vietnam. That same day, … Continue reading New this week in ’70: April 4
New this week in ’70: March 28
(Above: That one's not even close.) March 28, 1970 It's the day that actor Vince Vaughan is born in Minneapolis. That same day, two members of the Weathermen, a domestic political protest group, were killed when a pipe bomb they were preparing exploded prematurely. Two days later, another famous figure is born: Secretariat, probably the … Continue reading New this week in ’70: March 28
New this week in ’70: March 21
(Above: We don't put folding chairs on the court enough anymore.) March 21, 1970 It's a big day in college sports. UCLA claims the NCAA men's basketball championship, defeating Jacksonville University 80-69. That's right - Jacksonville, home of the Dolphins, which has just over four thousand students today and in 1970 was the second-smallest school … Continue reading New this week in ’70: March 21
New this week in ’70: March 14
(Above: Tammi Terrell, gone too soon.) March 14, 1970 Today's the day that actress Meredith Salenger is born. She's also the wife of comedian Patton Oswalt. Three days earlier we lost Erle Stanley Gardner, writer of the Perry Mason series and - at one time - the top-selling American author. He was 80. Monday the … Continue reading New this week in ’70: March 14
New this week in ’70: March 7
(You probably think this one is about you.) March 7, 1970 Today's the 50th anniversary of a total eclipse of the sun that was viewable in a narrow path across North America, from Mexico, up the Atlantic Coast, and up to Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, Canada. If the last part sounds vaguely familiar to you, … Continue reading New this week in ’70: March 7
New this week in ’70: February 28
February 28, 1970 The bigger events of the week both happened a few days ago. On February 26th National Public Radio was incorporated; we don't celebrate its 50th anniversary, however, until April 21, 1971 as that's the day it went on the air. It's also the same day that The Beatles' Hey Jude LP … Continue reading New this week in ’70: February 28