Pick a Day

Music History Events: Movies

January 19, 1966 The documentary A Boy Called Donovan airs on British TV. The film follows the singer Donovan as he goes to parties and makes music. In one scene, one of his associates is seen smoking marijuana, which is kind of shocking. This makes Donovan a target for the London drug squad, who make him their first high-profile bust when they arrest him in June for possession of marijuana. Members of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones are later victims.

April 5, 1965 "Chim Chim Cher-ee," composed by The Sherman Brothers for the Disney musical Mary Poppins, wins the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

September 18, 1964 The James Bond movie Goldfinger, with a theme song by Shirley Bassey, is released.

April 13, 1963 At the 36th Academy Awards, Bobby Darin is nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role as a traumatized war hero in the drama Captain Newman, M.D. He loses to Melvyn Douglas in the Western Hud.

September 13, 1962 Frank Sinatra begins filming the movie Come Blow Your Horn, adapted from the hit Neil Simon play.

May 25, 1962 The West Side Story soundtrack goes to #1 in the US, where it stays for a record 54 (non-consecutive) weeks.

January 1, 1962 The romantic comedy If A Man Answers, starring real-life husband and wife Bobby Darin and Sandra Dee, debuts in US theaters. Darin writes and performs the hit title theme.

June 23, 1960 Dean Martin and Judy Holliday sing "Just In Time" in the romantic comedy Bells Are Ringing, an adaptation of the hit Broadway musical.

August 14, 1959 The film A Private's Affair, starring Sal Mineo, premieres in New York City. It includes the song "The Same Old Army."

April 7, 1958 Nat King Cole portrays famed blues musician W.C. Handy in the biographical film St. Louis Blues. The star-studded cast includes music greats Mahalia Jackson, Eartha Kitt, Ella Fitzgerald, Pearl Bailey, Cab Calloway, and 10-year-old Billy Preston as a young Will Handy.

July 24, 1957 Pat Boone makes his acting debut in the musical comedy Bernardine. The movie also features his hit songs "Love Letters In The Sand" and "Bernardine."

June 22, 1955 Walt Disney's Lady and the Tramp premieres in theaters. The canine cartoon features music from Peggy Lee, including "He's a Tramp," "La La Lu," and "The Siamese Cat Song." Lee also voices Darling (Lady's owner), Peg the dog, and the ornery Siamese cats.

April 12, 1955 The film Strange Lady In Town, with a title song by Frankie Laine, is released in the US.

April 17, 1953 Harry Belafonte makes his film debut in Bright Road, also starring Dorothy Dandridge. He soon becomes a star of stage and screen.

September 20, 1951 Frank Capra's musical comedy Here Comes the Groom, starring Bing Crosby and Jane Wyman, debuts in theaters. It features the comedic number "In The Cool, Cool, Cool Of The Evening," which goes on to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

March 27, 1948 The film musical April Showers is released, starring Jack Carson and Ann Sothern; it includes the 1921 song of the same name.

December 18, 1944 Frank Sinatra lands his first big acting role when he plays himself in the RKO movie Higher and Higher. He sings five songs, including the Oscar-nominated "I Couldn't Sleep a Wink Last Night."

September 12, 1943 Frank Sinatra starts his film career when he signs a 7-year contract with RKO Pictures.

February 4, 1943 Frank Sinatra cameos in the movie Reveille with Beverly, singing "Night And Day."

June 5, 1942 The musical film Yankee Doodle Dandy is released. Starring James Cagney, the film features the song "The Yankee Doodle Boy," based upon "Yankee Doodle," a long-time standard American anthem.

August 30, 1941 Comic singer George Formby's film Spare A Copper is released in Sweden.

April 27, 1940 Hoots Mon! opens in the UK. The movie stars comedian Max Miller, who sings his signature tune "Mary From The Dairy."

October 6, 1927 The first talking picture is released: The Jazz Singer, a musical starring Al Jolson. Irving Berlin's "Blue Skies" is one of the first songs heard by talkie audiences.