New-York Historical’s exhibition So Ready for Laughter: Bob Hope and World War II explores the legendary comedian’s work entertaining the troops and lifting spirits during the darkest days of the 1940s. But for decades, Hope was also known for another job: Hollywood’s consummate master of ceremonies. Starting in 1940, Hope hosted the Academy Awards a…

This Friday, the New-York Historical Society will present a free screening of The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, the 1943 classic that follows the life of the titular character through the Second Boer War, WWI and the beginning of WWII. However, Colonel Blimp actually began life as a cartoon character. Created by cartoonist David…

At the end of WWII & NYC, there is a phone booth labeled “Talk to Us,” where visitors have been leaving their comments, questions, and personal stories of World War II. We’ve featured some of the stories here before, but amazing tales just keep coming! WWII & NYC closes on May 27, so if you haven’t already,…

In a few days, thousands of people will brave the cold to ring in the new year in Times Square. The ball will drop, confetti will go up, couples will kiss, and there may be a celebratory drink or two. The mood in Times Square was much the same on VJ Day, which brought an…

At the end of WWII & NYC, there is a phone booth labeled “Talk to Us,” where visitors have been leaving their comments, questions, and personal stories of World War II. Some remember what it was like to serve, others what it was like to hide under their desks at school during air raids, but…

On October 2, former NYC Mayor Edward I. Koch (now of bridge fame) spoke at the opening reception for WWII & NYC.  Having served in WWII, he recounted his memories of the war, and reminded the audience of the great, shared sacrifice thousands of Americans made. Below is his speech. I was 19 when I…

During World War II, the US, UK, and Canada teamed up for a research and development program to develop the first atomic bomb, which would be nicknamed the Manhattan Project. After word spread that one of Hitler’s scientists had split an atom of uranium (a process known as fission), the Allies began work on creating…

On September 2, 1945, the Japanese formally surrendered to the Allies, in a “twenty-minute ceremony which ended just as the sun burst through low-hanging clouds as a shining symbol to a ravaged world now done with war,” according to the New York Times.  “It is my earnest hope and indeed the hope of all mankind…

The title of Ken Follett’s new book about life during World War II, Winter of the World, is quite literal. “The triumph of Stalin’s regime in the Soviet Union and Hitler’s regime in Central Europe was a bloody tragedy for the human race. The keynote of that whole period was the struggle against the worst…