American History on Radio and Television: Moments that Defined a Nation

Friday, June 26, 2026
4:00 pm
The Paley Museum, 25 West 52 Street, NYC
Curator: Allison Kraft

As the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founding, we reflect on the moments in history that changed the world and brought people together. Americans gathered around their radios as news broke of the attack on Pearl Harbor, and around their television sets as Walter Cronkite reported on Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the moon. The country watched Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. share his Dream for the nation, and saw Barack Obama make history on election night in 2008. Music was forever changed as the Beatles performed on The Ed Sullivan Show, and Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” debuted on MTV. Eyes were glued to television screens as the Chicago Cubs broke a 108-year World Series “curse” and the United States hockey team defeated the USSR at the 1980 Olympics (Do you believe in miracles?). For generations, radio and television have brought Americans together to witness both triumphant and tragic moments in history, applaud groundbreaking musical performances, and celebrate incredible athletic feats. Join Paley curator Allison Kraft for a look back at some of history's most notable moments, featuring clips from the Paley Archive.

Free for Paley Members, included in General Admission.
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