This Week In History: December 7-13

We visit Retro Planet's Planet Retro blog again for another look at This Week In History, which includes more notable events from the Swing Era.
World News & the American Experience:

1941 – Dec 7 – “A date which will live in infamy,” Pearl Harbor Day.  1100 men are lost as America’s Pacific Fleet is attacked.  The catastrophic event leads the US to declare war and enter into World War II.

Movies & TV:

1937 – NBC Radio gets into trouble with the Federal Communications Commission for broadcasting a racy skit with Mae West.  As a consequence, West is banned from its airwaves for 15 years.

1948 – The Horace Heidt Youth Opportunity Program is broadcast for the first time on NBC TV.

Music & Radio:

1926 – Benny Goodman’s first recording session takes place (at age 17).  He plays clarinet with the Ben Pollack and his Californians.

1944 – The Chesterfield Supper Club premieres on NBC radio.

1949 – Fats Domino records his first songs for Imperial Records, starting with “The Fat Man”.

Arts & Entertainment:

1939 – Betty Grable is featured on the cover of LIFE.

1949 – Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, starring Carol Channing, opens at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City.

Sports:

1937 – The Red Sox acquired the contract of 19-year-old Ted Williams.

1939 – Lou Gehrig, 36, is elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame.

Technology & Inventions:

1931 – Coaxial cable is patented.

1945 – The Microwave oven is patented by Dr. Percy Spencer of Raytheon Corp.