Accessible version

Search the Archives site


>>Advanced Search

People
Conflict & War
Arts & Entertainment
Politics & Economy
Prime Ministers' Gallery
Life & Society
Disasters & Tragedies
Extreme Weather
Science & Technology
Sports

Topic Index
Clip Index
All Clips from
Index of Great Interviews
Days to Remember
For Teachers
Personal Bookmarks
Subscribe to our Newsletter
RSS Feed
CBC Archives Virtual Tour
About this Site
Help
Contact us
Archives télé et radio de Radio-Canada

Home > Disasters and Tragedies > The 'Great Northeastern Blackout' of 1965


The 'Great Northeastern Blackout' of 1965

Nov. 9, 1965 at rush hour: Toronto and New York are plunged into darkness as a blackout strikes Ontario and the eastern United States. The result: traffic chaos, airport turmoil and tales of kindness and courtesy as 30 million people react to the largest power failure to that point in history.

 
We interrupt this program...

 
'Black Tuesday'

 
'A great city brought to its knees'

 We interrupt this program...

Canadians turn to CBC Radio for news of a massive power failure across Canada and the United States. (Radio; runs 3:47)

 'Black Tuesday'

As power starts returning, people start to ask why they were left in the dark. (TV; runs 2:10)

 'A great city brought to its knees'

Despite the confusion, Toronto is coping with the blackout. (Radio; runs 3:52)

 
Where were you when the lights went out?

 
Pointing fingers

 
Civility in the dark

 Where were you when the lights went out?

The blackout hits during rush hour, leaving thousands of commuters stranded. (Radio; runs 2:03)

 Pointing fingers

Politicians and power companies try to determine the cause of the blackout while deflecting blame from themselves. (Radio; runs 4:15)

 Civility in the dark

New Yorkers display grace as the blackout disrupts millions of lives. (Radio; runs 1:47)

 
Betrayed by technology

   
 Betrayed by technology

Is the culprit for the blackout too much human reliance on machines? (Radio; runs 2:34)

LINKS

Topic from Les Archives de Radio-Canada on the same subject
Related Topics from CBC's Archives
CBC.ca
External sites

The CBC assumes no responsibility for the content of external links.

2 Additional Clips about The 'Great Northeastern Blackout' of 1965

Printer-friendly topic page

Send this page to a friend

Add this topic to your personal bookmarks

Cite this page

Copyright © CBC 2006
All Rights Reserved

Privacy