May 15, 1958 – Vincente Minnelli’s lush valentine to the La Belle Époque era, Gigi premiered in NYC on this date. (Just try not thinking the whole teen-age prostitution angle of the film and you’ll enjoy it.) Leslie Caron enjoyed working with Louis Jourdan, though he could sometimes be a challenge. She recalled, “Louis Jourdan,Continue reading “Try not thinking about the whole teen sex angle”
Author Archives: dcaligari
Ishtar premiered
May 15, 1987 – The road movie which polarized critics, Ishtar, directed by Elaine May and starring Dustin Hoffman, Warren Beatty, Isabelle Adjani, Charles Grodin, and Jack Weston, opened on this date. Warren Beatty and Elaine May quarreled and argued quite a bit off camera and especially in the editing room. Dustin Hoffman would serveContinue reading “Ishtar premiered”
First Mickey Mouse cartoon produced by Walt Disney
May 15, 1928 –Plane Crazy was the first animated cartoon to feature Mickey Mouse as well as Minnie Mouse (Mickey’s girlfriend). The short was co-directed by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. Iwerks was also the main animator for this short and reportedly spent six weeks working on it. Hugh Harman and Rudolf Ising were creditedContinue reading “First Mickey Mouse cartoon produced by Walt Disney”
Greetings Bait premiered
May 15, 1943 – The Merrie Melodies short, Greetings Bait, directed by Friz Freleng, debuted on this date. This short was nominated for an Academy Award in 1944, but lost to the Tom and Jerry cartoon The Yankee Doodle Mouse.
Tokio Jokio premiered
May 15, 1943 –The Looney Tunes short, Tokio Jokio, (a propaganda short during World War II,) directed by Norman McCabe, debuted on this date. The cartoon is no longer shown due to its offensive racist depictions. The character “Lord Haw Haw” was a caricature of a real person. William Joyce, an American-born Nazi propagandist whoContinue reading “Tokio Jokio premiered”
Porky and Gabby premiered
May 15, 1937 –The Looney Tunes short, Porky and Gabby, directed by Ub Iwerks, starry Porky Pig and Gabby the Goat (in his first appearance,) debuted on this date. This is the first time Bob Clampett and Chuck Jones are assistant directors. Eventually after Ub Iwerks left Warner Bros. Cartoons, Clampett took his place asContinue reading “Porky and Gabby premiered”
That’s The Way Love Goes topped the charts
May 15, 1993 –Janet Jackson’s (Miss Jackson, if you’re nasty,) single, That’s The Way Love Goes, goes to #1 on this date. It remains No. 1 for eight weeks – longer than any other single by either Janet or her famous brother. James Brown demanded approval of the lyrics before he would allow Janet toContinue reading “That’s The Way Love Goes topped the charts”
Is Mash Potato Day around the corner?
Today is National Chicken Dance Day – Although I’m sure that Werner Thomas, the creator of the original Chicken Dance music ( Der Ententanz (The Duck Dance)) never had Beyoncé’s dancing in mind
Hyde and Go Tweet premiered
May 14, 1960 – The Merrie Melodies short, Hyde and Go Tweet, directed by Friz Freleng, starring Sylvester and Tweety, debuted on this date. Sylvester breaks the fourth wall when he asks the audience if he has a choice whether to jump or not..
The Bee-Deviled Bruin premiered
May 14, 1949 – The Merrie Melodies short, The Bee-Deviled Bruin, directed by Chuck Jones, starring The Three Bears, debuted on this date. Junyer Bear is modeled after the character Lennie, from the story and film Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck.
