Author Archives: dcaligari

July 18, 1988 –People think I’m not polite. But, what I have to say to people seems so unnecessary. I can’t be forced. I’d rather just be what I feel. Even when I sing I try to imagine I’m all alone, there’s nobody out there listening. I play with the notes, with the feeling. EachContinue reading “Christa Päffgen”

July 18, 1939 –I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they’ve always worked for me. Hunter Stockton Thompson was born on this date. He was once considered, armed, and dangerous. Now he is no more than soot on the window sills of his and his neighbors homes. Dr. Thompson foundedContinue reading “Hunter S. Thompson”

Today is National Caviar Day. Although it is high in sodium and cholesterol, caviar is rich in calcium and phosphorus, as well as protein, selenium, iron, magnesium, and Vitamins B12 and B6. While it’s normal to wash down the briny fish roe with champagne or iced vodka; why not down shots of iced Bombay Sapphire.Continue reading “Never spread it about like marmalade”

July 17, 1959 –In this country, don’t forget, a habit is no damn private hell. There’s no solitary confinement outside of jail. A habit is hell for those you love. And in this country it’s the worst kind of hell for those who love you. Billie Holiday died in a New York City hospital fromContinue reading “Eleanora Fagan died”

July 17, 1968 –The premiere of the drug-induced, Big Blue Meanie-infested cartoon Beatles film Yellow Submarine, was held at the London Pavilion on this date. The Beatles hated The Beatles, the television cartoon show of them, which was also produced by Al Brodax and George Dunning. When the producers approached them about this movie, theContinue reading “It lay or lie … I’m not too sure”

July 17, 1947 – Jackie Robinson was playing his historic first season with the Dodgers, the Yankees finally lost after 19 straight victories and Perry Como topped the Billboard charts with Chi-Baba,Chi-Baba (My Bambino Go to Sleep) and Jack Kerouac began his On the Road trip, on this date. He left his mother’s apartment inContinue reading “Every novel starts with an origin story”

July 17, 1943 – Originally released in B & W (re-release as a color version in 1968 and 1990,) Porky Pig’s Feat premiered on this date. This is the first time the Raymond Scott composition Powerhouse is used in a Warner Bros. cartoon. A rare appearance for Porky Pig (his last appearance in a blackContinue reading “Gosh, if B-Bugs Bunny was only here.”

July 17, 1959 – Alfred Hitchcock’s superlative North By Northwest, starring Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint, opened on this date. This movie has been referred to as “the first James Bond film” due to its similarities with splashily colorful settings, secret agents, and an elegant, daring, wisecracking leading man opposite a sinister yet strangelyContinue reading “North By Northwest premiered”

July 17, 1966 – The first episode of Ultraman, a follow-up to Ultra Q, though not technically a sequel or spin-off, debuted on Japanese TV on this date. Due to its extensive special effects involving large-scale alien creatures, the production process was challenging, making such large-scale tokusatsu TV dramas (tokusatsu is a Japanese term forContinue reading “Ultraman premiered”