Author Archives: dcaligari

December 31, 1966 –The Monkees’ I’m A Believer, hit #1 in America on this date. The song stays at the top for seven weeks. Neil Diamond wrote this song. He had his first big hit earlier in 1966 with Cherry, Cherry, which got the attention of Don Kirshner, who was looking for material for TheContinue reading “I thought love was only true in fairy tales …”

December 31, 1969 –Walt Disney through its Buena Vista Distribution Company released The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, starring Kurt Russell, and Cesar Romero on this date. It’s the first motion picture to use the word “computer” in its title.

December 31, 1923 –On New Year’s Eve, 1923, BBC engineer AG Dryland climbed onto a roof opposite the Houses of Parliament with a microphone to record the chimes of Big Ben. The sound he captured has been broadcast on BBC radio ever since. From February 17th, 1924, the bell of Big Ben could regularly beContinue reading “The chimes of Big Ben”

It’s the Seventh day of Christmas. Today’s gift count (84 gifts): you currently have Seven Swans a’ swimming, 12 geese a’ laying, 15 golden rings, 16 calling birds, 15 French hens, 12 turtledoves and 7 partridges in their respective pear trees. The seven Swans A-swimming usually signifies the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (WisdomContinue reading “Just pretend that you’re not home”

For those playing the home version – Tonight’s the Sixth night of Kwanzaa. Kuumba (koo-OOM-bah) signifies Creativity: To do always as much as one can, in the way one can, in order to leave their community more beautiful and beneficial than they inherited it.

December 30, 1946 – To me, punk rock is the freedom to create, freedom to be successful, freedom to not be successful, freedom to be who you are. It’s freedom.. Patricia Lee “Patti” Smith, singer-songwriter, poet, artist, Godmother of Punk, Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and inductee in the Rock andContinue reading “Patricia Smith”

Tonight is the Fifth night of Kwanzaa. Nia (NEE-yah) recognizes purpose, the focus on building and developing of the community in order to restore the people to their traditional greatness The day should encourage one to look within to not only set personal goals, but also to choose goals that benefit one’s community.

Today is the Sixth Day of Christmas. Today’s gift count (56 gifts): you currently have Six geese a’ laying, 10 golden rings, 12 calling birds, 12 French hens, ten turtledoves and six partridges in their respective pear trees (begin thinking abut gardening tools and hiring an illegal immigrant.) According to the old ladies I knowContinue reading “Sneak them into your neighbor’s yard”

December 30, 1951 –The Roy Rogers TV Show, surprisingly starring Roy Rogers, Dave Evans, Trigger, the Golden Palomino, and Bullet, the Wonder Dog premiered on NBC-TV, on this date. The phrase “Whoa Nelly!” originated with Pat Brady. Nelly was short for Nellybelle, the name of his cantankerous Jeep. He used the phrase in nearly everyContinue reading “Whoa Nelly!”

December 30, 1949 –Stanley Donen/ Gene Kelly’s wonderful take on the Comden and Green musical, On the Town, starring Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra, opened nationwide on this date. When On the Town premiered at Radio City Music Hall, the line to get in was the largest in that theater’s history.