Author Archives: dcaligari

April 27, 1969 –Joe Cocker made his first U.S. TV appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, on this date. Together with the Grease Band, Cocker performed a cover of Dave Mason’s Feelin’ Alright. The song would end up being a two-time charting hit for Cocker –  in 1969 and again in 1972. Cocker included aContinue reading “Seems I’ve got to have a change of scene”

April 26, 1956 –Godzilla debuted in America on this date. (Gojira premiered in Japan on November 3, 1954.) The American version of the film had 40 minutes of the original excised (mostly the content dealing with World War II or the anti-nuclear message,) and had 20 minutes of the masterful deadpan stylings of Raymond Burr.Continue reading “Set your phasers to … Raymond Burr!”

National Pretzel Day celebrates pretzels of all shapes and sizes. Pretzels are believed to be the world’s oldest snack. (This appears to be a legitimate celebration, there are many stores giving away free pretzels today.) Wake me up when it’s Very Dry Martini, straight up with Olives Day. And no that’s not every day atContinue reading “Knot your average snack.”

April 26, 1935 – The Tod Browning MGM comedy-horror film Mark of the Vampire, starring Lionel Barrymore, Elizabeth Allan, Bela Lugosi, Lionel Atwill, and Jean Hersholt, opened in the US on this date. Throughout the film, Count Mora (Bela Lugosi) has an unexplained bullet wound on his temple. In the original script Mora was supposedContinue reading “Mark of the Vampire debuted”

April 26, 1941 – The Merrie Melodies short, The Trial of Mr. Wolf, directed by Friz Freleng, debuted on this date. The Wolf’s compass has directions to Grandma’s House, the Three Bears House, the House That Jack Built, and the Three Little Pigs.

April 26, 1958 – The Looney Tunes short, A Waggily Tale, directed by Friz Freleng, debuted on this date. Rabies in dogs was still a health concern at the time of this short. Modern vaccines have reduced the threat, though the disease continues to be found in bats, skunks, squirrels and other creatures. The sightContinue reading “A Waggily Tale premiered”

April 26, 1967 –CBS broadcast the documentary, Inside Pop – The Rock Revolution, with the host Leonard Bernstein, on this date. The program marked the first time that television presented pop music as a legitimate art form.

April 26, 1978 –NBC aired a a musical version of The Prince and the Pauper, Ringo, starring Ringo, Art Carney, Angie Dickinson, Carrie Fisher, Vincent Price, John Ritter, and George Harrison narrating, on this date. Really, don’t feel you have to watch the whole thing (it’s not very good.)

April 25, 1974 –Steely Dan’s most successful single, (it charted at #4,) Rikki Don’t Lose That Number, was released on this date. The Rikki of the title is Rikki Ducornet, a New York writer and artist. Steely Dan co-front Donald Fagen met her while both were attending Bard College, a small liberal arts school locatedContinue reading “We hear you’re leaving, that’s okay”

April 25, 1942 – The Merrie Melodies short, Dog Tired, directed by Chuck Jones, and co-starring The Two Curious Puppies, debuted on this date. Stork scientific name: Infantus-Portus. Love Birds scientific name: L’amour Toujour L’amour. Kangaroo scientific name: Leapadopterus-Rex.