Author Archives: dcaligari

June 26, 1987 –The truly silly yet likeable Mel Brooks film, Spaceballs, starring Mel Brooks, John Candy, Rick Moranis, Bill Pullman, Daphne Zuniga, Dick Van Patten, and Joan Rivers went into general release on this date. The Millennium Falcon from the Star Wars saga makes a cameo appearance in this movie. Take a close lookContinue reading “Use the Schwartz!”

June 26, 1925 –Charlie Chaplin’s classic comedy, The Gold Rush, opened at Grauman’s Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, on this date. Location filming proved problematic, so Charles Chaplin shot the entire film on the backlot and stages of his Hollywood studio, including an elaborate reconstruction of the Klondike. His leisurely approach to film-making – and multipleContinue reading “The Gold Rush premiered”

It may not seem possible, But for about 1.1 million students (and their exhausted families) the 2024/ 2025 school year is finally over. (Enjoy what you can of summer – the 2025/ 2026 school year is scheduled to begin 70 days from today, on September 4, 2025. But who knows?) Demand Euphoria!

June 25, 1984 –Warner Bros. Records released the sixth studio album by Prince, Purple Rain, on this date. Purple Rain was musically denser than Prince’s previous albums, emphasizing full band performances, and multiple layers of guitars, keyboards, electronic synthesizer effects, drum machines, and other instruments.

June 25, 1949 –That’s the nice fat opera singer … One of Chuck Jones famous Bugs Bunny opera parodies, Long Haired Hare, opened on this date. Giovanni Jones’ singing voice remained uncredited and unknown for many years. It was since revealed to have been provided by opera singer Nicolai Shutorov. Mel Blanc voices Jones when,Continue reading “Long Haired Hare premiered”

June 25, 1938 –Another in the series of ‘books come alive‘, Have You Got Any Castles? was released on this date. Among the many entertainment personalities caricatured in relation to book titles are: Bill Robinson/The Thirty-Nine Steps, Greta Garbo/So Big, Cab Calloway, Fats Waller, The Mills Brothers/The Green Pastures, William Powell/The Thin Man, Clark Gable/TheContinue reading “Have You Got Any Castles? premiered”

June 25, 1963 – One of Federico Fellini’s greatest films, Otto e mezzo, (8½ ), opened in the US, on this date. Federico Fellini attached a note to himself below the camera’s eyepiece which read, “Remember, this is a comedy.”

June 25, 1993 –David Letterman’s series Late Night with David Letterman aired for the last time on NBC-TV on this date. Letterman began hosting Late Show with David Letterman on CBS in August 30, 1993. Letterman left Late Night in 1993 for Late Show with David Letterman on CBS when NBC give the Tonight ShowContinue reading “The final episode of Late Night with David Letterman”

Even so, remember to wish everyone you meet a very Happy LEON day. LEON is NOEL spelled backwards. Christmas is but a mere six months away. Kids, now that some of you are out of school and are once again allowed to freely roam in polite society, you had better take a quick check ofContinue reading “It is positively NOT feeling a lot like Christmas”

It’s Midsummer Day throughout most of Europe. It should not be confused with the Summer Solstice (or the Swedish horror film) except they’re kind of celebrating the same thing, (it’s also the feast day of St. John the Baptist.) Upon further thought, avoid all parties throw by Northern Europeans today