Author Archives: dcaligari

December 20, 1971 – Hal Ashby’s very dark comedy, Harold and Maude, starring Ruth Gordon and Burt Cort, premiered on this date. The film was not a commercial success when it opened but is now seen as one of the most influential films of the 1970s. In all shots of Ruth Gordon (Maude) driving theContinue reading “Harold and Maude debuted”

Fruit cake can last a lifetime Fruitcake: you either love it or hate it. But did you know that when stored properly, it can last for years and sometimes indefinitely? The oldest fruitcake was 114 years old and had been passed down from generation to generation.

More holiday trivia: Japanese people traditionally eat at KFC for Christmas dinner. Although the percentage of christian people in Japan is less than 2%, every Christmas, kids and grown-ups head to the closest KFC to enjoy some fried chicken – the closest food to turkey that you can get in Japan. It’s all thanks toContinue reading “Why am I telling you all of this?”

December 19, 2014 –After 2,058 episodes, Craig Ferguson ended his time as the host of The Late Late Show on CBS TV, on this date. In the cold open, Ferguson performed Dead Man Fall’s song Bang Your Drum accompanied by Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgwick (plus dog Lily), Jack Black, Kristen Bell, Pierce Brosnan, Steve Carell,Continue reading “Craig Ferguson’s last episode”

December 19, 1971 –The pilot for the hit family series The Waltons, The Homecoming: A Christmas Story premiered on CBS-TV on this date While all of the child actors would reprise their roles for the subsequent TV series The Waltons, of the adult actors only Ellen Corby would do so.

ACME wants you to stay safe this Holiday Season Tip no. 647: For some reason Washington DC and the desert areas of the Southwest attract floating saucer crafts. Avoid travel and stay indoors.

Legend has it we hang stockings by the chimney with care because one year a poor widowed man didn’t have enough money for his three daughters’ dowries, making it difficult for them to marry. Generous old St. Nick dropped a bag of gold down their chimney one night and into the freshly washed stockings theContinue reading “More useless holiday trivia”

December 18, 1987 –The sleeper hit romantic comedy, Moonstruck, directed by Norman Jewison, written by John Patrick Shanley, and starring Danny Aiello, Nicolas Cage, Vincent Gardenia, Olympia Dukakis and, oh yea, Cher, premiered in the US on this date. (This is a big favorite in our house.) Norman Jewison has stated that the climactic kitchenContinue reading “It’s a favorite in the Caligari household”

December 18, 1962 – Mr. Magoo starred as Ebenezer Scrooge in a musical version of Charles Dickens’ Christmas tale, Mister Magoo’s Christmas Carol, music by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill and voiced by Jim Backus, Jack Cassidy, Paul Frees, Joan Gardner, Morey Amsterdam, and Royal Dano, which aired on NBC TV, on this date. ThereContinue reading “This was Gilbert Gottfried’s favorite holiday special”

December 18, 1966 –The Pink Panther cartoon series premiered with the episode titled The Pink Blueprint on this date The Pink Panther character, created for the animated opening credits of The Pink Panther movie, was so popular that this short was produced as a starring vehicle for the character. The short marks the only timeContinue reading “Think Pink”