Author Archives: dcaligari

April 13, 1957 – The Merrie Melodies short Bedevilled Rabbit, directed by Robert McKimson, starring Bugs Bunny and Tasmanian Devil, debuted on this date. Tasmanian Devils are carnivorous marsupials that once were found all over Australia but now live on the island of Tasmania. They have a strong bite and a fierce sounding howl and,Continue reading “Bedevilled Rabbit premiered”

April 13, 1940 – The Looney Tunes short Slap Happy Pappy, directed by Bob Clampett, starring Porky Pig, debuted on this date. Eddie Cackler is a parody of Eddie Cantor. The “boy wanted” sign and the five hatching eggs were references to all five of his children being girls, which was a running joke onContinue reading “Slap Happy Pappy premiered”

April 13, 1940 – The Merrie Melodies short The Bear’s Tale, directed by Tex Avery, debuted on this date. A funny and just this side of the censorship envelope mashup of The Three Bears and Little Red Riding Hood

It’s International Plant Appreciation Day. Cut flowers fade away, while a potted plant, especially a flowering one, brings long-lasting pleasure. But after the clip you may want to see some plants cut down. So now you know.

April 13, 1994 –Another black comedy from John Waters, Serial Mom, starring, Kathleen Turner, Sam Waterston, Ricki Lake, Matthew Lillard, Patty Hearst, Suzanne Somers, Joan Rivers, Traci Lords, and Brigid Berlin opened in the US on this date. The original choice for the lead role was Susan Sarandon, but her asking price was too highContinue reading “Serial Mom premiered”

April 13, 1967 –A very silly film, loosely Loosely based on the first James Bond novel by Ian Fleming, Casino Royale, directed by John Huston, Ken Hughes, Robert Parrish, Joe McGrath and Val Guest and starring (among others) Peter Sellers, Ursula Andress, David Niven, Woody Allen, Joanna Pettet, Orson Welles, Daliah Lavi, Deborah Kerr, WilliamContinue reading “Casino Royale – the comedy”

April 13, 1883 —Alferd Packer, one of the few people in U.S. history ever to be jailed for cannibalism – having allegedly killed and eaten five of his traveling companions while trapped in the Rocky Mountains during severe winter weather – was sentenced to death in Colorado. During the trial, the judge supposedly said: “DamnContinue reading “That must have been a powerful hunger”

Happy Walk On The Wild Side Day. Created by Thomas and Ruth Roy on their website Wellcat.com. It was created to recognize that “what others would think” is the dumbest reason not to do something, and rather denotes a lack of courage. This song provided Lou Reed his biggest hit, and it was his onlyContinue reading “Do-do-do, do-do, do-do-do”

April 12, 1987 –The fact based WWII drama Escape from Sobibor, starring Alan Arkin, Joanna Pacula, Rutger Hauer, Hartmut Becker, Jack Shepherd, and Simon Gregor, aired on CBS TV on this date. On October 14, 1943, members of the Sobibor camp’s underground resistance killed 11 German SS-Totenkopfverbände officers and a number of Sonderdienst Ukrainian andContinue reading “Escape from Sobibor premiered”

April 12, 1989 –The 20th Century Fox Television police series 21 Jump Street starring Johnny Depp, Holly Robinson, Peter DeLuise, Dustin Nguyen, Richard Grieco, Michael DeLuise, and Frederic Forrest premiered on Fox TV on this date. Johnny Depp did not want to work on a television series, but agreed to a six-year contract, only becauseContinue reading “Do you think he’s still getting residuals”