April 6, 1936 –Flash Gordon: The Planet of Peril, a film serial which tells the story of three people from Earth who travel to the planet Mongo to fight the evil Emperor Ming the Merciless, premiered on this date. Despite its large budget, this serial utilized many sets from other Universal films, such as theContinue reading “I don’t think I like being referred to as ‘the day’s catch’.”
Author Archives: dcaligari
Very sporting of the little black duck
April 6, 1946 – Another in the series of Daffy/ Porky cartoons, Daffy Doodles, premiered on this date. This cartoon is the first full-length cartoon that animator Robert McKimson directed.
How many times do I have to try to tell you
April 6, 1992 –RCA Records released Annie Lennox’s debut solo studio album, Diva, in the UK, on this date. Annie Lennox had plenty to write about when she started work on the Diva album: She had recently become a mother, her father had died, and she was just getting going as a solo artist.
Per Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum
Happy Easter, everybody! We’ve spoken about Ishtar before: there is an ancient story about Tammuz (also known as Attis, Osiris, Dionysus, Adonis, Orpheus, or Jesus—you get the idea), who was born of a virgin, died, and was reborn. He was the lover of Ishtar. The festival associated with Tammuz began as a day of bloodContinue reading “Per Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum”
Spins a web any size
April 5, 1978 – Marvel Comics’ first live-action Spider-Man based TV series, The Amazing Spider-Man debuted on CBS TV on this date. Stan Lee, Spider-Man’s co-creator, disliked the show and was vocal about his dissatisfaction with it; he had stated in interviews that he felt the series was “too juvenile” and that the Spider-Man characterContinue reading “Spins a web any size”
A big night on Fox
April 5, 1987 –The first prime time television series to air on Fox, Married… with Children, premiered on this date. One of the show’s creators said the reason Ed O’Neill was cast was that when he was auditioning for the pilot, he was required to simply walk through the front door into the Bundy home.Continue reading “A big night on Fox”
Another Toad Elevating Moment
April 5, 1902 –Maurice Ravel’s Pavane pour une Infante Défunte, (Pavane for a Dead Princess) premiered in Paris, France on this date. You may now feel morally superior to the person in the next cubicle for knowing this.
A great silence on earth
Today is Holy Saturday; it’ s also known as the Great Sabbath, Black Saturday, or Easter Eve. (You kids today are soft; we used to have to fast the entire day today.) Today is the last day of Lent – you have one more day of having to give up something (or one could haveContinue reading “A great silence on earth”
Bye, Bye Birdie opened
April 4, 1963 –The musical comedy film, based on the Broadway musical of the same name, Bye, Bye Birdie, directed by George Sidney and starring Janet Leigh, Dick Van Dyke, Ann-Margret, Maureen Stapleton, Bobby Rydell, Jesse Pearson, and Ed Sullivan, debuted on this date. Director George Sidney was so taken with the talent of Ann-MargretContinue reading “Bye, Bye Birdie opened”
Beware of the big, green dragon
April 4, 1953 –While not quite in the same league as Plan 9 from Outer Space, and shot in just four days, the Ed Wood Jr. ‘classic‘, Glen or Glenda, premiered on this date (or maybe it didn’t, but does it really matter.) While the film had no sequel, Edward D. Wood Jr. used theContinue reading “Beware of the big, green dragon”
