Author Archives: dcaligari

May 23, 1929 –Walt Disney released the ninth film in the Mickey Mouse film series, The Karnival Kid on this date This is first cartoon in which Mickey Mouse speaks. His first words are “Hot dogs!“

May 23, 1984 –Sergio Leone’s epic crime drama, Once Upon a Time in America starring Robert De Niro, James Woods, Elizabeth McGovern, Joe Pesci, Burt Young, Tuesday Weld, and Treat Williams premiered at the Cannes Film festive on this date. A few days before the film’s premiere in 1984, Treat Williams found out the two-hourContinue reading “Another cinematic masterpiece mangled”

May 23, 1980 –Stanley Kubrick’s classic horror thriller The Shining, opened on this date (I remember seeing it at the midnight showing on this date in Time Square.) There were so many changes to the script during shooting (a scene change was made almost daily) that Jack Nicholson claimed he stopped reading it. He wouldContinue reading “Red rum, Red rum”

Today is World Turtle Day. The purpose of World Turtle Day, sponsored yearly since 2000 by American Tortoise Rescue, is to bring attention to, and increase knowledge of and respect for, turtles and tortoises, and encourage human action to help them survive and thrive. It’s celebrated worldwide in a variety of ways, from dressing upContinue reading “In a fast-paced world, be the calm turtle.”

There are 29 days until summer. Hopefully, you’ll be able to make some vacation plans this year.

May 22, 1965 –The Beatles single, Ticket to Ride hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts on this date. Most Americans at the time, concluded the “ticket” was from British Railways, and “ride” was the town of Ryde on the Isle of Wight. McCartney confessed to his biographer Barry Miles that they were partly right.Continue reading “I think I’m going to be sad …”

May 22, 1971 – The Rolling Stones’ Sticky Fingers album, with a working zipper on the cover, hits #1 in the US, on this date. Andy Warhol designed the Sticky Fingers album cover. Before he started working on it, Mick Jagger send Warhol a note warning that a complicated design could cause nasty production delays,Continue reading “Yeah, gold coast slave ship bound for cotton fields …”

May 22, 1974 –There is no real explanation – perhaps gambling debts – can explain the pairing of Julie Andrews and Jackie Gleason in the TV special, Julie Andrews & Jackie Gleason: How Sweet It Is, which air on ABC TV on this date. This special was produced specifically for the American market (with JackieContinue reading “Julie Andrews & Jackie Gleason: How Sweet It Is, premiered”

May 22, 1992 –For 30 years, the man most of America went to bed with every night, finally got tired of having to try to satisfy so many people and decided to retire. Johnny Carson , known for his sharp wit, impeccable timing, and understated charm, made his final appearance on The Tonight Show onContinue reading “America bid Bon Voyage to Carson”

May 21, 1971 –Regarded as one of the landmark recordings in pop music history, and one of the greatest albums of the 20th century, Marvin Gaye’s eleventh studio album What’s Going On, was released on this date. The What’s Going On album takes on many issues, including the environment (Mercy Mercy Me) and poverty (InnerContinue reading “Mother, mother, there’s too many of you crying …”