Author Archives: dcaligari

May 9, 1955 –Harpo Marx had only recently suffered a heart attack and was warned by doctors not to continue performing. But, luckily for us, Harpo refused, and went on to appear in an episode of I Love Lucy, Lucy and Harpo Marx, which aired on this date. The Lucy-Harpo “mirror routine” became a rareContinue reading “Lucy and Harpo do the ‘mirror routine’”

May 9, 1958 –Richard Burton made his network television debut on this date, in the presentation of The DuPont Show of the Month – Wuthering Heights, on CBS-TV. In 1999 actress Rosemary Harris met TV historian Jane Klain and asked if she could find a copy of the film. Harris was a last minute replacementContinue reading “Wuthering Heights premiered”

May 9, 1964 –The Beatles’ I Wanna Hold Your Hand had been the number one album for over three and a half months straight. Louis Armstrong’s show tune Hello Dolly finally ended the record-breaking run on this day, knocking the Beatles out of first place in the music charts.

May 9, 1992 –Bruce Springsteen performs on US TV for the first time when he finally accepts a longstanding offer to be the musical guest on Saturday Night Live, on this date. He performed three songs, Lucky Town, Living Proof, and 57 Channels, from Human Touch and Lucky Town, the albums he released simultaneously fiveContinue reading “First time Bruce was on SNL”

May 8, 2010 –On a Mother’s Day-themed episode, the 88-year old Betty White, more than 70 years in show business, six Emmy Award winning actress, hosted Saturday Night Live, thanks to a push by fans on Facebook. Unusual for a host, Betty White appeared in every sketch, including the cold open, Weekend Update and prerecordedContinue reading “Betty White on SNL”

May 8, 1984 –Joanie (Erin Moran) and Chachi (Scott Baio) tied the knot (finally) on Happy Days, on this date. The comedy series, starring Henry Winkler, Tom Bosley and Marion Ross (Ron Howard and Anson Williams had already left the show), was winding down in its final season on ABC-TV.

May 8, 1970 –Just shortly after the break up of the Beatles was announced, Apple Records released The Beatles final original album Let It Be, on this date. Although Let It Be topped album charts in both the US and the UK, and sales were very good, the album did not receive good reviews andContinue reading “When I find myself in times of trouble …”

May 8, 1976 –John Sebastian’s theme song to the TV series Welcome Back, Kotter, Welcome Back, hits No. 1 on the Billboard Charts on this date. Since it was written for the TV show, the song was less than a minute long. Viewers loved the song and related to the message about returning to theContinue reading “Welcome Back topped the charts”

May 8, 1943 – Another Tex Avery masterpiece, Red Hot Riding Hood, was released on this date. Director Tex Avery was famous for his off the wall cartoons, which were aimed more toward adult audiences than children. Here, however, he pushed the limits of what was considered acceptable, and in several places the film wasContinue reading “Wolfie, wolfie”

Today is National Roast Leg of Lamb Day! Truly, there is no more a noble cause than eating a meal consisting of properly prepared lamb. Sadly, in a recent survey, roughly 50% of Americans surveyed reported that they had never eaten lamb, and most American each less than a pound of lamb per year. InContinue reading “Don’t forget the tzatziki!”