Author Archives: dcaligari

July 15, 1989 –Simply Red’s single If You Don’t Know Me By Now went to No. 1 on the Billboard Charts, on this date. The song was written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, who were architects of the Philadelphia Soul sound. They credit their marital problems with allowing them to write such a heart-rendingContinue reading “If You Don’t Know Me By Now topped the charts”

July 15, 1869 –During war with Prussia, French ruler Napoleon III commissions Hippolye Mege Mouries to find a butter substitute. A patent for margarine was issued on this date, it being based on beef fat instead of milk fat. He called it Margarine (but you can call it Oleo) because the French word for pearlContinue reading “If you think it’s butter …”

July 15, 1988 –The film that made Bruce Willis a star, Die Hard, co-starring Alan Rickman, and Bonnie Bedelia opened in limited release in the US on this date. Only a couple of the actors who played the German terrorists were actually German and only a couple more could speak broken German. The actors wereContinue reading “Yippee-ki-yay, ….”

July 15 1956 –Although not in the same league as Plan 9 from Outer Space, It Conquered the World was released upon an unsuspecting public on this date. (American International released the film on a double bill with The She-Creature.) Though the film was later featured and mocked on an episode of Mystery Science TheaterContinue reading “Every man it’s prisoner …”

July 15, 1946 –I didn’t think I was a famous singer. I didn’t think I was a star or that I could make the waters part – just that singing was what I was going to do. Linda Maria Ronstadt, singer and actress was born in Tucson, Arizona on this date. (Send her your goodContinue reading “Linda Ronstadt”

July 14, 1964 –The Rolling Stones score their first #1 hit in the UK with their cover of Bobby Womack’s It’s All Over Now. New York disc jockey Murray the K gave The Stones a copy of the original recording of the song by The Valentinos and suggested they record it. Murray was important enoughContinue reading “It’s All Over Now topped the charts”

July 14, 1933 – The iconic Popeye the Sailor, appeared in his first eponymous titled cartoon, on this date. (Kids, Betty, who is probably underage in this film, is not wearing a bra – so avert your eyes.) Popeye’s appearance is based on that of a fighter named Francis “Rocky” Fiegel whom his creator, ElzieContinue reading “The miraculous powers of spinach were first discovered”

July 14, 1789 –Paris was not a happy city in 1789. Paris has never been an especially happy city – especially for those who don’t speak French – but in that fateful year, it was particularly grouchy. And it wasn’t just the city; the whole country was irritable. All of France was cranky, and theContinue reading “It’s sort of like The Fourth of July but with more beheadings”

July 14, 1989 –Rob Reiner iconic rom-com , written by iconic writer, Nora Ephron, When Harry Met Sally, starring, Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher, and Bruno Kirby, opened in limited release on this date. The orgasm scene was filmed at Katz’s Deli, an actual restaurant on New York’s E. Houston Street. The table atContinue reading “The joys of deli meat were illuminated”

July 14, 1969 – Dennis Hopper’s seminal ’60s classic, Easy Rider, starring Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda and Jack Nicholson, opened in the US on this date. Dennis Hopper was going through a very bad time during production (something he later put down to marijuana not being his “creative drug of choice”). He was in aContinue reading “Easy Rider premiered”