Author Archives: dcaligari

March 12th, 1967 –The Velvet Underground released their debut album, The Velvet Underground & Nico, on this date. The album’s back cover originally featured a shot of the band playing with an image of Eric Emerson’s face from The Chelsea Girls projected prominently in the background. Emerson either needed drug money or was simply broke,Continue reading “The Velvet Underground & Nico first went on sale”

March 12, 1953 –John Huston’s very off-beat comedy, Beat the Devil, starring Humphrey Bogart, Jennifer Jones, Gina Lollobrigida, Robert Morley, Peter Lorre and Bernard Lee, premiered in New York City on this date. John Huston suggested to Humphrey Bogart, that Lauren Bacall might play his wife. “I read your insidious and immoral proposals to myContinue reading “Beat the Devil debuted”

March 12, 1973 –After six seasons, the last episode of Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In aired on NBC TV, on this date. George Schlatter did not produce the final season, but he won the rights to those episodes in a subsequent court battle. For many years, he neither allowed those episodes to be re-aired, nor anyContinue reading “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In’s finale”

Today is Alfred Hitchcock Day. Since Hitchcock was born in August, and died in April, I have no clue why we celebrate in March – its arbitrary and capricious, which makes me like it even more. (It may have to due to the fact that March 12 is the televised anniversary of his American FilmContinue reading “Cinema is not a slice of life, but a piece of cake”

It is an international event, initiated by the World Plumbing Council, held on March 11 each year to recognize the important role plumbing plays in societal health and amenity. I should make sure I’m wearing a belt today.

March 11, 1950 – A very funny Bugs Bunny cartoon, directed by Chuck Jones, Homeless Hare, was released on this date. When Bugs falls into the rain water barrel and regains his senses after taking an I-beam to the head, he laments that “This isn’t Saturday night.” Bugs is referring to the common practice ofContinue reading “Homeless Hare premiered”

March 11, 1974 – The beloved Emmy and Peabody winning children’s TV special, Free To Be … You and Me, produced by Marlo Thomas premiered on ABC-TV on this date. The basic concept was to encourage post-1960s gender neutrality, saluting values such as individuality, tolerance, and comfort with one’s identity. A major thematic message isContinue reading “There’s a land that I see …”

March 11, 1968 – In the episode of The Monkees, Monkees Blow Their Minds that aired on this date, Frank Zappa appeared as Mike Nesmith and vice versa, debating qualities of each other’s music. Many a young mind was blown today. The song heard while Michael Nesmith and Frank Zappa play the car is MotherContinue reading “Monkees Blow Their Minds premiered”

March 11, 1970 –The first album by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Déjà Vu was released on this date. Rolling Stone magazine ranked it #148 on the 500 greatest albums of all time. It was certified 7-times platinum with over 8 million copies sold, and spent 88 weeks on the Billboard chart. It remains theContinue reading “A new day, a new way, and new eyes to see the dawn”

March 11, 1997 –Thirty years after being admitted as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), Paul McCartney was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his contributions to popular music and to British culture, and for his charity work. “Proud to be British, wonderful day and it’s a long way from aContinue reading “Arise, Sir Paul”