Author Archives: dcaligari

January 4, 1969 –Jimi Hendrix was banned from the BBC after going off-script when he and his band, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, appear on the show Happening for Lulu, hosted by the singer Lulu. Rather than sing a duet with Lulu, Hendrix and the band launched into an unplanned tribute to the recently disbanded CreamContinue reading “Oh naughty Mr Hendrix”

January 4, 1958 –The TV series, Sea Hunt, starring Lloyd Bridges premiered, in syndication on this date. Lloyd Bridges decided to leave the show after four seasons because the producers wanted to emphasize cops-and-robbers plots, while he wanted to focus more on environmental themes.

January 4, 1957 –The sitcom based on the comic strip, Blondie, starring Arthur Lake and Pamela Britten premiered on NBC TV on this date. The popular movie series (28 in all) seemed like a shoe-in for a TV series. Unfortunately, when they made the series about a decade later, it only lasted a single season.

Today is National Trivia Day. It is observed across the United States each year on January 4. We observe trivia day, everyday here. A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties. Harry S. Truman would get up at 5:00 AM so heContinue reading “It’s not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance”

For those of you interested – Today’s gift count (286): you currently have 11 pipers piping, 20 hyperactive effete British gentlemen, knocking furniture over, 27 Pole dancers (draw the shades, the neighborhood kids are staring into your windows), 32 organized dairy workers striking for better working conditions, 35 Swans making a racket, befouling your secondContinue reading “Hang tight, we’re almost done”

Today’s gift count (220): you currently have 10 Leaping Lords, (the ten lords represent the Ten Commandments,) 18 Rockettes, 24 young milkmaid, 28 Swans making a racket, 30 geese a’ laying, 30 golden rings, 28 calling birds, 24 French hens, 18 turtledoves and 10 partridges in their respective pear trees. The ten lords represent theContinue reading “Consider changing religions”

Today is Memento Mori Day, a tradition started in ancient Rome that serves as a reminder that we will all die, one day soon. It is said that in ancient Rome, when a victorious general would return to the city for his triumph (victory parade), a slave would walk behind him, whispering in his ear:Continue reading “Death, a necessary end, will come when it come.”

January 3, 1952 –The ominous, four-note introduction to the brass and tympani theme music, then the staccato voice over intoned, Ladies and gentlemen: the story you are about to hear is true. The first regularly scheduled episode of Dragnet premiered on this date (Badge 714 is the name of the syndication version of the series.)

January 3, 1970 –Jon Pertwee made his first appearance as the Third Doctor in the Doctor Who episode Spearhead from Space, on this date. It also marks the first time that the series was broadcast in color. Because of a BBC strike, this story was shot entirely on location with no studio scenes. This madeContinue reading “Doctor Who – now in colour!”

January 3, 1964 –A month before The Beatles make their iconic live debut in the US on the Ed Sullivan Show, Americans get their first look at the Fab Four when Jack Paar shows a film clip of the band performing She Loves You on his TV show. In the fall of 1963, TV hostContinue reading “Jack Paar got it wrong”