Author Archives: dcaligari

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”

January 3, 1976 –The Bay City Rollers single, Saturday Night reached the No. 1 position on the US Billboard Charts (their only US No. 1 single,) on this date. This song was first recorded in 1973 with original Rollers vocalist Nobby Clarke, but this version tanked when it was released in the UK. The band,Continue reading “S-A-T-U-R-DAY Night!”

Today’s gift count (156): you currently have Nine ladies dancing, 16 young woman engaged in the dairy industry (and possibly their union rep. I’ve also never considered whether or not the cows come with them), 21 Swans making a racket, 24 geese a’ laying (check to see if you can make omelets for all thoseContinue reading “Maybe this person ISN’T your true love”

January 2, 1953 –NBC-TV premiered The Life of Riley, starring William Bendix on this date. The Life of Riley started as a radio program starring William Bendix on the Blue Network (ABC) from January 16, 1944 to June 8, 1945 later moving to NBC from September 8, 1945 to June 29, 1951.

January 2, 1931 – Rouben Mamoulian adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, starring Fredric March, Miriam Hopkins, and Rose Hobart opened in NYC on this date. The remarkable Jekyll-to-Hyde transition scenes in this film were accomplished by manipulating a series of variously colored filters in front of the cameraContinue reading “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde premiered”

January 2, 1971 –George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass, his first album released after the breakup of The Beatles, begins a seven-week run at the top of the US albums chart on this date. Harrison had Phil Spector produce the album and brought in some outstanding musicians to play on it, including Eric Clapton, BobbyContinue reading “All Things Must Pass first went on sale”