Author Archives: dcaligari

September 12, 1955 –Another of Orson Welles’ great Shakespearean films, Othello, finally opened in New York City on this date. The movie was shot over three years and production was stopped twice, mainly because Welles ran out of money. He then starred in the films The Third Man and Prince of Foxes. When he madeContinue reading “‘Twas pitiful, ’twas wondrous pitiful.”

September 12, 1966 – NBC television premiered The Monkees, a sitcom about four guys in a rock band on this date. When the TV series was about to be renewed for a third season, The Monkees wanted to change it from a half-hour sitcom to an hour-long variety show where they would introduce new artists.Continue reading “Come and watch us sing and play …”

Rosh Hashanah begins this evening, so we here at ACME are wishing our friends – L’shanah Tovah As you hear the shofar this evening, remember to start writing 5787 on your checks. Also, I hope your sins are not so numerous that you really couldn’t cast them upon the water.

September 11, 1982 –Frank Zappa’s song Valley Girl (featuring his daughter Moon Unit Zappa,) reaches its chart peak of #32 on the Billboard Hot 100, on this date. Frank Zappa released 62 albums in his lifetime (many more appeared after his death), but Valley Girl is his only song to crack the US Top 40.Continue reading “Okay, fine, fer sure, fer sure”

September 11, 1971 –The Jackson 5 cartoon series, called The Jackson 5ive, premiered on ABC on this date. Each episode shows various adventures with animated versions of the group, along with Michael’s pet mice Ray and Charles, and his snake Rosie. The cartoon ran from 1971-1973.

September 11, 1948 – The Looney Tunes short, The Pest That Came to Dinner, directed by Arthur Davis, and starring Porky Pig, was released on this date. Sureshot appears to have been inspired by then-popular comic pitchman Sid Stone.

September 11 1943 – The Merrie Melodies short, Hiss and Make Up, directed by Friz Freleng, was released on this date. As the bird tries to get the dog and cat in trouble by making a mess and imitating their voices, a “blink-and-you’ll-miss-it” portrait can be seen on the wall to the right of theContinue reading “Hiss and Make Up premiered”

September 11, 1937 –The Looney Tunes short, Porky’s Garden, directed by Tex Avery and starring Porky Pig, was released on this date. The baby chick eating spinach, therefore growing tall and strong and speaking in a gruff voice, is a reference to Popeye the Sailor

On the morning of September 11, 2001, 19 terrorists affiliated with al-Qaeda hijacked four commercial passenger jet airliners. Each team of hijackers included a trained pilot. The hijackers crashed two of the airliners into the World Trade Center in New York City, resulting in the collapse of both buildings soon afterward. A third airliner wasContinue reading “To remember the unimaginable is our duty”

September 11, 1967 –The Carol Burnett Show premiered on CBS-TV on this date. It was revealed years later that each week’s show was taped twice in front of different audiences and the best parts from each taping were edited together. It was stated that the first performance had the actors sticking closely to the scripts,Continue reading “The first time we had together”