December 8, 1957 –The CBS series, The Seven Living Arts aired, The Sound of Jazz, live from their NYC studios: an all-star program featuring swing era and contemporary jazz artists, including Count Basie, Billie Holiday, Lester Young, Gerry Mulligan, and many others, on this date. The show’s performance of Fine and Mellow reunited Billie HolidayContinue reading “The Sound of Jazz premiered”
Author Archives: dcaligari
On a dark desert highway …
December 8, 1976 –Asylum release the fifth studio album of the Eagles, Hotel California, on this date. Hotel California would go on to sell 16 million copies in the U.S. and double that figure worldwide.
‘Bout a red-suited dude with a friendly attitude …
December 7, 1979 –Kurtis Blow’s Christmas Rappin‘ by becomes the first rap song released on this date, by a major label – Mercury Records. It sells about 400,000 copies and provides the template for his next single, The Breaks, which becomes the first rap Gold record.
He was alive as he could be for a cartoon character
December 7, 1969 –Another Rankin/Bass production, Frosty the Snowman, premiered on CBS-TV on this date. June Foray was the original voice of Karen during the special’s first few airings in the early 1970s. However, an unknown actress replaced Foray’s voice for subsequent broadcasts. Foray was also the voice of Cindy Lou Who on How theContinue reading “He was alive as he could be for a cartoon character”
They went to the video tape for the first time
December 7, 1963 –Instant replay was used for the first time in a live sports telecast during Army vs Navy Football Game at Municipal Stadium, Philadelphia on this date. When CBS re-played a one-yard touchdown run by Army quarterback Rollie Stichweh, the station’s switchboard was inundated with calls from confused viewers asking if the playerContinue reading “They went to the video tape for the first time”
Thomas Alan Waits
December 7, 1949 – It’s Tom Waits’ birthday today. Ol’ 55 – Jersey Girl – God’s Away On Business – Take One Last Look – And the Acme Corp. is always happy to sponsor that Christmas Classic, Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis (One of our loyal bunkies pointed out that there is noContinue reading “Thomas Alan Waits”
Bunkies, send your letters to Santa
The Canadian postal service has been giving Jolly Old St. Nicholas a helping hand. For 41 years, Canada Post has been helping Santa with his huge holiday volume of mail. Thanks to Canada Post’s Santa Letter-writing Program, children can write to the jolly old fellow in virtually any language, including Braille, and receive a responseContinue reading “Bunkies, send your letters to Santa”
I bet he never even drank the stuff
December 6, 1986 –Ringo Starr becomes the first Beatle to use his name in an advertisement, for Sun Country wine cooler. He was reportedly paid “in the seven figures.”
Sixteen Stone goes on sale
December 6, 1994 –Bush released their debut album Sixteen Stone on this date, which takes off in America but is largely ignored in their native England. Around the time of the release of the album, Britpop acts like Oasis and Blur were huge in their homeland but struggling to break through in America. It wasContinue reading “Sixteen Stone goes on sale”
Time wounds all heels.
December 6, 1940 – MGM released the 10th Marx Brothers film, Go West, on this date. In one scene Groucho asked an Indian, “Who swindled the Indians out of Manhattan for $24?” In 1957, Groucho would appear in The Story of Mankind playing Peter Minuit swindling the Indians out of Manhattan for $24.
The Haus of Dcaligari 