Author Archives: dcaligari

May 28, 1938 – The Merrie Melodies short, The Isle of Pingo Pongo, directed by Tex Avery, starring Elmer Fudd/ Egghead, debuted on this date. (This is the first cartoon to use the name Elmer Fudd, although it only uses “Elmer” on the lobby card.) This short is no longer aired on TV due toContinue reading “The Isle of Pingo Pongo premiered”

It’s the start of Manhattanhenge time again (today and tomorrow.) For all of you Illuminati conspiratorialists, ponder the fact that many of Hip Hops multi-millionaire performers are New Yorkers. Also consider that the two times of Manhattanhenge happens to correspond with Memorial Day and Baseball’s All Star break. Manhattan’s grid was originally proposed in 1811,Continue reading “Please be careful to watch out for the traffic.”

May 28, 1929 –Warner Bros released the film On With the Show! on this date. It was the first movie shown to be fully in color and fully in sound. (A color version of the film thought to have been lost has recently been rediscovered.) It was the second movie produced by Warner Brothers, andContinue reading “On With the Show! premiered”

May 28, 1993 – The action comedy Super Mario Bros., a live adaptation of the popular Nintendo game starring Bob Hoskins as Mario and John Leguizamo as Luigi, debuts in US theaters, on this date. The movie is a huge flop but is noted for its stunning visual effects. In his 2007 autobiography John LeguizamoContinue reading “This was really bad (Now in the extended version)”

May 27, 1933 – Walt Disney classic take on The Three Little Pigs, opened on this date. The commercial tie-in with Esposito’s pork sausages during the original screenings of the cartoon wasn’t such a big hit though.

May 27, 1950 – The Merrie Melodies short, An Egg Scramble, directed by Bob McKimson, starring Porky Pig, debuted on this date. This short marks the first appearance of Miss Prissy.

May 27, 1944 – The Looney Tunes short, Duck Soup to Nuts , directed by Friz Freleng, starring Porky Pig and Daffy Duck, debuted on this date. One of the few times Daffy is shown with a wife and family of ducklings. But they turn out to only be daffy pals of his.

May 27, 1969 –United Artists released the comedy-drama Popi, directed by Arthur Hiller and starring Alan Arkin and Rita Moreno, on this date. The film cast includes two Oscar winners: Alan Arkin and Rita Moreno.

May 27, 1969 –The darkly comedic film Watermelon Man, directed by Melvin Van Peebles and starring Godfrey Cambridge, Estelle Parsons, Howard Caine, D’Urville Martin, Kay Kimberley, Mantan Moreland, and Erin Moran, debuted on this date. The film was released the same day as Cotton Comes To Harlem which also starred Godfrey Cambridge..

The Popsicle was first made (but not patented) in 1905 by Frank Epperson on this date (he was only 11 years old at that time.) If only we could create a frozen concoction that mixes ice and alcohol – oh wait a minute that’s a Frozen Margarita, never mind – keep celebrating the Popsicle.