Author Archives: dcaligari

September 6, 1986 –Bananarama’s cover of the Shocking Blue single, Venus hit no. 1 on this date< Bananarama’s version was produced by the team of Stock, Aitken and Waterman, who worked on hits by Rick Astley (Never Gonna Give You Up), Dead or Alive (You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)) and Kylie Minogue (IContinue reading “Venus topped the charts”

September 6, 1976 –Years after their well-publicized break-up, Frank Sinatra privately orchestrated a surprise appearance of Dean Martin on Jerry Lewis’ annual Labor Day telethon for the MDA. The two privately reconciled and maintained a relationship throughout the rest of their lives. If only Sinatra could have knock off broads and booze long enough toContinue reading “Final proof that it was Sinatra’s World”

September 6, 1936 –The classic screwball comedy, My Man Godfrey, opened on this date. Although stars William Powell and Carole Lombard had been divorced for three years by the time they made this, when offered the part Powell declared that the only actress right for the part of Irene was Lombard.

September 6, 1958 – Steve McQueen debuted in the western series, Wanted: Dead or Alive, on CBS-TV on this date. Steve McQueen was hired after Jack H. Harris, who was producing The Blob gave him a glowing reference to Dick Powell (the head of Four Star Productions). Powell also asked for, and was granted, theContinue reading “Steve McQueen’s first foray in TV Westerns”

Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book. – Groucho Today is Read a Book Day, which should not be confused with National Book Lovers Day, celebrated on August 9th. I’ve just recently read Ain’t It Time We Said Goodbye: The Rolling Stones on The RoadContinue reading “I find television very educating….”

September 5, 1946 –Farrokh Bulsara, British musician, singer and songwriter, was born on this date. Freddie Mercury has been called one of Rock’s greatest performers of all time.

September 5, 1981 –Soft Cell’s single Tainted Love was at No.1 on the UK singles chart on this date. This is a cover of a 1964 song by the American soul singer Gloria Jones, whose original version was released as the B-side of her single My Bad Boy’s Comin’ Home. A club DJ named RichardContinue reading “Tainted Love topped the charts”

September 5, 1927 –Walt Disney’s Trolley Troubles, first appearance of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoons, opened on this date. Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks worked for Universal Pictures on this cartoon. Universal showed their appreciation for the two for making Oswald a star by threatening to cut their salaries. As a result, the two walked…andContinue reading “Trolley Troubles premiered”

September 5, 1916 –D. W. Griffith classic silent-film masterpiece, Intolerance: Love’s Struggle Throughout the Ages, opened on this date. The Babylonian orgy sequence alone cost $200,000 when it was shot. That’s nearly twice the overall budget of The Birth of a Nation, another D.W. Griffith film and, at the time, the record holder for mostContinue reading “Intolerance premiered”

September 5, 2006 –Katie Couric made her first appearance as anchor on CBS Evening News. Her introduction normally would have been read by an announcer, but in this case, viewers heard the voice of CBS News legend Walter Cronkite make the introduction.