July 5, 1956 –MGM released boxer Rocky Grazaiano’s film biography, Somebody Up There Likes Me, starring Paul Newman and Pier Angeli on this date. Originally, the movie was to be filmed on-location in New York City in Technicolor with James Dean in the lead role. However, after James Dean’s death, it was decided the filmContinue reading “Somebody Up There Likes Me premiered”
Author Archives: dcaligari
Have a relaxing weekend
Hope you all had a great time last night and all got home safely from where ever you were celebrating. But remember don’t try to light any unexploded fireworks you might find along the road; you don’t know where it’s been and you don’t know what you could pick up.
Would you take me by the hand?
July 4, 1974 –Steely Dan (Walter Becker and Donald Fagan) give up live performing after a show on this date in Santa Monica so they can focus on their studio work. They don’t tour again until 1993.
Surprisingly, it is not a great day to be president
July 4, 1826 –Frienemies Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, both lay dying in there respective homes on this date. Jefferson, the nation’s third president, deeply in debt at age 83, died at one o’clock in the afternoon and correctly surmised that Adams had outlived him. John Adams, the second president died at age 90 inContinue reading “Surprisingly, it is not a great day to be president”
Keep your feet on the ground …
July 4, 1970 –Casey Kasem’s American Top 40debuts on station KDEO in El Cajon/San Diego, California on this date. The concept of playing the 40 most popular songs from a national chart was a new one, and no one was sure of the success of the show at the time.
Fernwood 2-Night premiered
July 4, 1977 –Norman Lear’s short lived late night television talk show parody Fernwood 2-Night, starring Martin Mull, Fred Willard, and Frank De Vol, debuted on this date. Norman Lear originally planned for all of the dialogue on the show to be improvised as Martin Mull and Fred Willard are skilled improvisational comedians. But headContinue reading “Fernwood 2-Night premiered”
I was a sparkler in another life.
Surprisingly, once again, Mrs. Dr. Caligari and I are not laying on a beach with our mispukah. (We are actually in an undisclosed location in Manhattan.) (Not that this is a clue to our location; I just like Ben E. King.) Please remember – Alcohol and fireworks do not mix! Find some neighbor kid toContinue reading “I was a sparkler in another life.”
There a dirty joke in here somewhere
It’s National Fried Clam Day today. Unlike most of these so called ‘holidays‘, this one is actually based on an event. The story goes that Lawrence “Chubby” Woodman of Essex, Massachusetts was the first person to make deep fried clams, in 1916. As one if Woodman’s specialties was making potato chips, he already had theContinue reading “There a dirty joke in here somewhere”
Brian Jones/ Jim Morrison
On July 3, 1969, Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones drowned in his own swimming pool on this date. Although he was the first Rolling Stone to do so, Mr Jones is just one of millions of people to have drowned in their own swimming pools. As a public service, I have therefore chosen toContinue reading “Brian Jones/ Jim Morrison”
Double Indemnity premiered
July 3, 1944 – Billy Wilder’s film noir classic, Double Indemnity, starring Fred MacMurray and Barbara Stanwyck opened in Baltimore, Maryland, on this date. Author James M. Cain later admitted that if he had come up with some of the solutions to the plot that screenwriters Billy Wilder and Raymond Chandler did, he would haveContinue reading “Double Indemnity premiered”
