Author Archives: dcaligari

December 15, 1961 – An underrated Billy Wilder film, One, Two Three, opened in the US on this date. In James Cagney’s autobiography, he says that Horst Buchholz was the only actor he really hated working with because he was uncooperative and tried all kinds of scene-stealing moves, which Cagney depended on Billy Wilder toContinue reading “Put your pants on, Spartacus!”

December 15, 1979 – David Bowie performs three songs on Saturday Night Live – The Man Who Sold the World, TVC-15 and Boys Keep Swinging, and this date. Bowie performances that night are some of the most memorable acts on the shows entire history.

Useless holiday trivia of the day – The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe started in ancient Rome, during the festival of Saturnalia and later in marriage ceremonies, because of the plant’s association with fertility. Mistletoe, (Viscum album), means “dung on a twig” in the Anglo-Saxon. According to the National Wildlife Federation, it spreads throughContinue reading “Maybe every kiss does not begin with K”

Staying safe this holiday season – Tip no. 384: Zombies love farms and open land so avoid that old abandoned house

December 14, 1972 –A very obscure (and not particularly good) Ringo Starr directed concert film, Born To Boogie starring Marc Bolan and T. Rex, Ringo Starr, and Elton John was released on The Beatles Apple Films label in the UK, on this date. Much of the 8mm footage used in the closing credits was shotContinue reading “Born To Boogie premiered”

December 14, 1979 –The Clash released their third studio album, London Calling, an album mix of punk, reggae, rockabilly, ska, New Orleans R&B, pop, lounge jazz, and hard rock, on this date. London Calling was produced by Guy Stevens, best known at that point for his work with Mott the Hoople and the Faces. TheContinue reading “London calling to the faraway towns …”

Tonight is the start of Hanukkah This year, my first Hanukkah gift to you is to remind you that there is no pressure to buy Hanukkah Seals.

Snapdragons is apparently the best game ever to play on Christmas Eve. Make sure you have the fire department on speed dial though. Very popular from the 16th to the 19th centuries, Snapdragons (or Flapdragons) has explicably declined in popularity. Gather everyone around the dining room table, place a large flat dish in the centre.Continue reading “Spectacularly uselessly Christmas trivia –”

Unless you are tight with the Thursday afternoon St. John’s Rosary Altar Society, as I am – you may not know this;) today is the third Sunday of Advent. It is known as Gaudete Sunday. One of the candles in the Advent wreath is rose colored for Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is Latin for Rejoice, asContinue reading “In case you were wondering”

December 14, 1984 –The David Lynch version of Frank Herbert’s Science Fiction classic, thought to be unfilmable; Dune, starring Kyle MacLachlan, Jose Ferrer, Francesca Annis and Sting, premiered on this date. David Lynch has said he considers this film the only real failure of his career. To this day, he refuses to talk about theContinue reading “Fear is the mind-killer”