Author Archives: dcaligari

July 7, 2005 –19 years ago on this date, four bomb explosions struck London’s transport system during the morning rush. Three Underground trains were hit within half an hour, and a double-decker bus joined the toll, thirty minutes later. A group calling itself “The Secret Organization of al-Qaida in Europe” posted a claim of responsibility,Continue reading “London’s 7/7”

July 6, 1979 –The B-52s, a New Wave band based in Athens, Georgia, released Planet Claire on this date. The song samples the Peter Gunn Theme, which Henry Mancini wrote for the 1958 TV series. Mancini has a writer credit on Planet Claire along with every member of The B-52s.

July 6, 1972 –David Bowie scandalized British home viewers on this date, while performing Starman on the TV show, Top Of The Pops, by singing with his arm draped around the shoulder of guitarist Mick Ronson – this was the moment Bowie became a star. This was the last song written for The Rise andContinue reading “That weren’t no DJ, that was hazy cosmic jive …”

July 6, 1964 – The Beatles‘ film Hard Day’s Night premieres in London, on this date. During the opening sequence of the group running, George stumbles and falls, with Ringo falling over him in turn. This wasn’t intended and George ripped the suit he was wearing, but he quickly recovered, laughed, and continued running, itContinue reading “The Beatles first film opened”

July 5, 1954 –Elvis Presley recorded his first commercial song, That’s All Right (Mama) on this date. The song, which hadn’t been rehearsed by Elvis, was recorded at Sun Records by Sam Phillips (who is commonly credited for discovering him.) The following evening, Blue Moon of Kentucky was recorded as the B side. That’s AllContinue reading “You know what you need to do”

July 5, 1989 –The dark comedy, Weekend at Bernie’s, starring, Andrew McCarthy, Jonathan Silverman, Catherine Mary Stewart, and Terry Kiser, opened on this date This was considered as a vehicle for Corey Haim and Corey Feldman early in production before it was decided to make the leads older.

July 5, 1980 –The Randal Kleiser teen romance film, The Blue Lagoon, starring Brooke Shields and Christopher Atkins, went into general release on this date. Christopher Atkins did most of his nude scenes without the use of a body double. Reportedly, he had to stand nude every morning before shooting these scenes while a femaleContinue reading “The Blue Lagoon premiered”

July 5, 1946 –The bikini bathing suit, was created by Louis Réard, a French automotive engineer who was running his mother’s lingerie business, made its debut during a fashion show at the Molitor Pool in Paris on this date. A famous nude dancer, Micheline Bernardin, modeled the two-piece outfit at the show. Réard, hoping toContinue reading “The birth of the bikini”

July 5, 1794 –Sylvester Graham was born in Suffield, Connecticut, on this date. He was ordained in 1826 as a Presbyterian minister. He was an early advocate of dietary reform in United States most notable for his emphasis on vegetarianism, and the temperance movement, as well as sexual and dietary habits. Graham believed that aContinue reading “Remember – Don’t masturbate, eat a cracker!”

It was always there, you just never noticed it – Mary Katherine Goddard, who was working as printer at the time, voluntarily inscribed her full name on the document, making her the only woman who ‘signed‘ the Declaration of Independence. Congress fled Philadelphia and settled temporarily in Baltimore. When they needed somebody to print theContinue reading “Another thing your teachers never told you –”