Author Archives: dcaligari

As always, your friends from the ACME Corp would like to salute our friends in Canada on Canada Day. Canada is the second-largest nation in the world. It is not part of the United States – (it’s the U.S.‘ nicer sister, not dissing Mexico, the U.S.’ feistier sister.) A little jewel sitting at the topContinue reading “O Canada! Our home and native land!”

July 1, 1956 –TV critic John Crosby panned the following performer’s performance, calling it an ‘unspeakable, untalented and vulgar young entertainer.’ Elvis Presley appeared on NBC- TV’s The Steve Allen Show and performed Hound Dog, to a live Hound Dog.

July 1, 1956 –Columbia Pictures released the classic sci-fi movie, Earth vs The Flying Saucers, featuring special effects by Ray Harryhausen, on this date. Columbia’s publicity department created publicity stills using the cut-and-paste technique. The resulting stills of the flying saucers were vastly inferior to the special effects in the film itself. In fact, oneContinue reading “Look to your sun for a warning …”

July 1, 1967 –The Association’s song Windy (not to be confused with The Beach Boy’s song, Wendy,) hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on this date. It was the Association’s second No. 1 hit, following Cherish in 1966. Although the writer of the song, Ruthann Friedman never revealed the identity of Windy, sheContinue reading “It was Windy at the topof the charts”

June 29, 1988 –The John Landis blockbuster film, Coming To America, starring Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones, John Amos and a plethora of stars in funny cameo roles, opened on this date. After the make-up and clothing was applied for the Jewish character Saul, Eddie Murphy wanted to test the make-up and costumeContinue reading “Coming to America lands in America”

June 30, 1979 –Anita Ward single, Ring My Bell, started a two week run at No.1 on the Billboard chart, on this date. (This was her only charting hit.) This was one of the first hit songs to feature a synthesized drum. The hook was the synthesized drum of Frederick Knight, which produced a soundContinue reading “I’m glad you’re home …”

June 30, 1936 –It’s the 88th anniversary of publication of Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind on this date. Despite spending 10 years of her life working on the tome, Mitchell didn’t really have much intention of publishing it. When a “friend” heard that she was considering writing a book (though in fact, it hadContinue reading “Gone With The Wind went on sale”

June 30, 1989 –The quasi-biographical drama film about Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire! directed by Jim McBride and starring Dennis Quaid, Winona Ryder, John Doe, Alec Baldwin, and Mojo Nixon premiered in the US on this date. Jerry Lee Lewis hates the film and the book from which the film was based, butContinue reading “Great Balls of Fire! premiered”

June 30, 1995 – Ron Howards‘ film about the ill-fated 13th Apollo mission bound for the moon, Apollo 13, opened on this date. Ron Howard stated that, after the first test preview of the film, one of the comment cards indicated “total disdain“; the audience member had written that it was a “typical Hollywood” endingContinue reading “Apollo 13 premiered”

Today is the NYC 54th annual Gay Pride parade, (rain or shine) making it’s way in some direction (they’ve changed the route yet again) this afternoon, actually commemorates the Stonewall riots, which launched the gay-rights movement. The official theme for 2024 is “Reflect. Empower. Unite,” focusing on individuals, community leaders, advocates and allies coming togetherContinue reading “Hopefully the weather will cooperates today”