Author Archives: dcaligari

For some reason it’s National Mint Julep Day

You would be forgiven if you were slightly confused – The Kentucky Derby would seem like a perfectly fine day to honor this drink. Perhaps gamblers finally sobered up after their losses that day and decided to celebrate the beverage. The American word ‘julep‘ can be traced to French julep, which comes from the ArabicContinue reading “For some reason it’s National Mint Julep Day”

While The City Sleeps premiered

May 30, 1956 – RKO Radio Pictures released Fritz Lang’s late period film-noir classic, While The City Sleeps, starring Dana Andrews, Vincent Price and Ida Lupino (with whom you don’t fuck with) opened on this date. According to Film Noir historian Eddie Mueller in the commentary for Where the Sidewalk Ends, Dana Andrews was drunkContinue reading “While The City Sleeps premiered”

Young Mr. Lincoln premiered

May 30, 1939 –John Ford’s bio pix of President Abraham Lincoln, Young Mr. Lincoln starring Henry Fonda, Alice Brady, Marjorie Weaver, and Arleen Whelan, opened in Springfield, Illinois on this date. Henry Fonda originally turned down the role of Lincoln, saying he didn’t think he could play such a great man. He changed his mindContinue reading “Young Mr. Lincoln premiered”

This will clearly be on the exam

On May 30, 1889, the world’s first bra was (allegedly) invented. Breasts are an essential feature among mammals, allowing mothers to nurture their young during protracted infancies. No infancy is longer than that of the human species – particularly that of the American male, which often lasts until death. Breasts, of course, are not justContinue reading “This will clearly be on the exam”

It is a Holy Day of Obligation (for some)

Ok Bunkies, I’m not going to lie to you, this is a tough one to understand. The old ladies in the back of church, dutifully saying their decades of rosaries, will explain it to you but you’ll either get it or not. Today is Ascension Thursday. 40 days after Jesus rose from the death onContinue reading “It is a Holy Day of Obligation (for some)”

Dial ‘M’ for Murder opened

May 29, 1954 – During the first 3-D craze of the 50s, Alfred Hitchcock released his masterpiece, Dial ‘M’ for Murder, on this date. Warner Bros. insisted on shooting the movie in 3-D, although the craze was fading and Alfred Hitchcock was sure the movie would be released flat. Hitchcock wanted the first shot toContinue reading “Dial ‘M’ for Murder opened”

A Raisin in the Sun premiered

May 29, 1961 –Daniel Petrie’s film adaptation of Lorraine Hansberry’s stage play, A Raisin in the Sun, starring Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee, John Fiedler, and Ivan Dixon opened in NYC, on this date. There was a tense and antagonistic relationship between Sidney Poitier and Claudia McNeil during the making of this film. The tension betweenContinue reading “A Raisin in the Sun premiered”

It was quite an evening.

May 29, 1913 –Imagine, if you will, you live in Paris and that after a hard day of not working and drinking heavily (it’s what most of the idle rich did in Paris at the time, in between bouts of sodomy, while they waited around for Marcel Proust to finish writing that damn book heContinue reading “It was quite an evening.”