Author Archives: dcaligari

August 28, 1930 –… That’s a fine letter, Jamison, that’s an epic. That’s dandy. Now, I want you to make two carbon copies of that letter and throw the original away. And when you get through with that, throw the carbon copies away. Just send a stamp, airmail, that’s all. You may go, Jamison. IContinue reading “Did someone call me Schnorrer?”

August 28, 1946 – Universal’s film-noir classic version of Ernest Hemingway’s story, The Killers, opened in NYC on this date. Burt Lancaster was the third choice for the part of The Swede, and was signed only after actors Wayne Morris and Sonny Tufts proved unavailable. Lancaster was an ex-circus acrobat from Union City, NJ. WhenContinue reading “The Killers premiered”

August 28, 1937 –The Looney Tunes short, Get Rich Quick Porky, directed by Bob Clampett and starring Porky Pig, was released on this date. This is the final theatrical appearance of Gabby Goat.

August 28, 1951 – The Merrie Melodies short, Cheese Chasers, directed by Chuck Jones, and starring Hubie and Bertie, and Claude Cat, was released on this date. This is the final Hubie and Bertie short

August 23, 1954 – The Looney Tunes short, Yankee Doodle Bugs, directed by Friz Freleng and starring Bugs Bunny, was released on this date. Bugs has a nephew here, Clyde. In cartoons and films of the time, the censors demanded marriage of a character before there could be children. Having a niece or nephew appear,Continue reading “Yankee Doodle Bugs premiered”

August 28, 1978 –Released by Warner Bros. and produced by Brian Eno, Devo’s debut album , Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo was released, on this date. The album was met with mixed reviews at the time, but today is viewed as one of the most significant albums of the Post-Punk andContinue reading “Got an urge, got a surge and it’s outta control”

Most American children learned from an early age to look both ways before crossing the street, but how many of them really know how to protect themselves against political assassination? Not many. And yet, each year, millions of people are killed by assassins. It’s tragic because these are needless deaths, almost all of which couldContinue reading “Please clear the lines – an important update coming through”

August 27, 1947 –20th Century Fox’s classic film-noir, crime-drama, Kiss of Death, directed by Henry Hathaway, and starring Victor Mature, Brian Donlevy, Coleen Gray, and Richard Widmark, opened on this date. When New York mobster Joe Gallo–a vicious killer known as “Crazy Joe“–was starting out as a small-time hoodlum, he saw this movie and instantlyContinue reading “Kiss of Death premiered”

August 27, 1953 – William Wyler, romantic comedy, Roman Holiday, starring Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck, and Eddie Arnold, opened in NYC on this date. Paramount originally wanted to shoot this movie in Hollywood. William Wyler refused, insisting it must be shot on location. They finally agreed, but with a much lower budget. This meant theContinue reading “Roman Holiday premiered”

August 27, 1938 – The Merrie Melodies short, A-Lad-In Bagdad, directed by Cal Howard and Cal Dalton, and starring Egghead, was released on this date. This short rarely airs on American television due to Arabic and African stereotypes. This was the last cartoon that Cal Howard co-directed with Cal Dalton, as he left for MaxContinue reading “A-Lad-In Bagdad premiered”