Author Archives: dcaligari

September 9, 1947 –At the Naval Weapons Center in Dahlgren, Virginia, Grace Murray Hopper records the discovery of the first actual computer “bug” by the computer’s operators at 3:45pm in her log book with the explanation, “First instance of actual computer bug being found.” The bug is literally just that, a moth which had becomeContinue reading “The corollary to a fly in the ointment”

September 9, 1966 – ABC-TV premiered, at the time, the highest budgeted science fiction series, The Time Tunnel, Rendezvous with Yesterday, on this date. The series starred James Darren and Robert Colbert. Many episodes made extensive use of stock footage from the 20th Century Fox film library, which allowed Irwin Allen to do shows againstContinue reading “lost in the swirling maze of past and future ages”

September 9, 1966 –The cult favorite series, The Green Hornet, starring Van Williams, Bruce Lee, and William Dozier (as the narrator), premired on ABC-TV on this date. Van Williams became good friends with Bruce Lee and repeatedly negotiated with the show’s producers to give Lee more screen time and lines. Bruce Lee once said thatContinue reading “Britt Reid is the grand-nephew of John Reid, the Lone Ranger.”

September 8, 2001 –Kylie Minogue released the single Can’t Get You Out Of My Head, with a “la la la” chorus that does indeed burrow into the brain, on this date. For most Americans, this was the first they heard from Minogue since 1988, when her cover of The Loco-Motion hit #3. She became anContinue reading “(Ear worm alert -)”

September 8, 1975 –The second spin-off from the Mary Tyler Moore universe, Phyllis, starring Cloris Leachman, Henry Jones, Jane Rose’ Judith Lowry, Lisa Gerritsen, Barbara Colby, and Richard Schaal, debuted on CBS-TV on this date. Barbara Colby played Julie Erskine in the first three episodes of the series. She and her friend James Kiernan wereContinue reading “Phyllis premiered”

September 8, 1966 –That Girl starring Marlo Thomas debuted on ABC-TV on this date. The train in the opening sequence of the series was shot at Secaucus Junction, in Secaucus, NJ. It was filmed out of the back of the train as it headed northwest, then the film was reversed, making it appear to beContinue reading “First time we took the train in from Brewster”

September 8, 1664 –The Dutch surrendered the city of New Amsterdam to the British, who renamed it New York, on this day. The English navigator Henry Hudson claimed credit as the city’s discoverer in 1609, when he sailed into its harbor and up the river that now bears his name, looking for a passage toContinue reading “New York became New York”

Please rise. September 8, 1892 –“I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.“ The Pledge, which was written by Baptist minister Francis Bellamy, was published on this day in The Youth’s Companion children’s magazine. (Rev. Bellamy did not include the wordsContinue reading “One must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone.”

September 7, 1987 –Pink Floyd released their first album without founding member Roger Waters, A Momentary Lapse of Reason, in the UK, on this date. Pink Floyd had split up in 1983 after releasing the album The Final Cut. In 1985, Waters told their record company he was done with the band, which he thoughtContinue reading “A Momentary Lapse of Reason went on sale”

September 7, 1963 –The first animated cartoon series to be imported from Japan, Astro Boy was broadcast on NBC-TV on this date. Although originally intended only for the US airings of the show, the name “Astro Boy” proved to be popular among Japanese viewers as well, and so the names “Astro Boy” and “Tetsuwan Atomu”Continue reading “There you go, Astro Boy …”