Author Archives: dcaligari

June 7, 1975 –Sony releases Betamax videocassette recorder, the first home video format, in Japan, on this date. The recorder goes on sale to the public for $995.00. Almost a year to the day later, JVC will introduce a competing format called the Video Home System (VHS). VHS will ultimately surpass the Betamax format inContinue reading “Betamax made it’s debut”

June 7, 1969 – A summer replacement for ABC’s Hollywood Palace variety program, The Johnny Cash Show, debuted on this date, with performances by Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell. Dylan, who met Cash at the 1964 Newport Folk Festival, was making his first public performance since the Woody Guthrie benefit in January 1968. He performedContinue reading “The Johnny Cash Show premiered”

June 7, 1967 –If you have any young friends who aspire to become writers, the second greatest favor you can do them is to present them with copies of The Elements of Style. The first greatest, of course, is to shoot them now, while they’re happy. Dorothy Rothschild Parker, writer, poet, critic and screen writer,Continue reading “Dorothy Parker”

Today is National Donut Day. The holiday began as a fundraiser for the Salvation Army in 1938. It is celebrated annually on the first Friday of June, and honors all the female volunteers who served donuts to soldiers behind the front lines during World War I. But let’s talk about Homer Simpson, the US’ No.Continue reading “Life is short, eat the donut”

Today is National Yo-Yo Day, falling on what is believed to have been Donald Duncan Sr.’s birthday (even the Duncan Company wasn’t too sure if June 6 is the right date). I’m sure you have one. Go into the desk drawer, dig around and pull your old yo-yo out – I’ll give you a moment.Continue reading “Learn how to ‘Rock the Baby’”

June 6, 1978 –The TV newsmagazine (created by Roone Arledge,) 20/20, debuted on ABC TV on this date. The program was designed similarly to CBS’s 60 Minutes . The original hosts were Esquire magazine editor Harold Hayes, and Time art critic Robert Hughes.

June 6, 1997 –Farrah Fawcett made a bizarre appearance on the Late Show With David Letterman. She went on long tirades and story-telling sprees that made little to no sense and was distracted by blinking lights in the studio. (It should be noted that Dave was unusually kind to her throughout the interview.)

June 6, 1972 –David Bowie released The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars on this date. Ziggy Stardust is a character Bowie created with the help of his then-wife, Angela. The character’s name was inspired by the ‘60s psychobilly musician, Legendary Stardust Cowboy. Bowie performed under the Stardust persona forContinue reading “Pushing through the market square …”

June 6, 1999 –Australian filmmaker Baz Luhrmann went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen), on this date. As I move follow (read: age) this silly tune becomes more and more poignant to me. Actor Lee Perry read the narrative. The backing is the choral version of ‘Everybody’s FreeContinue reading “Attention Class of 2024”

June 6, 1990 –US district court judge Jose Gonzalez ruled that the rap album by 2 Live Crew violated Florida’s obscenity law. Gonzalez declared that the predominant subject matter of the record is “directed to the ‘dirty’ thoughts and the loins, not to the intellect and the mind.” I’ve scoured the internet, they were notContinue reading “I guess he knew it was dirty by listening to it”