Author Archives: dcaligari

August 10, 1948 –Candid Camera, considered by many to be the first reality tv show, debuted on ABC-TV on this date. The series was previously known on the radio. Its name: Candid Microphone. For a period in 1958, the show appeared as a regular segment of Jack Paar’s The Tonight Show, airing on NBC. InContinue reading “When you least expect it …”

Happy National S’mores Day. S’mores – the most popular campfire treat is recognized each year on August 10th. In 1927, Girl Scouts troop leader Loretta Scott Crew wrote a recipe for “Some Mores,” and published it in Tramping and Trailing With the Girl Scouts, an official Girl Scouts publication, though the exact origin of S’moresContinue reading “Life is better with s’mores and the ones you love.”

August 9, 1945 –Just three days after Little Boy was dropped on Hiroshima, a second atomic bomb (a 22 kiloton Atomic Bomb) called Fat Man was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan, population 270,000, by the U.S. B-29 bomber Bockscar. Though the amount of energy generated by the bomb was significantly larger than that of the LittleContinue reading “They thought it so nice, they did it twice”

August 9, 1974 –After President Richard M. Nixon resigned from office, his successor, Gerald Ford, assures the American people that their “long national nightmare is over.“ Ford was the only person to hold the office of US Vice President and US President without being elected to either office. He also served on the Warren Commission.Continue reading “The Tragedy of Richard M. Nixon”

August 9, 1975 –The Bee Gees single, Jive Talkin‘, reached No. #1 on the Billboard charts on this date. The rhythm was inspired by the chunka-chunka-chunka sound of a car rolling over a bridge crossing Biscayne Bay near Miami; the Bee Gees went over it on their way to Criteria Studios, where they were recordingContinue reading “Jive Talkin topped the charts”

August 9, 1930 –A forerunner of the cartoon character Betty Boop made her debut in Max Fleischer’s animated short Dizzy Dishes on this date. In later films she loses the dog ears and becomes the familiar human character we know today.

August 9, 1944 –Another brilliant war-time effort by Preston Sturges, Hail the Conquering Hero, once again starring Eddie Bracken premiered on this date. As the marines are leaving the Oakridge station, a billboard behind them is advertising The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek, another film by Preston Sturges.

August 9, 1963 –The first ever edition of Ready Steady Go! was shown on UK TV. Introduced by Keith Fordyce and 19 year-old Cathy McGowan. The first show featured The Searchers, Jet Harris, Pat Boone, Billy Fury and Brian Poole and The Tremeloes. The final show was in December 1966 after 175 episodes. Originally 30Continue reading “Ready Steady Go premiered”

Or, if they never grows up, vice president. Today is National Vice President’s Day – It’s the day to consider the succession plan of the President of the United States. The day also acknowledges the one president who was neither elected vice president nor president – Gerald Ford.

August 8, 1969 –At a ‘zebra crossing’ in London, four bitterly fractious friends are forced to take a picture on this date. Photographer Iain Macmillan took one of the most famous photographs of all time – the cover of the Beatles album, Abbey Road.