Author Archives: dcaligari

April 17, 1970 – A little known solo artist Paul McCartney releases his first solo album, McCartney, on this date. Although no singles were released from the album, Maybe I’m Amazed was regarded as an instant classic, gaining massive AM and FM radio airplay. In 1977, a live version of Maybe I’m Amazed peaked atContinue reading “McCartney went on sale”

April 16, 1956 –The I Love Lucy Episode, Lucy’s Italian Movie (the grape stomping episode) first aired on CBS TV on this date. This is considered on of the funniest episodes of the series. The grape stompers were actual Italian women who didn’t speak English. In a 1974 interview with Dick Cavett, Lucille Ball wentContinue reading “They’re still laughing at the old Desilu Studio”

April 16, 1932 –Moment by moment one of the funniest Laurel and Hardy sound movies, The Music Box, opened on this date. The idea for the film came to a Hal Roach comedy writer in 1927 when he passed a long flight of stairs in the Silverlake area of L.A. and thought it would beContinue reading “The Music Box premiered”

An important date in ACME History A mid-1950s construction worker involved in the demolition of the J. C. Wilber Building finds a box inside a cornerstone. He opens it to reveal a singing, dancing frog (that came to be called Michigan J. Frog,) complete with top hat and cane. According to the cartoon, One FroggyContinue reading “Duly Noted”

April 16, 1973 –In order to fulfill a contractual obligation with Lew Grade, Paul McCartney appeared in his first TV special (since the disastrous Magical Mystery Tour,) James Paul McCartney, on this date. Although it was very highly anticipated – McCartney received a cover story on TV Guide – the reviews were dreadful. The NewContinue reading “Another not so good Paul McCartney special”

April 16, 1977 –David Soul one half of TV cop show Starsky & Hutch, went to No.1 on the US singles chart (as well as the UK charts,) with Don’t Give Up On Us, his only US hit, on this date. This was written by Tony Macaulay, who co-wrote four other UK #1s: Baby NowContinue reading “Sorry, in advance,for this ear worm”

April 15, 1967 –The Nancy Sinatra and Frank Sinatra very sweet and slightly weird song, Somethin’ Stupid, hit no. #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart on this date. This was written by a songwriter named Carson Parks, who along with his musical partner Gaile Foote, released the song as Carson And Gaile onContinue reading “Somethin’ Stupid topped the charts”

You might think that today, April 15, is the deadline for submitting personal tax returns. However, this is not always the case. When the date falls on a weekend, it is often moved to the following Monday. But since today is Tuesday, they’re due today. you better hustle.

April 15, 1923 –Dr. Lee De Forest demonstrates his Phonofilm sound-on-film process to the first paying movie audience at an invitation-only event at the Rialto Theater in New York City. (I’ve seen the date listed as March 12 as well.) Dr. De Forest received in 1959 an honorary Oscar from the Academy of Motion PictureContinue reading “One of the first sound film previews”

April 15, 1990 –Fox TV premiered the Wayans Bros. comedy series In Living Color on this date. For the first few episodes, an exotic-looking logo was used for the opening credits. The band Living Colour claimed the show stole the logo from them. They threatened to sue. As a result, the logo was changed toContinue reading “In Living Color debuted”