Author Archives: dcaligari

May 22, 1974 –There is no real explanation – perhaps gambling debts – can explain the pairing of Julie Andrews and Jackie Gleason in the TV special, Julie Andrews & Jackie Gleason: How Sweet It Is, which air on ABC TV on this date. This special was produced specifically for the American market (with JackieContinue reading “I don’t remember seeing it”

May 22, 1992 –The man most of America went to bed with every night for 30 years, finally got tired of having to try to satisfy so many people. Johnny Carson’s final appearance on The Tonight Show was broadcast on this date. The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson remained a fixture on NBC through theContinue reading “Carson’s Tonight Show Finale”

The 36th annual Fleet Week New York will start today and continue through May 28th, and the U.S. Navy says about 2,600 Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen will be on hand to join in the “celebration of sea services.” As the old jokes goes: Take care lady, the streets are full of seamen. Remember nextContinue reading “Ahoy there”

May 21, 1971 –Regarded as one of the landmark recordings in pop music history, and one of the greatest albums of the 20th century, Marvin Gaye’s eleventh studio album What’s Going On, was released on this date. A loosely connected concept album of songs from the point of view of a Vietnam veteran returning toContinue reading “Marvin first asked us ‘What’s Going On’”

May 21, 1980 –George Lucas didn’t have enough money (the first time). He produces a sequel to his highly successful Star Wars film, which somehow is Part V (don’t ask or someone will go to great lengths to explain it all to you.) The Empire Strikes Back opened nationwide on this date. The film contains,Continue reading “The Empire Strikes Back premiered”

May 21, 1992 –Bette Midler, the last scheduled guest, sang a touching impromptu duet with Johnny Carson, on the Tonight Show, on this date. This penultimate show was immediately recognized as a television classic, and Midler would win an Emmy Award for her role in it.

May 21, 1982 – The technically clever parody of and a homage to film noir, Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid, directed, and co-written by Carl Reiner and starring Steve Martin, Rachel Ward, Carl Reiner, and a boat load of actors from the ‘40s, opened in the US on this date. Final film of legendary costumeContinue reading “Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid premiered”

May 21, 1917 –One of the World’s Greatest Actors, Raymond Burr was born on this date. In celebration, may I suggest purchasing a small container of the fabulous nipple rouge bearing this man’s name. This year, ‘Bruised Plum‘.

Today is International Tea Day. Tea Day first got its start in 2004 when it was celebrated in New Delhi. It grew over the years and by 2019 the day was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. Drinking tea is less likely to produce a ‘caffeine crash’ than drinking coffee. This is because theContinue reading “The reading of tea leaves is called tasseography”

May 20, 1946 –Cherilyn Sarkisian, pop singer-songwriter, Academy Award, Grammy Award, Emmy Award, three Golden Globe Awards and a People’s Choice Award winner was born on this date. Wig manufacturer’s everywhere celebrate this day as an international holiday.