Author Archives: dcaligari

Today is the Feast of the Transverberation of St. Teresa of Ávila (and this time, I’m not sure even an old lady saying her rosary in church could explain it to you). If you find yourself in Rome, run – do not walk – to Santa Maria della Vittoria. The church houses one of theContinue reading “Imperfections do not shock me, for I see so many in myself”

August 25, 1972 –American International Pictures released another film in the blaxploitation vein, Blacula, starring William Marshall, on this date. While the film was in its production stages, William Marshall worked with the producers to make sure his character had some dignity. His character’s name was changed from Andrew Brown to Mamuwalde and received aContinue reading “Blacula premiered”

August 25, 1949 –Vincente Minnelli adaptation of Gustave Flaubert’s novel, Madame Bovary, starring Jennifer Jones, James Mason, Van Heflin, and Louis Jourdan, opened in New York City on this date. After the expensive box-office failure of The Pirate, director Vincente Minnelli worked hard to cut corners on this film, fearing he might be otherwise beContinue reading “Madame Bovary premiered”

August 25, 1945 – The Merrie Melodies short, Fresh Airedale, directed by Chuck Jones, was released on this date. The burglar calls Shep a quisling, another name for a turncoat. It comes from the Norwegian politician, Vidkun Quisling, who was a Nazi collaborator in WW2.

August 25, 1956 – The Looney Tunes short, Raw! Raw! Rooster!, directed by Bob McKimson and starring Foghorn Leghorn, was released on this date. Red asks for a “mashie-niblick,” an old style golf club which was the equivalent in use to the modern 7-iron. “Mashie” is derived from the French word “massue” (club), while “niblick”Continue reading “Raw! Raw! Rooster! premiered”

August 25, 1975 –Bruce Springsteen’s third album Born to Run was released on this date. The stunning success of Born To Run was tempered by the fine print on Springsteen’s contract with his manager, Mike Appel, which gave Appel a degree of control over who Bruce worked with. They sued each other in 1976, andContinue reading “Roy Orbison singing for the lonely”

August 24, 1981 –Rolling Stones Records released the 16th British and 18th American studio album by The Rolling Stones, Tattoo You, on this date. The Rolling Stones were getting ready for a contractual world tour and the band was barely speaking to one another by late 1980. To promote their worldwide American Tour 1981/European TourContinue reading “I’ve been running hot”

August 24, 1937 –William Wyler’s crime-drama film, Dead End, opened in NYC on this date. William Wyler originally wanted to film on location on the streets of New York, but producer Samuel Goldwyn insisted that the movie be made in the studio. Art director Richard Day was assigned to design the sets and made oneContinue reading “Dead End premiered”

August 24, 1977 – The third in a series of films based on the Peanuts comic strip, Race For You Life, Charlie Brown, directed by Bill Melendez and Phil Roman, and voiced by Duncan Watson, Stuart Brotman, Gail Davis, Liam Martin, and Melanie Kohn, opened on this date. This is the only theatrical Peanuts filmContinue reading “Race For You Life, Charlie Brown debuted”

August 23, 1952 – The Merrie Melodies short, Going! Going! Gosh, directed by Chuck Jones, starring Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner, was released on this date. Both characters break the fourth wall without actually saying anything.