Author Archives: dcaligari

May 18, 1976 –Warren Zevon releases his self-titled album, produced by Jackson Browne, on this date. Warren Zevon’s eponymous second album came out six years after his first. In the years between, he took musical odd jobs like writing jingles, but he also performed and caught the attention of Jackson Browne, who helped him landContinue reading “On a small Missouri farm”

May 16, 1966 –The Beach Boys released their 11th studio album, Pet Sounds on this date. It has since been recognized as one of the most influential albums in the history of popular music and is widely regarded as one of the best albums of the 1960s. All that beautiful music and barking dogs, too.

May 16, 1957 – The Merrie Melodies short, Tweety and the Beanstalk, directed by Friz Freleng, starring Sylvester and Tweety, debuted on this date. Not only does Sylvester break the fourth wall, he refers to Tweety as a Tweety Bird.

May 16, 1936 –The Merrie Melodies short, I’d Love to Take Orders from You, directed by Tex Avery, debuted on this date. Among the agriculturally inspired home accessories seen in the scarecrow family dwelling are a cornstalk hat rack and a pumpkin based table lamp.

May 16, 1956 – Alfred Hitchcock’s remake of his 1934 film, The Man Who Knew Too Much, starring James Stewart and Doris Day, premiered in Hollywood on this date. Throughout the filming, Doris Day became increasingly concerned that Alfred Hitchcock paid more attention to camera set-ups, lighting, and technical matters than he did to herContinue reading “The Man Who Knew Too Much premiered (again)”

May 16, 1977 –The sequel to the TV movie, Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway, Alexander: The Other Side of Dawn, starring Leigh McCloskey, Eve Plumb, Juliet Mills, Jean Hagen, and Earl Holliman, premiered on NBC TV, on this date. This was Jean Hagen’s final performance.

Today is National Sea Monkey Day, (Mr. Teeny has told me countless times that it was his uncle in the video and he came to a very bitter end. Mr Teeny has retired to Palm Springs, California, we try to talk every weekend – thanks for asking.) So go out and enjoy the day thinkingContinue reading “Do people still buy these kits?”

Celebrate the day by enjoying the sweet morsels in every bite of a chocolate chip cookie. (Do not confuse today though with National Chip Cookie Day which is August 4th.) Go out and eat some raw cookie dough to celebrate (ignore the feelings of shame and worries of salmonella poisoning due to the raw cookieContinue reading “It should always be National Chocolate Chip Day –”

May 15, 1958 – Vincente Minnelli’s lush valentine to the La Belle Époque era, Gigi premiered in NYC on this date. (Just try not thinking the whole teen-age prostitution angle of the film and you’ll enjoy it.) Leslie Caron enjoyed working with Louis Jourdan, though he could sometimes be a challenge. She recalled, “Louis Jourdan,Continue reading “Try not thinking about the whole teen sex angle”

May 15, 1987 – The road movie which polarized critics, Ishtar, directed by Elaine May and starring Dustin Hoffman, Warren Beatty, Isabelle Adjani, Charles Grodin, and Jack Weston, opened on this date. Warren Beatty and Elaine May quarreled and argued quite a bit off camera and especially in the editing room. Dustin Hoffman would serveContinue reading “Ishtar premiered”