Author Archives: dcaligari

July 17, 1943 – Originally released in B & W (re-release as a color version in 1968 and 1990,) Porky Pig’s Feat premiered on this date. This is the first time the Raymond Scott composition Powerhouse is used in a Warner Bros. cartoon. A rare appearance for Porky Pig (his last appearance in a blackContinue reading “A very special Looney Tunes”

July 17, 1956 –The musical version of The Philadelphia Story, High Society, starring Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly and Frank Sinatra, opened on this date. The song True Love, written by Cole Porter especially for the movie, was a million seller and both Grace Kelly and Bing Crosby were awarded platinum records for the song. ThisContinue reading “High Society premiered”

July 17, 1959 – Alfred Hitchcock’s superlative North By Northwest, starring Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint, opened on this date. This movie has been referred to as “the first James Bond film” due to its similarities with splashily colorful settings, secret agents, and an elegant, daring, wisecracking leading man opposite a sinister yet strangelyContinue reading “North By Northwest premiered”

July 17, 1999 – The series, Spongebob Squarepants, created by marine biologist and animator Stephen Hillenburg, started regularly airing on Nickelodeon on this date. (It’s actually the second episode. The pilot episode had premiered in May of 1999) Frequently, a French accented-voice comes on to note a passage of time. It’s an homage to Jacques-YvesContinue reading “The Spongebob Squarepants series premiered”

July 16, 1966 –Tommy James and the Shondells‘ single Hanky Panky goes to No. #1 of the Billboard Charts on this date. Tommy James & the Shondells initially formed in 1959 as Tom and the Tornadoes, with the then 12-year-old Tommy Jackson as lead singer. In 1963, he renamed the band The Shondells, after oneContinue reading “Hanky Panky topped the charts”

July 16, 1951 –The Catcher in the Rye was published 73 years ago today. The book contained secret code words by means of which its author, J.D. Salinger, was able to communicate diabolical commands to his evil minions. Draw your own conclusions. Salinger was a one-hit wonder. (He did write several other books, but theseContinue reading “Holden Caulfield would be about 90 by now”

July 16, 1958 –The classic Vincent Price Sci-Fi film, The Fly, opened in San Francisco on this date. David Hedison suggested that his character wear progressive makeup effects that showed him in a mixed part human/part fly state when his face is finally revealed, instead of just a fully formed Fly mask as depicted inContinue reading “Help me, Help me!!!”

July 16, 1951 –One of the best adaptations of a Charles Dickens‘ novel, David Lean’s Oliver Twist was released in the US on this date. Oliver Twist originally premiered in the UK in 1948. The movie’s release in the U.S. was delayed until 1951 because of protests from Jewish pressure groups, who judged Alec Guinness‘Continue reading “Oliver Twist opened”

July 16, 1969 –55 years ago on this date, the 363-foot-tall Apollo 11 space vehicle was launched from Pad A, Launch Complex 39, Kennedy Space Center, at 9:37 a.m. (As I have gotten older, I have only now put it together that some sick puppies at NASA (probably some of the ‘Good Germans‘) arranged toContinue reading “On the way to the moon”

July 15, 1946 –I wanted to sing when I was little. That’s what I liked doing. It didn’t occur to me that you became famous or anything like that. Linda Maria Ronstadt, singer and actress was born in Tucson, Arizona on this date. (Send her your good thoughts)