Author Archives: dcaligari

August 21, 1965 –The Lovin’ Spoonful’s released their first no. 1 hit, Do You Believe In Magic on this date. The song was written by John Sebastian, who formed The Lovin’ Spoonful with his friend, Zal Yanovsky. Sebastian and Yanovsky were in a group called The Mugwumps, and made a name for themselves playing clubsContinue reading “Do you believe in magic in a young girl’s heart?”

August 20, 1948 – The Merrie Melodies short, Hot Cross Bunny, directed by Bob MvKimson, and starring Bugs Bunny, was released on this date. The impersonation that Bugs Bunny does in the wheelchair is of Lionel Barrymore in character from his radio series Mayor of the Town.

August 21, 1943 –The war time Looney Tunes short, Scrap Happy Daffy, directed by Frank Tahlin, and starring Daffy Duck, was released on this date. This short is the final appearance of Daffy Duck in black-and-white.

August 20, 1937 – The Merrie Melodies short, A Sunbonnet Blue, directed by Tex Avery, was released on this date. George and his girlfriend appear again in The Mice Will Play, which was also directed by Tex Avery.

August 21, 1911 –Pablo Picasso was having a very bad day. His so-called friend, French poet Guillaume Apollinaire – who had once declared that the Louvre should be “burned down” – came under suspicion when the Mona Lisa was stolen from the museum on this day. He was arrested and jailed. True to form, Apollinaire implicated hisContinue reading “With friends like these”

August 21, 1952 – The classic John Ford film, The Quiet Man was released on this date. This was a significant departure for Republic Pictures, which specialized in low-budget westerns, comedies and war pictures. It was the company’s first and only film to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.

August 21, 1941 –The classic romantic comedy, Here Comes Mr. Jordan, directed by Alexander Hall, and starring Robert Montgomery, Claude Rains, Evelyn Keyes, James Gleason, Edward Everett Horton, Rita Johnson, and John Emery went into general release on this date. Columbia chief Harry Cohn had serious misgivings about this adaptation of Harry Segall’s minor stageContinue reading “Here Comes Mr. Jordan opened”

The Autumnal Equinox occurs in 32 days. 2026 Midterm Election occurs in 74 days. You may now go about your business

August 20, 1960 – The Looney Tunes short, Mice Follies, directed by Bob McKimson, was released on this date. This cartoon was the third of three parodies of The Honeymooners, following The Honey-Mousers and Cheese It, the Cat!

August 20, 1955 –The Merrie Melodies short, A Kiddies Kitty, directed by Friz Freleng, and starring Sylvester the Cat, was released on this date. Sylvester’s only lines of dialogue in this short is saying, “Yeah” four times.