December 2, 1986 –Desi Arnaz died from lung cancer, on this date. Although recognized as a great innovator of television, I guess he might have had second thoughts about that Philip Morris sponsorship of the I Love Lucy show.
Author Archives: dcaligari
Clear the airwaves!
We have just been notified that it is Cyborg Monday, oh no, run for your lives. Wait – an update – it’s Cyber Monday. Continue to run for your lives!!! The term “Cyber Monday” was dreamt up in 2005 by by a young public relations executive named Ellen Davis at Shop.org, a division of theContinue reading “Clear the airwaves!”
One of the first rock movies
December 1, 1956 –The Frank Tashlin musical comedy film, The Girl Can’t Help It, starring Jayne Mansfield, Tom Ewell, Edmond O’Brien, Henry Jones, and Julie London, premiered in the US on this date. In this film, Eddie Cochran performs Twenty Flight Rock. That song’s influence was so great across the Atlantic in Liverpool, England, thatContinue reading “One of the first rock movies”
Is your house on fire, Clark?
December 1, 1989 –The very silly National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, starring Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Randy Quaid, Juliette Lewis and Johnny Galecki, premiered on this date. After failing to get the Christmas lights to work one last time, Clark Griswold takes his frustration out on the plastic decorations in the front yard. Chevy Chase actuallyContinue reading “Is your house on fire, Clark?”
I’ve never been in a cell that had a phone in it
December 1, 1984 –The Eddie Murphy mega-hit, Beverly Hills Cop, co-starring, Judge Reinhold, and John Ashton, premiered in Los Angeles on this date. Eddie Murphy became very tired while filming the police station sequences. The crew offered him coffee, but he refused to drink it because he refuses to take drugs of any kind. EventuallyContinue reading “I’ve never been in a cell that had a phone in it”
The month of lights, snow, and feasts
December is the twelfth and last month of the year according to the Gregorian calendar. This is used in almost all the world today. It was the tenth month in the early Roman calendar. It became the twelfth month in a later Roman calendar. Until 46 B.C., December only had 29 days. But the RomanContinue reading “The month of lights, snow, and feasts”
They can’t just make the day disappear
On December First each year, we celebrate World AIDS Day, the day is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. In the United States, during 2021, there were an estimated 30,800 new diagnoses of HIV infection and worldwide, there were about 1.5 million new cases of HIV.Continue reading “They can’t just make the day disappear”
They now add things other than chocolates to the calendars
Today is the first Advent Sunday of this season. Advent means ‘Coming‘ in Latin. It is a time to “get ready” for the celebration of Christmas. (The first candle represents HOPE, as all good altar boys know. I didn’t just joke around at St. John’s; once in a blue moon, I paid attention.) Advent isContinue reading “They now add things other than chocolates to the calendars”
… he has the heart of a giant
November 30, 1971 –The TV movie that makes ‘real men‘ weep unabashedly, Brian’s Song debuted on ABC-TV on this date. While it was not mentioned in the film for reasons of delicacy on prime time TV, Brian Piccolo had a metastasized version of testicular cancer (“testicle” was a censored word). He underwent multiple, extremely painfulContinue reading “… he has the heart of a giant”
How often did David sneak in to use Bing’s piano?
November 30, 1977 –Bing Crosby’s last Christmas special premiered on this date. The program was recorded in September, and Crosby died that October. The show is remembered for Crosby’s unusual duet with David Bowie, where they sing a modified version of Little Drummer Boy, with Bowie singing the new Peace On Earth lyrics composed byContinue reading “How often did David sneak in to use Bing’s piano?”
The Haus of Dcaligari 