Author Archives: dcaligari

February 27, 1971 –Janis Joplin’s album released three months after her drug overdose, Pearl hits #1 in the US, where it stays for nine weeks, on this date. Pearl was Janis Joplin’s most commercially successful album, yet it only reached #50 in the UK. Pearl was one of Joplin’s nicknames.

February 27, 1920 –A film that we’re somewhat familiar with here, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, opened in Germany on this date. The final look and feel of the film was based as much on low-budget practicalities as it was on creative inspiration and expressionism. Electricity was strictly rationed in post-WWI Germany at the timeContinue reading “No, it’s not a home movie”

February 27, 1968 –CBS News anchorman Walter Cronkite’s commentary on the progress of the Vietnam War solidified President Lyndon B. Johnson’s decision not to seek reelection in 1968. Cronkite, who had been at Hue in the midst of the Tet Offensive earlier in February, said: “Who won and who lost in the great Tet OffensiveContinue reading “The tide turned”

It’s National Kahlua Day! Kahlua, for those under 21 or Mormon, is a rich, creamy, coffee based alcoholic liqueur from Mexico. this will be on the test (and Kahlua can send me my check for the advertising space I provided.) (As always, celebrate as you see fit.)

February 26, 1993 –31 years ago on this date, a bomb explodes on level B2 of the World Trade Center, creating a five story crater and leaving six dead and over 1,042 injured. Mohammed A. Salameh was later arrested in connection with the bombing as he tries to claim a refund on a rented vanContinue reading “It seems like a lifetime ago”

Today is For Pete’s Sake Day. “For Pete’s sake” originated as a substitute for “for Christ’s (or God’s) sake,” and other similar expressions—as using a shortened form of the disciple St. Peter’s name instead was considered less offensive. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, “for Pete’s sake” came into use more than a century agoContinue reading “You learn something new every day”

February 26, 1979 –NBC hoped to capitalize on their previous series Columbo, by casting Kate Mulgrew, as his never seen wife, now a crime solving reporter in Mrs. Columbo, co-starring Henry Jones, premiered on this date. The series was originally about the exploits of the crime reporter wife of Lt. Columbo, but when the seriesContinue reading “A series you may not have heard of”

February 26, 1979 –The shortlived sitcom, Flatbush, premiered on CBS-TV on this date. The show was so disliked that CBS switchboards were flood with negative comments about the show that night. Only three of the episodes aired.

February 26, 1966 –While Nancy Sinatra was on the same record label (Reprise) as her famous father, her record label was going to drop her because her first few singles flopped. Things changed when they teamed her with producer Lee Hazlewood. These Boots Are Made for Walkin‘ topped the charts on this date. It wasContinue reading “What else would they be for?”

February 26, 1974 –A U.S. Senate report reveals Ford Motor’s involvement in Nazi Germany’s war efforts, for which CEO Henry Ford was awarded the Grand Cross of the German Eagle at the behest Adolf Hitler himself. After the war, the car company was paid nearly $1M reparation by the U.S. government to compensate for oneContinue reading “And some people worry about buying a BMW”