December 21, 1963 – The Doctor Who story arc The Daleks, the second story of Season One, first aired on the BBC on this date. The episodes mark the first appearance of the Doctor’s mortal enemies, the Daleks, a race of genetically engineered mutants who abhor all other races.
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The Timid Toreador premiered
December 21, 1940 –Another classic Porky Pig cartoon, The Timid Toreador, opened on this date. Bob Clampett was briefly sick during this time period, leaving two Porky Pig cartoons (The Timid Toreador and Porky’s Snooze Reel) unfinished, Leon Schlesinger told Norman McCabe to complete the directorial duties—hence the co-director credit under their main titles.
Nope, it didn’t happen
December 21, 1969 –Diana Ross and the Supremes make their final television appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, on this date. The song they sang, Someday We’ll Be Together, would become the last of their 12 number one singles.
Time is definitely on their side
December 20, 1971 –The Rolling Stones’ first anthology album Hot Rocks 1964-1971 was released on this date. The album remains one of their all-time best sellers. While the emphasis is on the hits, Hot Rocks also includes several iconic album tracks such as Play With Fire, Under My Thumb, and Gimme Shelter.
Gulliver’s Travels premiered
December 20, 1939 – The Paramount Pictures animated version of Gulliver’s Travels directed by Dave Fleischer, opened in NYC on this date. Even though the film was a box-office success, it never managed to recover its enormous cost, which went nearly $500,000 over budget due to the relocation of the Fleischer studios, transportation of filmContinue reading “Gulliver’s Travels premiered”
Ah, youth is wasted on the wrong people.
December 20, 1946 –The Frank Capra film It’s A Wonderful Life had a preview showing for charity at New York City’s Globe Theatre, a day before its official premiere. Due to a clerical error at NTA‘s copyright office, the copyright wasn’t renewed when it expired in 1974. The film became public domain, meaning anyone whoContinue reading “Ah, youth is wasted on the wrong people.”
Godfather II premiered
December 20, 1974 –Arguably the greatest sequel ever made, Godfather II, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, and Robert De Niro, opened in the US on this date. Francis Ford Coppola had a horrible time directing The Godfather and asked to pick a different director for the sequel,Continue reading “Godfather II premiered”
Who needs a tree when you’ve got an ugly Christmas sweater
The third Friday of December is National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day. The first Christmas-themed sweaters made an appearance in 1950, produced on a grand scale and quickly becoming popular, but it wasn‘t until the 1980s that the unique piece of clothing made a cultural impact, after appearing in different TV sitcoms. Shockingly, nearly six millionContinue reading “Who needs a tree when you’ve got an ugly Christmas sweater”
Always On My Mind topped the charts
December 19, 1987 –The Pet Shop Boys had their third UK No.1 single with their version of Always On My Mind, on this date. The duo had performed a version of Always on My Mind on Love Me Tender, an TV special commemorating the tenth anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death, their performance was so well-receivedContinue reading “Always On My Mind topped the charts”
I really miss Craig on TV
December 19, 2014 –After 2,058 episodes, Craig Ferguson ended his time as the host of The Late Late Show on CBS TV, on this date. In the cold open, Ferguson performed Dead Man Fall’s song Bang Your Drum accompanied by Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgwick (plus dog Lily), Jack Black, Kristen Bell, Pierce Brosnan, Steve Carell,Continue reading “I really miss Craig on TV”
