Author Archives: dcaligari

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.

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 “We interrupt our regularly scheduled program”

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 premiered”

December 1, 1989 –The very silly National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, starring Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Randy Quaid, Juliette Lewis and Johnny Galecki, opened 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 “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation premiered”

December 1, 1903 –The first Western film, directed by Edwin S. Porter, The Great Train Robbery, was released on this date. The final shot of a gun being fired toward the camera had a profound effect on audiences. As cinema was in its infancy, many people who saw the film thought that they were actuallyContinue reading “The Great Train Robbery started it all”

Advent is the period of four Sundays and weeks before Christmas (those trying to figure out their Advent Calendars, you may open the first window on the First of December). Today is the first Advent Sunday of this season. It is a time to “get ready” for the celebration of Christmas. The theme of theContinue reading “Advent means ‘Coming’ in Latin.”

November 30, 1994 –The Beatles’ first album in 25 years, Live at the BBC, is released in Britain on this date. BBC producer Peter Pilbeam meet an unknown group through their young manager Brian Epstein in February of 1962. He was impressed the group’s four-song audition and thus began a relationship that would span roughlyContinue reading “A big release day for the boys”

November 30, 1979 –Pink Floyd released its album The Wall on this date. Pink Floyd rarely released singles that were also on an album because they felt their songs were best appreciated in the context of an album, where the songs and the artwork came together to form a theme. Producer Bob Ezrin convinced themContinue reading “So ya thought ya might like to go to the show …”

November 30, 2004 –Ken Jennings‘ reign as Jeopardy! champion ended when he lost his 75th game to challenger Nancy Zerg, on this date. The clue: Most of this firm’s 70,000 seasonal white-collar employees work only four months a year.; Nancy Zerg, who was in second place with $10,000, revealed her response: H&R Block.; Her $4,401Continue reading “Ken lost on Jeopardy”