Author Archives: dcaligari

October 30, 1938 – The War of the Worlds was the Halloween episode of the American radio drama anthology series Mercury Theatre on the Air. Directed by the wunderkind Orson Welles, the episode was an adaptation of H. G. Wells’ classic novel The War of the Worlds (1898). Welles’s adaptation is arguably the most well-knownContinue reading “Is there anybody there?”

October 29, 1973 – John Lennon’s fourth solo album, Mind Games, was released by Apple, on this date The single Mind Games was the only single released from the album, which was a modest success but nowhere near as popular as his Beatles output. This song has held up well, getting significant airplay on aContinue reading “Mind Games went on sale”

October 29, 1984 –Frankie Goes to Hollywood release their debut album, Welcome To The Pleasuredome, in the UK, on this date. Trevor Horn discovered Frankie Goes To Hollywood shortly after creating his record company ZTT when he saw the band performing Relax and Two Tribes on a Channel 4 show called The Tube. Chris SquireContinue reading “Welcome To The Pleasuredome went on sale”

October 29, 1993 –The first Got Milk commercial – the iconic Aaron Burr ad premiered on this date. The commercial was directed by a recent film graduate of the Art Center College of Design, Michael Bay (yes, Transformers Michael Bay).

October 29, 1974 –Rhoda and Joe got married on this date. The Rhoda’s Wedding episode, which was a crossover episode with the Mary Tyler Moore Show, broke records for ratings when it aired.

October 29, 1268 –16-year old Conradin, the Duke of Swabia, the last legitimate male heir of the German Hohenstaufen dynasty of Kings and Holy Roman Emperors, was executed along with his best friend, Frederick I, Margrave of Baden by Charles I of Sicily. But what the hell do you care, Halloween is in two daysContinue reading “We’re getting close Bunkies”

October 28, 1950 –The eternally 39-year old Benjamin Kubelsky (who was actually 56 at the time,) transitioned his successful radio program to television on this date when The Jack Benny Show premiered on CBS-TV. In the early years, the program was originally titled The Lucky Strike Program after the show’s sponsor, Lucky Strike cigarettes, whichContinue reading “Oh Mr. Benny, Mr. Benny”

Today is International Animation Day. First observed in 2002, the day commemorates the first public performance of Emile Reynaud’s Theatre Optique at the Grevin Museum in Paris in 1892. So Kids make sure you grab a bowl of the sugary breakfast cereal and watch your favorite cartoons.

October 28, 1962 –Gerry and Sylvia Anderson third attempt at frightening children with Supermarionation – Fireball XL5 premiered in the UK, on this date. Remember to stick around for the end credits to sing along with the theme! Although Supercar had been shown in syndication, this was the first Gerry Anderson‘ Supermarionation series to appearContinue reading “All our hearts would be a Fireball”

October 28, 1972 –Stevie Wonder released his 15th studio album Talking Book on this date. The album’s first track, You Are the Sunshine of My Life, hit No.1 on the Billboard charts, and earned Wonder his first Grammy Award. The album featured a guest appearance of Jeff Beck on the track Superstition.