Author Archives: dcaligari

Since it’s a leap year, this isn’t the end of February – there’s one more day this month There are 20 days until Spring! (Christmas is in 301 days)

February 28, 1983 –Produced by Steve Lillywhite, U2 released their third studio album War, on this date. It’s their first album to sell a million copies in America.

February 28, 1963 – Patsy Cline made the final TV appearance on this date, when she’s on The Glenn Reeves Show, performing San Antonio Rose and I Fall To Pieces. She died tragically in a plane crash just five days later at the age of 30.

February 28, 1979 –Mr. Ed, the talking horse, died. This was not the horse who actually starred on the TV show, but another horse who did publicity work as Mr. Ed. The original Mr. Ed (Bamboo Harvester) died in 1970. But what do you care.

February 27, 1859 –Censured Congressman Dan Sickles of New York (who escorting a known prostitute into State chambers) shot and killed Philip Barton Key, son of Francis Scott Key and U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. The younger Key was having an affair with the congressman’s wife at the time. He was tried onContinue reading “Santos was an amateur”

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”