Author Archives: dcaligari

September 6, 1958 – Steve McQueen debuted in the western series, Wanted: Dead or Alive, on CBS-TV on this date. Steve McQueen was hired after Jack H. Harris, who was producing The Blob gave him a glowing reference to Dick Powell (the head of Four Star Productions). Powell also asked for, and was granted, theContinue reading “Steve McQueen’s first foray in TV Westerns”

Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book. – Groucho Today is Read a Book Day, which should not be confused with National Book Lovers Day, celebrated on August 9th. I’ve just recently read Ain’t It Time We Said Goodbye: The Rolling Stones on The RoadContinue reading “I find television very educating….”

September 5, 1946 –Farrokh Bulsara, British musician, singer and songwriter, was born on this date. Freddie Mercury has been called one of Rock’s greatest performers of all time.

September 5, 1981 –Soft Cell’s single Tainted Love was at No.1 on the UK singles chart on this date. This is a cover of a 1964 song by the American soul singer Gloria Jones, whose original version was released as the B-side of her single My Bad Boy’s Comin’ Home. A club DJ named RichardContinue reading “Tainted Love topped the charts”

September 5, 1927 –Walt Disney’s Trolley Troubles, first appearance of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoons, opened on this date. Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks worked for Universal Pictures on this cartoon. Universal showed their appreciation for the two for making Oswald a star by threatening to cut their salaries. As a result, the two walked…andContinue reading “Trolley Troubles premiered”

September 5, 1916 –D. W. Griffith classic silent-film masterpiece, Intolerance: Love’s Struggle Throughout the Ages, opened on this date. The Babylonian orgy sequence alone cost $200,000 when it was shot. That’s nearly twice the overall budget of The Birth of a Nation, another D.W. Griffith film and, at the time, the record holder for mostContinue reading “Intolerance premiered”

September 5, 2006 –Katie Couric made her first appearance as anchor on CBS Evening News. Her introduction normally would have been read by an announcer, but in this case, viewers heard the voice of CBS News legend Walter Cronkite make the introduction.

Today is National Cheese Pizza Day. While you do not have to don tight fitting polyester pants and strut down 86th Street in Bensonhurst to celebrate, please remember that you have to fold your pizza in half to eat it, and for god’s sake, don’t use a fork and a knife.

Today is the start of the 2024-25 school year for the more than 1.1 million NYC public school students (and their teachers.) There are appx 294 days until the next summer vacation (about 180 days of classes or 42 weeks) and you know every student is counting every single day until then.

September 4, 1971 –Paul and Linda McCartney single from the album, Ram, Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey went to No.1 on the Billboard charts on this date. This was the first No. 1 single by a Beatle after the group’s break-up. Linda McCartney is credited as a co-writer on this song with Paul. She sang background andContinue reading “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey topped the charts”