Author Archives: dcaligari

January 19, 1957 –Ernie Kovacs burst into the public consciousness with the comedy special, The Silent Show, first aired on this date. It was filmed for broadcast first, in color, on the NBC network in 1957. A second version of the show was created on videotape and broadcast November 10, 1961, on the ABC network.Continue reading “Saturday Color Carnival premiered”

January 19, 1940 –Any resemblance between the characters in this picture and any persons, living or dead, is a miracle. The Three Stooges short You Nazty Spy! about the Nazis released on this date. Filmed in 1939, not released until 1940, the film was the first Hollywood film to spoof Adolf Hitler, released nine monthsContinue reading “Moronika for Morons”

January 18, 1958 –Afro-Canadian Willie O’Ree was the very first black player in the NHL Signed by Boston Bruins he made his NHL debut with the Bruins on this date, against the Montreal Canadiens. O’Ree appeared in two games that year playing as a winger, and came back in 1961 to play 43 games, scoringContinue reading “William Eldon O’Ree”

January 18, 1980 –Pink Floyd’s album, The Wall hit #1 on the Billboard Charts, on this day. It remained there for an astounding 15 weeks straight. Despite Roger Waters’ clear ambivalence towards his audience, new and old fans alike found the album appealing: The Wall sold 11 million copies stateside and 20 million copies worldwide.

January 18, 1978 –Warren Zevon third studio album, Excitable Boy, was released on this date. The album brought Zevon to commercial attention and remains the best-selling album of his career. Co-produced by Jackson Browne, the album is laced with such horror-tinged songs like Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner, Werewolves Of London and the title track,Continue reading “Endorsed by Patty Hearst personally”

January 18, 1973 – The third season finale of Monty Python, The British Showbiz Awards (aka Grandstand,), aired on the BBC on this date Eric Idle portrays “Dickie Attenborough,” a clear reference to Richard Attenborough, who also sometimes went by Dickie. His brother, David Attenborough, worked at the BBC and actually gave this series theContinue reading “We got to see just how dirty the vicar really was”

January 18, 1975 –We all moved on up to the Eastside when The Jeffersons, a spin-off of All In The Family first aired on CBS-TV on this date. Isabel Sanford did not want to do a spin-off. She told producers that she was happy with her recurring role on All in the Family. When theyContinue reading “We all go our turn at bat”

January 17, 1893 –A group of American businessmen stole Hawaii on this date. Queen Liliuokalani, the monarch of Hawaii, was overthrown by a group of sugar plantation owners who wanted a more pro-American government. The coup took place with the tacit approval of the United States, though the new leader of Hawaii, Sanford Dole, refusedContinue reading “Another proud moment in America history”

January 17, 1976 –Barry Manilow scored his second US No.1 single with I Write The Songs, which was written by The Beach Boys Bruce Johnson, on this date. Manilow was originally reluctant to record this song, saying to Arista Records chief Clive Davis, “This ‘I Write The Songs’ thing Clive, I really don’t want toContinue reading “He actually didn’t write the song”

January 17, 1975 – The TV-series Baretta, starring Robert Blake and Tom Ewell, debuted on ABC-TV on this date. The series was originally intended as a continuation of the TV series Toma, with Robert Blake replacing Tony Musante as Det. David Toma. When Blake balked at taking over an established role, a new series wasContinue reading “And you can take that to the bank!”