Author Archives: dcaligari

August 26, 1953 –Considered to be one of the great science fiction films of the 1950s, George Pal’s The War of the Worlds was released on this date. Filming was halted briefly, two days into filming, when Paramount discovered that its filming rights of the novel were only for a silent version. It was quicklyContinue reading “The War of the Worlds premiered”

August 26, 1983 –The David Bowie film Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, co-starring Tom Conti, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and Takeshi Kitano opened on this date Tom Conti does not speak a word of Japanese. He learned his Japanese dialog phonetically.

August 26, 1972 –Looking Glass‘ single Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl) hit No. 1 on this date. The band was signed by Clive Davis, a famous record executive who has nurtured the careers of many successful artists, including Santana, Billy Joel and Whitney Houston. Davis has a knack for knowing a hit song when heContinue reading “Brandy topped the charts”

August 25, 1986 –WEA Records released Paul Simon’s award-winning Graceland album on this date. Paul Simon’s visit to South Africa was no easy task, as many nations were boycotting the country because of their racist apartheid policy. However, the United Nations Anti-Apartheid Committee supported his efforts since he only recorded with black South African musiciansContinue reading “Poor boys and pilgrims with families …”

It’s the birthday of Declan Patrick MacManus, one of the most prolific musicians of the late 20th Century. In addition to recordings as “Elvis Costello” (often backed by The Attractions), he has recorded music as “Declan MacManus“, “Napoleon Dynamite and The Royal Guard“, “The Coward Brothers” (with T-Bone Burnett), “Nick Lowe and His Sound“, “TheContinue reading “Elvis Costello”

August 25, 1972 –American International Pictures released another film in the blaxploitation vein, Blacula, starring William Marshall, on this date. The film was popular in the U.S., debuting at #24 on Variety’s list of top films. It eventually grossed over $1 million, making it one of the highest grossing films of 1972.

August 25, 1994 – ABC TV introduced everyone to Angela Chase and the students at Liberty High School when My So-Called Life starring, Claire Danes, Jared Leto and Wilson Cruz, debuted on this date. Although he wound up being a series regular, Jordan Catalano was only supposed to appear in the pilot episode. Jared LetoContinue reading “My So-Called Life premiered”

Today is National Banana Split Day, observed annually on this date A 23-year-old apprentice pharmacist at Tassel’s Pharmacy in Latrobe, Pennsylvania created the first banana split in 1904. David Evans Strickler enjoyed inventing sundaes at the store’s soda fountain. His first “banana-based triple ice cream sundae” sold for 10 cents, double the cost of allContinue reading “Ice cream is happiness condensed.”

August 24, 1968 –The Rascals’ song People Got to Be Free went to No. 1 on the Billboard Charts on this date. Eddie Brigati and Felix Cavaliere of The Rascals wrote this song in reaction to the deaths of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, condensing King and Kennedy’s message into a simple missiveContinue reading “People Got To Be Free topped the charts”

August 24, 1966 –One of the quintessential films of the 60s, Alfie, opened in the US on this date. As Alfie enters the Busy Bee Transport Café, the camera cuts away, and on return, a fresh advertisement has been placed on the background windows. This is advertising the Rolling Stones, a relatively new group onContinue reading “What it all about, Alfie?”