Author Archives: dcaligari

December 31, 1969 –Walt Disney through its Buena Vista Distribution Company released The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, starring Kurt Russell, and Cesar Romero on this date. It’s the first motion picture to use the word “computer” in its title.

December 30, 1946 –From very early on in my childhood – four, five years old – I felt alien to the human race. I felt very comfortable with thinking I was from another planet, because I felt disconnected – I was very tall and skinny, and I didn’t look like anybody else, I didn’t evenContinue reading “Patti Smith”

Today is the Sixth Day of Christmas. Today’s gift count (56 gifts): you currently have Six geese a’ laying, 10 golden rings, 12 calling birds, 12 French hens, ten turtledoves and six partridges in their respective pear trees (begin thinking abut gardening tools and hiring an illegal immigrant.) According to the old ladies I knowContinue reading “OMG, more freakin birds”

December 30, 1965 –Unbelievably but The Kinks, The Who, Manfred Mann, The Hollies and Gerry and the Pacemakers all appeared on the episode of Shindig!, on this date. The show was canceled in 1966, after experimenting unsuccessfully with more mainstream musical guests

December 30, 1951 –The Roy Rogers TV Show, surprisingly starring Roy Rogers, Dave Evans, Trigger, the Golden Palomino, and Bullet, the Wonder Dog premiered on NBC-TV, on this date. The phrase “Whoa Nelly!” originated with Pat Brady. Nelly was short for Nellybelle, the name of his cantankerous Jeep. He used the phrase in nearly everyContinue reading “We started rolling along with the tumbleweeds”

December 29, 1967 –Sergio Leone’s iconic Spaghetti Western, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, starring Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, and Eli Wallach, opened in the US on this date. The term originated in the 1960s, when it was cheaper to make movies in Italy than the United States. Moviemakers made their westerns thereContinue reading “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly premiered”

December 29, 1965 –The best James Bond title – Thunderball, opened in US on this date. The only Bond movie where we get a glimpse of all 00 Agents in one shot. They are summoned to M’s briefing, and 007 is the last to join in. He sits down in the only available chair, theContinue reading “Thunderball premiered”

December 29, 1967 – The Star Trek episode The Trouble with Tribbles – arguably one of their most famous episodes – first aired on this date. To create the one tribble moving on its own, the prop supervisor bought a battery powered toy dog and stripped it down to the mechanical works. Once recovered withContinue reading “So would an ermine violin, Doctor”

Today is the Fifth Day of Christmas. Your house is currently stuffed with; five golden rings, eight calling birds, nine French hens, ten turtledoves and five partridges in their respective pear trees (begin thinking preserves.) The official gift tally total (37 gifts) Today is also the Feast of St. Thomas Becket who was the ArchbishopContinue reading “A gift we can get behind”

December 28, 1958 –Baltimore Colts defeated the New York Giants in the first ever National Football League sudden death overtime game at New York’s Yankee Stadium on this date. The game is considered the “Greatest Game Ever Played“. Its legendary status in the pantheon of historic NFL games was again confirmed by a nationwide pollContinue reading “Greatest Game Ever Played”