Author Archives: dcaligari

July 28, 1973 –Bill Graham produced the Summer Jam at Watkins Glen Rock Festival at the Watkins Glen International Raceway, that featured the Allman Brothers, the Band, and the Grateful Dead. Many rock critics claim the event was the largest gathering of people in the history of the United States. 150,000 tickets were sold forContinue reading “Summer Jam opened on this date”

July 28, 1951 – The Merrie Melodies short, Leghorn Swoggled, directed by Bob McKimson and starring Foghorn Leghorn, Henery Hawk and the Barnyard Dawg, was released on this date The last-released Robert McKimson short that Warren Foster wrote; starting with His Hare Raising Tale, he would transfer to Friz Freleng’s unit, while McKimson would getContinue reading “Leghorn Swoggled premiered”

July 28, 1945 – The Merrie Melodies short, Wagon Heels, directed by Bob Clampett and starring Porky Pig, was released on this date Because of its wildly stereotypical depiction of the Native American, it is seldom shown on television nowadays.

July 28, 1948 – Bud and Lou’s biggest box-office success, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, opened on this date, (this was one of my favorite childhood films.) The scene in which Wilbur (Lou Costello) is unknowingly sitting on the lap of Frankenstein’s monster (Glenn Strange) required multiple takes. The scene allowed Costello to improvise wildly,Continue reading “I saw what I saw when I saw it!”

July 28 1993 –The 20th Century Fox comedy, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, directed by Mel Brooks, and starring Cary Elwes, Richard Lewis, Roger Rees, Amy Yasbeck, Dave Chappelle (in his film debut), Isaac Hayes, and Tracey Ullman, was released on this date. Cary Elwes based his performance in The Princess Bride on Errol Flynn’sContinue reading “Robin Hood: Men in Tights premiered”

July 28 1995 – The independent coming-of-age drama, Kids, directed by Larry Clark, and starring Leo Fitzpatrick, Justin Pierce, Chloë Sevigny, and Rosario Dawson, was released on this date. The film received an NC-17 rating from the MPAA (no one under 18 admitted). Clark appealed the rating, and lost. The MPAA recommend that Clark notContinue reading “Kids premiered”

Today is National Buffalo Soldiers Day. The holiday celebrating the contributions of some of the earliest African-American troops in the United States military. The U.S. Congress recognizes the contributions of the more than 180,000 black Americans who fought to preserve the Union during the Civil War, by passing legislation known as the Army Organization Act,Continue reading “Fighting on arrival, fighting for survival”

July 27, 1958 – The gothic thriller, Night of the Hunter, directed by Charles Laughton, (his only directorial feature,) and starring Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish, James Gleason, Evelyn Varden, and Peter Graves, opened on this date. The film opened to negative reviews. It is now considered one of the greatest films ever made.Continue reading “Night of the Hunter premiered”

July 27, 1949 – The RKO Radio Picture , Mighty Joe Young, made by the same creative team responsible for King Kong, opened in New York City on this date, (in fact, when Joe smashes through the facade during the nightclub riot, the first scream you hear is that of Fay Wray, stock audio fromContinue reading “Mighty Joe Young premiered”

July 27, 1940 – Bugs Bunny made his debut in a cartoon called A Wild Hare, on this day. Warner Brothers’ writers and animators set out to make a rabbit who would be the epitome of cool. They modeled bugs on Groucho Marx with a carrot instead of a cigar. Mel Blanc gave him aContinue reading “Say, you wouldn’t be that scwewy wabbit, would you?”