Author Archives: dcaligari

July 5, 1956 –MGM released boxer Rocky Grazaiano’s film biography, Somebody Up There Likes Me, starring Paul Newman and Pier Angeli on this date. Originally, the movie was to be filmed on-location in New York City in Technicolor with James Dean in the lead role. However, after James Dean’s death, it was decided the filmContinue reading “Somebody Up There Likes Me premiered”

July 5, 1954 –Elvis Presley recorded his first commercial song, That’s All Right (Mama) on this date. The song, which hadn’t been rehearsed by Elvis, was recorded at Sun Records by Sam Phillips (who is commonly credited for discovering him.) The following evening, Blue Moon of Kentucky was recorded as the B side. That’s AllContinue reading “Elvis first stepped into a recording studio”

July 4, 1826 –Frienemies Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, both lay dying in there respective homes on this date. Jefferson, the nation’s third president, deeply in debt at age 83, died at one o’clock in the afternoon and correctly surmised that Adams had outlived him. John Adams, the second president died at age 90 inContinue reading “Some days it’s not so good to be President”

July 4, 1966 –The Lovin’ Spoonful release their song Summer in the City on this date. The song was a collaboration between John Sebastian, The Lovin Spoonful’s bassist Steve Boone, and the frontman’s brother (and non-group member) Mark Sebastian. Mark was 15 years old when he wrote a poem that John used as the basisContinue reading “Summer in the City went on sale”

July 4, 1970 –Casey Kasem’s American Top 40debuts on station KDEO in El Cajon/San Diego, California on this date. The concept of playing the 40 most popular songs from a national chart was a new one, and no one was sure of the success of the show at the time.

July 4, 1966 –The Beatles played two shows at Rizal Memorial Football Stadium, Manila, in the Philippines to over 80,000 fans, on this date. The Beatles did not appear at a palace reception hosted by President Marcos‘ family, who were not informed that the Beatles had previously declined their invitation. The Philippine media misrepresent thisContinue reading “The not so Thrilla in Manila”

The Dog Days of Summer begin today. (That’s an inside joke for astronomers.)

On July 3, 1969, Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones drowned in his own swimming pool on this date. Although he was the first Rolling Stone to do so, Mr Jones is just one of millions of people to have drowned in their own swimming pools. As a public service I have therefore chosen toContinue reading “Brian Jones”

July 3, 1951An under-appreciated Hitchcock classic, Strangers on a Train, was released on this date. The stunt where the man crawled under the carousel was not done with trick photography. Alfred Hitchcock claimed that this was the most dangerous stunt ever performed under his direction, and would never allow it to be done again.

July 3, 1985 –Universal released Robert Zemeckis’ sci-fi comedy Back To The Future, starring Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson and Crispin Glover on this date. The rights to the film and its sequels are owned by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale. In a 2015 interview, Zemeckis maintained that no reboot or remake ofContinue reading “Back To The Future premiered”