Author Archives: dcaligari

June 22, 1342 –Bilbo Baggins returns to his home at Bag End, Shire Reckoning, after his 13 month absence, on this date. After his return to his home he never spoke of [the ring] again to anyone, save Gandalf and Frodo; and no one else in the Shire knew of its existence, or so heContinue reading “While it’s nice to travel; it’s good to be home”

June 22, 1946 – Another of the classic 40s Daffy Duck cartoons, Hollywood Daffy, was released on this date. The director of the cartoon was an uncredited effort by Friz Freleng.

June 22, 1984 –Another underdog story directed by John G. Avildsen, The Karate Kid, starring Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, and Elisabeth Shue, was released by Columbia Pictures on this date. The studio wanted to drop the “drunk Miyagi” scene, feeling it slowed the pace down. Director John G. Avildsen argued for it and has feltContinue reading “The Karate Kid premiered”

June 22, 1993 –Liz Phair released her debut album, Exile In Guyville, on this date. The indie rocker approached the project as a track-by-track response to The Rolling Stones’ 1972 album, Exile On Main St. Her candid perspective on sex and relationships earns her favor with critics and a growing fanbase and Guyville is hailedContinue reading “Exile In Guyville went on sale”

Today is the anniversary of the Cleveland, Ohio’s Cuyahoga River catching fire in 1969. If that is too disturbing a holiday to commemorate, it’s also National Chocolate Eclair Day. While the eclair is a delicious dessert, their charms escape me. Maybe it’s the fake vanilla pudding most bakeries use rather than Bavarian cream.

June 21, 1969 –In an ill-advised attempted to make the British royal family seem more ‘approachable‘, the BBC airs the documentary Royal Family, on this date. Created at the behest of Queen Elizabeth, eager to humanize the Royal Family at a time of social upheaval, it only aired twice. The Queen concluded that it demystifiedContinue reading “Royal Family premiered”

June 21, 1985 –Ettore ‘Hector’ Boiardi – that jovial, mustachioed Italian chef, better known as Chef Boyardee, died on this date. In Italy, Hector started as a chef’s apprentice at age 11. In America, he took jobs in Greenbrier, West Virginia and New York City, and by age 17 had become a chef at NewContinue reading “Chef Boyardee was a real person”

June 21, 1977 –Martin Scorsese’s homage to movie musicals – New York, New York, opened on this date. Producer Irwin Winkler said that during filming, Robert De Niro would constantly be walking around with a copy of the book Raging Bull. Raging Bull became the next film that De Niro and Martin Scorsese made together.Continue reading “New York, New York premiered”

June 21, 1988 –Robert Zemeckis’ incredible advance in animation, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, opened in NYC on this date. Since the movie was being made by Disney’s Touchstone Pictures, Warner Brothers would only allow use of their biggest toon stars, Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, if they got as much screentime as Mickey Mouse andContinue reading “Who Framed Roger Rabbit premiered”

June 21, 1977 –Marvin Gaye’s song Got To Give It Up, reached the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100, replacing Dreams by Fleetwood Mac, on this date. This song was the subject of a landmark court case filed by Marvin Gaye’s estate in 2013 against the writers of Robin Thicke’s hit Blurred Lines.Continue reading “Got To Give It Up topped the charts”