July 21, 1899 –Ernest Hemingway was born on this date. He was young at the time of his birth. It was fine to be young. He drove an ambulance in World War I. It wasn’t called World War I then. It was just called the war. It was one of those times when people shotContinue reading “Courage is grace under pressure”
Author Archives: dcaligari
Stormy Weather premiered
July 21, 1943 –Twentieth Century Fox’s musical spectacular, Stormy Weather, starring Lena Horne, Bill Robinson, Cab Calloway, Katherine Dunham, Fats Waller, Fayard Nicholas, Harold Nicholas, Ada Brown, and Dooley Wilson, opened in the US on this date. Two musical numbers were deleted from the release print: Good-for-Nothin’ Joe (music by Rube Bloom, lyrics by TedContinue reading “Stormy Weather premiered”
UHF premiered
July 21, 1989 –Orion Pictures‘ comedy UHF, (written by and) starring Weird Al Yankovic, David Bowe, Fran Drescher, Victoria Jackson, Kevin McCarthy, Michael Richards, Gedde Watanabe, Kevin McCarthy, Anthony Geary, Emo Philips and Trinidad Silva opened in US theatres on this date. The soundtrack features many of Yankovic’s signature song parodies, as well as aContinue reading “UHF premiered”
Barbary-Coast Bunny premiered
July 21, 1956 – The Looney Tunes short, Barbary-Coast Bunny, directed by Chuck Jones, and starring Bugs Bunny, was released on this date. This is one of a few cartoons where Bugs Bunny does not munch a carrot.
The Slick Chick premiered
July 21, 1962 – The Looney Tunes short, The Slick Chick, directed by Robert McKimson, and starring Foghorn Leghorn, was released on this date. Mr. Cackle mentions Dennis the Menace when comparing the destructive Junior with that character in one scene, referencing the comic strip character of the same name by Hank Ketcham and theContinue reading “The Slick Chick premiered”
A hot summer night, fell like a net
July 21, 1979 –Robert Palmer released a cover version of the Moon Martin song, Bad Case Of Loving You, on this date. Known by most as “Doctor, Doctor,” this is one of many songs in the blues/rock tradition that compares the singers’ love to a medical condition. Apparently, Palmer got hooked on whatever the doctorContinue reading “A hot summer night, fell like a net”
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Moon
July 21, 1969 –Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin blast off from the Moon after twenty-one and a half hours on the surface and return to the command module piloted by Michael Collins on this date. The lunar module’s lower section, left behind, has a plaque mounted upon it, reading, “Here menContinue reading “Meanwhile, on the other side of the Moon”
Let your worries melt away.
You didn’t hear this from me but today’s holiday is a huge conspiracy perpetrated by the Big Sugar Syndication. It’s National Lollipop Day; but don’t go too overboard on the sugary treats. (Last time I checked; it’s about 251 licks to get to the center of a tootsie pop.)
Bang, zoom, to the moon
July 20, 1969 –57 years ago today, in a live transmission from the Moon, viewed by 720 million people around the world, Neil Armstrong stepped foot onto the Moon. It was a brave thing to do (and unfortunately caused Buzz Aldrin to have his post-Apollo 11 period of alcoholism and depression.) It was also theContinue reading “Bang, zoom, to the moon”
Do you believe in magic in a young girl’s heart?
July 20, 1965 –The Lovin’ Spoonful released their hit Do You Believe In Magic? on this date. The Lovin’ Spoonful played regularly at a famous club called The Night Owl Cafe. John Sebastian was quoted as saying: “We were playing pretty steadily for the local people from Greenwich Village who were part of the jazzContinue reading “Do you believe in magic in a young girl’s heart?”
