Author Archives: dcaligari

Several sources, including the eponymously named Facebook page, lists today as International Gin and Tonic Day. Some cite April 9th as the date, although that is usually seen as National Gin and Tonic Day. I’m up for celebrating on both dates. (But don’t confuse it with World Gin Day which always falls on the secondContinue reading “I make gin disappear – what’s your superpower?”

October 19, 1953 –After Julius La Rosa had finished singing Manhattan on Arthur Godfrey Time, the host (and general scum bag) Arthur Godfrey fired him on the air, announcing, “that was Julie’s swan song with us.” Unaware the firing was coming (or what the phrase “swan song” meant), La Rosa tearfully met with Godfrey afterContinue reading “So much for loyalty from your employer”

October 19, 1990 –Kevin Costner’s directorial debut, Dances with Wolves, starring himself, Mary McDonnell, Graham Greene, and Rodney Grant, opened in Washington D.C. on this date. Kevin Costner’s daughter Annie Costner, playing Stands With A Fist as a child, is seen running away from the Pawnee party that killed her family in the dream sequence.Continue reading “Dances with Wolves premiered”

October 19, 1984 – One of the greatest concert movies, the Talking Heads film Stop Making Sense, directed by Jonathon Demme opens in the US on this date. Jonathan Demme wanted to shoot additional performance footage on a soundstage made to recreate the Pantages Theater. The band vetoed this idea because they thought the lackContinue reading “Stop Making Sense (the film) opened”

In the midst of the First World War, Salvation Army volunteers in France found themselves stymied by inadequate supplies and a lack of proper ovens for baking. Unable to prepare the cakes and pies they so dearly wanted to make for the troops, they came up with a novel idea: frying the dough instead ofContinue reading “I bet Homer Simpson celebrates this day”

October 18, 1953 – The live Peter Brooks‘ Omnibus production of King Lear starring Orson Welles, Micheál Mac Liammóir, Natasha Parry, Arnold Moss and Beatrice Straight premiered on CBS-TV on this date. This was the TV debut of Orson Welles This adaptation of William Shakespeare’s play cuts out the subplot involving Edmund, Edgar and theirContinue reading “Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! rage! blow!”

October 18, 1957 –Given almost complete control of the program, the eponymously named The Frank Sinatra Show, a variety/drama anthology series, debuted on ABC on this date. Sinatra wanted to do a dramatic television series, while the ABC television network wanted him to host a variety show. The star and the network compromised – 13Continue reading “Frank got another TV series”

October 18, 1975 – The second-ever episode of Saturday Night Live was notable for the reunion of Simon & Garfunkel on this date. This show marked the first public appearance of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel together since 1972. There are 10 musical performances in this episode, the most ever for the show. The NotContinue reading “Oh yes, they did have a bit of comedy on”

October 18, 1967 – The 19th animated feature and the first film Disney Studios released after Walt Disney’s death, Jungle Book, opened on this date. The original child actor who voiced Mowgli, David Alan Bailey, had to be let go as his voice broke during the film’s three-year production.

October 18, 1968 –The police with the help of two sniffer dogs named Yogi and Boo-Boo, on this date, raided the apartment of John Lennon and Yoko Ono and finds a very small amount of pot. The couple is fined £150. Musicians smoking dope – Shocking! Shocking!