Author Archives: dcaligari

July 15, 1941 – The Merrie Melodies short, Inki and the Lion, directed by Chuck Jones, and starring Inki, was released on this date. This short is seldom shown on TV due to it’s offensive depiction of Black people. Due to this cartoon becoming a surprise hit with moviegoers at the time of its 1941Continue reading “Inki and the Lion premiered”

July 19, 1941 – MGM released the Hanna/ Barbera cartoon, The Midnight Snack, starring Tom and Jerry, on this date. William Hanna and Joseph Barbera originally had the cat named Jasper and the mouse was Jinx, in 1940’s Puss Gets the Boot cartoon. This is the first cartoon with their names, Tom Cat and JerryContinue reading “The Midnight Snack premiered”

July 19, 1986 –Genesis had their first (and only) #1 Hot 100 hit as Invisible Touch tops the chart, on this date. The Invisible Touch album marked Genesis‘ complete transformation from complex, theatrical music (starting when Peter Gabriel was lead singer) to condensed pop songs. They lost some fans along the way, but gained manyContinue reading “Well I’ve been waiting, waiting here so long”

Today is National Caviar Day. Although it is high in sodium and cholesterol, caviar is rich in calcium and phosphorus, as well as protein, selenium, iron, magnesium, and Vitamins B12 and B6. While it’s normal to wash down the briny fish roe with champagne or iced vodka; why not down shots of iced Bombay Sapphire.Continue reading “Suddenly every meal feels historic”

July 18, 1936 – The Merrie Melodies short, I Love to Singa, directed by Tex Avery, was released on this date. Owl Jolson’s first words, “Hullo, Strangah!” was the catchphrase of a character called Schlepperman who appeared on Jack Benny’s radio show in the 1930s. Jack himself is parodied in the form of Jack Bunny,Continue reading “I Love to Singa premiered”

July 18, 1959 –The Merrie Melodies short, Tweet and Lovely, directed by Tex Avery, and starring Sylvester and Tweety Bird, was released on this date. While Tweety is bathing, Sylvester looks at him (with binoculars, as Tweety sings in his birdhouse’s bathtub & discovers the spying cat,) his remark is not the normal “Ooh, IContinue reading “Tweet and Lovely premiered”

July 18, 1964 –Stan Getz & Astud Gilberto international hit The Girl From Ipanema went to No. 1 on the Billboard Charts, on this date. You may all slow dance while listening to this. Stan Getz recorded the Getz/Gilberto album with João Gilberto, who is considered the father of Bossa Nova. In the studio, theyContinue reading “The Girl from Ipanema topped the charts”

July 18, 2008 –Warner Bros. released the Christopher Nolan superhero film The Dark Knight, starring Christian Bale, Michael Caine and Heath Ledger, in US theaters, on this date. In preparation for his role as The Joker, Heath Ledger hid away in a motel room for about six weeks. During this extended stay of seclusion, LedgerContinue reading “I’m not a monster. I’m just ahead of the curve”

July 18, 2008 –Universal Pictures finally released it much planned ABBA jukebox musical, Mamma Mia! starring Christine Baranski, Pierce Brosnan, Dominic Cooper, Colin Firth, Amanda Seyfried, Stellan Skarsgård, Meryl Streep and Julie Walters in the US on this date. Stellan Skarsgård on why he flashed his behind: “We decided I should be cooking on theContinue reading “We are all the dancing queen”

July 17, 1968 – The premiere of the drug-induced, Big Blue Meanie-infested cartoon Beatles film Yellow Submarine, was held at the London Pavilion on this date. In summer 1967, director George Dunning brought German artist Heinz Edelmann to London to work as production designer on this movie. The script wasn’t ready, and Edelmann wasn’t givenContinue reading “Ad hoc, ad loc, and quid pro quo!”