Author Archives: dcaligari

October 4, 1957 –Sputnik One (meaning “companion” or “fellow traveller“), the first man-made satellite, was launched on this date, beginning the “space race.” The satellite, built by Valentin Glushko, weighed 184 pounds and was launched by a converted Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). Sputnik orbited the earth every 96 minutes at a maximum height of 584Continue reading “Sputnik One launched”

Gmar chatima tova Yom Kippur starts this evening. If you’re celebrating (strange choice of words,) you better hurry up and finish reading this before sundown. May your fast pass easily – Don’t hesitate to contact me if you can’t remember the things you should be atoning for by now. Hopefully, because you finally got toContinue reading “It’s the Day of Atonement”

October 4, 1959 –Dennis the Menace, based on the Hank Ketcham comic strip, starring Jay North, Herbert Anderson, Gloria Henry, Jeannie Russell, Joseph Kearns, and Sylvia Field, premiered on CBS-TV on this date. Ironically, Jay North, who played a rascal and a mischievous child character in the series, has served in recent years as aContinue reading “Dennis the Menace premiered”

October 4, 1964 – Supermarionation was used once again to freak out unsuspecting children when Gerry Anderson’s third series Stingray, premiered in the UK on this date. (It was the first British series to be filmed entirely in Colour: the extra U was particularly expensive.) The total cost of the production for Stingray was approximatelyContinue reading “Stingray premiered”

October 4, 1957 – Leave It To Beaver premiered on CBS-TV on this date. Once again, another show from the 50s where the lead actor (Hugh Beaumont not Jerry Mathers) was a raging alcoholic. Jerry Mathers wore his Cub Scout uniform to his audition. During the audition, he told the casting directors that he wasContinue reading “Leave It To Beaver premiered”

October 3, 1964 –According to noted food historian, Calvin Trilling, the first buffalo wings were served on this date. The wings were reported to have first been made in Buffalo, New York, by the Bellissimo family at the Anchor Bar. They were served with blue cheese dressing and given away for free. The bar nowContinue reading “Truly finger lickin’ good”

October 3, 1942 –An A4-rocket (a modified V-2) developed under the direction of Werner von Braun “Good Nazi“, was successfully launched from the Test Stand VII in Peenemünde, Germany. The 13-ton, 46-foot long V2 rocket flies perfectly over the course of 118 miles to an altitude of 53 miles (85km). While it is generally seenContinue reading “A man whose allegiance, is ruled by expedience.”

October 3, 1961 –The Dick Van Dyke Show premiered on this date. The show wasn’t an immediate success but became a hit. Carl Reiner asked network censors for permission to show Laura and Rob sleeping in one large bed together, reasoning (quite sensibly) that he and his wife did so in real life. The permissionContinue reading “The Dick Van Dyke Show premiered”

October 3, 1960 – Let grab down our fishin’ poles and head down to the fishin’ hole, The Andy Griffith Show premiered on this date. They never mention what happened to Opie’s mother. Opie was said to be just “a speck of a boy” when she died. Her first name is never given, her pictureContinue reading “The Andy Griffith Show premiered”

October 3, 1953 – The final installment of the Looney Tunes “Hunting Trilogy“, Duck! Rabbit, Duck!, premiered on this date. Bugs Bunny stuck out four signs to lead Elmer Fudd to shoot Daffy Duck. In order they are:1st GOAT SEASON OPEN;2nd, DIRTY SKUNK SEASON;3rd, PIGEON SEASON;4th and last, MONGOOSE SEASON.