Author Archives: dcaligari

September 27, 1980 –Kurtis Blow becomes the first rapper to perform on national television when he does The Breaks on Soul Train. The Breaks was the first rap song to sell over 500,000 copies, earning a certified Gold record. Rapper’s Delight, released a year earlier, certainly sold a lot more (as Kurtis attests), but thatContinue reading “The Breaks performed on national TV”

September 27, 1964 –The Beach Boys appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show for the first time on this date. They also performed the song Wendy that evening. The song was released as a double A-side single in May 1964 with Don’t Worry Baby. It is considered one of the best ever single releases along withContinue reading “First Beach Boys appearance”

September 27, 1954 –Steve Allen sat down at his piano and the Tonight Show premiered nationally on NBC on this date. Steve Allen’s high-energy wit and appreciation for the emerging medium lent itself to spontaneous, original humor. He put cameras on the street and tried to find unscripted comedy in random interviews with passersby. HeContinue reading “The Tonight Show went nationwide”

There are 90 days until Christmas (83 days until Hanukkah.) (I’m sure many of you have failed the naughty/ nice test already. Maybe you still have time.)

September 26, 1969 –The Beatles release the Abbey Road album in London, on this date. It was their 13th album in the U.K. It was also their last album together as a group.

September 26, 1945 –But when you get music and words together, that can be a very powerful thing. Bryan Ferry (the Lord of Louche) lead singer of the group Roxy Music and solo artist, was born on this date. Demand Euphoria!

September 26, 1960 –John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon faced off in the first televised presidential debate, on this date. Nixon had been recuperating from illness yet refused to wear makeup for the camera, looking haggard and gray. Radio viewers gave positive opinions for Nixon’s performance but so many people saw the debate televised thatContinue reading “Kennedy/ Nixon debate”

September 26, 1990 –One of the stranger series in TV history, Cop Rock debuted on ABC-TV on this date. In a May 2009 poll, this show was voted the fifth worst TV show in broadcast history. Ahead of it were The Gong Show, Friends, The Jerry Springer Show, and My Mother the Car.

September 26, 1986 –The episode of Dallas that had Bobby Ewing returning from the dead, his death is attributed to his wife Pam’s bad dream, aired on this date. When Victoria Principal opens the shower door in the infamous Bobby shower scene, actor John Beck was the one in the shower. The shock to PamContinue reading “Wait, What, Bobby is Alive !?!”

As ACME lawyers have told me I can no longer post photos of me and the the people who are legally obligated to acknowledge they are related to me, I’ll post this video – Enjoy the time with your daughters. (I love my daughter to death.)