Author Archives: dcaligari

September 21, 1897 –The New York Sun ran its famous editorial that answered a question from 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon: “Is there a Santa Claus?“on this date. Obviously, times were different back then given that The New York Sun was printing an editorial about Christmas in September. (Christmas is in 95 days.)

September 21, 1912 – Chuck Jones, animator and director of Warner Brothers cartoon characters Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, was born on this date. He has directed three films have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant: Duck Amuck, One Froggy Evening, andContinue reading “Two giants of animation sharing the same birthdays:”

September 21 1985 –The Dire Straits single, Money for Nothing, from the album Brothers in Arms, hits No. 1 on the Billboard Charts on this date. The innovative video was one of the first to feature computer generated animation, which was done using an early program called Paintbox. The characters were supposed to have moreContinue reading “Money for Nothing topped the charts”

September 21, 1993 – The police drama NYPD Blue, premiered on ABC-TV on this date. Prior to the show’s premiere, and immediately afterward, there was enormous controversy over what was perceived to be high levels of offensive language and nudity. Many affiliates refused to air the show and several advertisers boycotted it. Steven Bochco negotiatedContinue reading “NYPD Blue premiered”

September 21, 1968 – The police drama ADAM 12, premiered on NBC-TV on this date. In keeping with the reputation of Jack Webb’s series being scrupulously accurate about police procedures, selected episodes of this series were used in police academies as instructional films.

September 20, 1988 –Greg Louganis won the gold medal in springboard diving at the Summer Olympics in Seoul, one day after he struck and injured his head on the board in the preliminary round. His comeback earned him the title of ABC’s Wide World of Sports“Athlete of the Year” for 1988.

September 20, 1976 –The Australian band AC/DC released their iconic single Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap on this date. AC/DC lead guitarist Angus Young got the song title from the 1962 animated cartoon series Beany and Cecil. The show first aired on ABC TV and only ran for one season until the 26 episodes shownContinue reading “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap was dropped”

September 20, 1941 –The Looney Tunes cartoon Notes To You, directed by Friz Freleng and featuring Porky Pig and a proto-type of Sylvester the Cat premiered on this date. Porky’s home has the very latest cabinet radio. In the days before television, radio was the at home entertainment for Americans, and most of the songsContinue reading “Notes to You premiered”

September 20, 1984 – Tony Micelli first started taking care of Angela Bower’s household when Who’s the Boss premiered on ABC-TV on this date. Mona was originally intended to be Angela’s older sister, but producers were unable to find an age appropriate actress they liked for the part. As a result, they decided to redevelopContinue reading “Who’s The Boss premiered”

September 20, 1955 –The Phil Silvers Show (originally broadcast as You’ll Never Be Rich) premiered on CBS-TV on this date. Originally, the series was filmed like a play. The cast had to memorize the entire script, and the scenes were filmed in one take, in sequence, in front of a studio audience. When Mike ToddContinue reading “The Phil Silver Show premiered”