Author Archives: dcaligari

August 9, 1944 –Another brilliant war-time effort by Preston Sturges, Hail the Conquering Hero, once again starring Eddie Bracken premiered on this date. When the six Marines, led by Sgt. Heffelfinger (William Demarest) are in the nightclub and go to see who bought them a beer, the scene at the bar lasts for 5 minutes,Continue reading “Hail the Conquering Hero premiered”

August 8, 1988 –Wrigley Field in Chicago was the last Major League Baseball venue to begin holding night games when they turned on its lights for the first time on this date. The first major league night game happened in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1935 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt famously switched on the lights.

August 8, 1969 –At a ‘zebra crossing’ in London, four bitterly fractious friends are forced to take a picture on this date. Photographer Iain Macmillan took one of the most famous photographs of all time – the cover of the Beatles album, Abbey Road.

August 8, 1963 –John Sturges’ adventure film, The Great Escape, starring Steve McQueen, opened on this date. One day, the police in the German town where this movie was shot set up a speed trap near the set. Several members of the cast and crew were caught, including Steve McQueen. The Chief of Police toldContinue reading “The Great Escape premiered”

August 8, 1980 –The fantasy musical Xanadu, starring Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly, debuts to scathing reviews (“In a word, Xana-don’t.“) on this date, and inspires the Golden Raspberry Awards for the worst films of the year. The film was meant to launch Olivia Newton-John’s career as a solo star. Due to its complete failureContinue reading “Xanadu (unfortunately) premiered”

August 8, 1968 – Richard M. Nixon was nominated for president at the Republican National Convention in Miami Beach. Later that day, Nixon chose Maryland Gov. Spiro T. Agnew to be his running mate. (Read on, if you dare.) August 8, 1973 –VP Spiro T Agnew branded as “damned lies” reports he took kickbacks fromContinue reading “Beware the 8th of August, Richard Nixon!”

August 8, 1988 –N.W.A released their debut album Straight Outta Compton on this date, which has been certified triple platinum and became the first rap album inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Not merely depicting Compton’s street violence, the track F#*% tha Police drew an FBI agent’s warning letter, which aided N.W.A’s notoriety, withContinue reading “Straight Outta Compton dropped”

I, for one, will be breaking out the hats and hooters again to celebrate National Sea Serpent Day. August 7 is annually recognizes a famous sea serpent sighting. This sighting was made by the men and officers of HMS Daedalus in August 1848 during a voyage to Saint Helena in the South Atlantic. The 60Continue reading “Celebrate as you see fit”

August 7, 1948 – … Five dollars for the best duck? You mean I came all the way from Dubuque for a measly five bucks?. Chuck Jones guided Daffy Duck’s personality change from a “screwball” character, to a greedy, self-centered one in You Were Never Duckier which opened on this date.

August 7, 2018 –Jon M Chu’s suprprise mega-hit romantic comedy (with all-Asian cast,) Crazy Rich Asians, starring Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Gemma Chan, Lisa Lu, Awkwafina, Ken Jeong, and Michelle Yeoh, opened in Los Angeles on this date. Jon M. Chu revealed that Michelle Yeoh was dissatisfied with the mock-up ring that her character, Eleanor,Continue reading “Crazy Rich Asians premiered”