Author Archives: dcaligari

August 21, 1942 –Walt Disney realized too many children were sleeping too well and released the animated classic Bambi on this date. No matter how skilled the animator, the Disney cartoonists simply could not draw Bambi’s father’s antlers accurately. This was because of the very complicated perspectives required. To get around the problem, a plasterContinue reading “Bambi premiered”

August 20, 1991 –Spin Doctors release their debut album, Pocket Full of Kryptonite on this date. The album went on to sell over 5 million copies thanks to the hits Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong and Two Princes.

August 20, 1977 –NASA bizarrely decided to go into the record business. Scientists, not quite understanding the record industry, press only one record but make it out of gold, believing that the unaffordable price will boost profit. The record is nearly unlistenable except for the recording of the Chuck Berry song, Johnny B Goode. NASAContinue reading “For the most part, you can’t dance to it”

What did Vincenzo Peruggia steal on August 21, 1911? a. The Shroud of Turinb. Home platec. The Mona Lisad. documents from Mar-a-Lagoe. The Hope Diamond Bonus: what was his day job? (Answer tomorrow)

August 20, 1920 –The first commercial radio station begins operating in Detroit, Michigan with call sign 8MK (Now WWJ (Newsradio 950) ). The radio station was started by The Detroit News newspaper and is now owned and run by CBS. To celebrate the event, National Radio Day, UNESCO formally announced the formation of International RadioContinue reading “No static at all”

August 20, 1896 –A patent application was filed (US Patent No. 597,062) by brothers John and Charles J. Erickson & Alexander E. Keith for the rotary dial telephone on this date. The dial telephone made it possible for people to dial phone numbers on their own thereby making the communication process easier and more efficient.Continue reading “Ring-a-ding ding”

August 19, 1964 –The Beatles first US tour began in San Francisco, California with their concert at the Cow Palace. They played ten songs to a crowd of over 17,000. The Beatles returned there for another concert in 1965.

August 19, 1960 –The Soviet Union launched Sputnik V into orbit on this date. On board are two dogs (Belka and Strelka,) along with two unnamed rats and 40 mice. The menagerie was recovered safely the next day from the landing capsule. The two rats were later appointed wardens of gulags in Siberia. Belka enteredContinue reading “Dogs in Space”

August 19, 1977 –I’ve had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn’t it. One of the world’s leading commentator on the human condition, Julius Marx gave up the ghost on this date.

Today is National Soft Serve Ice Cream Day. Soft Serve Ice Cream has been around since the 1930s. There are conflicting reports of the origins of the dessert. In 1934, Tom Carvel, the founder of eponymous ice cream brand and franchise, had to sell melting ice cream on a parking lot because his ice creamContinue reading “The best time for ice cream is always.”