Author Archives: dcaligari

July 31, 1971 –One of the most expensive car rides occurred on this date, Apollo 15 crew members, James B. Irwin and David R. Scott took the Lunar Roving Vehicle or “Moon Buggy” on its premiere jaunt on the surface of the Moon.

July 31, 1991 –The Jim Abrahams spoof of Top Gun, Hot Shots!, starring Charlie Sheen, Cary Elwes, Valeria Golino, Lloyd Bridges, and Jon Cryer, opened on this date. The aircraft carrier on which the movie takes place is actually a wooden deck built on the edge of a cliff at a deserted Marineland facility. TheContinue reading “Hot Shot! premiered”

July 31, 1977 –For a reason only known to CBS executives, the one hit wonder group Starland Vocal Band’s show, The Starland Vocal Band Show debuted on CBS TV on this date. The band started out as John Denver’s backup group. The comedy was provided primarily by veteran D.C – based satirist Mark Russell andContinue reading “The Starland Vocal Band Show premiered”

July 31, 1976 –Blue Oyster Cult single, from their album, Agents of Fortune, (Don’t Fear) the Reaper, was released on this date. (Don’t Fear) The Reaper was written and sung by Blue Öyster Cult’s lead guitarist, Donald Roeser, also known as Buck Dharma. It was rumored to be about suicide, but it actually deals withContinue reading “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper dropped”

July 30, 2003 –The last ever ‘old style‘ Volkswagen Beetle, #21,529,464, rolled off the assembly line at the Volkswagen de Mexico manufacturing plant in Puebla, Mexico on this date. The classic Volkswagen Beetle was produced in Mexico from 1955 where it was used as a taxi. The Mexican government effectively ended the Beetle’s production becauseContinue reading “The last of the original Volkswagen made”

July 30, 1932 – The Silly Symphonies cartoon, Flowers and Trees, produced by Walt Disney, directed by Burt Gillett (released to theatres by United Artists) opened in the US on this date. It was the first commercially released film to be produced in the full-color three-strip Technicolor process, after several years of two-color Technicolor films.Continue reading “Flowers and Trees premiered”

July 30, 1966 –The Troggs’ single Wild Thing went to No. 1 on the Billboard Charts on this date. The Troggs recorded this song and another, A Girl Like You, in about 20 minutes, at the end of a studio session booked for an orchestra that wrapped up 45 minutes early. This was written byContinue reading “Wild Thing topped the charts”

July 30, 2004 –The surprise hit stoner film, Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, starring John Cho, Kal Penn, and the very funny Neil Patrick Harris, opened on this date. Neil Patrick Harris plays a character named “Neil Patrick Harris” and is billed as such rather than being billed “as himself.” According to anContinue reading “Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle premiered”

July 30, 1966 – The Dynamic Duo made the jump from the TV scene to the movie scene – Batman, The Movie, opened in Austin, Texas on this date. A follow up film was at one point considered. The film would have been released between seasons two and three, and would have been used toContinue reading “Batman, The Movie premiered”

July 30, 1947 –As the ‘Siegfried‘ leitmotif from Act III of Wagner’s opera played in the background – Arnold Schwarzenegger, the last gasp of the dream of the Aryan ‘Uberman‘, was spawned on this date. I’m not quite sure that an overly greased muscle man in a speedo (who would become the governor of aContinue reading “Arnold Schwarzenegger”