Author Archives: dcaligari

October 15, 1951 –A former starlet convinced the alcoholic, womanizing head of a television network to run the TV version of her somewhat successful radio program. I Love Lucy, the television situation comedy, starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, also featuring Vivian Vance and William Frawley, went on to run on CBS for 181 episodesContinue reading “I Love Lucy premiered”

October 14, 1912 –Former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, campaigning for a return to office, was shot in Milwaukee by a saloon keeper named John Schrank on this date. What saves Teddy was the bullet lodged in Roosevelt’s chest only after hitting both his steel eyeglass case and a copy of his speech he was carryingContinue reading “Teddy Roosevelt – one of America’s First Superheroes.”

October 14, 1066 –As bad as King Harold’s day yesterday; today was worse, much worse. The King and his army were locked in a massive battle and faced Duke William, William the Conqueror, and his mounted knights near the town of Hastings. Taillefer, William of Normandy’s minstrel, asked for the honour of charging the SaxonContinue reading “The Battle of Hastings”

October 14, 1994 –Quentin Tarantino’s brilliant crime drama, Pulp Fiction, starring John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, Tim Roth, Ving Rhames, and Uma Thurman, opened in the US on this date. The word “fuck” is used two hundred sixty-five times.

October 14, 1972 –The TV-series Kung Fu, starring David Carridine, debuted on ABC-TV on this date. According to Bruce Lee’s widow, Linda Lee Cadwell, Lee originated the concept, and was intended to star in the series, but David Carradine was cast because the network felt the American audience was not ready for an Asian actorContinue reading “Kung Fu premiered”

October 14, 1978 – The gang finally got off the damn island (sort of) when the first TV movie from a TV series, Rescue from Gilligan’s Island, premiered on CBS-TV with all of the original cast except Tina Louise (who wanted too much money,) on this date. The scene in which the rescued castaways areContinue reading “Rescue from Gilligan’s Island premiered”

October 13, 1978 –Queen released their double A sided single Fat Bottomed Girls/ Bicycle Race on this date. The songs ran together on the album, and were often played that way by radio stations. The year before, Queen released We Will Rock You and We Are The Champions as a double A-side. They are stillContinue reading “Fat Bottomed Girls/ Bicycle Race dropped”

October 13, 1966 – The sixth episode of Star Trek, Mudd’s Women premiered on this date. In it, The Enterprise picks up a traveling con man, Harry Mudd, and his “beautiful” female cargo; the females seem to have a strange effect on the male crew. This is the first episode in which the Enterprise’s powerContinue reading “Star Trek: Mudd’s Women premiered”

October 13, 1947 –Kids, back when the earth cooled and formed a hard crust, there was a very popular TV series featuring two puppets and a very polite lady that ad-libbed the entire show – Junior Jamboree – a version which ultimately became Kukla, Fran and Ollie premiered on this date. (this is not theContinue reading “Kukla, Fran and Ollie premiered”

CBS-TV broadcasts The Edsel Show, a one-hour live special starring Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra, designed to promote the new, ill-fated Ford automobile, on this date. It is the first and currently the oldest surviving show on videotape. It was aired live on this date in prime time, and simultaneously taped and filmed in kinescopeContinue reading “The Edsel Show premiered”