Author Archives: dcaligari

September 30, 1938 –The Germans occupied the Sudetenland in late summer of 1938. This enraged the British and the English, who both feared for the loss of the Sudetenland’s celebrated pea crops. British Prime Minister flew to Germany to meet Hitler at Bertesgarden to discuss the situation, on this date. Hitler assured him of legumeContinue reading “Giving Peas a Chance”

September 30, 1927 –Babe Ruth hit his 60th home run of the season, on this day. Roger Maris tied Ruth’s record on September 27, 1961. Aaron Judge hit his 61st home run this past Wednesday night, tying Roger Maris’ single-season American League home run record. (Mark McGwire born on October 1, 1963, hit 70 homeContinue reading “Babe Ruth’s Home Run Record”

September 30, 1960 –The first prime-time animated series aimed at adults, The Flintstones, premiered on ABC-TV on this date. Fred and Wilma Flintstone were the first animated married couple ever shown on American television in the same bed together. They have been mistaken as the first couple ever shown in bed together on any AmericanContinue reading “The Flintstones premiered”

September 30, 1958 –The first network series to be filmed entirely in New York City, the police drama, The Naked City debuted on ABC-TV on this date. Each episode in Season 1 was 30 minutes long and reviews were mixed. The ratings were low enough for ABC to cancel it after just one season. However,Continue reading “The Naked City premiered”

September 30, 1965 – Gerry Anderson’s supermarionation take on The Tracy family business, Thunderbirds premiered on this date in the UK. According to Guinness World Records 2008, the character of Jeff Tracy holds the record for the “Highest Earning TV Character“, said to be worth an estimated $50 billion; assets included maintenance of Tracy Island,Continue reading “Thunderbirds premiered”

It’s Miguel de Cervantes’ birthday today. Born in 1547, Cervantes is best known as the author of Don Quixote, a cunning satire on mental illness. The work is an epic treatment of the perennial question, “wouldn’t the world be better off if we were all crazy?“ The answer from the novel is a qualified yes:Continue reading “Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra”

For those of you not near your church bulletin, today is the feast of St. Michael the Archangel. It’s also known in England as Michaelmas Day. St. Michael is the patron saint of the sea and maritime lands, of ships and boatmen, of horses and horsemen. He was the Angel who hurled Lucifer down fromContinue reading “An ACME PSA concerning berries”

Today is National Coffee Day. If you love coffee (I don’t), there are a bunch of places you can score free or very low cost cups of joe! If you’re passing by a McDonalds, Krispy Kreme, Barnes & Noble or Dunkin Donuts today and see what their special deal for the day is. You’re welcome.Continue reading “Free Coffee!”

September 29, 1991 –MTV debuts Nirvana’s video for their single Smells Like Teen Spirit on this date, giving most Americans their first look at the band. A little over a month later, the song is #1 on the Hot 100. The girls who played the cheerleaders in the video were originally supposed to be veryContinue reading “Smells Like Teen Spirit premiered”

September 29, 1967 –Gerry Anderson’s supermarionation take on superheroes, Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons premiered on this date in the UK. The face and voice of Captain Scarlet were both based on Cary Grant. In fact, Captain Scarlet’s voice artist, Francis Matthews was chosen to voice the character based on the fact he could doContinue reading “Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons premiered”