Author Archives: dcaligari

July 15, 1799 –The Rosetta Stone is an Ancient Egyptian artifact which was instrumental in advancing modern understanding of hieroglyphic writing. The stone is a Ptolemaic era stele with carved text. The text is made up of three translations of a single passage, written in two Egyptian language scripts (hieroglyphic and Demotic), and in classicalContinue reading “The Rosetta Stone was found on this date”

July 15, 1946 –I didn’t think I was a famous singer. I didn’t think I was a star or that I could make the waters part – just that singing was what I was going to do. Linda Maria Ronstadt, singer and actress was born in Tucson, Arizona on this date. (Send her your goodContinue reading “Linda Ronstadt”

July 15, 1972 –Elton John’s fifth studio album, Honky Chateau, reached No. #1 on the US Billboard Charts, on this date, making it the first of John’s seven consecutive US No. #1 album. The album was recorded at Château d’Hérouville, Hérouville, France, in January 1972. At the time, the studio was known as “Strawberry Studios,”Continue reading “Honky Chateau hits the top of the charts”

July 15, 1869 –During war with Prussia, French ruler Napoleon III commissions Hippolye Mege Mouries to find a butter substitute. A patent for margarine was issued on this date, it being based on beef fat instead of milk fat. He called it Margarine (but you can call it Oleo) because the French word for pearlContinue reading “You might think it’s butter …”

July 15, 2009 –45 years after he played at the Ed Sullivan Theater with The Beatles, Paul McCartney returned to the venue to appear on The Late Show With David Letterman. Earlier in the day, McCartney plays a few songs from the theater’s marquee, surprising the onlookers in Manhattan.

July 14, 1965 –The space probe Mariner 4 flew by Mars, sending back the first photographs of the planet — they took eight hours to arrive. They were the first ever close-up photos of another planet. The photos reveal that the planet’s surface is cratered. And so it goes

July 14, 1964 –The Rolling Stones score their first #1 hit in the UK with their cover of Bobby Womack’s It’s All Over Now. New York disc jockey Murray the K gave The Stones a copy of the original recording of the song by The Valentinos and suggested they record it. Murray was important enoughContinue reading “It’s All Over Now went to the top of the charts”

July 14 1789 –Paris was not a happy city in 1789. Paris has never been an especially happy city, especially for those who don’t speak French, but in that fateful year, it was especially grouchy. And it wasn’t just the city, but the whole country. All of France was being cranky and irritable, and allContinue reading “Happy Bastille Day”

I would say for the most part, there are very few people who should actually celebrate the holiday in public. You know whether or not you should celebrate Please feel free to celebrate responsibly within the confines of your own home. Demand Euphoria!

July 14, 1933 –The iconic Popeye the Sailor, appeared in his first eponymous titled cartoon, on this date. (Kids, Betty, who is probably underage in this film, is not wearing a bra – so avert your eyes.) Popeye’s appearance is based on that of a fighter named Francis “Rocky” Fiegel whom his creator, Elzie Segar,Continue reading “Popeye the Sailor premiered”