Author Archives: dcaligari

September 23, 1977 –David Bowie released one of his signature hits (co-written with Brian Eno,) Heroes on this date. The track features King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp. Featured in this song are not only Brian Eno’s synthesizer and Robert Fripp’s guitar, but also producer Tony Visconti banging on a metal ashtray that was lying aroundContinue reading “Heroes was dropped”

September 23, 1952 –Responding to accusations that he diverted $18,000 in contributions into his pocket, Senator Richard M. Nixon rescues his candidacy for Vice President by insisting that he had never accepted any money. Although Nixon does admit he accepted a cocker spaniel named Checkers for his daughter Tricia. The televised monologue rescues his politicalContinue reading “The Greatest Political Pooch”

September 23, 1990 – Ken Burns’ powerful 11 hour miniseries The Civil War premiered on PBS on this date. The series took six years to make. The war itself lasted four years.

September 23, 1992 –NBC first introduced us to Paul and Jamie Buchman (and Murray) when Mad About You first premiered on this date. Paul Reiser’s production company is called Nuance Productions, after a line in the first film he appeared in, Diner: “You know what word I’m not comfortable with? Nuance. It’s not a realContinue reading “Mad About You premiered”

September 22, 1986 – Aaron Spelling’s crime drama Charlie’s Angels starring Farrah Fawcett, Kate Jackson, Jaclyn Smith, David Doyle and John Forsythe premiered on ABC-TV on this date. John Forsythe was called in at the last minute to voice Charlie, when the original actor (Gig Young) who had been cast turned out to have aContinue reading “Charlie’s Angels premiered”

September 22, 1964 – Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin, who kept the world safe on The Man from U.N.C.L.E, made their first appearance on NBC-TV on this date. Originally, Will Kuluva was to play the head of U.N.C.L.E., but was replaced by Leo G. Carroll. After the pilot was screened for the network executives, theyContinue reading “The Man from U.N.C.L.E premiered”

Autumn began at 9:04 P.M. EDT today. Joyfully, it’s also the first day of Fall. Many people in the northern hemisphere are disturbed by the changes they see around them at about this time each year. It gets darker earlier, temperatures drop, leaves change color and die and the Red Sox tend to drop outContinue reading “With intestinal fortitude and some heavy drinking, we can get through this thing.”

… In the key that our souls were singin’ As we danced in the night, remember … And so it goes

September 21, 1897 –The New York Sun ran its famous editorial that answered a question from 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon: “Is there a Santa Claus?“on this date. Obviously, times were different back then given that The New York Sun was printing an editorial about Christmas in September. (Christmas is in 95 days.)

September 21, 1912 – Chuck Jones, animator and director of Warner Brothers cartoon characters Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, was born on this date. He has directed three films have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant: Duck Amuck, One Froggy Evening, andContinue reading “Two giants of animation sharing the same birthdays:”