Author Archives: dcaligari

May 28, 1959 –America launched a Jupiter rocket on this date, containing a rhesus monkey named Able and a squirrel monkey named Miss Baker. After experiencing nine minutes of microgravity, the capsule successfully returns to Earth with both monkeys intact. However, Able died during surgery to remove his electrodes. Able was then stuffed and mountedContinue reading “Monkeys in Space”

May 28, 1930 –The Chrysler Building, the premier Art Deco skyscraper in New York City, had it’s opening ceremony, on this date. Standing 1,047 feet (319 meters) high, it was briefly the world’s tallest building before it was overtaken by the Empire State Building in 1931. With the construction of One World Trade Center, itContinue reading “The Chrysler Building opened”

May 28, 1966 –Ike and Tina Turner released the classic song River Deep, Mountain High, on this date. (Although this is credited to Ike and Tina Turner, Ike had no part in the recording process. Turner was paid $20,000 up front to made sure that he was not in the studio during the sessions.) ItContinue reading “River Deep, Mountain High released”

May 27, 1937 –The Golden Gate Bridge, arguably one of the Wonders of the Modern World, connecting San Francisco with California’s Marin County opened to pedestrian traffic on this date. More than 200,000 made the first-day trek. Harold Wobber had the good grace to wait until August 7, 1937, to take the first leap intoContinue reading “Golden Gate Bridge opened to pedestrian traffic”

May 27, 1977 –After the pressing plant initially refuses to duplicate the record and the printer refuses to make the covers, Virgin finally releases God Save the Queen by the Sex Pistols in time for the monarch’s Jubilee celebration on this date. Popular belief is that this song was “banned” by the BBC and mostContinue reading “God Save the Queen”

With this being the start of the Memorial Day Weekend and many COVID restrictions have been thrown to the wayside, some of you bunkies will be on the road this weekend. Your old pal wants to remind you, once again: (also hit the road before 2pm or after 9 pm today.) (Just in time forContinue reading “Keep this in the forefront of your mind”

May 27, 1933 –Walt Disney classic take on The Three Little Pigs, premiered on this date. The commercial tie-in with Esposito’s pork sausages during the original screenings of the cartoon wasn’t such a big hit though.

In case you need some cocktail conversation – Pope Gregory IX declared war on cats in the 13th Century, issuing a Papal Bull Vox In Rama. He said that black cats were instruments of Satan. Because of this belief, he ordered the extermination of these felines throughout Europe. However, this plan backfired, because the killingContinue reading “That’s a lot of papal bull”

Saint Vitalis of Assisi (not to be confused with St. Vitalis of Milan, patron saint of grey haired Lotharios) was an Italian hermit and monk who died in 1370. He became a saint despite an early life marked by licentiousness and immorality. However, in an attempt to atone he went on pilgrimages to various sanctuaries.Continue reading “Please refer to your handy church bulletin”

May 26, 1977 –Police arrested George Willig, after he had successfully scaled the World Trade Center’s south tower in NYC on this date. He was fined $110 — a dollar per floor climbed. The stunt paved the way for appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Good Morning America, The Merv Griffin Show andContinue reading “The past is a foreign country …”