Author Archives: dcaligari

February 25, 1970 –Ernie sings his signature song, Rubber Duckie, on Sesame Street for the first time, on this date. It goes over so well that the song is released as a single, which in September reaches #16 on the Hot 100. Rubber ducks were around since at least the 1940s, but they had aContinue reading “Ernie expresses his love for his tub toy for the first time”

February 24, 1969 –Twentieth Century-Fox adaptation of the novel and play, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, directed by Ronald Neame and starring Maggie Smith and Pamela Franklin, premiered in London on this date. According to Pamela Franklin, even though they were eighteen, she and the other young girls were asked not to eat theirContinue reading “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie premiered”

February 24, 1973 –The song, Killing Me Softly with His Song by Roberta Flack topped the charts on this date. Robert Flack heard Lori Lieberman original version of the song on an in-flight tape recorder while flying from Los Angeles to New York. She loved the title and lyrics and decided to record it herself.Continue reading “Roberta Flack’s version of Killing Me Softly went to No. 1”

February 23, 1964 –The Beatles appear for the third consecutive appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show on this date. They performed Twist and Shout and Please Please Me and closed the show once again with I Want to Hold Your Hand. The third broadcast, February 23, showed a performance taped earlier in the day ofContinue reading “Third time’s the charm”

Today is Curling Is Cool Day. I’m not sure how many millions of dollars will be lost with the number of people are taking the day off from work. Do not make a rookie mistake; just encourage all those involved – Celebrate Responsibly.

February 22, 1934 –Frank Capra’s romantic comedy It Happened One Night, starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert, premiered at Radio City Music Hall on this date. Clark Gable gave the Oscar he won for his performance in this movie to a child who admired it, telling him it was the winning of the statue thatContinue reading “It Happened One Night premiered”

February 22, 1956 –The film widely considered the worst film produced by a major studio in the 50s, The Conqueror, directed by Dick Powell and starring John Wayne as Genghis Khan, Susan Hayward, Agnes Moorehead, and Pedro Armendáriz, premiered in the US on this date. The film was shot downwind from a nuclear test siteContinue reading “The Conqueror premiered”

I have every reason to remember that today is Ash Wednesday, please don’t try to wipe the the smudge mark off your friend’s forehead. Hominem te esse memento! Memento mori! – (Anyway, did you find the coin in the King Cake? ) So begins forty days (remember that the six Sundays between today and EasterContinue reading “You’re not being helpful –”

February 21, 1981 –Charles Rocket, first in the long line of performers on Saturday Night Live to drop the f-bomb, cursed live at the end of the episode in response to a question about how it felt being shot during a skit. Due partially to the violation of broadcast standards, along with Saturday Night Live’sContinue reading “First f-bomb dropped on SNL”

February 21, 1970 –The Jackson 5, led by 11-year old Michael Jackson, introduced themselves to America with their TV debut on American Bandstand. The performances showed not only that the group were amazing performers, but that Michael was a superstar in the making.