Author Archives: dcaligari

December 28, 1895 –Auguste and Louis Lumiere opened the first movie theater at the Grand Cafe in Paris, on this date . Other inventors, including Thomas Edison, were working on various moving picture devices at the time. But most of those other devices could only be viewed by one person at a time. The LumieresContinue reading “The first Movie Theatre opened”

The 12 acre complex in midtown Manhattan known as Rockefeller Center developed by John D. Rockefeller, Jr., on land leased from Columbia University opened to the public on December 27, 1932. Radio City Music Hall (named for one of the complex’s first tenants, the Radio Corporation of America) opened with a spectacular stage show, featuringContinue reading “Rockefeller Center Complex opened”

Once again, if you’re keeping score, you currently have, three French hens, four turtledoves and three partridges with their trio of pear trees (10 gifts.) The three French hens symbolize the three theological virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity. The hens, being french, will not associate with the common turtle doves – leave plenty ofContinue reading “A popular breed to keep as a pet –”

December 27, 1947 –Hey kids, what time is it? A bleary eyed world, fresh from the horrors of a second World War awaken to the sight of a freaky marionette on NBC – Howdy Doody premiered on this date. This was the first nationally televised American children’s television show.

Today is St. Stephen’s Day. The citizens of the British Commonwealth denote the day by putting on trunks and gloves to beat each other bloody silly. Another reason to appreciate the American Revolution – a peaceful December 26th. If you are starting your Christmas shopping for 2022, you’re either way ahead of the curve orContinue reading “Perhaps you didn’t know this”

If you’re keeping score, you currently have two turtledoves and a pair of partridges in their respective pear trees (four gifts – remember we’re counting the partridge and a pear tree as a unit.) Begin taking extra copies of free daily newspapers – you’ll need it in a major way. (The gift, the two turtleContinue reading “Most of a (live) Christmas tree is edible”

Your Christmas gifts are starting to arrive (we’ll be keeping a count.) (Remember, we are going to count this as a unit and not as two individual gifts.) As today is the first night of Christmas, here are some more unusual gifts to consider giving – You might have to find an old copy ofContinue reading “Remember, Partridge is a game bird (just saying)”

Put your feet up and read a little bit about the History of Christmas Christmas is one of the most widely celebrated holidays in the world, although the form of its observation varies widely from nation to nation. In America, our cultural kleptomania has allowed us to assimilate the most enjoyable of those traditions whileContinue reading “Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas”

December 24, 1968 –Apollo VIII astronauts read passages from the Old Testament Book of Genesis and transmitting a message to all mankind calling for ‘peace on earth‘, during a Christmas Eve television broadcast. The three astronauts, James A. Lovell, William Anders and Frank Borman (our friend with the messy space suit,) had reached the Moon.Continue reading “Christmas in Outer Space (part 2)”

December 24, 1953 –Jack Webb’s series Dragnet aired a special episode, The Big Little Jesus on this date. The episode was network television’s first half-hour color film. It was the only color show of the series. Those of you with very sharp eyes can tell with some prompting that this is not the color episode.Continue reading “Dragnet”