Author Archives: dcaligari

December 17, 1977 – Elvis Costello and The Attractions made a rare United States television debut on Saturday Night Live when Sid Vicious and the Sex Pistols failed to show up for the gig. Producer Lorne Michaels refused to allow Costello to perform Radio, Radio because of the song’s criticism of the broadcasting industry, butContinue reading “Elvis Costello on SNL for the first time”

December 17, 1989 – Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire, also known as The Simpsons Christmas Special, the first full-length episode of The Simpsons, premiered on this date. This special was not originally intended to be The Simpsons pilot. Production problems, particularly with the first produced episode, The Simpsons: Some Enchanted Evening, saw the showContinue reading “The Simpson series premiered”

December 16, 1965 –NASA was in a piss-proud mood. Days before, Gemini 6 (Tom Stafford and Wally Schirra, space cowboys aboard) and Gemini 7 (Frank Borman and Jim Lovell, rocket men aboard) had successfully rendezvoused in space. Just before Tom Stafford and Wally Schirra were about to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere, on this date, they radioedContinue reading “The song heard around the world (and beyond)”

December 16, 1966 –Jimi Hendrix‘ first single Hey Joe is released on this date. This is the song that started it all for Hendrix. After being discharged from the US Army in 1962, he worked as a backing musician for The Isley Brothers and Little Richard, and in 1966 performed under the name Jimmy JamesContinue reading “Hey Joe was dropped”

December 16, 1975 –The groundbreaking sitcom (for it’s time) One Day At A Time starring Bonnie Franklin, Mackenzie Phillips and Valerie Bertinelli premiered on this date. Mackenzie Phillips and Valerie Bertinelli are only five months apart in age. Bertinelli was the younger of the two, so Phillips was cast as the older sister.

December 16, 1951 –NBC-TV debuted Dragnet in a special preview on Chesterfield Sound Off Time on this date. (The show began officially on January 3, 1952.) The series opener ran in real time, and it contained several clock-on-the-wall shots to keep track of time. The story starts with the police frantically trying to meet aContinue reading “Dragnet premiered”

December 16, 1977 –Saturday Night Fever, starring John Travolta, went into general release on this date. Oh John, what a long strange trip it’s been since that polyester shirt. When Tony’s dad hits him in the back of the head during dinner, his retort of “just watch the hair!” and complained about being hit onContinue reading “Saturday Night Fever premiered”

Should he tell Eliza that he was a cannibal. Demand Euphoria!

Demand Euphoria!

December 15, 1974 – Mel Brooks’ send up of the Universal horror films, Young Frankenstein, opened on this date. Gene Hackman ad-libbed The Blind Man’s parting line “I was gonna make espresso.” The scene immediately fades to black because the crew erupted into fits of laughter. Hackman was unable to repeat the line without laughingContinue reading “Young Frankenstein premiered”