Author Archives: dcaligari

October 28, 1950 – The eternally 39-year old Benjamin Kubelsky (who was actually 56 at the time,) transitioned his successful radio program to television on this date when The Jack Benny Show premiered on CBS-TV. In the early years, the program was originally titled The Lucky Strike Program after the show’s sponsor, Lucky Strike cigarettes,Continue reading “The Jack Benny Show”

Sometimes woodpeckers will become so hungry that they will eat the brains of other birds. Normal woodpeckers, and not just zombie woodpeckers, if they’ve gone too long without food, will pin down other birds and peck at the back of their heads until they crack through their skulls and then eat their brains.

October 27, 1954 –“… It was all started by a mouse.” Walt Disney’s first TV show, Disneyland, premiered on ABC-TV on this date. All of the ABC episodes were filmed in color, even though they aired in black and white. In general, ABC did not broadcast in color until the mid 1960s. During the yearsContinue reading “Disneyland”

Today we can celebrate American Beer Day, as opposed to National Beer Day, which is celebrated on April 7. While beer is not my go to beverage of choice, I’m happy to down a frosty cold one or two.

In the Californian White Mountains, there are trees older than the pyramids. These wise old trees, known as Pinus longaeva, have been aged at up to 5,060+ years old. Written history is believed to have begun roughly 5,000 years ago – back then these magnificent trees would have just been starting out their long lives.

October 26, 1982 –TV’s longest dream sequence, St. Elsewhere, premiered on NBC-TV on this date. Actor William Daniels said that when he was offered the part of Dr. Craig, he was not only given the pilot script to read, he was given the first three scripts to read. He said producers did this to showContinue reading “St. Elsewhere”

Wang Mang, emperor of the Western Han Dynasty, died on this date, (what the hell do you care,) but that has nothing to do with the fact that today we celebrate National Pumpkin Day and Howl at the Moon Day today. So don’t make us wait – howl at the moon, preferably while eating pumpkinContinue reading “I wonder who decides these things”

October 25, 1931 – In every home there is a heartbreak Elena Hoyos, a pretty and vivacious 21 year old Cuban-American girl died from tuberculosis in Florida on this date. While this is sad, it wouldn’t be noteworthy other than for her middle aged neighbor with a strange infatuation with Elena. Carl Tanzler (also knownContinue reading “This story is truly not for the faint of heart.”

October 25, 1975 – Quite arguably the funniest episode ever broadcast on network TV, The Mary Tyler Moore Show – Chuckles Bites the Dust first aired on this date. Influential comedy writer Danny Simon used to read this script to his classes as an example of excellent writing.

… He that shall live this day, and see old age, Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours, And say “To-morrow is Saint Crispian.” Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars, And say “These wounds I had on Crispin’s day. It’s Saints Crispin and Crispinian Day. They are the patron saintsContinue reading “Saint Crispian got a raw deal”