June 16, 1939 – The Merrie Melodies short, Hobo Gadget Band, directed by Ben Hardaway and Cal Dalton, debuted on this date. When the lead hobo partakes in his “Soda Fizz” (or as he calls it, “Sodium Acetylsalicylate“), he states “Listen to it fizz“; which was an early catch-phrase for the Alka-Seltzer brand in theContinue reading “Hobo Gadget Band premiered”
Author Archives: dcaligari
You’re so far away
June 17, 1971 –Carole King’s album Tapestry goes to No. 1 on US album charts and stays there for 15 weeks Tapestry was a groundbreaking album, which helped popularize the singer/songwriter genre. It stayed on the American album charts for over six years, selling over 24 million copies worldwide. Until 1976, it was the largest-sellingContinue reading “You’re so far away”
Dracula premiered
June 16, 1958 – The classic Hammer horror film, Dracula (AKA House of Dracula,) directed by Terence Fisher and starring Peter Cushing, Michael Gough, Melissa Stribling, and Christopher Lee, opened in the UK, on this date. Christopher Lee has only sixteen lines, as Dracula, in the entire film, all spoken by the 10 minute mark.
Father of the Bride premiered
June 16, 1950 – The romantic comedy, Father of the Bride, directed by Vincente Minnelli and starring Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett, Elizabeth Taylor, Don Taylor, Billie Burke, and Leo G. Carroll, opened in the US on this date. The surrealist artist Salvador Dali created the sequence where Stanley (Spencer Tracy) has a very weird nightmareContinue reading “Father of the Bride premiered”
Napoleon Bunny-Part premiered
June 16, 1956 – The Merrie Melodies short, Napoleon Bunny-Part, directed by Friz Freleng, starring Bugs Bunny, debuted on this date. The large guard sounds like an early version of Barney Rubble. This is not surprising, as Mel Blanc voiced that character a few years later.
Chow Hound premiered
June 16, 1951 – The Looney Tunes short, Chow Hound, directed by Chuck Jones, debuted on this date. Because of the dog’s mean-spiritedness, lack of sympathy and greed. He’s often considered by fans as the most hated character in the entire Looney Tunes franchise as a whole, even more so than other highly-disliked characters suchContinue reading “Chow Hound premiered”
When I was young, it seemed that life was so wonderful
June 16, 1979 –The Supertramp song Logical Song peaked at #6 on the Billboard Charts, on this date. To accentuate the “d-d-digital” line in the lyrics, the band borrowed a Mattel handheld electronic football game from an engineer named Richard Digby-Smith, who was working next door. This device, which predated Nintendo, provided an unusual sounding,Continue reading “When I was young, it seemed that life was so wonderful”
Can’t bring back time. Like holding water in your hands
Happy Bloomsday! June 16, 1904—If you notice English majors greeting one another joyously, saying “Yes—yes—yes!” they’ll titter with delight. It will all be terrific fun for them. And here’s the reason why: Today is the date on which all the events depicted in James Joyce’s famous novel Ulysses take place—even though the book itself wasn’tContinue reading “Can’t bring back time. Like holding water in your hands”
I might wait until Sunday to celebrate
Today is National lobster Day. I’m not sure if the holiday is celebrating this crustacean for its’ longevity or its’ delicious taste. Yes I know that if you are celebrating National Lobster Day today, you are celebrating the consumption of Canadian lobsters and not our own national variety. I don’t care, I love lobsters, especiallyContinue reading “I might wait until Sunday to celebrate”
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein premiered
June 15, 1948 – The very successful comedy, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, directed by Charles Barton, and starring Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Lon Chaney Jr., Bela Lugosi, Glenn Strange, Lenore Aubert, and Jane Randolph, opened on this date. Lou Costello didn’t want to make the movie, declaring, “No way I’ll do that crap. MyContinue reading “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein premiered”
