Author Archives: dcaligari

And if you wouldn’t mind, I would like to blew

June 15, 1989 –Nirvana’s debut album, Bleach, was released, on this date. The album Bleach initially sold about 35,000 copies, which was pretty good for an Indie band and got them signed to a major label. The album eventually sold over 1 million copies, as many Nirvana fans bought it after Cobain died. The albumContinue reading “And if you wouldn’t mind, I would like to blew”

Please take notes, this will be on the test:

So much history over unsupported hosiery: King Edward III was a famous English king, celebrated for his invention of manners and discovery of the economy. He played tennis and once famously rebuked the King of France for having sent him his balls in a box. King Edward established the Order of the Garter because heContinue reading “Please take notes, this will be on the test:”

My memoirs? Oh, my memoirs. My memoirs. My memoirs!

June 14, 1949 – A truly dark comedy, Kind Hearts and Coronets, directed by Robert Hamer, and starring Dennis Price, Joan Greenwood, Valerie Hobson and the ever present Alec Guinness, opened in London on this date. Alec Guinness claimed to have been convulsed with laughter during his reading of the script. He was on holidayContinue reading “My memoirs? Oh, my memoirs. My memoirs. My memoirs!”

You may remain seated while reading this,

but please remove your hat: It was on this date in 1777 that the Stars and Stripes was adopted as the official flag of the United States of America. The first Flag Day observance was not held on the 100th anniversary of the adoption of the Stars and Stripes on June 14, 1877, as someContinue reading “You may remain seated while reading this,”

Prizzi’s Honor premiered

June 14, 1985 – One of John Houston’s last films, the black comedy Prizzi’s Honor, starring Jack Nicholson, Kathleen Turner, Anjelica Huston, Robert Loggia, John Randolph, CCH Pounder, Lawrence Tierney, William Hickey, and Stanley Tucci (in his film debut,) opened on this date. John Huston is the only director to direct two members of hisContinue reading “Prizzi’s Honor premiered”

Well the first days are the hardest days

June 14, 1970 –The Grateful Dead released their fourth studio album, Workingman’s Dead, on this date. In 2003, the album was ranked number 262 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. This was one of the Dead’s first attempts to reach beyond their little cult and take a shotContinue reading “Well the first days are the hardest days”

The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms premiered

June 13, 1953 – Another classic 50s drive-in movie, The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, directed by Eugène Lourié, with stop motion animation by Ray Harryhausen, and starring Paul Christian, Paula Raymond, Cecil Kellaway, Kenneth Tobey, Lee Van Cleef, and King Donovan, opened on this date. While visiting his friend Ray Harryhausen on the set, RayContinue reading “The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms premiered”

Jack the Giant Killer premiered

June 13, 1962 – The fantasy adventure film, Jack the Giant Killer, directed by Nathan H. Juran, and starring Kerwin Mathews, Judi Meredith, and Torin Thatcher, opened in the US on this date. When Charles Schneer and Ray Harryhausen were looking for a producer for The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad, one of the hopefuls wasContinue reading “Jack the Giant Killer premiered”